The Prom (Part I)

During my visit to Australia earlier this year, my parents and I managed to get a day at Wilson's Promontory National Park, aka The Prom. This is the best place on earth* and was hit hard by flooding in 2011. It was very interesting to revisit familiar place that often looked very different to how I've known them for about 30 years or so. I was glad to have a nice camera on hand to grab some really nice shots in cool, overcast conditions.

*A statement of fact, not opinion.

 The Prom viewed from the north, shrouded in clouds

 Darby River bridge (which collapsed in the flood and has been repaired)

 Darby River has eaten away at its banks significantly

The river now flows fully out to the sea where it used to be dammed up by a sandbank and flow under the sand

View of Whiskey Bay (which was still closed to the public) looking toward Tongue Point

 

 Picnic bay with Norman Island in view

Billy Goat Trail, Whiting Ranch

Another great little walk Raquel has taken me on was an early morning jaunt up a charming track called the Billy Goat Trail. Don't be fooled by that 0.7 mile distance marker - it was a fair bit of up and down and not a loop - it was pretty grueling you hear me?

The early dew was still on the leaves, leading to some of my favourite plant photos I've come up with to date. (One of which now makes the background to my blog). There was also some cool wildlife in the area, some of which was prepared to pose.

Chantry Flats - Winter Loop

It was winter when Raquel and I last returned to Chantry Flats, so we decided to take the 'Winter Loop' trail this time. It is shorter than the regular walk to the waterfall, but has much greater elevation change.

(BTW these were taken with my 'crappy' camera...it does ok on the landscapes, I reckon)

This is looking back at the main car park - the walk usually involves going down into the main valley (to the left of this pic). The Winter loop does that but then loops around, climbing up a fair bit higher than your starting point.

Sacramento

John, Raquel, Winston and I drove up to Sacramento for New Years to stay with John's mom Kathy (who is awesome). We looked around Old Sacramento and the Capitol Building.

Old Sacramento

 

 

 

 

 

State Capitol building and Capitol Park

 

 

Helsinki

After Paris I flew north with just my parents to Helsinki for a couple of days before visiting their friends in the small town of Jakobstad, further northwest in Finland.
Helsinki is a compact city on the water which appears to get a lot of use in the warmer months, judging by the number of boats.  The air felt freezing after Paris, which had been cool compared to Italy, but I'm sure it was fairly warm for the local - it was time to break out the thermals.

15. Helsinki.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Helsinki,+Finland&hl=en&ll=60.168415,24.964542&spn=0.04227,0.169086&sll=48.856614,2.352222&sspn=0.223628,0.676346&oq=helsinki&vpsrc=6&hnear=Helsinki,+Finland&t=m&z=13

By the water

Esplanade

Orthodox Church

Helsinki Cathedral

Railway Station

Church of the Rock (Partly carved into the hillside)

The cemetery is a beautiful park

More water

Monument to Sibelius (composer)

Olympic Stadium (1952)