Tag: The Changing Seasons

A month of rainbows – May 2020

It’s been a month of firsts. The first time of staying home for weeks on end and self imposed isolation, so the thrill of gaining essential worker status was genuine. I was needed in the Midwest and my ‘pass’ to move between restricted regions due to the COVID 19 lockdown meant I could travel again.

With limited flights I had to drive over 400 kms to Geraldton. I thoroughly enjoyed the drive with loud playlist for company. When stopped by the cops at checkpoint their laughter was genuine when I beamed and said I was travelling for work.

As we had to travel further north we had to fly in a small chartered plane. I was with two other colleagues and I was dreading it, but it turned out to be one of the best flights I have ever been on.

The first sight of Carnarvon is always wonderful. I never miss a chance to drive from town to Pelican Point. The sand dunes here are beautiful.
River gums trees are now synonymous with Carnarvon. I love the textured trunk and colours of the bark.
We drove past wonderful landscaped agricultural fields, just waiting to be seeded.
Our early morning starts were spectacular. Coffee, good company, laughter and an eagerness to get back to work, the perfect elixir.
Oh! those wide open spaces!
And the threat of the worst storm Western Australia experienced in a decade loomed. The dust from the fields added to the ambience when the storm hit. I was without power for ten hours in the hotel room. So I watched nature unleash fury. Oddly enough, it made me calmer.
No trip to Geraldton is complete without a stop at St Georges Beach at Champion Bay.
I also spent some time in Northampton, an old agricultural town.
I love these old buildings.
One of my colleagues grew up here and I had to laugh when she told me behind this building is Lavender Lane. Apparently every old town had a Lavender Lane. It is a euphemism as the lane was intended for the cart to come and collect the waste from outdoor toilets, before the days of modern toilets.
I drove under the arc of rainbows several times.
And found them in my suburb too on my return home.
But the most beautiful rainbow was the one over my home, and the rainbeau I found at the foot of my driveway. As they say, when you are least expecting it, ‘it’ happens.

With autumn behind, all I can say is, move over winter … I’m ready for spring.

Until next time

As always

a dawn bird

In response to The Changing Seasons – May 2020

Changing Seasons: End of summer 2020

It’s the last day of February, being a leap year, summer has lasted a day longer.  Today the sun is already out and it is warm.  My washing is done and on the line.  I needed this.  Yesterday at this hour the sky was filled with resounding thunder and lightening flashed vertical in blinding stripes.  The Australian summer used to be days at the beach, Sunday afternoons at the pub, watching 60 Minutes at night.  But now we seem to be keeping an eye on the weather reports more often these days.  The days have been wildly different and with some feeling like the wrath of winter.

February also meant I returned to work in all the regions I visit frequently.  This may be my last year I travel to some sites and I feel a sense of sadness about it.  But new openings are on offer, so I’m excited for 2021 and open to all that brings into my life.

Frequent travel comes at a cost, mostly relationships suffer and inevitably come to an end.  It is a lingering sadness.  It has been difficult for me to give up this lifestyle for anybody.  I love what I do and I love doing it.  I was born to do outreach work and it is a good fit for me.  The joy of knowing one has made a difference is addictive and not easy to explain to others.  This is my pathway in life and I embrace it, alone or perhaps one day, with someone with a similar understanding of it.DSCN9985
Between Williams and Narrogin, Wheatbelt region, Western Australia
I’ve been to Narrogin twice this year but bypassed my favourite reserve Foxes Lair either due to heat or high winds.  With tall gum trees and one way road, I didn’t want to be trapped there, so I spent my time looking at the paddocks that will filled with sheep and wide horizons.DSCN9923
Geographe Bay, Busselton, Western Australia
I started my year in the South West.  This is one of my favourite places for an early walk or sunset spot.  I’m visiting again next month and looking forward to my time there.DSCN7306
River gums, Carnarvon, Western Australia
This year I discovered an enchanted forest of river gums along the Gascoyne River in Carnarvon and standing alongside it, felt like an embrace.DSCN7268
Gascoyne River at Rocky Pool, Western Australia
Then there was my trip to a cattle station outside Carnarvon.  Such a fabulous trip on previously untravelled roads.  These colours of the Midwest outback quicken my pulse.  If one painted it, the art would look garish, but Nature does it so well.DSCN7196
Sand dunes, Pelican Point, Carnarvon, Western Australia
I always love photographing the sand dunes at Pelican Point where the wind writes lines like every author aspires to.DSCN7200
A wake up call!  Sand dunes, Carnarvon, Western Australia
I usually stay in the car at Pelican Point.  It is usually very windy and the sand is blinding.  This time I walked around and thought I saw driftwood.  I was wrong!DSCN7045
Australian avocet, Woody Lake, Esperance, Western Australia
In Esperance I saw my first Australian avocet, it was the only avocet among dozens of other birds and different species.  I was fascinated by the curved, delicate beak that it swept from side to side in shallow water to feed.DSCN7059
The end!

My diary for March is full.  No doubt, there will be a lot of opportunities for more time outdoors as well.  That’s how I’ve come to accept the gruelling schedule, work equates photography.  And, I’m happy with that!

Until next time

As always

a dawn bird

In response to The Changing Seasons

Do look back … 30 November 2019

I think reflecting on the past month is a wonderful way to take a breath …DSCN8809.jpg
I’ve come to realise in the past few months, it is at home and in my garden is where I find best balance.
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Where birds comes to visit me for a change.
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I’ve enjoyed a long drive between Carnarvon and Geraldton.  This is my favourite roadhouse along the way.  I found out this area is prone to flooding when it rains, and quite beautiful with numerous billabongs that attract birdlife.  The change between spring to summer has been swift.  It was a hot drive.DSCN7120.jpg
The highway between Carnarvon and Geraldton is long and lonely.  My colleague and I always feel carefree in these parts.  We usually stop here and stretch our legs at a lookout that overlooks Gladstone Beach in the far distance.DSCN8824.jpg
Geraldton has become my second home.  I’ve grown to love this place and the easy lifestyle.DSCN9956.jpg
Returning home from trips I found the gooseberries were turning into jam on the bush from the heat.  What happened to spring, this year?DSCN9961.jpg
The mulberries are plentiful and most out of my reach, except for my zoom.DSCN9988.jpg
In Esperance the wildflowers have disappeared and birdlife is plenty.  This wattlebird was as curious about me, as I was of it.
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The wildflowers have disappeared in Foxes Lair too except for a hardy few.  I saw a blur in the bush and found it was the tiny pink trigger plants.DSCN7043.jpg
The pied stilt was gorgeous at Chinaman Pool, in Carnarvon, at sunset.thumb_IMG_0376_1024.jpg
I’ve just returned from being away for nearly ten days and found Perth is sweet home, after all.  Now that came as a surprise to me!

It’s the first day of summer tomorrow.  I’ll be starting it in the heat of the Goldfields.

Until next time

As always

a dawn bird

In response to The Changing Seasons – November