Evening Skywatch

These buildings have featured a few times over the past year or so, but usually they are in the far distance.

Evening on the beach, an hour before sunset brings crisp light and long shadows and of course that Sunshine Coast trademark clear blue sky.

Don't forget to visit Skywatch Home where you can find links to skyshots from around the world.

Cotton Tree
Maroochydore

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

This is not an Island

Actually there are two islands here, the "smaller" on the left, is actually Mudjimba or "Old Woman" Island, while the larger, is what is left of the northern spit at the entrance to the Maroochy River.

If one was keen enough to search Google Earth, one would see that until quite recently there was rather a large amount of sand connecting this small hill to the mainland, which in part will help to explain the stairs and outlook structure. Now, well swimming seems to be the ideal way of visiting!

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

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La Balsa Park

In November 1970 a raft carrying a crew of somewhat intrepid explorers, arrived from South America and landed at Mooloolaba. This pretty park near the point of the landfall has been named in commemoration of the Raft and the expedition:- La Balsa

Just over that ridge is the ocean, the beach and rocks below Pt Cartwright that I've been posting pictures of for the past month. Behind me is the river mouth, and all of that might be a nice tidy way to bring this series to a close.

What's next? Buildings? People? Flowers?

Tune in tomorrow to find out!

Buddina

We are presently on the road again without a reliable internet facility so this blog is being updated by a machine. Sadly we are unable to respond to most comments, however we appreciate your visit and will endeavour to respond to all our friends in the blogosphere as regularly as possible!

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Reality Check

There have just been too many pretty beach photos of late, so despite the fact that I've been threatened with a horrible end if I publish any more boring Nambour photos, I've taken my life in my hands just for today to bring you this one!

With it's patchwork roads, and disused cane tram lines running through town, it's hard to believe that it's just a few kilometres from the beach. The Sugar Mill was closed in 2003, and some say the heart was ripped out of the town, although by many other benchmarks that wasn't the case, unless of course one happened to be from a family who lost employment in the industry.

For the curious among us, here's a link to a video from YouTube, recalling those glory days of not so long ago, when steam and soot and industrial noises made their way romantically through the heart of town! The video is credited to Ken McHugh.

Nambour

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

At Cartwright Finally!

I hope it hasn't been too much of an anti climax after all that. Here we are at the base of the cliff after risking being swept out to sea, or buried under a landslip, or maybe wasting so much time paddling round in the rockpools that we'd be home late for tea!

No we didn't climb the cliff, there's a nice gentle slope round the corner that is much more appealing to those who want to arrive with all limbs intact.

Pt Cartwright

We are presently on the road again without a reliable internet facility so this blog is being updated by a machine. Sadly we are unable to respond to most comments, however we appreciate your visit and will endeavour to respond to all our friends in the blogosphere as regularly as possible!

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Reflecting on Pt Cartwright

Well we've nearly made it to the point, just a few larger rockpools to go and we're there!

That water tower does nothing for the aesthetics of the neighbourhood, but it does stop people in the surrounds from going thirsty! Pt Cartwright would be the highest spot for around ten or more kilometres, so it's a fairly practical place to place a water storage structure, but it's definitely been designed by an engineer not an artist!

Pt Cartwright


We are presently on the road again without a reliable internet facility so this blog is being updated by a machine. Sadly we are unable to respond to most comments, however we appreciate your visit and will endeavour to respond to all our friends in the blogosphere as regularly as possible!

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Danger

If we go too far left, we'll get very very wet. If we go too far right, there's a very real danger that we'll get squashed by landslips, just as this warning sign did.

OK, we'll wait till tomorrow to wrap up the Pt Cartwright tour!

We are presently on the road again without a reliable internet facility so this blog is being updated by a machine. Sadly we are unable to respond to most comments, however we appreciate your visit and will endeavour to respond to all our friends in the blogosphere as regularly as possible!

