Port Melbourne Beach 4 September 2013

It was absolutely beautiful weather today so I took myself off to Port Melbourne beach & took photographs of Hanjin, a South Korean cargo ship as it was approaching Station Pier, some students on the beach, seagulls in flight and of course the Spirit of Tasmania. When I came back into the city I heard a lunch time concert at St. Paul's Cathedral, which featured arias from Verdi, Mozart and Bizet by the amazing Soprano, Suzanne Shakespeare, a graduate of the Royal College of Music Opera School London. Such an inspiring performance by her in the grandiose surroundings of the Cathedral.

Julie Clarke© 2013

Julie Clarke© 2013

Julie Clarke© 2013

Julie Clarke© 2013

Julie Clarke© 2013

Julie Clarke© 2013

MORDIALLOC BEACH TODAY

I headed off to the coast again today to look at our beautiful Port Phillip Bay off Mordialloc Beach. It was just beautiful. The weather was neither too hot or too cold, although walking along the pier I did put my jumper back on which I had taken off during my walk along the hot beach. Here are some photos of my excursion, which I really enjoyed.

On pier looking towards Frankston.

Bay between Mordialloc and Frankston. You can almost see the houses.

Mordialloc pier.

Mordialloc beach, different view.

And finally, wasn't going to attempt to take a photo of myself, but here it is - notice, it was a windy day, and although I was wearing sunglasses the sun was still in my eyes - and, this time I remembered to apply sunscreen.

FRANKSTON BEACH TODAY

It was a beautiful day so I took a tram ride from my place to Toorak Station (30 minutes, including walking, waiting and traveling) and then took a train from the station to Frankston (52 minutes). I hadn't been to Frankston Beach for over twenty years and was absolutely impressed by all the work the Council has done to the foreshore. The wooden walkway along the beach, the wooden podiums and extremely large white umbrellas where people can sit for shade, and the little bridges, delicate plantings and landscaping of the creek that fills into the beach, so the motor boats may approach the water. The first photo here was my first view of the creek and beach. Here is one I took of the creek from one of the bridge sites. There are many.

In the far distance there was a body of land; I've looked on the map and think that it may be Beaumaris. Anyway this is as far as my 20X Lumix camera could see.

The shopping precinct also impressed and the little paved lane ways make the whole shopping experience feel integrated. Indeed, there was a real holiday feel to the shoppers and a great vibe even though Frankston was filled with people. When I lived there (too many years ago to mention) there was no picture theater or cultural center and the beach was, well, just a beach. Now it is impressive and is, I think the best beach that I've visited to date. I stayed in Frankston for about three and a half hours and during that time tried to contact Brecon Walsh, a friend who lives there, so we could catch up for a coffee. But he was not answering his mobile phone (he later rang me to apologize and we plan to catch up again when I visit Frankston again). I love this mother and child image and can't for the life of me think what that boat was doing, except that it looked like it was hauling a flag pole out of the water. (See below)

Although I was standing on the beach I was able to photograph these people at the utmost end of the Frankston pier. The color of the water was unbelievable, so green and blue simultaneously. I'm tired from my excursion, but it's a good kind of tired.

 

Middle Brighton Beach 17.11.2012

Yesterday I went to Middle Brighton beach. Took a tram to Prahran, walked to the Greville Street station then took the train to Middle Brighton station. I had a coffee in the beautiful shopping centre then walked down Normanby Road to the beach. The weather was beautiful, warm in the sun and cool in the shade. I was surprised to see ducks floating on the surface of the water and the light green seaweed that appeared to be choking the coastline. I love the contrast of the floating ducks and the myriad of little sailing ships in the background.  I watched over a period of two hours several cargo ships move from left to right across the horizon. I was bemused by a man carrying his boat, which made him look rather like a hybrid boatman. I spent several hours walking along the beach and I even walked for a short while in the dog beach, although my apprehension about all those dogs running around got the better of me, so I just walked along the general part of the beach. I love the sea and imagine that I’ll be doing trips like this as much as possible, but not in the summer because I can't take the glare of the sun on the white sand or the general heat.

St. Kilda Beach today...

Yesterday afternoon I tried to sit outside in the sun on my little balcony, but unfortunately a cluster of bees kept buzzing me. I was determined to demoralize, indeed destroy the flowering variegated Geraniums growing near the balcony, which were attracting the bees, so I spent two hours pulling the shrubs out of the ground (with great effort) so that I wouldn't be stung. What I got for my trouble was two spider bites on my right arm. The first bite I felt and my arm went quite red for about an hour, but since I was not feeling sick or dizzy and the redness disappeared, I figured I was in the clear.

Today I went out early; took a tram to Chapel Street, walked to the Prahran station and traveled two stops to Balaclava where I had coffee. Then after looking at the shops I caught a tram to St. Kilda Beach. When I got off the tram there was a line of people waiting to get into Luna Park and I could hear the screams of delight, or was it fear from those riding the big dipper. I didn't take many photos whilst I was at the beach, I was happy to have my bare feet in the sand and watch everyone who had taken to the water. Here's one of my favorites. I walked right down to the edge of the water to take this photo of five teenagers who appeared totally entertained by god knows what. They were in the water like this for about an hour.

I picked up this piece of driftwood from the beach and think it looks a little like a fish.

After I ate my sandwich and walked along the beach I headed up to Linden Gallery to see OMISSION an exhibition of Indigenous Art. I hadn't been to Linden for ages and it was good to see Bindi Cole's piece in which an indigenous man was saying 'I forgive you'. But as I watched his facial expressions on the video projected over an Australian flag, I did wonder at how repeating the words over and over again appeared to reinforce the fact in his mind that he was the one that needed convincing, although I believe that Cole made the artwork as a vehicle of self-healing. Feel I need a little healing myself because my right knee is really sore and I'm suffering badly from hay fever (or is it a cold). Anyway, it was a lovely day - I feel like a tourist in my own city.

Sandringham beach today...

I had another amazing day. Caught the tram to Chapel Street, had coffee in Greville Street and then caught the train to Sandringham. It’s only a twenty-one minute journey from Prahran to the Sandringham Station. It was sunny when I arrived and an easy five minute walk brought me to the cliffs overlooking the beach. What an incredible view, spanning to the left, right and front of me.

I walked around the top of the cliffs taking photographs and ran into these two old men leaning on the fence and looking out to sea. What was on their minds? That Sandringham was a great football team.

The cliffs were covered with bracken and beautiful wild flowers, such a breathtaking and utterly beautiful scene to behold! The sea was calm, there was a light breeze and I sat for a while an ate the cut lunch I'd prepared. Bliss!

Take a look at the colors of the rocks, seaweed and water.

I really did want to be closer to it, so next time I go I promised myself that I would walk down that long and lonely path to the sea. I'm certainly not going down that steep, weathered step.

After being near the beach for about an hour and a half I walked back into Sandrinham shopping center, looked in the local op shop, had a cool drink and checked out the accommodation options. I would definitely like to stay there overnight, just so that I can see the mood of the ocean in the very early morning.