After the Circus I walked back to Redland Bay and took the ferry back to Russell island. To my delight, it was sunset time and I was treated to a beautiful sunset over the water.
Sunset over the sea
I noticed small boats fishing and realised they were prawning. Often prawns can be caught sitting on the bottom around weedy areas, with sand or muddy bottoms. Another surprise was the prawns often sit in water, between little more than ankle to not much more than thigh deep. This means it is best to seek prawns at low tide in Moreton Bay. But at certain times of the year, like right now, there are patches of prawns in the bay and you can see them jumping out of the water. This is when all the little boats come out into the bay to catch prawns using cast nets.
Catching prawns off Macleay Island at sunset
Cast netting for banana prawns, and as always, there is a lot of people chasing them. They usually turn up in the southern bay at this time of year as well, top spots include the southern end of Macleay Island, western side of Russell Island down to the Power Lines south of the Logan River entrance. the best technique is to move around concentrating on the deeper holes and channels using your sounder to find the schools, hopefully before too many others find them
Moscow Circus…An extreme show. Featuring Australia’s top trial riders, “The Flair Riders”. Extreme High Wire and the worlds best dare devil motorcycle Cage Riders. Breath-taking Aerial performances and much much more. A circus not to be missed.
Moscow Circus at Redland Bay
Russian Circus traditions include clowning, juggling, acrobatics, contortion, and animal acts with six tiny ponies. The show lived up to its advertising with an everchanging, fast moving selection of acts that effortlessly rolled on one after the other delighting the audience who were excited and responsive to the lively performers as they moved in the tiny arena and out interacting with the audience. The lighting was amazing and changed and highlighted the acts creating drama and following the performance.
Moscow Circus Clown includes the audience
Everybody loves a clown and this mock Charlie Chaplain type figure hobbled along silently interacting with members of the audience as he orchestrated his simple dramas in a very visual and tantalising way, leading the audience into responding with hoots of laughter and great enjoyment. I laughed so much I forgot to take photos as he manipulated those he selected from the audience and had them relaxed enough to perform beside him. He was excellent and memorable.
Juggling and Daredevil stunts amazed the audience
No wild animals perform in circuses anymore; domesticated animals, yes. To that end, Moscow Circus has a team of tiny, tiny horses which trot around this way and that and look adorable. Ongoing acts are programmed seamlessly. The show moves swiftly, never dull. The motorcycle Cage of Death is the climactic event. It is loud and fast, daredevil dangerous and as good as it gets. https://www.thebarefootreview.com.au/menu/theatre/119-2014-adelaide-reviews/1728-the-great-moscow-circus.html
High wire acrobats and the contortionist
The trampoline acrobats are a highlight of this circus. The trampoline is beside big wall with open doorways. The acrobats are dressed up like graffiti artists. The music is hip hop. They bounce and somersault higher and higher, in and out of the doors, up and down, faster and faster, clever, funny, inventive and utterly expert.
The Trampoline artists
The final curtain raiser was the dramatic Motor Cycle Dare Devils riding the Globe and to my delight Diego, who I met when I was working at Hudson’s Circus, was one of the riders and I went to take his photo, and they took a photo of me inside the Cage instead. This is a scary and hell raising event, especially when they had 3 motorcycles flashing around this very small globe .It began with an amazing fire Dance bringing in the globe
The show ended after this drama, with a line-up of all the performers that extended to a line up outside the tent as we were leaving, so we could say thank-you to the artists for their amazing show, and it was an amazing show.
Gypsy Band featuring soloist Carole Marco, played at the Brisbane Jazz Club on Sunday afternoon. I was the first to arrive there as I was keen to get a table, as was told it was booked out when I made the booking and I was placed on a waiting list and told to be there at 2.15. To my great disappointment I was seated outside in the hot sun at a one perch table and it was hot and uncomfortable. I saw the band at a table with an umbrella, so went and sat with them and chatted with them. They were friendly and great fun and I looked forward to hearing the music. When I expressed my dismay at being outside in the hot sun alone, the band told me to come inside and ‘hang around the Bar’ and take photos and listen to the Music. There was Eddie from Brazil, Nikki from Italy, John from Australia and Oberta from Italy….and Carole who I did not meet.
Gypsy Band
Inside was dimly lit and photos were not easy. I stood by the bar and took photos. The band is versatile and amazing. They are so alive and full of energy. Carole, the main singer was beautiful. She has personality and charm and fitted the whole scene perfectly. They played for 2 hours without a break and the audience just sat there in that dim room with so little interaction.
Outside there were a few tables located under a small television screen that I only saw later in the afternoon, when the lady at the table I had moved to to be next to a friend, told me to be quiet as she was listening to the music. I am afraid I am slightly deaf and could not hear any music outside at all. I also wondered about the couple I saw where the man was obviously blind. Sitting outside was not successful at all. Most of the attendees were in the Senior age group and even older than I was.
