Photo Trip #2 - Story Bridge Maroon Lights

Last night I was on duty for Evensong, which I love.  And the cathedral has a fabulous view of the Story Bridge, which surprised me by being pink, then red, then blue, then red, then- I decided to head out and take some photos this evening.  At first I was going to go to the Riverside/Eagle St Pier area, but I figured if I caught a train to Fortitude Valley I would get a better view.  So right.

I left at 5 (home by 6:30) and took my photos from Bowen Tce.  I took some on my normal phone camera, and one on Instagram, and several on Hipstamatic and Oggl.  I was pleased that my suspicion of the best lenses to use on Hipstamatic were correct, and I had fun editing all the Oggl shots.  Note that I have spared you all the photos...  The sky colours in this one are part of the appeal - and are inspiring me to try another photo trip soon, just for the sky colours.

I wasn't the only one taking photos, either!  Someone else was standing at the start of the path across the bridge with an upheld camera.  I think this is my favourite from this evening.

Go QLD!!!

Shoe Storage

For a few years, the lower staircase has held a pair of shoes on each step.  Some of my students and friends can tell they're at the right door by the parade of shoes up the stairs.  Yes - I have many shoes.  Earlier this week I had my carpets cleaned, and I discovered I had more shoes even than I thought.  They kept popping up!  Although it's nice to be referred to as 'The Shoe Lady', it's also nice to be able to vacuum without stopping frequently to move a pair of shoes.  I've been on the lookout for a suitable cupboard or shelves, but then - I opened the hall cupboard and had a light bulb moment.  This would make a lovely shoe cupboard - and it's free! 

Today was beautiful - it seemed my Facebook newsfeed was chockers with 'perfect day' posts.  Instead of doing something outdoors (and, really, between about 9:30 and 4 it was rather warm), I chose to reorganise my hall cupboard in favour of shoes.  I think this was a good choice.

Apart from the obvious benefits of having one place for my shoes (as opposed to me thinking 'Is that pair beside the keyboard? Next to the drawers? On the stairs?'), this central location is near my room.  So when I'm choosing outfits, I don't have to trek up and down stairs until I have a suitable pair.  And it's forced me to do a bit of a clean-out.  I have quite a stash of expired things - sunscreens, painkillers, cold and flu tablets, and prescription medications.  I found some interesting things (for a hall cupboard) - like electrical cords, a drill, bubble wrap, candles, curtain rings, and a whole lot more. 

My shoes don't take up the whole cupboard, so towels and first aid will still live there.  And there is a stash of shoes I will be giving away at the next swap.  Not the greatest of photos, but it's rather an awkward place if you want to take a photo, short of climbing over the ledge (although that was tempting).

Yesterday's photo:

Again, not a great photo.  Yesterday's gig was wedding and reception, with the reception at Customs House - and who can resist a photo of the Story Bridge?

Today's photo:

Because today was so hot, I took pity on my plants and gave them an extra watering this evening - and spotted this little caterpillar enjoying my parsley.  Good for him.

Just Go - Bridges

Plan A for today I thought maybe not such a good idea due to ears.  Plan B would have been amazing - except I had the world's longest sleep...  Well, admittedly I didn't get to sleep until about 1:30am, but still - it was super late when I woke.  Plan C - just go.  Unlike last time, I remembered my ear phones this time.  I left in the afternoon (2:48pm, to be precise) intending to hang out in Paddington for a bit.  Approaching the city though, the bridges looked so inviting, and a new plan began formulating in my head - walk across all the bridges in the CBD. 

So: bus to Roma St, train to Fortitude Valley.  Walk up Brunswick and Ann Streets, cross the Story Bridge.  Since the last time I walked across, there are now Lifeline signs in the approach and at intervals across the bridge, which I found disconcerting.  I resisted the urge to climb the railings as I didn't want to start a police incident just from my climbing instincts.

I walked down to the Thornton Street Ferry and waited for about 5 minutes for the City Hopper, which is free.  Bargain.  Straight across to Eagle St, then I walked along Riverside and through the Botanic Gardens.  Quite a few photos later - none of which actually turned out all that well thanks to the sun position - and I got to the Goodwill Bridge.  After crossing this one, I walked through South Bank.  Mostly sticking to the arbour, I did stray a bit in search of a coffee, or a smoothie, or something.  I eventually found Boost and had a poorly mixed banana buzz (chunks of banana, anyone?). 

The Victoria Bridge had a beautiful sunset happening around it.  I suspect, though, that most sunsets look attractive from this vantage point.  I felt like such a tourist.

I am glad, though, for the function on the iPhone that allows selfies without arousing much suspicion.

The next part was the most boring, having to walk along George St.  It's so City (and Boring City, at that).  Crossing the Kurilpa Bridge at sunset was pretty spectacular (for a bridge, that is).  I do like this bridge.  And I was not the only photographer here!  Ooh, look - it's another bridge.  Yes, my face was a bit over it by now.

Although it begins the same as the Goodwill Bridge, I do like the paddlepop stick/pirate ship effect.

At sunset you have the bonus of reddening sky and that indigo that comes at dusk.  Mwah.

And its curvy access from the West End side is far more interesting than most other bridges.

A short walk past GOMA, and some lengthy waits at traffic lights, brought me to the William Jolly Bridge - such a contrast from the newer bridges!  I chose to walk the western side (not the city side) to make it easier to get to the next bridge.  Maybe not the best choice, but as it was fairly dark by now it didn't make too much difference.  For as long as I can remember, I've liked seeing the light streams from cars passing and slow shutter speeds.

From William Jolly to the Go Between was not as far as I thought - and the Go Between is far less attractive than some of its counterparts.  Still, it has great views.

I then walked to the Cultural Centre bus station, narrowly missed a bus (in my own little world), chilled out for a bit and was then home at 6:55.  The shower was very welcome.

It was really nice to do some things I often think I should do as a resident.  Walking for the better part of 4 hours was great - and my boots did a great job!  I admit, I thought about stopping after Kurilpa, but that made my back itch so I carried on.  Now I need a new plan for a day's outing.