December 2021
Christmas 2021 was pretty much followed our recent tradition with four days camping about 200 km NW in the Bunya Mountains, this year at the Burtons Well campground at the northern end of the Bunyas. This is a relatively open grassy area with a few shady trees if you get to them first, which we did. By that time we setup camp had supper and walked out to the sunset. We were soon overtaken by a stack of people from the south end so we took a picture and retreated to bed.
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| Disinfecting station to stop spread of fungi in Bunya forest |
The next day we left early for Cherry Tree via the lookouts. First bit of rainforest was 'infested' with whipbirds, a very welcome bird of wild areas, but then the open eucalyptus forest was open, sunny and hot. The new rerouted track was especially hot. At Cherry Tree (6 km) Bob had sore feet, so Joyce returned by the road and brought Misty our faithful car, to the rescue.
Day 3 was a drive to Paradise Carpark and a slow walk to Little Falls and back. Back to camp for lunch and rest and took off for the sunset with only a few others this time, probably due to light rain on the way and a dark return to a Joyce fire. Fungi everywhere all shapes and sizes.
Christmas Eve was a drive to Dandabah to walk the Scenic Circuit. Good walk but tired and a bit sore. Lunched in D’bah picnic area down at the bottom before driving back to Burtons Well.
Christmas day we broke camp and had a very enjoyable lunch with Noela, Jack and Graham at the Toogoolawah farm for Christmas.
The next day we enjoyed a Zoom get together with Craig and Karen in Toronto and Janet in New Zealand - the wonders of modern technology!!
January 2022
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The wet weather begins!! Main focus was keeping the Butterfly House (BH) going through leaks, short power outages and occasional walks and bike rides and a few golf games.
February 2022
The rain becomes more serious. More rain and rain and local spots beginning to flood including the golf course. More BH work on new account apps, irrigation controller and attempts to improve humidity control in the breeding lab the last with limited success – just too much rain. Dehumidifiers expensive and estimated availability is September at best.
We had a total of about 1 metre rain over this period – a lot of water, but much-needed by the Island after a few dry years. Our home is fortunately above flood level on our low sand island - but won't withstand too much sea level rise (though neither will the rest of the island!).
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| Lotus flower in nearby park (not native!!) |
Mid month we kayaked about 15 km for a three day trip up the Passage that separates Bribie from the mainland to Mission Point. The trip turned out to be not too well timed as we battled mosquitoes and sandflies, rain, and wind in abundance. Coming home on the third day into the tide and a strong wind was hard work, though avoiding the worst of the wind led us into some interesting and previously unexplored corners. Bob got to the sand banks at Whitepatch half way back, had to just lay there for a while till he could get enough energy for the last few kilometers paddle home.
March 2022
The rain and flooding of the roads cleared enough for us to drive north and a bit inland to Eidsvold lunching at Ban Ban springs (almost grown over with tall grass). To the west of Eidsvold we camped at Tolderodden Conservation Park on the Burnett River - small but quiet with walk up a hill.
Packed up camp and back to Eidsvold then north to Monto and NE to Kalpower State Forest to set up in the quiet bush campground. We woke at night to a BIG STORM just after we retired with serious lightning QUITE CLOSE.
Early the next morning, we biked NW to Barrimoon, the start of the Rail Trail, which we found after taking a wrong turn and getting thoroughly stuck in the mud for awhile. The Trail headed north and gently down through six tunnels in the mountains. These were quite dramatic with microbats and moths in the darkness, and some very interesting echoes and sound effects.
The next day we went on to Cania Gorge Tourist Retreat – lunched and swam, all very civilised – then bicycled up the road to NP Picnic Area for cheese and crackers supper.
Lazy day bicycle and walk to Gorge Lookout and couple of caves and back to swim and birdwatch at feeding station and walk to Big Foot. Next day bicycled to Cania Dam (26 km return). . Next day broke camp and breakfast in Picnic Area and walked to Two-Storey Cave, and headed home, camping at Bunya Westcott to break up the driving.
After three days of BUG (bike group) and BH business for Bob, we were off again with Joyce and her friend Denice to a meditation retreat on Springbrook inland from the Gold Coast. Bob enjoyed the Springbrook Campsite for two nights and up and down and through waterfalls, in retrospect a bit too ambitiously for his aging knees.
The rest of March and April and May was BUG accounts and BH accounts and audit papers and a bit of repair to the flashing motorbike headlamp and green led eyes of the monster on a letterbox at the BH.