After the break, they open up the blinds and that lets light into the Club as well as making some music outside. Again, the lady sitting at my table told me to be quiet and as I could hardly hear the music, I decided to leave. As I was walking out I saw an empty table opposite the band and sat there to take some photos….It was great seeing the river outside behind the band and I was really enjoying the music, and tapping my feet away when one of the ancient waitresses came and told me to go as someone was going to sit at the table….in the next session as it was now well after 5pm.
The last photo I took before I got told to leave the table…
I was disappointed….and muttering away that my photos are free publicity and should be appreciated, I left. I did purchase a two year membership, so I may give them another chance but I will never sit outside again. It was hopeless and a total waste of time as you can’t hear the music, you can’t see anything and you cannot talk to people and socialize either. The band was great and I wonder where I can hear them again.
Eagle Street Pieris home to over 15 restaurants, bars and casual eateries located in the heart of Brisbane, with the city’s best views of Story Bridge. Eagle Street Pier is an iconic waterfront precinct with world-class dining venues and unrivalled views of the Brisbane River and Story Bridge
Firmly established as one of Brisbane’s favourite food and entertainment destinations, its prestigious culinary stable includes Saké, Pony, ARIA Restaurant, Cha Cha Char and Il Centro. Eagle Street Pier also is the perfect place to meet for drinks or cocktails at the casual riverside bars Mr & Mrs G, Jade Buddha or Bavarian Bier Café. It is also an ideal place to head for lunch.
I booked in at Felix Oaks …Oaks Brisbane Felix Suites is situated to take full advantage of everything Brisbane has to offer. With an onsite swimming pool, Jacuzzi and BBQ facilities, the spacious one, two and three-bedroom apartments include WiFi, TV and private balcony with city or river views.
My 2 bedroom apartment was located on the 19th Floor with views across to the Story Bridge. It was beautiful with a balcony that over looked Felix street below and Eagle Pier across the road. Added to my delight was the Indian Restaurant Mehfi, in Felix Street which made the best Burianyi… I have ever eaten.
Eagle Pier is a hive of activity. The Ferries travel from Eagle pier up and down the river, and last time I took the river Cruise with the Paddle Steamers. The area is well serviced with buses including the free city link that goes around the city and great for a quick tour. St Stephens Cathedral and St Johns Cathedral is walking distance and St Marys Is across at Kangaroo Point.
World Scout Day is celebrated on 22nd February, the birthday of Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell (born in 1857), the founder of Scouting.
Scouts’ Day or Guides’ Day is a term for special days, observed by members of the Scouting movement throughout the year. Some of these days have religious significance, while others may be a simple celebration of Scouting. It is a day when all members of Scouting re-affirm the Scout Promise. St Mary’s had a special service where the scouts renewed their promise.
St Mary’s music programme seeks to stir the hearts and minds of all who worship (or attend a concert performance) in our beautiful stone church on the cliffs at Kangaroo Point. Sunday worship is cradled in a rich blend of organ and choral music from many styles and eras, and might be described as traditional, though not rigidly so.
St Mary’s Choir in its present form was established in 1994 as a mixed choir of 12-14 singers from a variety of backgrounds and professions. The Full Choir sings every other Sunday (see: choir schedule) at the 9.00am Eucharist and rehearses on Thursday evening (7.30pm) and Sunday morning (8am). The choir sings a broad repertoire, incorporating all periods of choral music from Gregorian chant through to the 20th century.
St Marys Choir and Choirmaster
St Mary’s is the custodian of Queensland’s oldest pipe organ. As a result of the ‘modernization’ of this instrument in 1961 many important original components were removed. A major project to regain the integrity of the original instrument is planned for the coming years. In order to accommodate St Mary’s significant musical requirements in the interim, a 3-manual Allen Q-300 digital organ was purchased from All Organs Australia in 2008.
The scouts were present at the service, and sat in the first few rows of the Church.
The last February Sunrise on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands was spectacular. I took the 5.20 am Ferry from Russell island to Redland Bay Marina, taking photos as the colors deepened and changed with vivid intensity.
When the sun is low on the horizon during sunrises and sunsets, the sunlight travels through more of the atmosphere. Shorter wavelength colors (blues and violets) get scattered out. This leaves more of the longer wavelength colors like yellow, orange, and red. This is why sunrises often take on such colors
Clouds catch the last red-orange rays of the setting sun and the first light of the dawn like a theatre screen, and reflect this light to the ground.
