Toowoomba Daytrip

Yes I was mad to have driven up the range to Toowoomba, but it was needed, 1 to chckout my sister in-laws old house she built, and 2, catchup with a mate living here at the moment for lunch...

My mate had the rump steak, I had a Chicken Katsu Curry burger, which was excellent!!

The drive back to Brisbane was a bit hairy, but ok in the end.... I went past the University of Queensland Research lots at Gaton, and the storm to the north was building... Dinner was excellent at the 'Satay Ria' Malaysian, and I finally got to meet a mates wife, who I think was up to about the 15 or 20th revision on getting her here to Australia !!! 😂😂😂

Off to the Sunshine Coast, hopefully, as there are LOTS of road closeures about to flooding, after some 423mm of rain!

Hoo roo for now...

------

A brief planespot, mate catchup and a Greek Dinner

A bit of an 'all over the place' sort of day, and I loved it!! haha Totally wound down now and enjoying the holiday (just hope the wet weather STOPS!!)

I got out of the house early so I wasn't annying my host (working a conference from home) so stopped at the Brisbane Airport spotting location known as 'The Acacia St Loop', and literally spotted one movement (everything was heading out to their new parallel runway... Regional Express have recently started using the B737, yet to fly them though!

Went up to the nearby DFO, and found a mate to have lunch with and talk train photography, mainly! WAs good to catch up. Afterwards, he checked out my car, and then I went shopping to grab some new shirts!

Dinner tonight was at the 'Kafe Meze Stones Corner' with a group of friends of J&M; to which I have become friends with. Its a regular Wednesday night catch-up for the guys with a different host selecting the style of restaurant to go to!!

There was a mixed 'Dips with Pita Bread' (no photo), but they were delicious, and for the main, I selected the Prawn Saganaki with Pita, and an additional Paidakia (Lamb Cutlet), and it was AMAZING!!

Tomorrow, I am off to Toowoomba, I have had a change of plans and routing, and then to Blackbutt area on my way to the Sunshine Coast on Friday.

Hoo roo for now...

------

Gold Coast cruise

Today, was a casual trip down to the Gold Coast for lunch; ended up being a 'mini-cruise' with a mates younger brothers new car!!

It was an easy as 60 minute drive south, and although theres is some roadworks along the way, we landed at a place for some quick car pics. HOWEVER, the spot, was backlit and not really good for photography, so I adapted. I ended up taking 17 images (YES, 17!!) of various exposure incriments to pull out some of the shaded areas (otherwise black) and stop the highlights blowing the image, and then using Adobe Lightroom to layer them all together... I knew in my head what was needed, but with me relatively new Canon 5Div, I hadnt used these settings/process before!! I was 'winging it'!!

I was pretty stoked in the end result!!!

THEN, it was to the Curumbin Vikings for a catchup lunch with another mate, the 'Salt & Pepper Calamaari' was FANTASTIC at the Curumbin Vikings Club, before heading off to a well know location for planespotting at Coolangatta.

After a very quick knee-deep poke around in the beach; it was closed due to RIP's, and 'Red Flagged', so I stayed safe, I headed back 'home' and a quiet night.

The next couple of days aren't looking to pretty, lots of rain (c. 120mm tomorrow alone) with the warnings already set out, with a severe weather warning being in place in Queensland for the Wide Bay, Burnett, Darling Downs, and Granite Belt forecast districts. Flash flood warnings are in place for the Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Maroochydore, Gympie, Caboolture, Coolangatta and Ipswich.

Hoo roo for now...

------

Bee Gees Way and Hornibrook Bridge Redcliffe (Brisbane)

Today was a bit of a nothing day, I mean we still had the 'Brunch Meeting' at 'The Kelsey'... haha

After that, and dropping John back home, I grabbed my Budgy Smugglers and headed north for a swim; or so I thought! Was recomendeed that Sandgate was good, but with the rock groins along the beach to keep it stabalised having a fisherman casting, I wasnt about to hop in for a swim and get hooked!! So, I stopped at the nearby hertiage listed Hornibrook Bridge! It looks magnificant however, I have no idea what the bronze draw thing is in the southern abutment!!

After this, I then headed into Redcliffe to visit the 'Bee Gees Way', a tribute to the bands legacy, Bee Gees Way is a 70-metre walkway in Redcliffe, free to see every day and night, celebrating the illustrious career of the band. The Moreton Bay Region is the home of the Bee Gees, a group whose tunes have been heard all over the world, having sold more than 200 million records.

Every night from 7 pm to 9.30 pm, visitors witness light shows set to the Bee Gees’ greatest hits, such as “Stayin’ Alive”, “How Deep Is Your Love”, and “Night Fever”. (I SHOULD have stayed for this, next time!!)

Bee Gees Way was developed in collaboration with Barry Gibb. It features life-size statues of Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. Be sure to snap a shot with both of the statues. #BeeGeesWay

Bee Gees Way hosts more than 60 captioned photographs, 13 album covers, personal stories and reflections and a 70-metre mural featuring the artwork of the Gibb brothers. It also has a giant 5.3 square metre video screen playing exclusive interviews with Barry Gibb and never before seen home movie footage, along with Bee Gees songs.

