State Surf Lifesaving championships

 

The seniors events were held right here in Mooloolaba this last weekend. And what a spectacle!

I was rarely quite sure what was going on, but it was energetic, exciting, and clearly a big deal!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few action videos below!

Yandina Market revisited

 

Another great Sunshine Coast Hinterland market. This one's on Saturday mornings, and I contrived to get there well before the lunchtime close, just for once!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A yummy breakfast egg-and-bacon pie!

Mooloolah River from Point Cartright walkway

 

 

 

 

 

Evening low tide, looking through the heads towards Maroochydore.

A quiet day in Eumundi

 

 

Mostly you go to Eumundi on one of its market days. And it's very very busy.

 

 

We went there on a Tuesday, and it was nice and quiet.

Why did the bush stone-curlew cross the road? The book says they're usually heard and not seen.

 

And as for this very cheeky water dragon, he had the absolute run of the place at the nearby Cafe Doonan.

Walking to Bribie!

 

Bribie Island's an island, right?

Yes, but things change. About a year ago it became two islands, when the sea broke through and split off the northern part from the rest of it.

Then, more recently, the sand that was liberated by that repositioned itself, to where, at low tide, it now blocks Pumicestone Passage, the previously navigable waterway, at the point between Bribie and Caloundra's Happy Valley.

 

 

And at low tide you can walk across. So I did!

The Weyba tree again

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Must make the effort to get there for sunset (or sunrise) one day soon. That's when the real magic happens, I think.

Buderim sunset

 

And a real rescue!

 

I watched a real surf rescue at Mooloolaba beach. A swimmer had been swept out further than she was comfortable with. 

 

None of that historic rope ceremony stuff at all, of course. A very fast surf rescue boat, a surfboard and lots of loudspeaker announcements all featured though.

Historic drills

I watched a funny little scene on Alex beach the other afternoon. I suspect it's to do with the state surf lifesaving champioships being held at Mooloolaba (youth events this weekend, seniors next weekend). They were clearly rehearsing some historic lifesaving drills, for a demonstration maybe. (Or perhaps it's a competitive event? I wouldn't put it past them.)

Top Blog!

"The Sunshine Coast of Queensland is a beautiful region of Australia, and it's no surprise that there are several blogs dedicated to exploring and celebrating the area. One of the best of these is 'Sussing Out Sunshine', a blog hosted by Blogspot.

Sussing Out Sunshine is a great resource for anyone looking to visit the Sunshine Coast, providing lots of information about the local towns, restaurants, activities and attractions. The blog is well-maintained, with regular updates and posts from the author, and the content is interesting, informative and fun. Posts range from interviews with local business owners to reviews of the area's best beaches.

The blog also covers some more serious topics, such as environmental conservation and the challenges facing the region. The author takes an unbiased approach to these topics, presenting both sides of the argument and allowing readers to make up their own minds.

Overall, Sussing Out Sunshine is a great blog for anyone interested in the Sunshine Coast. It's full of interesting and informative posts, and it's a great way to get to know the region. Highly recommended!"

 

It must be true -  I asked the ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot!

('Write a 200 word review of blogs that cover Queensland's Sunshine Coast, with special mention of the 'Sussing Out Sunshine' blog hosted by Blogspot')

There again, ChatGPT did all its learning from its internet reading in 2021, and  Sussingoutsunshine didn't get started till 2022! Let's just say it was very prescient!                                                                                              

The Green Comet

Here it is, Comet C/2022 E3ZTF, the 'Green Comet', as viewed tonight from the Sunshine Coast. It's not actually very green. Except in a long-exposure photo through a powerful telescope. But through binoculars, or in a photo taken with a mobile phone, like this one, it's a very faint fuzzy patch. Like a lot of comets in fact. That's just how it is, sorry!

Mt Glorious

 

 

Not gloriously easy to get to - it's quite a drive from here - but there's a nice selection of glorious little rainforest walks to wander round.

 

 

And a cafe that's very popular with the bikies

Honouring royalty!

I only just stumbled on this statue yesterday, but it's been there since 2007. It's in Mooloolaba, in the park between Beach Terrace and The Esplanade.

It honours the Irwin family, probably the closest the Sunshine Coast has to a royal family!

Steve Irwin himself died a year earlier, not because he put his head in a crocodile's mouth (which I think he did daily), but because he somehow got a stingray offside. And it stabbed him in the heart. Crikey! His children, Bindy and Robert, plus their mother Terry, have kept the show going at Australia Zoo. They're on the news frequently, and their Minyama Island mansion is one of the highlights of the Mooloolaba sightseeing boat cruises.

I can recommend a day at Australia Zoo. It's a bit kitschy, but it's also educational and definitely entertaining.

Strange fruit!

Pride of place in Maroochydore's Sunshine Plaza  shopping centre this week.

It's impressive, but what is it exactly? 

And is it connected to Chinese New Year - most of the world's big festival of the moment?

No, I worked out a moment ago it's probably more to do with the forthcoming Valentines Day, and there are cards hung on it about love, and who the writers' love is directed at. (Mostly mothers and grandmothers.)

 

 

As for the tree, I was reliably informed that it's shaped like a poinciana, but its flowers are those of a jacaranda. We're four months on from jacaranda season, so that seemed all wrong to me!