The best sunrises and sunsets seem to be associated with middle to high clouds rather than lower level clouds. Higher clouds receive sunlight that has not been altered by attenuation at lower levels. Typical pollution droplets such as those found in urban smog or summertime haze are on the order of .5 to 1 um in diameter. Particles this large are not good as they are comparable in size to the wavelength of visible light….pollutants also enhance light modification at low sun angles. This causes a reduction in the total light reaching our eyes and the overall brilliance of the sunrise.
February’s full moon is traditionally known as the Snow Moon in the northern hemisphere and typically symbolises the beginning of spring. The moon will reach its peak at 8.17am GMT on Saturday but will appear full in the sky on both Friday and Saturday night. Some North American tribes named it the Hunger Moon due to the scarce food sources and hard hunting conditions during mid-winter, while others named it the Storm Moon.
In Australia we should call it the Summer Bat Moon because the sunsets and sunrises are particularly vivid this time of the year, and this year has seen the Bats migrating back to the Islands…and its the sunset time that they fly back in great numbers. The full moon was rising as the bats arrived
Columboola Country has been a tourism Caravan Park set up for the Public around twenty years ago. The current Owner, Colin Jackson, purchased Columboola Country in December 2003. For fourteen years the main target was tourism, schools and groups. Just before Easter 2019 suggestions were made to set it up as a Veterans Retreat. Since promoting to the Veterans the property has been very well received by all aged serving as well as served members of our defence force and first responder communities. Today 265 acres provides secluded camping sites and cottage accommodation beside the Punchbowl Creek.
The Punchbowl Creek commences here on the property and runs to the Dogwood Creek in Miles.
Punchbowl Creek, State of Queensland, Australia … Cracow, Banana Shire, Queensland, Australia, 25° 17′ 20″ S, 150° 16′ 57″ E, 52.3km (32.5 miles), 82.7° (E).
Bill and Nita Ryall Lived at Columboola Country. In 1923 using the 18hp Buick Motor from Grandfather Ryall, Bill set up a small sawmill. With the little sawmill, Bill provided timber for the shearing shed and set of sheep yards. The shed was big enough for 400 sheep. Next to be built was a new home for Bill and his family, which was constructed from Cyprus Pine and Iron Bark.
In 1957, Bill bought a bigger sawmill and employed 2 men to help operate it. One of them was Freddy Brooks, a chinchilla man with sawmilling experience. Bill was now selling sawn timber locally. By 1970, Chinchilla Cypress pine was being used for housing in Toowoomba. Here a cabinet maker discovered Bill’s timber, and soon it was being used to construct architecturally designed homes in Noosa. This western timber was resistant to white ants.
Interior of the old house on the property
Punchbowl Creek had been the setting for Bill’s childhood, and his dream was to turn it into a place where families could enjoy the simple pleasure of country living, and it was that vision that brought about what we now know as Columboola Country. Colin Jackson purchased the property from Bill Ryall, and today it has become the Columboola Country Veterans Retreat.
Columboola Country has some amazing sunrises and sunsets. The sky bursts into amazing colors and you can walk the property viewing the sunrise as it covers the sky
Who had the coldest start to winter?
Ben Domensino, Tuesday June 1, 2021 – 10:35 EST
Today is the first day of winter in Australia. So, which part of Australia had the coldest start to the season this time around?
The golden Ugg boot award for the lowest temperature in Australia on the first morning of winter (June 1, 2021) was Cooma Airport in NSW, which dipped to minus 5.5ºC at 6:16am local time.
The next coldest spots were Canberra Airport and Goulburn Airport, which both reached minus 5.2ºC between 7:00am and 7:30am.
Columboola Country is ideally located for the travelling holiday maker. They are four comfortable hours drive west of Brisbane, just off the main Warrego Highway. They are also only two hours north of Goondiwindi, which is the major inland crossing point between Queensland and New South Wales.
WELCOME TO COLUMBOOLA COUNTRY
VETERANS RETREAT
Columboola Country is the ideal location to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday situations.
We are a comfortable 4 hours drive west of Brisbane, just off the main Warrego Highway between Chinchilla and Miles. Being only 2 hours north of Goondiwindi, the main crossing point from New South Wales into Queensland, Columboola Country is the obvious choice for those from the southern states, to break their trip.
Your pets are more than welcome here and we completely get it that all our best companions may not be human. Dogs are not the only companions our guests bring either. Those with horses are also welcome, we do have a small yard for your horse, but most people prefer their horses with them.
Columboola Country is not your usual regimented caravan park. We pride ourselves on the space and the distance between all cabins, cottages and sites. We promote as more of a back to nature, bush camping experience. And with 265 acres available, our unpowered sites range from ‘completely remote’ to being within the main camping area.
The Camping Area has all the modern amenities… hot showers and flush toilets. A coin operated laundry is also available.
