Sunny days

Ride to conquer cancer

This weekends 220 odd km ride or the Brisbane Rode to Conquer Cancer was challenging, emotional, exhilarating, beautiful and delicious! I rode with some amazing people and we camped at Wivenhoe Dam on Saturday night. Apart from the obvious awareness around cancer research and health and fitness it also definitely raised my awareness of some of Brisbane's wonderful spaces- its time for me to get planning some more camping/riding/hiking adventures I think - this place is pretty grand!

Little moments

Little moments make you value a place, connect you to it and draw you back. Like this moment when I finished a morning river run, gasping for breath and then these stairs were there caught in the light, waiting for me to snap them- and then dash up them- a much stronger finish to a morning workout and an awesome start to the day!

Urban girls

There is something that really delights me about urban chickens! The allusions of self sufficiency, the potential that we are more than just a concrete jungle of hard edges. I've walked past this neighbour hundreds of times but today at a walk not a run (there is a lesson in that too I am sure!) and as I paused, these girls ran straight over to me to check me out. Behold the guard chooks of Highgate Hill!

Eungella

Eungella

Eungella

I must keep exploring. I must keep exploring. I am back from a long weekend of freezing weather but glorious scenery in our 'sub-tropical' north. Eungella is part of the mountain ranges behind Mackay and is one of the most beautiful spots I've been in a while. Hiking, waterfalls, plunge pools, mountains... And platypus!!! I keep a list of special Aussie animals I want to see and platypus has always been on there. My mum has always said I would never see one because I'm too loud- thank you Eungella for proving her wrong, it was such a treat to see your platypus playing for us in the river! (echidnas and wombats, kindly show yourselves!)

West of Dulbydilla

Free fruit!

There is so much to love about this photo! In the same vein as posts about s-l-o-w food, growing your own and community farms, one of the results is when things are in season, they really come on in a hurry. I have been lucky enough to make pesto when the basil is in its peak, to receive marmalade and various jams when the citrus is in season. This photo, taken while down in Byron this weekend is also great. Rather than making and baking to use it all up, why not just celebrate our communal wealth and share our produce when you have too much to consume.

Night art on the bridge!

As part of the Brisbane City Council's creative cities plans they have created this new way of promoting some of our local artists as well as highlighting some of he cities classic iconic structures. I love the idea of living with more art in our lives, taking back the nights and engaging with our local emerging creatives- plus, plus, plus!

Pecan parcels

I never knew this was where pecans came from! I love the black and tan colours of this inner shell!

Pecan parcels

Reflecting on the rain

Sometimes when it rains and rains all I want to do is stay in doors. What I need to remember though is how great it feels to get out in the post-rain freshness, to smell the damp but feel the earth drying out again- and catch glimpses of awesome reflections like this one on the Torbreck rooftop!

Brick detail

There are lots of wonderful details to love about my home in the clouds at Torbreck- here is one little shot of the pop out brick detail of the tower block looking from the garden block balcony.

I'm the king (queen) of the mountain!

Ok, I am officially addicted to the endorphin high of cycling. Exhilarating downhills, exhausting uphills, gorgeous scenery and being able to see it all from 2 wheels powered by you!! This pic was taken on the descent from Mt Mee after our ride out + up the mountain- so beautiful and so close to the city!