Tag Archives: nature

Talley Abbey

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As we continued our exploration of Wales, we travelled through the stunning countryside

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of the Brecon Beacons.

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The view from this bridge in the morning light was gorgeous.

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We even found our dream renovation project.

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Llwyn-On reservoir is the largest of the three reservoirs in the Taf Farw Valley. Completed in 1926, the 150 acre reservoir is a popular fishing spot.

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Our route took us past Talley Abbey, a ruined former monastery in the village of Talley.

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Founded in 1184 by Lord Rhys for the monks of the Premonstratensian order (White Canons), the abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII.

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The villagers used the stone to build the present village and the Parish church of St. Michael, next door to the ruins.

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The surrounding countryside was beautiful.

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The nearby lakes were used for fish farming to support the monks.

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There was such an air of tranquility, I wouldn’t mind living in Talley.

Simpsons Gap

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Returning from Uluru to Alice Springs, we passed some stunning landscape

as we headed for Simpsons Gap in the West MacDonnell Ranges. Flanked by towering cliffs,

5.Creekbed Walk6.Creekbed Walk7.Creekbed Walk9.Creekbed Walk

we followed the Creekbed Walk along the edge of Roe Creek.

10.Roe Creek

It’s hard to imagine how this sandy bed

12.Roe Creek

managed to carve the gorge that is Simpsons Gap.

14.Simpsons Gap15.Simpsons Gap

The permanent waterhole attracts an abundance of wildlife

16.Simpsons Gap

and is home to the black-footed rock wallaby. I think we were there at the wrong time of day to see any.

languorous lizards

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A couple of years ago we adopted a pair of blotched bluetongue lizards. They had belonged to a friend who could no longer keep them and they had lived for the past four years in a glass vivarium. Their names were Fraggles and Spindleshanks and they were best friends.

1.Fraggles & Spindleshanks

We couldn’t bear to see them so confined so Michael constructed a lizard paradise. With plenty of leaf litter, rocks, plants and a hollow log for wintering in.

2.Fraggles & Spindleshanks

They would often lie together in the sunny spots.

3.Fraggles & Spindleshanks

Sadly, Fraggles passed away a few months later but Spindleshanks soldiered on without her companion.

4.Spindleshanks

I say ‘her’ because we had been told they were both female.

5.Spindleshanks

Not long after Fraggles’ passing, another blotched bluetongue appeared on our back verandah, looking very sorry for itself and covered in ticks. Michael removed the ticks and it seemed to be used to being handled. We kept it safe in the enclosure with Spindleshanks until it recovered.

6.Leonard

They bonded straight away. He was very inquisitive and certainly not afraid of the human presence.

7.Leonard

The longer, sunny days aided his recovery and all was happy in lizard land.

We didn’t realize quite how happy until five months later.

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Blotched bluetongues can have up to fifteen young.

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We were somewhat relieved to find just two.

We couldn’t bear to release them to become a meal for a kookaburra or tiger snake, they now reside at Wing’s Wildlife Park. http://wingswildlifepark.com.au

Welsh Hawking Centre

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Birds of prey have always held a fascination for Michael. When we realised the Welsh Hawking Centre was not far from Penarth, it was immediately added to our list. Once October arrives in Britain, the tourist attractions slow down and the tourists disappear. We were the only visitors and were treated to the experience of watching the training of two falcons. One was put through the paces

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while the other waited patiently on the sidelines.

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After a few passes with the lure, there is a reward.

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You can’t help but admire these beautiful creatures.

After more training with the lure,

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we met some other residents

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Returning to Penarth we dined for a second time at The Railway. The meals were amazing – for £2.99, how could we resist?

16.The Railway

Kata Tjuta

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Kata Tjuta, meaning ‘many heads’ in Anangu language, is otherwise known as The Olgas, a group of 36 domed rock formations 25km east of Uluru.

The tallest peak, Mt Olga, is 198m higher than Uluru and was named in 1872 in honour of Queen Olga of Württemberg, the daughter of Tsar Nicholas I.

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We set out early and spent the morning exploring the magic of Kata Tjuta.

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The first part of the Valley of the Winds walk was quite easy along a gravel track

4.Valley of the Winds walk

with some stunning scenery.

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8.Kata Tjuta

Karu Lookout gave a hint of the extent of this spectacular rock formation.

9.Karu lookout

We continued on past incredible escarpments

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and rock faces.

The path became narrow and rugged

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as it meandered within the domes,

over trickling creek beds.

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In places, the trail all but disappeared and we had to scramble up the steep slopes.

The rock domes are the remains of erosion that began over 500 million years ago and extend six kilometres into the ground.

The track improved a little

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just before we reached the gap in the rocks that is Karingana Lookout.

24.Karingana Lookout

From there, the path descended very steeply to the bottom of the valley to complete a circuit walk. We opted to retrace our steps instead, our feet sighing with relief as we drove away, with fabulous memories of Kata Tjuta.

25.Kata Tjuta