Return to the Tanglewood

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Returning to the Tanglewood Track -
taking the ankle for a test drive...

It is over 13 weeks
since I have walked
the Tanglewood track












I left at 7 am
thinking I might chance upon
a late rising whale

the sun caught the shrubs
and coastal trees
on the hillside

as I walked alone
along the ocean's shoulder

out to Hell's Gates
and looked the sun
in the eye

searching the ocean for the whales,
a friend I saw returning said
she had seen them close up
and heard them breathing

tomorrow I will try again,
maybe earlier

I am beginning to feel
like I belong
in the three little pig story...

I look over Hell's Gates
down below
toward Alexandra Bay











and return to Dolphin point
where a pair of Welcome Swallows
Hirundo neoxena
sit for me

the little 15cm birds
nest under overhanging ledges
in the bush
or under man made structures

Welcome Swallows
pursue flying insects
with rapid flight
and sweet twittering

I turn off the coastal track
drawn by the lure
of the Tanglewood
and an ankle
that claims to be almost
fully rehabilitated

I will give the ankle a test drive
over rougher terrain
and sneaky tree roots
the likes of which snared me
all those weeks ago

I take my time
stopping to listen to bird song
along the way

I notice the burnt off sections
of eucalyptus forest

and how terribly dry it is
It is only the smaller
rainforest gullies that retain
their green freshness

all the rest of the Tanglewood
craves for rain
In the last four months
I can only remember one rain
We need summer
with it's life giving sustenance



It can't be far away...







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All the Way to Sunshine Beach....

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From Coast to Coast...

Today was the day
to divert from the Tanglewood Track
and head through the Wallum once again

via the Sweet Wattle
one of 120 Acacia in SE Queensland


But this time to take
the path less travelled...

to see
the Cooloola Wax Flower

and find ourselves
in Xanthorrhoea country

the zone of grass trees

and skies of Banksia nuts

watch out for ancient
flying Dragons
sweeping across your path

Sticky Hop Bush
The leaves can be chewed
(without swallowing)
to relieve toothache...

and enter a strange wet section
of straggly paper barks -
Melalucas

and running tea tree streams

before the way is lit
by flaming orange tendrils

of the fir

Cadbury's Chocolate Flake
dead log bark


After two hours of bush walking
we were on the far side
of the headland
and close enough to Sunshine Beach
to detour to the village for a coffee...

but unfortunately I neglected
to take any shots of the seaside village
so that will have to be another day...

we eventually arrive back
at the Ranger's Hut,
aka the Park information centre,
from where we started


where a friend had set up shop
as both welcoming sentry
and photo subject


In the hut's windows
you can see a reflected family
at the picnic table
enjoying lunch

Our friend offered a variety
of photographic poses...

My right side
is far more photogenic...

Have you finished yet?

and I crept closer
as he adjusted his stance...

until I was almost
within touching distance
and still he posed undeterred...

although he seemed to say,
I have my eye on you ...

Is this coy enough,
I am rather bashful...

I think I'm better in profile...

Thank you for coming...

Don't tell me
you are still here...



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