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
Queensland
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
Bunya Mountain National Park
I wasn't as sore as I thought I'd be from the last Lizzie hike. I woke up full of anticipation on Bunya Mountains morning. The leech bites on my legs itched but I ignored them as I dressed in blue jeans and gray New Balance shoes, no white this time. It was 7:00 am precisely … Continue reading Bunya Mountain National Park
Birdwing Butterflies and the Leeches of Booroobin
My friend Lizzie said, "would you like to walk down the hill to the river?" I smiled, "Sure, that sounds great." I'd just managed to drive solo to her place on the other side of the valley from Long Timber through a slight drizzle. Although I couldn't see the river from her house I thought it … Continue reading Birdwing Butterflies and the Leeches of Booroobin
Further Driving Lessons
My dendrites are slow growing. I need lots of practice, you can teach an old dog new tricks but you need to be patient with yourself, I tell myself. I say watch and learn, and do more research. I watched my partner negotiate the many blind curves between Peachester and Beerwah: The drive continued like … Continue reading Further Driving Lessons
Driving on the “Correct” Side of the Road
Lesson 1 My Aussie partner told me, "You know everyone drove on the left side before. Do you know why that was?' "No, I have no idea. I've always driven on the right side. In America, we keep right not left."He said, "In England when they drove in buggies, they had to sit towards the … Continue reading Driving on the “Correct” Side of the Road
Hiking Long Timber
The second day I was here Lizzie a long time friend of the family came over to take me on a hike around Long Timber. We descended down the steep hill that the house sits on top. Walking down towards the creek. I thought it hasn't rained lately so hopefully, there won't be any leeches … Continue reading Hiking Long Timber
Bunya nut tree
Harvesting and cooking with a Bunya nut.
Arriving at Long Timber
It was a long journey from Wisconsin to Texas to Portland, Oregon to Sydney but finally, I arrived in a magical place. Long Timber is near the glasshouse mountains not far from the Australian Zoo in Queensland, Australia. Ascending up the driveway.I will be sharing highlights of this in depth Australian adventure over the next … Continue reading Arriving at Long Timber
Virgin Australia
Virgin airlines 90 minutes Sydney Airport lines and waiting Finally Australia sky So blue Clouds white Water blue Rippling Sunshine bright Warm arm Shade up Tray up Land approaching Plane descending Ears popping Seatbelt fastened Wing flaps up Plane sways Lower we go Water closer Plane tilts Levels off still closer Sunshine Coast Sand beach … Continue reading Virgin Australia
Visions from Two Continents. 