Thoughts as a Storm Approaches

Evening darkness early upon the land
Grey, sly clouds are hanging low, concealing
Growing strength that piles up, hiding power
Grabbing at stratospheric inspiration
Wind is gusting fitfully
With steel in its heart.

Traffic sounds a’hushing, worried faces,
Gusting stops as though the air is drawing
One deep breath in. Soon to let an angry
Unfeeling exhalation terrify
Early roosting birds,
Shelter-seeking humans.

Losing patience,
Years-long abuse,
Held in check no more
Blasting in gales
splitting the dark
with concussive blasts
Hurling both wet
and solid water. Breaking trees,
Hurling tides at
Suddenly vulnerable shores.

Howling! Oh the Howling.

Till after days, or maybe weeks
The air grows tired and realises
Tormenting man will never learn.
Enough of this warning and next time
Gaia’s Breath will be irresistible
With no man left to fear.

101 Things To Do With A Swan River #12

On a calm morning you can find unexpected beauty on the surface.

Interesting patterns on a smooth Swan River.

I looked up and realised it was a reflection of the walkway railing on the Windan Bridge.

101 Things To Do With A Swan River #11

You can float like a Hot Cross Jellyfish

These are non-stinging but quite visible. There is another, almost transparent species, again non-stinging, which was often used in “jelly-fish fights” by teen aged boys to the squeals of teen aged girls. Back in the days when swimming in the Swan was a compulsory part of growing up in Perth.

I make no comment about how I know this fact.

101 Things To Do With A Swan River #10

You can get hay-fever on it!

For those of us who are susceptible, Bullrushes in full flower create a sneezing Hell!.

101 Things To Do With A Swan River #9

You can leave old jetties to decay.

A hundred years ago this was a private jetty for a farmer with a river frontage to his property. With few roads, the river route was the easiest way to travel to Perth.

In another hundred years, there will be no sign of human interference.

The Swan River regenerates year by year.

101 Things To Do With A Swan River #8

You can keep company with some very pleasant and undemanding creatures.

In this case I was privileged to spend some relaxing drifting time with a flock of ducks.

101 Things To Do With A Swan River #7

You can build river walls beside it.

Along the bank beside the Ascot Race Course, a new river wall is being built.

Adding to the many kilometres of river walls already beside the Swan.

Yet when I went to take some photos of the original river all, now more than a hundred metres back from the current river position, all remnants had been built over! Back in the 1980′s, as a part of my genealogical research, I found a number of remnant stretches of river wall. All built over now 

Floating

I know there are many Hot Air Balloons flying over Canberra every morning.

I know there are a couple of Hot Air Balloons flying over Northam in WA’s Wheatbelt.

I don’t think I have ever seen one flying over Perth.

Until the other morning when I woke to see this on my skyline.

It was, naturally, not for pleasure but an advertisement for Circe De Soleil’s “Ovo”

101 Things To Do With A Swan River #6

You can build a Casino Complex beside it.

The Pirates in those buildings put a poor, honest River Pirate to shame.

My flag is limp at the sight of such legalised piratical one-up-manship!

Cap’n Jack Budgerigah

A’sailing the Bunbury Inlet on the good ship Orange Pearl, looking for treasure ships to board and trying to avoid Davy Jones!

Butternut Pumpkin

Bunbury grows all sorts of interesting plants.

This self-sown butter-nut pumpkin is showing signs of reverting to its original gourd state.

Pumpkin soup is on the horizon

101 Things To Do With A Swan River #5

You can build in it.

These are the footings, some 50 metres deep, for a new riverbank development opposite Heirisson Island.

This used to be called vandalism until it became a Governmental habit!

Pt Arthur was once an actual point but became simply a corner in a sculpted riverbank.

For many years it was Perth’s first landfill rubbish tip until it caught fire in the early 1930′s and burnt underground for most of a decade. Covered in 3 metres of sand and lawned it became the eastern end of the Esplanade. The Ozone Hotel, with its ironic name, was nearby.

For half a century it has been  a quiet corner of Perth where people could relax, for free. Could do nothing much, for free. Could just wander as the spirit led them, for free. Now there will be changes.

All that was once free is being harnessed into profit!

At least until the water levels rise. There is a major “build-on-the-floodplain” move in Perth. Have they learned nothing from the Brisbane floods of the past three years?

I’ll get off my soapbox now and stop ranting – for a while!

Rain Drop Ripples

 

Sunset in Perth

Once again Perth skies have given us a beautiful sunset.

101 Things To Do With A Swan River #4

On a foggy morning you can lie down and reflect in the Swan River.

This reclining tree was at the Maylands Boat Ramp.