All this was in WET WET WET weather, and not much golf with the course flooding. Joyce began slowing down with increasing hip/leg pain.
June July 2022
Early June, Janet arrived for a long-delayed visit from her home in St Arnaud, New Zealand (South Island about 100 km S of Nelson). We enjoyed with a few days at Bellthorpe Stays and its rainforest walks which gave Bob a break from his other duties, though Joyce was slowed down by constant pain.
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| We all enjoyed jig saw puzzles when Janet was here |
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| A welcome get well gift from the Bike Group |
On our return, Joyce started oxycodone, then on morphine patches for pain relief, which, along with osteopath treatments finally started a positive trend. We also enjoyed jigsaws and making a 1920's style dress and hat for Janet who was attending a wedding back in NZ. Once Joyce's pain and inflammation started to go, the morphine was ramped down and finally stopped. She has replaced the opoids with urine therapy - drinking and massaging with one's own urine. She has found this ancient, and widely used technique invaluable in handling residual pain, and restoring her energy and enthusiasm for life - well worth a try if you are faced with any physical or mental health challenges. Lots of information available online! e.g.
here, and https://thewallachfiles.com/urine-therapy-uropathy-your-bodys-own-best-medicine-a-powerul-infection-fighter/, and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Oxqzzh15HQ
While she was here, Janet visited locally and in Bundaberg, and went on a road trip out west to Birdsville, then spent a couple more weeks 'working at home' before returning to NZ late July.
Joyce's beloved E bike (now with 12,000 km in 2 and a half years) was not functional for much of the time Joyce was incapacitated, perhaps in sympathy. Its carbon-fibre drive belt broke (not supposed to happen) the first time Janet rode it. A new belts was only available interstate and proved troublesome to install and tension properly, requiring a few trips to the bike shop in Brisbane by Bob and Joyce. The rnal car pickup (to surprise and amusement by the pickup attendants). Bob also started coming as chauffeur on Joyce's weekly Thursday recorder-playing trip to Bli Bli while Joyce was recovering and has continued as it gives Bob a day away from the Butterfly House and his other duties.
August September 2022
Bob bought a vertical-hydroponics kit from “Mr Stacky” for the BH to test out whether we can grow Sweet Potato on site with idea of using the unit for greens at home after testing. Sweet Potato bit has worked well and it has become a BH feature so we may not see it home :-(.
A dehumidifier was purchased by the BH with another La Nina threatening. Works well but the tank was a bit clumsy and heavy for the Lab ladies. PeterA and Rod (BH maintenance crew) were eventually able to a good job implementing Bob’s design changes.
Joyce‘s desk chair became very tatty so Bob decided a new one was a good birthday/xmas present. After checking out designs at Officeworks TWO comfy armchair-style swivel desk chairs. Joyce home-made and fitted fancy felt covers.
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| Bob's! |
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| Joyce's |
October 2022
The BH potting area patio roof which Bob negotiated through grants and Council was finally delivered and completed (bar final inspection) and is loved by the BH nursery crews. The BH was broken into one night with $3000 of power tools taken from the tool and pump sheds. Holes were cut in the security fence and shade house but nothing appears lost from the latter.
November 2022
We attended a BioBlitz (a citizen-science ecological survey of an area), 200 km N in Rainbow Beach with Bob and and Joyce's recorder-playing friend Zac. We explored Rainbow Beach Friday, went on an organised Fungi Walk on Saturday and then we walked on to Lake Poona, went to an evening talk by a VERY enthusiastic lady on composting and the importance of invertebrates and microorganisms for soil health, and went on an Insect Walk on Sunday, and drove home on Monday.
The next weekend we returned to Springbrook with Joyce and Denise meditating and Bob camping (with numerous horse-flies). We had great views from the rainforest End-of-World lookout which was closed in with mist and rain on our previous visits. The views contrasted with the very ancient Antarctic Beech trees very much threatened by Global Warming.
In contrast to Bob's determined efforts to keep the Butterfly House going (presently as president), his Social Golf group (as treasurer) and the BUG bike group (also treasurer), Joyce's activities are more just social. Two much-valued small meditation groups, a laughing group (now in its 15th year), a recorder trio/quartet, and the Bribie Island Orchestra (bass recorder!!), as well as leading 'Road Less Travelled' bike rides, and full moon rides (and camping up the beach whenever possible) help remind her that it is the connections and relationships in life that are important, not the possessions!!!
And we will close with the message from this year's Christmas card:
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