Aracnophobics look away!

I know I keep mentioning it - but this time of year is just perfect weather in Brisbane.

It's ideal for walking as you don't have the blazing sun on your head.

However, the spiders are out! 

We decided to go for a walk last week just down by the creek, and this is what we saw...dare you to join me?

Golden Orb,  Brisbane



A common species of local spider is the Golden Orb Weaver.

The males are very small so the ones that we saw guarding their webs were female. Their abdomens were probably about 3-4 cm, but they looked so much larger...Fortunately they are non-venomous.

Golden Orb, Brisbane



One advantage of large spiders is that you can see them whilst walking.

The Golden Orb Weavers have pretty spectacular webs too. It's a really strong web and I have had the very unfortunate experience of walking straight through one. Well, actually walking through isn't quite correct...I got tangled and bounced back! They often weave their webs just at head height so you have to be on the lookout. When you see local walkers ducking for no apparent reason they've spotted one!

Golden Orb, Brisbane



When the sun catches the web it's easy to see how these spiders got their name.

As it was a glorious Autumn afternoon, the sun was just perfect for taking photos.

The next photo is my favourite (If you can have a favourite spider photo!)

and shows off the gold colour of the weave perfectly.



Golden Orb and web, Brisbane



This particular walk was taking quite a bit longer than planned as I was stopping every few metres to take photos. Those spiders were everywhere!

Golden Orb, Brisbane



Some of us weren't quite so enthralled with the spiders...

and decided that messing around on the scooter was much more fun. That is until a tumble occured.

Quick cuddle, kiss it better and we were off again.

All back to normal this week as the Easter school holidays are over.

We have had a lovely couple of weeks just slowing down the pace of life and catching up.

Easter 4WD adventure.

The Easter holiday weeks are great for capturing a little of the outdoor lifestyle that Australia offers. The weather is a perfect mixture of warm sunny days and slightly cooler evenings. No humidity to tackle and we're not yet into cardigan and socks time!

Let me tell you how we are making the most of it.

In our continued effort to induct ourselves and embrace the Australian way, this week we moved swiftly from High Tea (link here) to 4 wheel driving!

A couple of years ago we bought a second car. It had very low kilometres, was in great condition and was apparently driven from home to work. It happened to be a 4WD but the closest it had (and has since) ever been off road is through a few puddles!

That changed this week...

We didn't go through puddles - they were rivers!
The road (and I use the term loosely) was a dry track with what felt like ravines with huge boulders running though it! Okay, I might be exaggerating a little for effect - but it was certainly different...

Sibs was a little subdued in the back seat and then became slightly anxious, so we were careering through the tracks with a nine year old year distracting herself by singing at the top of her voice "The sun will come out tomorrow...!"

About half way up we stopped and once she realised that the other kids in the other cars were having a ball she perked up. There was also the promise of lunch and being Easter that meant chocolate!

These were the views that greeted us as we climbed the mountain.

Miles and miles of nothing but green  - it was breathtakingly beautiful, and the photos only hint at the beauty.

At the top it was picnic time.

The snags (sausages) were put on the bbq, the children woofed down theirs and then tucked into decorated hard boiled eggs and of course plenty of the chocolate variety.

We met a few species of the local wildlife...

The snake had a very distinctive 'I've just eaten' bulge so we were very careful not to disturb it.

Thank goodness for a zoom lens...

Then it was time to descend. Thankfully, not via the same route!

The sun was beginning to set and we travelled through the countryside back to the city.

So last Easter we went olive picking, (link here) this Easter is was driving up tracks...
we'll have to get thinking for next year...

Hope you had a great Easter break.