Tallow Beach Bush Walk September 2010

Tallow Beach

September 2010.

Living on the edge of a National Park, there are many opportunities for nature walks.

In Australia we call them bush walks because we refer to our forested areas as "The Bush"

Anything outside of "The Big Smoke", the city, is referred to as "The Bush".

"I'm going bush." "we're going on a Bush Walk." 

There are many walks within five minutes of our house.

For a few months, Anji and I have been planning to do one we haven’t done. Last Sunday was a beautiful Spring day, the best so far this year. So we decided today is the day and set off about 10 30 am.

We took only ourselves, a camera and a bottle of water (and hats of course).

You can probably follow our walk on Google Maps.

We started at a small hamlet named Wagstaffe. The path, or trail, goes half way up a hill and then traverses across the range, steadily climbing until you reach the top and then drops down to end at a secluded beach known as Tallow Beach. Camping allowed but absolutely no amenities. Not even fresh water. No problem, it’s only a two and a half hour round trip.

We found some interesting wild life along the way and Anji met her first Australian snake. A large, Red Bellied Black snake. Like most of our local snakes, extremely venomous.

But leave it alone and it will scurry away from you. They are out very early this year because we are having an early spring.

So enjoy my photographic journey and the beautiful day.

The start of the trail

The mountains, such as they are, are not solid rock. Loose soil and rocks make up the ranges around the Central Coast. So there are many strange rock formations that look as though someone has made them.

Looking back along the trail.

This little bird is about the size of a man's thumb. We almost missed it because it was so small.

It was jumping around and we realized it was guarding its nest which is a burrow in the dirt wall. That's the black circle you can just see behind it.

There are many native flowers starting to blossom. The warm weather seems to have brought them all out at the same time. This one is known as the Bacon and Egg tree. If you look closely at the blossom, it looks like there is a fried egg with two strips of bacon. The insect enjoying the blossom is what we call a BEE :-)!!

Looking from one ridge across to the other side. The forest is mainly Gum Trees and the one in the foreground, framing the scene, is a Red Gum.

I am not a flower person so I don't know this one. Sweet perfume and small in structure like most Australian wild flowers. Rain is too scarce to have big flowers.

This caught my eye because of the contrast of the rocks and the dead Red Gum behind, balanced by the blue sky. Look close in the dead tree and there is a Crow.

The dead tree from a different angle. Found the crow yet?

These are Banksias. Commonly called Bottle Brush because the flowers look like, well, a bottle brush. They need extreme heat and preferably a bush fire to open the seeds.

The next three photos are not from the walk but are just to show what the Banksias look like when in bloom, about January.

 

Mae Gibbs, a famous Australian writer from the early days of last century, wrote a series of children's books which are considered national treasures. The stories personify the Australian native flowers by turning the gum tree blossoms into child-like creatures known as the Gum-nut babies and the Banksias become evil men who try to capture them. When you look at the dried seed pods, you can see how she got her inspiration.

The opened seed pod of the Banksia or the Bad Banksia Men.

Like all Australian native plants, trees have to be hardy. This one is actually growing from between two large rocks. It is strong enough to have pushed the top rock out of place.

The view at the half way point. Looking across the entrance to Brisbane Water.

This a native bush orchid. They grow on the side of rock formations. Much sought after but very expensive. Even more expensive if you get caught trying to steal one from a National Park.

This is a Bush Turkey nest. Have a look at one of my previous Blogs about bush turkeys. The base of this one is about 3 metres diameter and is made up of scraped up leaves and sticks. Eggs are laid deep inside the mound and the heat from the rotting vegetation keeps the eggs warm.

Anji's Black snake. The photo is a bit blurry because I didn't have much time to line it up with the little camera I took. But I am sure you get the idea. It's about a metre and a half.

Kookaburra sitting in the old gum tree

Merry merry King of the bush is he

Laugh Kookaburra, laugh Kookaburra

Gay your life must be.

These are the words of a well known children's song, usually sung in a rounder.

The Kookaburra is the largest of the kingfisher family and has a raucous laugh. It is one of the most recognisable Australian bush sounds.

Again, I don't what these are called. I had to take them because there were just so many flowers in bloom and it appeared that they had all started within a few days.

Not a good picture but the white verticles are a plant called Flannel flowers. They don't bloom until the hotter months. They are unique because the flowers are not what they seem to be. The petals are actually the sepples and the head contains hundreds of tiny flowers that can only be clearly seen with a magnifying glass. The walk is actually called Flannel Flower Walking Track.

