Early morning beach walk…

 On Saturday Fiji was hit by category 5 Tropical Cyclone Winston, the most devastating in the Islands history it destroyed hundreds of homes. Strong winds and flooding from Winston have caused severe damage across the island nation. 

I woke this morning at 4-30am and, even though I live one kilometre from the beach, I could hear the ocean roaring. Australia is just over 3000 kilometres away from Fiji but this cyclone will affect our tides.

 Sunrise was due at 5-30am. As day was just breaking, I jumped on my bike and rode down to the beach.

The sky was still the soft grey and pink shades of dawn and at 5-15 the beach was almost deserted. I noticed this couple totally immersed in each other. They looked so in love and my guess was they are here on their honeymoon.

 

Just a seagull and me sharing this moment with them.

Then the sun made a dramatic appearance.

It was just past full tide and the waves surged and tumbled, foaming and frothing.

More people were arriving, walking their dogs, jogging or sauntering. Some just sitting and absorbing the beauty of the morning.

The sun highlights the hi-rise buildings of Surfers Paradise

Burleigh Heads is famous for its surfing breaks and this morning the surf was pumping.

This surfer is not a youngster he has grey hair and a middle-aged spread, but how exhilarated he must be to catch this barrel.

But, for some, all good things come to an end and work or school call. What a way to start the day though.

 

I couldn’t resist showing you a couple more of this beautiful area I call home.

If you want to stay a little longer there is a small  hole in the wall that serves coffee in that building in the background. If you look carefully you will see a group of people gathered around waiting to be served their shot of caffeine.

Or if you want to stay for breakfast the Surf Club serves delicious meals and you can enjoy them sitting at a table overlooking this beautiful Burleigh beach.

But for me it is time to head home for breakfast, 2 hours and 240 photos later.

Where ever you are and what ever you are doing today I hope your day goes well.

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I have not joined Jo’s Monday walking group for a while. They are a diverse group from all around the world pop over here to join them.

Weekly Photo Challenge : Sunrise from on the ocean…

On board a cruise liner there are almost 2000 other people sharing the space, plus another 800 staff.

But it is still possible to find a place to be alone, especially early in the morning as the sun rises. As Brie Anne says “almost everyone overlooks the early mornings“.  

To just appreciate the beauty of the surroundings and marvel at having an opportunity to listen to the pulse of the ocean, I would go up on to the Promenade Deck and watch the sun rise.  I did not get up early every morning, after all I am on a cruise! Some days were overcast when I peered through the porthole and then I would snuggle back down under the blankets.

There were 2 outstanding sunrises and one was the as we sailed into Tauranga. 

This is the glorious sunrise as we sailed into Tauranga.

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The other one was quite different, no big blaze of glory but shafts of light (Crepuscular rays) that radiated from behind the clouds to highlight the misty outline of the distant hills. A gentle and gradual awakening of the day.

There are so many things to keep you occupied on a cruise but it is these quiet moments that will live in my memory.

Weekly Photo Challenge : New

 

Dawning of a new day

There is only one day left, always starting over: it is given to us at dawn and taken away from us at dusk.

Jean-Paul Sartre

Sunrise on Burleigh beach

“I welcome this new day.
It is a gift to me, a new creation, a promise of resurrection.
Greetings to the Four Realms, the Goddesses and Gods, and the Kindred of Yore.
I salute the Sun, the Earth, the Seas, and the Sky.
I am thankful for being alive this morning.
Thankful for the sleep that has refreshed me.
May my hands do the good work.
May my eyes see the truth.
May I speak compassionately.
May I make the world a better place this day.
Awen.”
–  Ceisiwr Serith, Book of Pagan Prayer

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A to Z Weekly Challenge : Early morning and Elvis…

Early morning, that magical time of day when the mist drifts across the river and swirls gently through the gum trees. The air seems to hold its breath while the world awakes to a million possibilities.

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Across the ocean the rays of the rising sun tint the sand in pastel pinks and gold and the waves ebb and flow to the waking call of another day.

