Hyacinth Orchids for First Time in Dharawank Nature Reserve : January 10 2023

Tough night sleep in a new place with lots of noise early on. Started out cloudy - so no sunrise photo.

Decided to explore a track to the south I have not walked before. Ride to the south of town past Back Beach to Nine Mile Beach. Back Beach was in the news last week as a dad died saving his daughter. It is a deserted beach. Photo looking south to the mountain at Port Stephens - a long way away

Looking north. There is a road going all the way to Tuncurry. Not rideable with small wheels - so I walked North Boundary Fire Trail instead of Rainforest Trail. Track did get messy with flood waters - no orchids to be seen

Banksia flowering up high

Used a bit of military navigation to get a walking loop back to where I branched off - only one wrong turn. An out and back I could not have known was a dead end

Blow me down - the first orchid was exactly at this junction. Could have saved myself a big walk looking on the right side of the track. I always do left first.

The end for this dipodium variegatum - common hyacinth orchid. Lifted my head and found another budding

The flowers are closer together than normal on a small plant

Did walk the Rainforest Trail - there were orchids here too

End of season

A fully open flower with great tufts on the labellum

Front on. Key to ID are the spots on the flower stalk

More beach scenes down Nine Mile Beach

More views of Port Stephens peak.

Good to get out to explore new tracks and to find orchids. Stopped at shops on way home.

Quick lunch and a rest and then walk back for red wine. Statuesque tea trees on the walk to shops

Went down to bottle shop for some red wine and sunglasses. Red wine has a story - from Tamminick Gap Road where my CycleAcrossOz mate lives. I was there in October at the start of my Melbourne to Shoalhaven Heads ride

Found this totem pole on the way back - chainsaw carved. It has a koala in it - been looking and not found any

Went to walk the Black Head point to find fishing spots

Interesting pea flower

Tide coming in - gullies might be good for fish but there is no sign of shellfish on the rocks

Different angle

Headland is cut by this big opening. Do not want to get caught on the wrong side of that at high tide. A 6 hour wait or a choppy swim

My wife stayed at hone all day - been too busy over the weekend to shake the bronchitis

Dinner: Simple BBQ.

Trade action: Got assigned to sell VZ - will buy back as my research house is still keen

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Cycling, Daily Activity, House Chores, Photowalking, Shopping