You'll notice that this area looks a bit sparse. I put this one in to show you what happens during one of our bush fires. This area was decimated by a fire one or two summers ago. You can see the rocks through the trees and some of the close trees are black sticks. But in the foreground you can see bushy green growth. Such is the power of regeneration of the native bush that, within a short period of time, new growth will start and, around two years, all will return  to normal.

This one shows the thick, new growth.

And this is what we see at the end of the walk. This is the baby beach, Little

 Tallow.

And this is Tallow Beach. Looking south toward Little Tallow.

A row of wild flower bushes all ready to fully burst out. The noise of the bees was almost deafening.

A beautiful view.

Notice how the trees on this headland fold back away from the beach like a brush back hair style (the grey area has also been burnt recently). The beach faces south and the prevailing winds here are southerly and strong. Most of our headland plants are stunted because of the strong, on-shore winds.

That's it folks. I hope you have enjoyed our little bush walk.

Anji and Ian

SEEMING or DOING

Going Solar

I recently read an article in a Sydney newspaper regarding the current generation’s desire to SEEM to be doing something about everything.

They SEEM to be concerned about global warming and like to go to concerts so they can be seen to SEEM to be doing something. They buy a T-shirt at the concert that says ‘I CARE’ and they buy a CD because the band play says the concert is to RAISE AWARENESS about global warming.

Well, if we are not aware by now we must have our heads in the sand. How many more reports form eminent scientists do we need to become AWARE?

People love to SEEM to be aware but, actually taking some action to show they DOING something rather than SEEMING to be DOING something is very different and very rare.

The concert they went to, to SEEM to be DOING something, they would have gone to anyway because they like the band and the concert was free. The T-shirt they bought was cool and they could wear it to SEEM to be doing something.

It is only fair that I comment on Australia as I really don’t know the facts about other countries (except China). So I will pose the question, how many in Australia are really DOING something rather than just TALKING? Even if Global Warming is not permanent and is simply a climatic condition that will reverse in time, shouldn’t we be embracing new technologies that will help us be less dependent on coal and petroleum? Both of these cause heavy pollution and shouldn’t we be concerned about what we are putting into the air and water and which we eventually breathe or ingest? Shouldn’t we be concerned about the animals that we may be destroying simply because it is easier and cheaper to stay with what we now have?

In China, all new apartment buildings have a solar water heater on the roof for every apartment in the complex. Street lights are run by solar panels and storage batteries in new areas. They are so far ahead in the public use of solar, it is embarrassing.

So I decided it’s time to DO something rather SEEM to do something. I have gone solar.

The first stage was completed in the first week in January this year with the installation of a solar water heating system. When I have my morning shower, it is good to know that the hot water I use will be replaced by the sun for free and with out a load on the electricity grid. I can’t replace the actual water but the energy to heat it is free. It’s a good feeling.

Stage two was completed on Easter Saturday just passed. It would have been a month ago but there was a hitch with the size of our roof. But it is finished now and churning out free electricity. The nice government made it cheaper by bringing in benefits to create work to assist getting Australia through the GFC.

So now I am producing all the electricity I use during the day to run refrigerators, washing machines and may other things. Of course, I can’t use it at night and I don’t have storage batteries (not yet!). But the government buys all the electricity I produce and bills me for what I use. So I should be getting a cheque rather than an invoice every quarter. I am producing enough electricity to supply our house and our two neighbours.

I am not bragging but, now I can say I do not SEEM to be doing something but I have actually DONE something and I really feel good.

One final thing, Anji is becoming quite the little gardener now that she has her own yard.

Cheers

A dog's travels

This the story of Ben Ben the dog and his travels from China to Australia.

Ben Ben at about 4 months

Ben Ben was born around December 2005 in Han Ting, a small county in the city of Weifang, Shandong Province, China.

Anji's brother found him and gave him to Anji when she was visiting her home.

We were living in Weifang Number One Middle School at the time, on the second floor of the teachers dormitory.

He became quite popular with the students and played with them on the sports field at lunch time.

 

Ben Ben playing with Anji.

In April 2006, we moved to Weifang University to a 6th floor roof apartment.

It had two levels. The normal living level and a mezzanine floor which was designed to provide extra cooling in summer. It had a little balcony and Ben Ben loved to go there. I couldn't find him one evening. He had discovered he could get onto the building roof and wander along the whole complex. How he never fell off amazed me. We blocked it off so he couldn't go there.

On the roof

  

Inside on the stairs with his mate, Meggsie.

           

From Uni we went to Weifang Medical University. A second floor apartment with a lovely blacony over looking a river park. Ben Ben and Meggsie used to like sitting on the bedroom window box because that's where the central heating was.

