It was a wonderfully dark and eerie afternoon when Bear and I stepped onto the sandy shores at Deception Bay in Caboolture Shire north of Brisbane, Australia. Storm clouds loomed overhead, threatening to unload their cargo of raindrops at any moment. Being adventurous souls we couldn’t let such things deter us, so we set our faces into the blustering wind and went for a trek.
Deception Bay is a lovely place, named by a certain Lieutenant John Oxley in 1823 who mistook it for a river due to its unusual shallowness.
Such shallow waters make it an ideal spot for fishing, boating and searching for treasures in the tidal pools.
It’s also home to beautiful mangroves, a thick carpet of roots keeping them anchored in the shifting sands and rising tides. I loved standing on shore gazing out to sea, mesmerized by silvery swirls of water shimmering a gun metal gray in the brooding light.
I’d never seen mangroves before and was quite transfixed by them.
Up close the sand looks like it’s carpeted with ginger root mingling with fallen yellow leaves and cheery green shoots.
The small pool below is known as Mrs. Bancroft’s Bath. The pool was carved out of rock in the 1880’s for the wife of Dr. Joseph Bancroft. The poor woman was very ill and an English doctor prescribed salt water baths. On fine days Mrs. Bancroft was carried down the cliff and placed into the bath as the tide came in. Before this treatment she was only given a short time to live. Amazingly she lived a further 8-10 years. To this day you can still see the holes where a canopy was erected to protect her from the fierce Australian sun.
The mangroves have a rather splendid tropical feel to them, and I had flashes of the old Disney version of Swiss Family Robinson.
When we weren’t traipsing through the sand peering at jelly fish and old salt water baths, Bear and I joined other afternoon strollers on the Cottonwood Walk, a sweeping boardwalk along the esplanade with magnificent views of the mangroves and the sea.
When the skies grew darker we breathed deeply of the cool, sea air then headed back to the car, arriving just as the first raindrops began to fall.
What is your favorite thing to do on a stormy afternoon?
Lovely, lovely photos. Stormy? Definitely curl up with tea and a good book. Hope you are well!
Oh yes, El, that is the BEST thing to do on a rainy day. 🙂 I’m doing better, thank you. 🙂
I love your black and white!
Thank you, Susan! 🙂 I love it too. 🙂
The black and white is beautiful. I’m still trying to figure out what one of the pictures is of, but that could just be because I have the mind of a 14 year old boy.
Oh Deanna, I’m laughing so hard. 🙂 If it’s “that” picture you’re speaking of, the child is looking for treasures in the tide pools. 🙂
It is so interesting how different scenery looks in B and W.
It sure is, Linda. It gives such a different feel. 🙂
My favorite thing to do is sleep. 🙂
You are a seriously good sleeper, girl! I envy you your long naps and sleeping in. 🙂 I’m getting better at sleeping in! One day I’ll be a master like you. 🙂
I love that you did these photos in B&W! Very powerful!!! My favorite thing is to curl up with my hubby in the bed!!!
Cuddling with your man is the BEST, isn’t it, Andi? 🙂 I loved these in black and white so much. 🙂
What great shots, such a great perspective. You could have stopped by for a cup of tea, I am about 10 minutes from where you were 🙂
Ohhh, I would’ve loved to have a cuppa with you! 🙂
Almost local. Hope you head up this way again and spend some time on our redcliffe beaches 🙂
Oh, I haven’t heard of the Redcliffe beaches yet! I will definitely have to look at them soon. 🙂
What a lovely day! It is even more precious knowing that a storm is on the way so each moment is more dear.
You are so right, Stevie. 🙂 That sense of emergency clarifies and enhances every part of the experience. 🙂
What an interesting place – I’ve never actually been in a mangrove forest. Great pics – so atmospheric! And when it’s stormy, you’ll find me snuggled under a blanket with a book and a hot chocolate LOL!
Queensland beaches are interesting places, if you haven’t been yet, Noosa and Coolum are lovely. 🙂 Love the photos, the black and white helps feed the idea of the impending storm. I love how your posts often involve the reader in the atmosphere.
I love this post. At first I read the last part as you breathing in the first raindrops. I was imagining you taking it in – lovely.