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Skywatch with Lighthouse

I suppose enough time has elapsed that we can continue our tour round Pt Cartwright eh?

As the waves crash on the rocks, they fall into pools of all sizes, reflecting the sky and of course the ever-present lighthouse.

Don't forget to visit Skywatch Home where you can find links to skyshots from around the world.

We are presently on the road again without a reliable internet facility so this blog is being updated by a machine. Sadly we are unable to respond to most comments, however we appreciate your visit and will endeavour to respond to all our friends in the blogosphere as regularly as possible!

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Crash

Today it's very calm indeed, but the ocean is full of surprises. The dangers of walking round the rocks are hidden well, but if a wave can appear from a sea as gentle as this, just imagine what happens when it's angry.

Pt Cartwright

We are presently on the road again without a reliable internet facility so this blog is being updated by a machine. Sadly we are unable to respond to most comments, however we appreciate your visit and will endeavour to respond to all our friends in the blogosphere as regularly as possible!

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Hard Bits

I do believe it was Sir Francis Chichester who remarked that crossing oceans is easy, it's just the hard bits round the edges that one has to be wary of.

Today we leave the coast again for an extended journey without a reliable internet facility so this blog is being updated by a machine. Sadly we are unable to respond to most comments, however we appreciate your visit and will endeavour to respond to all our friends in the blogosphere as regularly as possible!
Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Rockpools

Somewhere between the ocean and the shore, rock pools form, and as rock pools seem to do, these house all manner of marine life.

Mostly these are inaccessible as wave action ensures that only the fool hardy or ignorant will venture there.

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Endless Rythmh

I know I'm not alone. The ocean provides an endless rhythm of texures, patterns, movement and sound.

Hmmm. One photograph isn't going to tell much of a story!

Oops!


Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Ocean Sand Low Tide

Sometimes, between the rocks where the water can't run off with a high velocity as it can on the surfing beaches, the beach also turns into a myriad of fascinating patterns and pools at low tide.

Pt Cartwright.


Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

River Sand Low Tide

Just inside the mouth of the river there's a bend where Council deposited some sand to create a swimming zone. This appeared to be ill advised, as anyone who has spent some time on the water would expect that the sand would constantly wash away from the outer side of a bend, and so it is that the beach has been closed, and the constant pumping of sand onto it has ceased.

But the gentle wave action in the river leaves nice patterns as it washes it away.

Mooloolaba

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Skywatch with Tinny

Those who have just popped in for a Skywatch visit, will have to scroll back a few posts to understand what a tinny is, and no, the ship in the background probably doesn't count!

These recreational fishermen are returning from a no doubt hard day in the gentle winter sun, as the first tinge of pink hits the late afternoon sky. Despite appearances, the atmosphere was not at all hazy, as can be seen from the clarity of the ship on the horizon, it's just one of those moments when the light doesn't do what one would hope for a spectacular photograph!

This may be our last linked Skywatch for a time, depending on whether we get access to the internet on Fridays over the next few months, but we'll keep posting anyway, and there's always Skywatch Home where you can find links to skyshots from around the world.

Mooloolaba

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Bigger Tinny

Tinnies come in all sizes, this one definitely needs a trailer to get it home!

Mooloolaba

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

On the river

Not every boat needs a mooring, some simply get pulled up on the beach, or more commonly trailed home behind a car.

If you've been dropping in here for a while, by now you'll recognise this little aluminium boat as a "tinny". If you look closely near the skipper, you'll see a pair of lawnmower wheels on this one, set up so the boat can be turned upside down, and wheeled home along the footpath!

Mooloolaba

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Another River View

The Harbour provides shelter for a fair fleet of sailing and commercial vessels, with Buderim "Mountain" looming in the background. "Mountain" because that's what it is called, not what it is!

Mooloolaba

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

The Mooloola River

From the south side of the river, looking west at Mooloolaba, it's easy to see just how little urban development exists, and why our government believes that there is plenty of room for more migration. Actually there is, but selfishly we don't want too much to change.