 

Cosy on a winter's day.

Meggsie was Ben Ben's companion. They used to walk together, much to the amusement and surprise of our Chinese neighbours who had never seen a dog and cat who were such close friends.

  

Walking together and they loved to sit together on their favourite chair in the sun.

 

Playing in the snow

 

This lady really loved Ben Ben and so did this little girl. He also loved them.

And then another move. We went to a TAFE/Vocational college for our final year in China. Back to a 5th floor apartment. Ben Ben and Meggsie continued their walks together but, because we now lived in the centre of the city, Meggsie wouldn't venture outside of the building complex.

At the end of the school year in June 2009, it was time to return to Australia and Ben Ben came with us. Unfortunately, we couldn't bring Meggsie because we live on the edge of a national park with lots of bird life and he was too quick. So, with many tears, he went to a friend's farm where he is still living to this day and chasing mice and being loved by an old lady.

At the end of July, we moved to Qing Dao in preparation to move back to Australia. Ben Ben had a round of visit to Vets for vaccinations, micro-chipping and tests so he could start the long journey to Australia. From Qing Dao to Killcare would take seven months. No, he didn't have to swim. Australia is a country blessed with being disease free as far as animals go and we intend to keep it that way.

Some countries with diseases such as rabies, are totally closed to animal imports. Animals from those countries have to spend 6 months in a Rabies free country before being allowed into Australia. So Ben Ben Lived for six months in Singapore.

On the 23 of July 2008 Anji and Ben Ben flew from Qing Dao to Beijing and then Beijing to Singapore.

 

In his travel cage.

 

The other pretty lady with Ben Ben is Pan Meilin.

She was one of my students in Weifang and now studies Architectural Art in the leading Uni in Beijing, as smart as she is good looking. She came in to Beijing airport to visit us before we left China. We now call her friend. She also knew Ben Ben very well.

And that's were we left Ben Ben until recently. At a pet farm called Pet Movers in Singapore.

On the 4th of February 2010, Ben Ben completed his third aeroplane ride and arrived in Sydney. His journey was not over yet because he had to spend 30 days in Australian quarantine at their AQIS centre at Eastern Creek west of Sydney. 

While this place looks like a maximum security prison, the animals are well looked after by Vets and carers who really love the animals. Ben Ben was looked after by Kali and he instantly bonded closely with her.

Owners are allowed to visit their dogs and cats any day, Monday to Friday, in the morning for half hour walks and in the afternoon on Tuesday and Thursdays in their kennels for two hours.

So we made the trip of 100 kilometres twice a week. On the first day, Kali took us to his little room and he jumped around when he saw her and then saw Anji behind Kali. An explosion of excitement ensued with whining, barking and a lot of joy to see his mommy.

 Left and below: Our first day visiting Ben Ben

 Enjoying a chewy bone.

 Ben Ben with Kali his carer

On Saturday, March 6 2010, Ben Ben came home. Actually, he went to my sister's house first because I had to do some work there. But he was home in Killcare in his new house and yard in time for dinner on Saturday night.

 On Sunday morning, his second day of freedom, we took him to a park beside Brisbane Water,the lake that is the centre piece of Gosford. It was his first chance to walk and sniff and leave his messages on the the trees.

Ben Ben seemed a little lost for the first few days. A little upset if we left him at home. I guess because he had been in so many different places for the last 7 months and then, when he saw us for the first time, we kept leaving.

It is now one week and he seems quite at home now. I think he recognises that his yard is his now. He loves to go out in the car. He always did in Weifang but our Toyota Camry is a bit more spacious and more comfortable than our Weifang Egg that some of you would have seen and remember fondly.

He also likes to sit in the front yard on his keeper chain after his morning walk. There he can sit and watch the world go passed and watch the local kids catch the school bus which picks them up at the front of our house.

 Watching the world at the front of our house.

 

Above & below: His first morning in his new back yard

He has only been home for a week so there aren't many photos of him in Killcare yet. We are so pleased to have our good mate home with in good health.

Thank you to all those people who made his journey a smooth if lengthy one.

And thank you to all friends for simply being our friends.

 

August 17 2020

Today we said goodbye to our lovely boy, our friendly wolf. After 15 years with us, old age finally caught up with him. He could no longer go on the long walks he loved and was losing his sight and hearing. When he could no longer stand up without assistance, we knew it was time to say goodbye. It seems like he has always been with us but now our yard is empty. No chasing Turkeys, no racing around the yard or taking visitors by the hand.

Goodbye, our lovely boy and thank you for making our lives so much happier.