Beaches, rocky headlands covered in hoop pines, and diverse volcanic rock formations make for a scenic landscape backing this tropical Coral Sea at Cape Hillsborough National Park. Viewed from Casuarina Beach looking due north, the sight of hoop pine forests clothing the headlands delighted us. A Walk to Wedge Island (a tied island with tombolo) was full of surprises for the diverse collection of rock outcrops, boulders and rocks on the sandy beach representing different phases of volcanic eruptions made us ask many wondering questions. The Wedge Island coral reef visible in the water reminded us of the diversity of marine life of the marine park in this tropical ocean.
And the wonderings kept flowing, as the kangaroos arrived on the beach, and as we walked into the coastal forest which transitioned to rainforest the further we walked.
But our walks always brought us back to shore of an aquamarine sea beneath an azure sky. Behold the sunlit beauty of this coast.
Today: mid-winter Max 23C, sunny.

The GEOLOGY STORY:
On arrival at Casuarina Beach in Cape Hillsborough National Park, the rocky hills, cliffs and sea stacks immediately announce that one is standing among the remnants of remnants of a volcano. It erupted explosively about 34 million years BP. "It was the first of a line of volcanoes that erupted down the eastern side of Australia from 34 to six million years ago, as the Australian crustal plate drifted northwards over a stationary ‘hot-spot’ in the Earth’s mantle below." [Qld Dept of Environment and Science]
The earliest lavas of this volcano were basalt, but later eruptions extruded rhyolite, which is very sticky and gas-rich, and commonly gives explosive eruptions. Fine ash, or tuff, and coarser cobble and boulder agglomerate from early eruptions can be seen in the area nearby, especially noticeable on the beach, are very large boulders that seem too contorted to be natural. Boulders of all these rock types have been thrown up on to the beaches by storm waves and are fascinating to explore and photograph.
By walking to the end of the beach, negotiating fantastic boulders on the way, it is possible at low tide and in fine weather to walk along the tombolo of boulders tying Wedge Island to the mainland. While hiking the tombolo one will come across some of the older pediment rocks - the base on which the volcanic extrusions were deposited. These old basal rocks are marine sedimentary rocks composed of shell fragments, coral and limestone. These rocks have been dated back another 30 million years before the volcanic eruptions occurred. Clambering on the rocky points and cliffs of Wedge Island it isn't hard to imagine the volcanic history of the area.
On returning to the beach, the expanse of sand one will notice the shimmering of the sunlight on the grains of mica sand contained in the beach. These sands have been derived from erosion of granite rocks in the Pioneer Valley and carried to see by the Pioneer River, then transported along the coast by the northward longshore movements of sand and sediments generated by the prevailing south-east winds and wave breaks along the coast. And so new rocks will form from these beach sediments.

Tags:   breccia volcanic legacy coastal shore shoreline North Queensland Pioneer Mackay Cape Hillsborough Araucaria hoop pine national park In Explore qld Queensland Australia Cosgrove Hot Spot

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Suggan Buggan is a locality in the remote wilderness of north-eastern Gippsland in Victoria, Australia, 10 km from the border with New South Wales. Only about five or six people live here permanently, but campers and those who love the wilderness visit the area. The traditional custodians of the area are the Bidawal and Nindi-Ngudjam Ngarigu Monero peoples.

Suggan Buggan is surrounded by the Alpine National Park, the south flowing Snowy River draining the area.

Geological mapping shows that the overall 'grain' of Victoria's bedrock geology trends in a north-south direction, which is revealed in this easterly view across the valleys and ranges. This is a legacy of the ancient geological plate-tectonic processes that once operated to lift and fold, fracture and uplift this part of the Australian continent.

This scene and atmosphere is very Australian:
> the mountains and valleys with almost no sign of human activity,
> the blue haze in the atmosphere, and
> the outline of the eucalypt forests silhouetted on the ridge lines.
This particular part of our country is associated with well known folklore - legends and legendry people.
This is Australia!

