While Vilis tackled Mount Douglas – a steep, savannah-cloaked hill behind James Cook University – on his mountain bike, I again browsed through old blog posts, this time selecting scenic shots to offer a glimpse of the variety of Australian landscapes Vilis and I have been fortunate to explore. This is a country of tremendous diversity and beauty of many forms, some of which I present here. Enjoy the long view.
View from Cape Pallarenda, with Townsville and Castle Hill, Queensland, in centre back (© Vilis Nams)
Ross Lake, near Townsville (© Vilis Nams)
View from Oak Valley Hilltop, near Townsville (© Magi Nams)
Sheep Country near Tallangatta, Victoria (© Vilis Nams)
Victoria Pastoral Land near Beechworth (© Magi Nams)
Reservoir in Yarra Ranges National Park, Victoria (© Magi Nams)
Coastal Heathlands at Mango Bay, Tasmania (© Vilis Nams)
Vineyards, Moulting Lagoon, and The Hazards, Freycinet National Park, Tasmania (© Magi Nams)
Northern Midlands, Tasmania (© Magi Nams)
View from Archer’s Knob, Narawntapu National Park, Tasmania (© Vilis Nams)
Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Tasmania, viewed from Donaghy’s Hill Wilderness Lookout (© Vilis Nams)
Lake St. Clair National Park, Tasmania, viewed from Shadow Lake Circuit (© Vilis Nams)
Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, viewed from Seager’s Lookout (© Vilis Nams)
Tassie Sunset (© Vilis Nams)
Townsville Town Common Conservation Park viewed from Many Peaks Range (© Vilis Nams)
Western Australia Desert near Wiluna (© Vilis Nams)
Desert Uplands near Wiluna, Western Australia (© Vilis Nams)
Shelley Beach near Townsville (© Vilis Nams)
Pioneer Valley, Queensland, viewed from Eungella (© Vilis Nams)
South Queensland Farm viewed from Diggings Road near Eungella (© Vilis Nams)
View from Kalkani Crater Track, Undara Volcanic National Park, Queensland (© Vilis Nams)
View from Arcadia Track, Alma Bay, Magnetic Island, Queensland (© Vilis Nams)
View of Bowling Green Bay National Park, seen from Mount Stuart, Queensland (© Vilis Nams)
Sugarcane Fields seen from Mount Inkerman, Queensland (© Vilis Nams)
Zoe Bay, Hinchinbrook Island National Park, Queensland (© Vilis Nams)
Ramsay Bay and Mangroves seen from Nina Peak, Hinchinbrook Island National Park, Queensland (© Vilis Nams)
WEst of Camooweal, Queensland (© Magi Nams)
Trephina Gorge National Park seen from Panorama Track, Northern Territory (© Vilis Nams)
Ormiston Gorge in Evening Light, West MacDonnell National Park, Northern Territory (© Vilis Nams)
Ormiston Pound and West MacDonnell Range seen from Lookout Ridge, Northern Territory (© Vilis Nams)
North Queensland viewed from Henry Ross Lookout, en route to Kuranda (© Vilis Nams)
Before lunchtime, Vilis returned from mountain biking on Mount Douglas. Sweat poured off his skin and a bloody gash adorned his calf, the result of a tumble. He discovered that, when cycling on a steep hill, a fall to the downhill side, with no immediate ground to brace a foot on, equates with a bigger spill than when on the level.
Wild Ride on Mount Douglas Mountain Biking Trail (© Vilis Nams)
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