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Meanwhile in another place and another time,

ELVIS THE KING LIVES ON

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 I really enjoy this challenge from “Frizztext”. It is open to so much interpretation and I like to check out what other bloggers have chosen. Click on the logo to visit other posts

                                                                      

Early Morning Activity

A very early morning walk along the beach is a complete contrast to the last post.

It is 5am the sun is just appearing on the horizon.

Delicate pinks and greys light up the sky. A gentle soft breeze ruffles the ocean and waves peel off in perfect surfing breaks.

Then the sun arrives with a pallet of fire and briefly tints the ocean molten gold before bathing the world in that glorious glow of the golden hour.

The soft pink and grey of the pre-dawn highlights the buildings of the Goldcoast

Having an early cup of coffee watching the sunrise.

The ocean in a gentle mood.

Here is the sun turning the ocean into gold.

I wonder if he will catch anything.

Ready to take on the surf will they catch that Burleigh barrel

Keen surfers arrive early to catch a wave or two

Joggers exercise early to beat the heat of the day

The seagulls paddle around in the rock pools

The golden light highlights this kookaburra as he watches the activity

Weekly Photo Challenge : Good Morning

So many ways to start the day but my favourite, when I am home, is to take a walk along the beach, watch the sun rise and the people enjoying the start of another day.

Up early to catch the beauty of the sun rise.

I’m not the only person taking photos

At the moment I am on the tropical hinterland and enjoying its own unique beauty. In another 4 to 5 weeks I will be back home and the beach will still be waiting.

There will be so many ways people around the world say “Good Morning” Go to the “Weekly Photo Challenge” to see more morning greetings.

Jack’s the early bird…

Next morning it was still dark when I heard Jack moving around.

“What are you doing? Are you ok?” I asked. “I’m going to see the sun rise” he replied…

I just grunted and pulled the thick, soft duvet closer around my ears.

Later when he returned and showed me the photos I wished I’d made the effort.

Even though the weather forecast said only 6 degrees over night, because there wasn’t any wind and Jack had put warm clothes on he didn’t feel the cold, but was pleased to have warm porridge for breakfast.

Here are the photos Jack took of the sunrise…

The lights of Hobart across the River Derwent as dawn breaks

The sun starts to make a tentative appearance

Another walker enjoys the early morning

Then it bursts out in all it’s glory.

Looking in the other direction

The sun catches the peak of Mount Wellington. Is that some one paddling?

They breed them tough down here, it must be a local to be paddling and to be wearing shorts as well…Mt Wellington looks like a miniature Uluru as it glows in the morning light.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very early morning start to capture the beauty of sunrise.

It was 5am the birds were awake and singing their joy at the start of a new day. The lorikeets with their  chatter almost drowned out by the kookaburra family’s infectious and unmistakable, manic laughter, the raucous crows and sweet warble of the magpies all herald a new day is dawning as the grey light filtered through the blinds.

Looking out at the pink light spreading from the horizon we jumped on our bikes to race down to the beach to catch the sunrise over the ocean. It was pure magic.

I would like to share with you our early morning, 2 hour, photo shoot at Burleigh Beach. I took 243 photos. Jack took 295 photos….

It took quite a while deciding what to put in this post. I hope you enjoy your early morning stroll with us…

5-30am and here comes the sun

Such lovely soft morning colours

Capturing the moment. So pleased I got up early (Photo by Jack)

Wow…

Fishing, notice how many rods he has…

Capturing it on his IPhone

Another stop for a chat. This husky had pale blue eyes. (Photo by Jack)

Tractor grooming the beach

Freshly groomed and clean beach ready for the tourists

3 fit surfers

Had to stop and chat and tell them they will be in my blog…(Photo by Jack)

Surf life saving lookout, notice the beach erosion from recent storms

Miami headland and surfers sky-line

Seagulls in the sun

Seagull taking off

Fishing boat heading home

Pandanus

Taking the dog for a walk

Surfers Paradise sky line from North Burleigh Headland.

Breaking waves and spray