It is May 2020 and the Queensland government eased some social distancing restrictions. A neighbor, Lesley, and I planned a walk to a special spot at Long Timber. Lesley explained, “Wally’s Grandfather preserved these places, the gullies he said were a refuge, and the ridges with tall trees were the bank account. If times got … Continue reading Walking to Palm Grove
Queensland
Writing at Long Timber
I think I Found a new desk here at Ewan creek. I’m in awe watching the ripples of the creek. The crow caws the sky is blue above the trees. I’m trying another spot. An old log moss grows in its cracks serves as a backbone for the iPad Still searching for the perfect position … Continue reading Writing at Long Timber
Staying Put at Lamington National Park in Australia
I was going off to New Zealand but that’s been canceled by the corona virus. It made no sense to go there and be in isolation for 14 days when I was only going there for five. And then when I returned to Australia I’d spend another 14 days in isolation. I’m lucky to be … Continue reading Staying Put at Lamington National Park in Australia
Back at Long Timber Again
As I helped Wally load the horses and gear up for competition I couldn’t help the tears that welled up in my eyes. Why am I feeling this way? Then I remembered the little girl who dreamed of riding a horse and taking it to the Minnesota State Fair. Dreams that were never realized since … Continue reading Back at Long Timber Again
Cairns
After a 30 minute flight from Undara we landed on the small plane side of the cairns airport and taxied over by the flying doctors hanger. We finally had excellent phone and internet service. If you come to Cairns the thing to do is to take an excursion to the Great Barrier Reef but we'd … Continue reading Cairns
Understanding Australian
Living in a foreign environment even one that supposedly speaks English leads to many misunderstandings. Usually, if I listen closely and be patient I can appear to understand. That’s what my husband and I did on my first visit to Australia. We were visiting cousins I had never met in Bundaberg. We’d been driving all … Continue reading Understanding Australian
Native Animals at Long Timber
Early in the morning as the sun is beginning to rise above the gravel road and trees in the valley below the kookaburras begin to announce that this is their land. They don't sing alone but answer each other laughing across the horizon. In this video you can hear them laughing with the cicadas singing in the … Continue reading Native Animals at Long Timber
Mustering the Cattle at Long Timber
My father was an organic farmer and raised beef cattle along with grade B Dairy cows in Minnesota in the 1950s. He died when I was eight years old and my family moved to the city. As a teenager, I became very interested in Eastern thought and at age 18 my fiance and I became … Continue reading Mustering the Cattle at Long Timber
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat Day 3-4
Birdwalk, Buffet Breakfast with the birds, Animal encounter, The Lost World Spa, and Python Rock If you're an early bird O'Rielly's offers a bird walk at 6:30 a.m. It takes an excellent guide to introduce ten noisy tourists to native birds. Our guide on Thursday was amazing, he was a bird whisperer. The wild birds … Continue reading O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat Day 3-4
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat Day 1
I was so excited I hardly slept the night before. Twenty years ago O'Reilly's was the highlight of my Australian tour, and I was getting to go there again, this time with Lizzie. Lizzie had last been there in the 1960s so she was looking forward to our adventure. I knew I was going to … Continue reading O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat Day 1
Visions from Two Continents 