Whale watching at North Stradbroke Isand

The rest of August saw a warm winter as spring approached - the warmest winter in many years. We went over to North Stradbroke Island again, this time with one of Nancy's teaching peers and her daughter. It was a wonderfully sunny day and we sat on the gorge headlands watching humpback whales traverse the coast as they made their way to and from their northern calving grounds. Apparently, 16,000 make this journey each year. Closer to the shore small pods of black and grey dolphins swam about.

Main Beach - a gorgeous view

Nancy and friends

 

Sitting at the headlands watching humpback whales swim by

Opening of the gorge





Seeking whales and, yes, there were dozens of them

Picnic on the rocks while we watched

Whale watching

Whale watching

The North Gorge walk

Gelato at the cafe on the hill.

Frenchman's Beach

Frenchman's Beach

Frenchman's Beach

A Weekend away - Stanthorpe

As a mid-term break, Nancy and I took a day to tour Moreton Bay College (a very exclusive K to 12 private girls' school ) just 30 minutes north of us. it was very interesting to see the differences between public and private education here.  With a public holiday the following Monday we had a long weekend to travel to the town of Stanthorpe, about 300 kms SW of us.

Nancy in front of Mount Barney

We got lost on this 1 lane "highway" en route to Stanthorpe. The road looked smooth and wide on the map!

Lost again - at least it was pretty scenery

Suttons - a small apple cidery near Stanthorpe

We couldn't figure out what the netting was for - possibly shade, birds, etc. -but it was to prevent hail damage to the apple trees.

Granite Arch



Granite Arch



Sitting in a rock chair enjoying the warm winter day

The stairs to the base of "The Pyramid"



Balancing rock on top of The Pyramid. Nancy do you really think you could push that rock over?

On top of The Pyramid in Girraween National Park

On top of The Pyramid in Girraween National Park

I wouldn't stand there in a good wind.

Looking pretty casual on a beautiful sunny, winter day.

Near the top of The Pyramid in Girraween National Park with Wattle trees in the foreground

On top of The Pyramid in Girraween National Park

A pretty hike in the park by the name of...................ahhhh I forget.

A vineyard in the winter.

Now, someone had too much time on their hands and access to a lot of very heavy equipment. Apparently whoever cleared the land stacked all the stones to build a pyramid replicating the ones in Egypt.

Stanthorpe

Part of a mural made of miscellaneous stuff.

Browns Falls

A typical Australian scene near Stanthorpe

Queen Mary falls