The glass house mountains (elevation 150m) rise up in the west.

Mooloolaba

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Where are we?

If you'd thought anywhere in the world other than the Sunshine Coast, you could be forgiven. The pine trees are Norfolks, the greenery in the foreground is actually a strip of Casuarina, and the rather eclectic housing style is the area of Beachfront we know as Buddina, on the southern side of the Mooloola River.

Buddina

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Banksias are such fun!

I love sneaking up and catching them with the sun behind them when they least expect it!

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

... when this Spitfire......Skywatch with aeroplane

I was just minding my own business sitting on top of the hill when this Spitfire P51 Mustang (thanks to Mick and Darren for the proper identification) came roaring past!

I know it looks as though the shot was taken from an aircraft, it wasn't, which is a bit of a comment on just how low he was flying, probably being a bit naughty I suspect.

I thought the sky made a lovely old wartime sort of picture, if there is such a thing as lovely wartime that is.

Of course it's Friday, so visit the Skywatch Home where you can find links to skyshots from around the world.

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Hold on we're almost finished!

I figured by now, half of you are starting to wander off, so a cutesy kiddy shot might wake everyone up. We're nearly around the point, I promise!

OK, we'll have a break for a few days and resume later!

Pt Cartwright

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Views of Point Cartwright 5 of 5

As we walk around the rocks to the part that's more exposed to the full force of the ocean, the smaller rocks disappear, and the surface becomes a solid mass, interspersed with puddles and rockpools.

No, this isn't the last of the Point Cartwright Views, but I thought I'd stop numbering them before I got to double figures.

Pt Cartwright

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Beach Textures

Mind you, the transition between the rocks and the water is fairly sudden too, and when there's a swell, there'd be no walking out there!

Pt Cartwright

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Beach Textures

It's a fairly abrupt transition from the sand to the rock, so there's no chance of missing the change.

Pt Cartwright

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Views of Point Cartwright 4 of 5

I love the foreshore around this kilometre or so of coastline as it changes every few metres in texture and degree of danger. My photographic skills are inadequate to capture the full range of emotions it conveys, but on a clear winter day with little swell, it's a magical place to poke around.

Pt Cartwright

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Views of Point Cartwright 3 of 5

Well we're going to be geographically confused today as well, but we are now on the southern side of the river, but since it kicks around at the last minute to enter the ocean facing north, we are also on the eastern side of the river mouth!

If that's confusing, well just remember there's no river between us and the lighthouse now, so we can walk around the rocks and enjoy the view.

Pt Cartwright


Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Northern Breakwater A place to sit and Skywatch

The Northern Breakwater is technically on the Western Side of the river entrance and located further South than the Eastern (or Southern) one, but it's often incorrectly referred to as the Northern one, because it's the last one you'd get to if you were travelling up the coast. OK so that's a bit confusing, it doesn't matter, provided you aren't trying to navigate by my instructions in a storm, it's on the Mooloolaba side of the river, and it makes a great place to just hang out on a good day, watching the sky.

On a bad day, it would be appropriate to hang on very tightly! (Remember yesterday's photo?)

Of course it's Friday, and we're back so we can once again link to Skywatch Home where you can find links to skyshots from around the world.

Pt Cartwright

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Views of Point Cartwright 2 of 5

Walking a few hundred metres closer to the river mouth, and back in time by almost a year, after the storm the remnants of swell remain.

Notice the height of the waves relative to the white marker on the rockwall, and remember that for tomorrow!

Pt Cartwright

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Empty

I am not sure whether a shoe without a person in it is more correctly described as "vacant" rather than empty, but I saw the poor thing lying lonely on the beach and thought a photograph might cheer it up.

Yes it was on a small patch of sand between the Southern Breakwater and the Rocks.

Pt Cartwright

Sunshine Coast Daily Photo - Australia

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in today's theme day: "Empty"