Down Under - Men at Work

After breakfasting on coffee and Portland Apple (Birthday) Cake, lovingly made for me by Lizzy the Secret Lemonade Drinker's daughter it was off for an away day to the Purbeck Hills. A most beautiful run of coastal downlands and cliffs forming part of what is known as The Jurassic Coast. Meeting Lesley in Weymouth then Ginge and Val in Wareham, we were not sure of the events of the day but knew somewhere along the line we would be eating in the picturesque village of Corfe Castle. A late return home necessitates a 'filler' style post with more of today's shenanigans tomorrow. Oh, and it was another rainy day!

My Birthday Cake by the lovely Lizzy.

 

Next, my friend Paul Harris tells me of a new Macro function/lens he has recently bought to photograph Moths and other Insects, sending me a couple of examples of it prowess. The Moth is a Silver Y a very common summer migrant which can arrive on our shores by the millions. Named from the Y shape on each wing, Paul went on

 

to photograph this in close up, and this is the amazing result.

With this old style Telephone Box having been phased out over most of Great Britain only a few remain in evidence here and there, along with others bought by private owners as garden ornaments. This however is the most novel use I have seen of one with a cash dispenser in the front and an outside telephone at the side. Well thought out whoever you are!

Also around the Borough, but more particularly around the Olympic Sailing Venue, security forces have been lifting drain covers for inspection and on replacement sealing them with a white compound and stamping with a Saint Edward's Crown motif. I did find one which looked as though it had been tampered with and reported the fact to one of the many roving Police Patrols which are now a daily sight. The Copper was delighted and thanked me for my diligence.

So, a return to a different Australian Outback this time in the Northern Territory visited on a extended stay back in 2007. This is Mount Connor in the distance

and the open Highway that leads from there to Uluru. We had left Alice Springs where it hadn't rained for 18 months until our arrival and now the local river was a torrent, so bad we were unable to cross the bridge to a favoured 'birding' haunt.

Between Alice and the Kakadu to the north we has seen NORTHERN FANTAIL,

ORANGE-FOOTED SCRUBFOWL,

PHEASANT COUCAL,

PIED HERON,

RADJAH SHELDUCK

RED-COLLARED LORIKEET,

RED-HEADED HONEYEATER and

SPANGLED DRONGO.

Arriving at The OLGAS, a group of mystical and odd shaped rocks, sacred to the Aborigines, we found a

SPINY LIZARD in the middle of the road which we returned to the safety of the Desert.

TORRESIAN IMPERIAL PIGEONS were spotted in the few trees that grew there,

 

but then all attention was focused on ULURU, the world famous AYER'S ROCK. This I had read was something that would either overcome you or leave you cold, fortunately it was the former with a weird feeling of presences dificult to describe.

The rock formations thereabouts were also of great interest,

 

and although like the most sacred of all, there was little by way of restrictions. A very strange, beautiful and intriguing place to visit.

Our final find was a WATER MONITOR, strange in this barren,dry land

Prince Charming - Adam and the Ants

A fantastic evening with BOWIE

and SHEILA over an Indian meal, a few grogs and sessions from Joe Bonamassa Live at the North Sea Jazz Festival, David Bowie Archive and Elvis in Las Vegas, was followed by what would be considered a 'late starrt' as a rule. As it was I was meeting up with

SYENNY LEE (right) from Taiwan again and her Chinese flat mate WEI GE at 10;00 for the Bagsy Tour of Portland. By the time we alighted the bus what clouds had been in evidence had mostly rolled away giving way to a serious bout of sunshine. No complaints there and despite a chill breeze there was for a change a pleasant feel to the day.

None of my guests or visitors get away without a visit to LANO'S BRIDGE

which never fails to be a photo call favourite. Walking under the arc and reaching the raised ground I asked each in turn to close their eyes and allow me to direct them up the bank. At the top they were allowed to open them

to behold what has to be the greatest vista in Dorset, 

or even the South Coast for that matter.

 

Then she sat me down on a stone cold throne carved in jade, Lilywhite Lilith - Genesis.

The view from New Road across the scree to the village of FORTUNESWELL.

Part of the WEST CLIFF towards Tar Rocks.

 

Small monuments to the Portland Stone Industry

Along with the statue 'Spirit of Portland' depicting

a FISHERMAN

and a STONE MASON the 2 key industries of the Island.

By the time we reached CHEYNE I think both ladies were impressed with what our beautiful Island hold and were keen for more, they would not be disappointed.

We walked the EAST CLIFF taking in one of the three BOAT LIFTS

and the WATERFALL at Reedy Ditch

before coming across Hugh and Annie were were down to their beach hut for the weekend.

Now in view of all 3 of Portland's Lighthouses we decided on a couple of distant shots before closing on the active light.

Plenty of tourist out and about today, a lot of them trying a spot of fishing.

We were even lucky enough to get a prolonged look at the now resident ATLANTIC GREY SEAL.

Syenny at the 'active' Lighthouse.

Wei and Syenny at PULPIT ROCK

and Wei with me same place.

 

 Most certainly time for lunch and a visit to the PULPIT INN and the hospitality of Danny Fox and his team.

My guests were wanting Traditional English and what better place

for a Sunday Roast and a pint of Cider?

After the excellent fare we took a moment to watch this large Container Ship pass the Trinity House Obelisk before heading for our own final port of call,

 The PORTLAND BIRD OBSERVATORY.

The Warden kindly allowed us to climb

to the top of the Old Lower Lighthouse

taking photos as we went.

The 360 degree view from here is also one not to miss

as we looked out over the English Channel to the south and

field systems to the north.

A last shot before decent and on to

the Garden and Bird Ringing before catching the bus back to Weymouth. A long but most worthwhile day and while I LOVE wandering around this |Magic Isle, I love it even more when showing it off to visitors. Thanks go to Wei and Syenny for their delightful company today and to all of those who were also part of it.