How to make it rain

Install drip irrigation.

Two Bears on the Back of a Lorry...

Luckily I had my camera with me when I saw these two large bears on the back of a small lorry...





Andy Barton, of Chainsaw Carvings,created these beauties and was kind enough to let me photograph them - my initial thought being to show Grandson Harry - but then I thought why not share them with a wider audience?



I would like to think they made a few people grin as they were driven to their new home.



They certainly made George and I smile.



They are carved from Sequoia wood.

I bet Harry would love to find a couple of these in the Owl Wood...so would I.

Numinbah Vs Tweed Valley

Time for another thread title explanation: This comes from Martin's apparent fascination with rap duo Poof Daddy vs Big Cock John.

This was a day of grim determination and extreme heat, and one that almost didn't even get underway. First there was the save from yesterday, then there was the fact that I left home at first without any money -- not a smart move. I had to go home and get it, we got underway 40 minutes late. This ride took in Hinze Dam, before the beautiful ride through Numinbah Valley.







After this, as the name suggests, the descent from Numinbah Gap into the Tweed Valley was to follow. Martin and I had a minor misunderstanding on the descent, but it passed without incident (thankfully), before we pressed on through the hilly sections toward Tyalgum -- now it was starting to get hot. -- but still very scenic, with the clouds resting on the surrounding mountains.





From Tyalgum it was a stunning ride across toward Murwillumbah, turning south for lunch at Uki -- the best cafe in Northern NSW.



Now it was really hot, the ride was still beautiful, but sometimes this can be overlooked in conditions such as these. The return to Murwillumbah was via Stokers Siding (again, I offered a detour to Richard's Deviation -- again this was rejected). Now I was struggling a little on the climbs in the heat, climbing the Condong Range toward Clothiers Creek, riding along the scenic ridge across Farrant's Hill, descending to Tumbulgum for more fluids, then the feared climb of Hogan's Road.

Actually, this wasn't so bad. The gradient is steep enough that height is gained quickly, but not steep enough to cause huge problems -- the rainforest here is cool and inspiring.



The final climb of Bilambil (after a screaming descent) is always a problem in these conditions because it offers no shade. It was eventually overcome, before we ruthlessly poured through the remaining suburbia. Right now I'm feeling a little tired due to the heat (which hasn't let up, even though the sun has gone down -- or is that just my apartment?). Right now I'm not feeling like I ever want to sit on a bike again after that. However, I know it's a matter of time (probably just a matter of hours) before I change my mind, and start planning another epic adventure.

Cycling Project - single track

En route to Scourie, and the road has shrunk to a single track. The diamond-shaped sign shows where there's a passing place. Big enough for two cars to pass - a bit of a problem if there's a lorry, even a small one, or a car towing a caravan.

After a zig-zag slog uphill, there's a reward of a view down a sea loch.

Cloud shadows chase over the hills. The patch of yellow is gorse in bloom, which I discovered from a North American blog today is an invasive weed there.

Photo credits to my son, on his S3 Cycling Project.

I have a mascot!

I saved this creature from abandonment on a luggage trolley in Brisbane Airport. It's interesting that I should end up with a sheep after a visit to New Zealand. So now I have mascot, but (s)he needs a name. Any suggestions?

View from my porch this evening

What a life.

Peekaboo

I didn't get a better photo before he noticed us. He slithered away so fast I could hardly believe it.
I am really, really glad that venomous snakes don't tend to move that fast, or at least, not that fast towards you. (I have seen Copperheads move fairly quickly, but away.)
Anyway, this is a Water Snake, I think the Brown Water Snake (Nerodia taxispilota).
They supposedly have poor dispositions (they'll bite if you pick them up), but if you ask me, any snake that runs away from me has a disposition that I enjoy.
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Submitted to the Friday Ark.

Happy 100th Anniversary Split Rock!

To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Split Rock Lighthouse, the light was lit and fireworks were launched over the lighthouse on the evening of July 31st, . Several hundred people were in attendance, including a LOT of photographers! It was a special evening, and a rare treat indeed to see fireworks launched over the light.