Am staying at The Dalby Tourist Caravan Park and there is a walking track along the river adjacent to the Caravan Park which is rich with bird life as well as Baobab Trees and huge gums that line the river bank
Lake Coolmunda is at full capacity because of the rains. Sunrise is over the lake and amazing. It always surprises me that so many people camp on water shores with sunrise views such as this and never see them as they are all tucked up safe and asleep at Sunrise. This is my last day here and its an amazing sunrise
Camping here is on the shore right at the Lake…perfect fpor launching your own boat for fishing
Nights on the road can be quite lonesome if you are a solo traveller on your ownsome. Most fellow travellers who are happy to chat with you in the daylight are not so welcoming at night.
I have walked past while they have drinks and nibbles by their individual campfires by their individual portable fire boxes or containers and never in my ten years on the road has anyone ever said “Why don’t you come and join us.” I stop and say “Nice fire. .looks great ” and smile my happy smile and I walk past to my small van and go in and close the windows and doors.
I can read a book if I am in a powered site and also go on the wifi Internet if I am in an area with coverage and I am fine but the real loneliness is in an unpowered site with no wifi or phone coverage and darkness your only friend. At Heifer Creek there was no moon and no public lights and no nothing. I light tea lights and a couple of solar lights I travel with but I longingly looked at the campfires on either side of me and again wonder why my friendly neighbours do not invite me to join them in the evening when they had happily chatted with me during daylight hours.
Somehow when night falls campers huddle beside their own fires and retire into their own private worlds. There are groups that camp together and there are two or three cars that travel together and the happy comradeship makes me feel even more lonely. This trip has made me feel very isolated maybe because I am in areas where people don’t want to socialize with a single female even an old one. Night makes us invisible and unwanted like cochroaches and mice that scurry around in the dark.
So I play the ukulele and sing myself some songs until it gets too dark to see the strings and my fingers start missing the notes and then I change into pj’s and tuck under the blanket ready for the night for once it’s dark it’s bedtime whatever the time is.
Coolamunda Lake is a haven for birds…. The Lake has now filled after the rains and more and more birds are arriving at the Lake.
THE GOONDIWINDI REGION lies in the heart of the Brigalow Belt, on the border between Queensland and New South Wales. It’s a place where the tropical north meets the temperate south and the wetter conditions of the east blend with the arid west. Where streams merge into rivers before breaking out into a lazy inland delta of billabongs, anabranches and flood runners. It’s an area diverse in habitat and home to a rich array of birds, with over 200 species identified.
The Coolmunda Dam is an earth–fill embankment dam with a gated spillway across the Macintrye Brook, a tributary of the Dumaresq River, that is located on Darling Downs in Queensland, Australia. The main purposes of the dam are for irrigation and potable water supply.
Lake Coolmunda Caravan Park QLD offers a range of comfortable, affordable facilities for a memorable and enjoyable visit. Renowned for being an incredible fishing spot! We love pets just as much as you do, bring them along!
We offer all water sports including skiing, paraflying, sailing, canoeing, fishing, sun baking. Also bird-watching, hiking, lovely sunrise, sunset or stars. We have lovely native flowers in season. Take a day’s drive to different areas – Warwick, Stanthorpe, Texas, Goondiwindi, Millmerran, Toowoomba or down to the coast or Brisbane. Or many other smaller areas located between these main towns.
Our park has a swimming pool, tennis court, B.B.Q., camp oven fire, fire drum, camp kitchen, full amenity block. Camping areas with fire drums and B.B.Q. Have your rest and a snack at the picnic table, stroll around, watch the birds, boats etc, gaze over the water and stroll back.
The caravan park is $32 for powered and $12 for unpowered at the lake . The Camping sites by the lake are all $12 and all unpowered. There are toilets and hot showers and a barbecue area and picnic shelters and the location is very beautiful rich in bird life and you can park anywhere on the site.
Leslie Dam is a dam in the locality of the same name Leslie Dam, Southern Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It is 11 kilometres from Warwick town centre.
I camped at the Leslie Dam Caravan Park…cost $25 powered, $14 unpowered… The facilities are excellent..hot showers, toilets, washing machines and a small shop with essentials and treats at the Office.
Leslie Dam is situated approximately 12 km west of Warwick, and is one of Queensland’s most popular fresh water fishing and camping destinations. At Lake Leslie Tourist Park we are dedicated to ensuring your stay with us is as memorable and enjoyable as possible.
The beauty of Lake Leslie Tourist Park is the variety of campsites available. From powered sites to many acres of bushland for unpowered camping in an informal setting with a view of the lake. We offer a variety of cabins for those who want the camping-style outing with the creature comforts of home, as well as a fully self contained cottage featuring a spa.
I was also able to see a magnificent sunset over the Dam. I walked down the track and the sunset was magnificent
