Monday 10 December 2012

A Short Walk in the Forest

Not mine, though.

I went for a post–prandial stroll in the forest yesterday.

Having chosen the path that isn't usually frequented by groups of tree kangaroo spotters, I ran into a group of tree kangaroo spotters.

The chief spotter wore khaki and was eating an apple. This combination is common among tour guides in FNQ. The apple is interchangeable with a banana (in a comestible sense, not a botanical one), but the khaki is a fixture.

He said to me, 'Are you looking for tree kangaroos?'

'No, mate,' I said. 'Got plenty of those at home.'

And it's technically true, because I still own the place until Wednesday. (And, yes, I did sound smug. But I have to make the most of it for the next few days.)

 I didn't see any tree kangaroos on the walk, but plenty of pademelons and whipbirds and a recently hatched scrubfowl chick. Also plants. Lots of plants.

Take this seriously. Really seriously.
The safe track through the forest

Everyone's path should be strewn with flame tree flowers
And black beans. There should be black beans.

Black bean bark: like hessian
What Sir Mixalot meant to say.

A strangler fig strangling.
Bumpy satinash (Syzygium cormiflorum) and more big buttresses

Butterfly bush (Pavetta)
North Johnstone River: languid in the Dry Season
Tortoises by Monet

Tortoise by Seurat