Tomorrow, its off down to the Gold Coast (Currumbin) with a couple of mates for lunch, and maybe a swim down there!!!

Hoo roo for now...

------

Brisbane Things....

Today was a bit of a 'nothing day' and a bit of a 'catch-up day', let me explain a little....

I am staying with my dear friends, John and Murray here in Brisbane, oh and I can't forget about 15 week old 'Montgomery' (Monty for short) who is a Malshi!! Now, whilst I am a 'large breed' dog person, this little 'Fluff Ball' is super cute, just not my 'cuppa tea' haha

We also had a 'brunch meeting' with J&M's friend (mine too of course) PS at a lovely little cafe called 'The Kelsey' in Coorparoo (Facebook / Instagram) John and I had some 'Waffle Fries', whilst the boys shared a Salmon Benedict! I also had a Mocha

As I had arranged to catch up with my good mate and his girlfriend Josh and Claudia, I made my way to checkout the planespotting location at Brisbane Airport known as 'The Loop' on my way; second time for 'Tuna' to be here. Nothing has changed, but at least the grass was somewhat cut to just ankle level (as opposed to my hip last time I was up)!! haha

Josh once lived with me in Sydney, hes a Brisbane bloke after all, and hes a great mate. He now works as a 'Content Creator' for '4WD 24/7', and I am so happy and proud for where he is today! They are about to embark on a 6 month trip around Australia; so jealous hey!!! (I also HATE taking selfies just an an FYI...)

Tomorrow we have another 'Brunch Meeting' (most likely at 'The Kelsey'?) and then John has some work, so I am going to go and find a beach somewhere and have a swim!!!!

Hoo roo for now...

------

2022 Roadtrip through Central Queensland

So, throughout this pandemic, I have not had a chance of leave, and I am finally taking three weeks off, and touring for a break, and to get out of Sydney!!! I will be heading up to Brisbane (staying with friends), out to Toowoomba to see a mate for lunch, afternoon tea at Harli with another friend, before a weekend on the Sunshine Coast. Up to Rockhampton for a nights stay, through to Longreach (via Emerald and Clermont) where I will visit the Qantas Founders Museum; so excieted!! All of this is confirmed!

After this, I will become somewhat 'fluid' and stop where I stop, drive where I drive, but for NOW, via Quilpie and Bourke before home!!!

So, I left in the wee hours of Saturday morning, I may, or may not, have had to return home after leaving Sydney, but oh well...

Now my first stop was to visit my old mate Frank who passed away 18 months or so back. He is at a cemetary along side a beautiful lake and waterfall; sadly not flowing when I went past...

Along the road into the cemetary, is an avenue of Bunya Pines (Araucaria bidwillii), with a sign warning about the nuts The cones are 20–35 cm (7.9–13.8 in) in diameter, and can weigh as much as 18 kg (40 lb)[11] and are opened by large birds, such as cockatoos, or disintegrate when mature to release the large 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) seeds or nuts.

From here I pushed north, through Port Macquarie, Cofffs Harbour, and did whats often said on long trips, 'Stop, Revive, Survive'!!!

The drive up was, largely, uneventful aside from a rather intense, but short, storm at about the Byrone Bay area or so, where I was reduced to about 60km/h (from 110km/h), and upon arrival, and after a VERY hot shower, I had a Roast Pork and veges, with a delicious crackling!!!!!

Stay tuned - more to come, but I am in Brisbane for the next 6 days!!

Hoo roo for now...

------

Merry Christmas to ME - Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM lens

So I got myself a Christmas present, of which recently was the first opportunity (in a break at work) to use my Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM lens…

First shot is a frond of one of my Cyathea ferns, the other, Alyssum flowers… Pretty happy to see what else I can use it on!!

A return to some photography I have wanted to get back into!!

Hoo roo for now...

------

2022...

G'day, and welcome to 2022...

I have been working a LOT lately, and I mean a lot.... This week has been 42hrs, whilst last week, 54hrs including 9.5hrs on Christmas Day!!! Today was also day 13 worked of 13, and tomorrow is my one and only day off in three weeks, so I am hoping to spend the day resting up before another hectic day at work!!!

Working in the pathology sector, as you could imagine is rather busy (unsure why 😂) and todays work trip took me across the Blue Mountains to Lithgow. The day was hot, hotter to the East, but a really nice drive along the 'Bells Line of Roads'. However, when I got to my location, they were closed, as were the next two at Springwood and in Glenmore Park, so it really seemed a waste of a day to be honest....

One of the good things about the day though was, a brief stop along 'Doctors Gap Road' in the Vale of Clywdd, and where I stopped was a small patch of interesting flowers... The area is dry, and had a great contrast with the blue sky!! I even managed to photograph a bee!!!! (iPhone photos)

Here is also the farms at the foot of the mountains, along the western side.... A lovely day really!!!

My aim is, moving forward, to restart the blog and post something interesting from the day.

Hoo roo for now...

------