Monday 30 January 2017

Beach Walk

Last weekend (21st Jan), we headed off for a Sunday drive.
Mr Sparky suggested a drive down to Kurrimine Beach, just for the fun of it.
So off we headed, avoiding housework, for a morning drive.


Despite how often I've driven between Cairns and Townsville and around the ridges at this end, I've never stopped off at any of the beaches. 
It was nice to do a bit of exploring.


Kurrimine beach will be forever etched in my head at the place where everyone has a tractor to go with their boat.
We had a quick wander out on the sand but the sun was burning and that didn't last long.


It was a gorgeous day for it, so we decided to dip in and out along the coast on our way back north and visit a few more of the beaches.


Next we stopped in at Cowley Beach.
What a pretty beach that is.


Kurimine had nets up for swimming but there was nowhere for swimming here.
It is also a turtle nesting ground. I wonder if you can come watch them hatch, that would be cool and probably something you have to fluke seeing.


Mr Sparky did a bit of beach combing, looking for shell while I tagged along behind taking photos.


We did one more beach stop after that, it being about lunch time, Etty Bay.


Now Etty Bay is one that has been on my list to visit, the list I keep forgetting.


The beach was pretty picturesque with the forest meeting the sea.


I'd love to spend more time exploring around the rocks, when it isn't so hot and the middle of summer.







But as pretty as the beach was, that wasn't the reason I had wanted to visit.


This was the reason I wanted to visit, the resident Cassowaries.


I kind of figured, knowing my luck, we wouldn't see them.
I was so wrong with one turning up for lunch time, to see what it could find.


Now Cassowaries are one of those animals you give a wide berth to. Check out those feet! They are known to go on the attack and do some pretty major damage when the mood strikes them, or when they have chicks (yet another Aussie animal where daddy does the child rearing).
This one however was happy to wander among the cars and people, probably a little too happy to.



After trying to convince some people eating near the beach that they should share their food, they didn't, it wandered off down onto the sand to find some more bird friendly snacks.


Now I have no idea whether this is a male of female. It turns out they look pretty much the same except the female is bigger and possibly brighter coloured.
After reading up a bit I am going to make a guess that is is either a female or a younger Cassowary. Breeding season is May to October and the male sits on the eggs for 2 months and then rears the chicks.


I put up a couple of photos on instagram of the Cassowary hanging out on the beach. Most exciting was that I made a repost 'Explore Tropical North Queensland' and their facebook for 'best of the week' as well. Woohoo! Although nothing tops actually getting to see the Cassowary. A few people on the repost wanted to know if it was for real, especially that it was down on the beach. Definitely 'for real' and definitely made my day.




I did a little Cassowary stalking as it wandered along the beach and out of sight.
Then we went off to find some tucker of our own.
We had fish and chips at the shop right there, opposite the beach. They were pretty good too.


Just as we were finishing up, we spotted that Cassowary heading back along the beach, checking out what it could see through the windows of peoples' cars and undoubtedly being hopeful about offerings of human food.



I think I'll be heading back to Etty Bay again, that is for sure.


It made a good 'birthday' drive for my birthday during that week.


It also made for a great pre Australia Day drive. You can't get much more Australian than an iconic Aussie animal wandering around one of our gorgeous beaches.
The 26th of January, Australia Day, looked a lot less beach weather like and a lot more typical wet season. Funnily enough, the public holiday, was the only day in the week where it was cloudy and rainy. The one day when people want to get out, spend some time around the BBQ and just generally celebrate the awesome things about this country.
We spent ours at home, doing nothing much, enjoying the air con and snoozing. Exciting bunch that we are.


Grab button for one mother hen

Sunday 22 January 2017

Milestones

This past week has been one of milestones.

My birthday sunrise, before work.

Thursday was my birthday, the big 3 0.
How an earth did that happen?
I am sure my mother is having the same thoughts at having a 30yr old daughter.
I think I've been a bit worried about reaching this age milestone but now I've leapt over that fence, it really is just another number.
Actually, it was a pretty non eventful day with just work, where I did get a little spoilt and get cake (which was needed after a morning of 12 toddler cyclones in the room), and antenatal class. It was over in the blink of an eye. 
I am hoping for a great year ahead and for another awesome 30 to follow filled with fun, family, growth, joy, new experiences and much more.


Saturday saw me reach 30 weeks.
Yet again, how an earth did that happen?
This whole pregnancy is speeding by.

30weeks

This week I also managed to be awake for the sunrise a few mornings AND to get out for photos at the lookout on Lake Morris/ Copperlode Dam road on Friday morning.


How exciting, the sun was actually out! 


Obviously, as per usual, I don't have a life beyond work (51 hours + travel this week) so the small things turn into big things. When I actually realise how many hours I've done between both jobs, I guess my tiredness is justified.


It was nice to get out and enjoy the quiet of the morning.


I better enjoy this while I can.
Speaking of which, 30 weeks means the paperwork for my parental leave from my night fill job has been handed in. End date in sight!


Thursday night we headed off to our second antenatal class, Mr Sparky under duress. I might have had a bit of a bit of freak out about not being ready for all this during and after class but a good nights sleep and this sunrise helped to put that behind me.


Sometimes I way overthink things. Well if you listen to Mr Sparky, it is more like all the time.


But hey, how could a view like this not sooth worries.




A bonus was that because of the recent rain the little waterfall on this road was flowing, not a lot but still pretty to see.



Friday was a day off for me, not that I did much other than washing and paperwork and of cause my little sunrise drive. I did have to go to work that night though. What a way at wreck a day off.


I just pretend my birthday was extended for a day so that I got to spend it more how I wanted to rather than at work like I did.

29 weeks + 6 days - me and my chins and my lens in my back pocket.


What do you like to do on your days off or days alone?
Any milestones coming up for you?

Grab button for one mother hen