I tagged along with Bryan and Gary to Hansville on Kitsap Peninsula today.
We did the usual drive-around south of Puget Sound across the Tacoma-Narrows Bridge by Gig Harbor, and then came back across the Sound on the Kingston ferry.
The Space Needle picture was a telephoto lens shot (on my big camera, not the phone) from I-5 South, looking across Lake Union.
Monday/ not too late for a worm 🪱
Friday/ the Big Five 🦏🐃 🦁 🐆 🐘
It was dark by the time the mailman came today, but he dropped an envelope with a bunch of stamps I had ordered from a seller in California.
So it was all worth the wait.
Saturday/ a tiny stamp from Canada 🍁
Here is a high-resolution scan of a little stamp, only 1 in. x 0.8 in.
It was on the envelope that had stamps in that I had bought from a seller in Canada.
Monday/ what’s going on up there? 🛸
So after the big white spy balloon from China, three more mysterious unidentified flying objects over Alaska, Canada and Michigan were shot down by U.S. military jets with missiles— on Friday, on Saturday and on Sunday.
Our government assures us there are no aliens involved.
Are they sure? 😉
Sunday/ hello there 🌷
The little harbingers of spring have started to appear here on Capitol Hill in Seattle.
Wednesday/ the winter rose 🌼
Caturday
Can you spot the big cat in this picture?
Click on the picture to enlarge it.
Wednesday/ fall colors 🍁
Sunday/ feathered friends 🐦
These feathered friends are from Birdworld in Kuranda, when we were there on Friday.
Saturday/ a drive up north 🛣
Thursday/ the Botanic Gardens 🌿
Wednesday/ downtown Cairns 🏬
We are frequent users of the bus that runs along Lake Street by our hotel and into downtown Cairns, even though it is just seven or eight large city blocks. It is just too hot and humid to walk that far.
These pictures are from around downtown Cairns.
Tuesday/ Fitzroy Island 🐚
We went out to Fitzroy Island today, officially Fitzroy Island National Park.
The island lies offshore from Cape Grafton, 29 km (18 mi) southeast of Cairns.
Our catamaran vessel set out at 8 am, and we were back early afternoon.
It was overcast at our arrival, and windy. The wind only worsened, and soon we learned that our planned glass-bottomed boat trip out to one of the reefs had to be cancelled. (The wind makes the water choppy and murky).
The walk through the forest to Nudey Beach was nice enough, though— and it was the first time that I had set foot on an entire beach of dead coral.
Thursday/ the Sunshine Coast ☀️
We drove up to the Sunshine Coast today, and stopped at three beaches for a little time in the sun and in the surf.
Wednesday/ at Roma Street Parkland
These pictures are all from Roma Street Parkland.
We entered it by stepping off the No 66 bus at the Roma Street stop, and then walking through the Roma Street train station (first picture). The statue is of Mahatma Ghandi.
Roma Street Parkland offers designer gardens and sprawling lawns winding around 16 hectares of spectacular parklands. It is said to be well-known by garden and plant enthusiasts for its exceptional horticultural standards.
Sunday/ Wynnam Mangrove 🌱
It was time for me to make a run out to the Pacific Ocean*. (My brother’s car from Perth has arrived, and we will drive up north to the Sunshine Coast as soon as we have a sunny day).
*Technically, I was looking out over Moreton Bay and the Coral Sea, but it’s all connected to the Pacific Ocean.
Saturday/ a day at the museum 🏛
There was more rain today, and so we checked into the Queensland Museum and the Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art.
Both of these are free to the public.
Queensland Museum
Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art
Tuesday/ at the zoo 🦘
We drove north for an hour or so today, to get to the Australia Zoo.
The zoo was founded in 1970 by Bob and Lyn Irwin (parents of ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin of television fame) and is still owned by the Irwin family.
Sunday/ a little sunflower 🌻
It was a hazy, sunny Sunday (81°F / 27 °C), warm for this late in the year.
Our 10-day forecast still does not show any rain.