Yesterday we were treated to a relatively cooler day, with temperatures only reaching 24 C (about 75 F). With a gentle rain falling intermittently, it reminded us of a drizzly summer day in Seattle. You can’t imagine how refreshing it feels after weeks of 30-35 C (85-95 F) degree heat plus humidity.
We took advantage of the coolness of the day to take a short (6km) hike in Brisbane Forest Park, about 40 minutes from our house. Although the view from Mt Nebo (a mountain at 500 some meters) was obscured by clouds, we still enjoyed the hike among the eucalyptus, palms and fig trees. The tree in the picture is a Strangler Fig. It starts its life high up in the canopy of a host tree. Over the course of many years this type of fig (ficus) sends down runners, which become the trunk and eventually strangle the host tree. Since the center becomes hollow, the trunk of the Strangler Fig forms buttresses to support its increasing mass. The one pictured is by no means the largest we’ve seen. Some grow 10-15 feet in diameter.
Finally, we had our first experience with leeches while on this hike. When we returned to the car and were taking off our muddy shoes, we noticed several stripped suckers burrowing into our shoe laces. Luckily, they hadn't latched on to our skin yet. We were wearing bug spray which may have discouraged them away from our more fleshy parts. All the same Erik and I had the creepy crawlies all the way home and kept checking to see if there were any we had missed.
1 comment:
As a neophyte blog reader, I kept hitting the envelope and sending you an email rather than comments. It's way easier to just send email from my regular account. Comment: Anyway, poisonous spiders and snakes, voracious mosquitos and now, leeches. What's next????? ~PJ
Post a Comment