Tags:   blue Suggan Buggan Snowy River Alpine National Park ethereal WOW valleys Man from Snowy River I Still Call Australia Home Victoria Australia ranges blue haze Blue on Blue wilderness Nindi-Ngudjam Ngarigu Monero Bidawal

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Thought I might take a break from the landscapes that I love, and reveal some of my minor interests: ships being one of them.
I once scripted and presented a program for the ABC on the Port of Brisbane, which became indelible in my mind. My geography students explored the Port of Brisbane, then they would map the routes of ships entering and leaving the Port of Brisbane for that month. This led to lots of great dynamics and some outstanding presentations by the students.
So ships remain an interest.
This is not the Port of Brisbane but the Port of Tauranga, New Zealand.
PORT OF TAURANGA:
New Zealand's largest and most efficient port, Port of Tauranga operates an international container freight hub, bulk cargo wharves, bunkering facilities and extensive cargo storage areas.
CHENAN:
"Chenan" a general cargo vessel, was built in 1992, and is no longer in service. It was owned and operated by China Navigation Co from 2005-2017.
The small craft pictured include the yacht, "Island Bach".
SHIP ARRESTED:
On the far right, is "Lancelot V" a “handymax” sized bulk cargo carrier, which a was arrested here in Port of Tauranga on 23 June 2015. Lancelot V was owned by Orlando Shipping Co. Orlando is incorporated in the Marshall Islands. The ship was operated through Greek operators - Throne Shipping SA - who are based in Piraeus, Greece.
Of 41515 dwt, built in 1996, Lancelot V was registered in Panama. The arrest of the vessel was made at the request of the plaintiffs - Glencore Grain BV and Glencore Grain (NZ) Limited. The vessel had brought a load of bulk Bulgarian corn to New Zealand, partially unloading first at Auckland, and then here at Tauranga. Its ability to unload was gravely impaired by the failure of its cranes and unloading in both ports relied on wharf cranes. It eventually was sold and settlement reached.

Tags:   arrest Ship arrested Chenan Lancelot V Island Bach Tauranga NZ New Zealand Port of Tauranga Flickr Explore

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A BURL = a rounded knotty growth on a tree trunk.
"The insignificance of a treeburl evaporates when one sees its uniqueness and beauty, then the peripheral becomes the centre of attention." Ian Stehbens
Many woodworkers and wood turners love them.

Tags:   tree Mt Moffatt Carnarvon nature art national park artistic burl una crescita nodosa arrotondata su un albero knotty growth woodturning wood workers

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This drum site is a very important cultural sanctuary in Burundi. This sanctuary was founded by King Mwezi IV Gisabo Bikata-Bijoga (who ruled from 1852 to 1908) after attaining victory over his rebellious opponent Chief Ntibirangwa.
Today, the site is managed by a local community with descendants of the ancient lineage of ‘Abanyigisaka’ ritualists who had privileges from the royal court. In the past, the drums in Burundi were a sign of the political power of the monarchy and were beaten on special ceremonies carried out by the families of the ‘Abatimbo’ and some of these included royal enthronement, the sowing festival and funerals of kings. Their influence is one of unifying the nation.
Today they are still beaten accompanied by dance at a variety of special occasions, such as National Day of Independence, and other occasions even civil weddings.
As an educator of peacebuilders, Ian was invited to train groups of peacebuilders in both Gitega and Bujumbura. His host was a former member of the royal family who had survived the massacre of the royal family by becoming a refugee. After 17 years in a refugee camps in Congo and Tanzania, he was accepted for resettlement in Australia. Once he identified the effective training available to transform conflicts, he insisted and arranged for the training to take place in his native Burundi. The reception and performance at this Sacred Royal Drum Sanctuary was a significant event in this program.

Tags:   dance Burundi UNESCO World Heritage royal sanctuary Gitega dancers drum drum dancers celebration unity Africa

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