TENNIS LADIES DAY OUT

At the end of the year our tennis group have a day out together on public transport so that we can all be together and chat on the way and have a drink with lunch. This year we met at South Bank and had coffee. After coffee we walked to the ferry station and caught a City Cat to North Shore about an hours ride on the boat towards the mouth of the Brisbane River. I have a new phone and all the photos were taken with it. Still learning everything it can do. 

Walking to the ferry station. Past players are also invited to come.

We waited here for a few minutes. It was a dull day and threatening to rain our usual summer rains.

Here comes the City Cat

Some of the Cats are painted with Brisbane sport's team colours. This one is the Brisbane Bullets Basketball Team.

After we leave the South Bank Parklands we go across to the CBD. (Down Town)

There are many bridges across the river connecting northern  and southern suburbs. This one is our icon, the Story Bridge.

We have left the city and heading for the North Shore, stopping on the way at various suburbs. We spent a relaxing hour on the boat together.

We sat outside the restaurant in the shade but it was quite humid but it didn't rain.

After a lovely day and lunch and plenty of chatter it was time to make our way home by boat, bus and car. We passed the many riverside restaurants in the city. It is great not to be overly worried about the virus as we have eliminated it from the community. We do have some cases in quarantine hotels where returning Australians from overseas must stay for two weeks.

Under some of the many bridges in the River City.

This is one of the pedestrian bridges going from the South Bank Parklands to the QUT University.

FORT LYTTON

On a grassy outpost near the mouth of the Brisbane River lies Fort Lytton, the heritage listed remains of Australia's only surviving moated, 19th century fortress.
From 1881 until the 1938, Fort Lytton was Brisbane's front line of defence. In a time of uncertainty and world unrest, the fort was built to protect residents from naval attacks from the Russians and the French, located on Noumea only three days sail away.
Fort Lytton became a major training base. Thousands of soldiers trained there for the Boer War, WW1 and WW2. In WW2 the fort became part of a much larger defence system to prevent enemy ships entering the Brisbane River. The fort is a typical 19th century garrison, a pentagonal fortress concealed behind grassy embankments and surrounded by water filled moat.

 Bill operating the famous six inch Armstrong disappearing gun. The gun had hydraulics to lift it up and then lower to be reloaded.

We had a tour guide, who was an actor, He was taking the part of a past Captain Harris. He related many stories about WW1. He also explained how this disappearing gun was operated.

I loved his boots and gaiters. He strutted around like a typical captain in those days. 

BRISBANE CITY

We had a few trips to town for appointments. I tried to capture the city buzz with my phone.

 Christmas decoration in the Queen St Mall.

 The City Christmas tree in King George Square

 The heritage listed Albert St Uniting Church dwarfed by the first tower to be built in Brisbane in 1971.

I was struck by the squiggle on this building. After some research, I discovered that it is an imprint of the Brisbane River. The building was completed in 2015. The building is nicknamed "Brisbane River Tower". The smaller building next to the tower is called 192 Central. Both buildings are owned by Daisho, a Japanese company. 

The bronze sculpture is one of four at the entrance to King Edward Park.  The sculpture is called Forme de Mitte (Forms of Myth) by Arnaldo Pomodoro. 

A Jacaranda tree is trying to soften the concrete jungle.

Another day we were walking from the CBD to Fortitude Valley and passed Warry St where Hassel Architect's building is on the left. It is a heritage listed building. It was a bakery, the ovens are still a feature inside the building. This is where our daughter works when she is sent to the Brisbane Office from Sydney. The Poinciana Tree brightens up the street.

TO MARKET, TO MARKET TO BUY A FAT PIG

I'm always looking for a decent market close to where we live. There are lots of mediocre ones but I haven't found a really good one yet.  However, I enjoy walking, looking and photographing. 

 I liked how the red glow from the tent lit up the girl's hair. 

                                                                                Smell the pineapple to check if it is ripe.

 Want some jewellery?

 Too many calories

I love foxes.  wonder why?

BEAUTIFUL BRISBANE

I'm probably biased but I think Brisbane is a beautiful city.

New Farm Park roads are lined with Jacaranda trees. We were lucky to find a parking spot even at 9:00am but it was a Sunday and there was a charity run event on too. The park covers 38 acres and was opened in 1919. It includes picnic areas, cricket pitches, croquet and football fields.

On the cliffs of the Brisbane River

Jacaranda is a native to Central America, South America, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and the Bahamas. It has been introduced to most tropical and subtropical countries. It is common in South Africa and Australia.

We drove to New Farm Park and then caught the City Cat to the city.

Riverside Place

HOPPING ABOUT AT KANGAROO POINT

We went to check out the parks at Kangaroo Point for a suitable Camera club outing. First we hopped under the bridge but didn't find it that good for photos and there weren't many parking places. So we hopped up to the top of the cliffs overlooking the river, it was much better there.

The police keeping our walkways safe.

 Our iconic Story Bridge.

 The view from the cliffs looking towards Brisbane CBD.

 The sculpture "Venus Rising" by Wolfgang Butress is 23m high and is a stainless steel structure made up of hundreds of interlocking rings and polished tubes which twists and creates a hollow spiral.

 Looking up inside the sculpture

 Zooming in to the apartments across the river.

 St Mary's Anglican Church built in 1873, its distinctive stone work is inspiring.

The Brisbane Australia Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints built in 1998 in Kangaroo Point.