nature makes me happy – 60plus and loving life

A New Adventure: Soaring High in a Hot Air Balloon

By 60plus&lovinglife June 15, 2023February 29, 2024 0

A friend suggested we go for a ride in a hot air balloon! Heights have never been my thing, but during this year of chaos, I thought why not?

So what is it like going several thousand feet up in the air in a wicker basket? Picture yourself gently floating above the earth, with the wind as your guide and a panoramic view that leaves you in awe of the beauty of nature. There is a stillness and serenity up there that I have never experienced before – if you get the chance, take the trip, you will not be disappointed!

Pre-Flight Excitement:

We stayed overnight at an AirBnB near the launch site (mostly so we only had to get up around 4.30am for a pre-dawn lift off, rather than drive up from town and getting up at 3am!)

As the morning of our hot air balloon adventure (pre) dawned, anticipation & excitement filled the air. We arrived at the launch site and the sight of the vibrant, colourful balloon being inflated is a magnificent sight to see. The pilot and crew meticulously prepare for the flight, ensuring everything is in perfect order. As we watched the balloon slowly rise, anticipation built, and we were thrilled to embark on this unique and magical journey.

Floating on Cloud Nine:

As we stepped into the balloon’s basket, a sense of wonder and freedom engulfed me. The burner roared to life, and the balloon gently lifted off the ground. A rush of adrenaline surged through my veins as we ascended into the sky. The feeling of weightlessness is truly unparalleled as we left the world behind and become one with the elements.

The Breathtaking Panorama:

My breath was literally taken away as I witnessed the world from a whole new perspective with nothing between me and the air around me and an unencumbered view. The ground below shrunk into a colourful patchwork quilt, revealing nature’s intricate beauty.

The sprawling landscapes unfolded before our eyes like a living painting. We definitely managed to photograph & capture some of the awe-inspiring views and a cute selfie as well.

We hovered and drifted at around 4,000 feet and as there were a few clouds about, the pilot took us up to 6,500 feet for a few moments so we could “peek above the clouds.” It was absolutely awesome!

Experiencing the stillness:

As we peacefully floated through the sky, we become attuned to the symphony of nature. The tranquil silence, occasionally interrupted by the hissing of the burner meant that we could appreciate the stillness and tranquility and it gave me a complete sense of peace and calm.

The Magical Sunrise:

The flight was made even more enchanting because we experienced it during the golden hours of sunrise. We were surrounded by the warm hues of a rising sun, casting a warm glow on the landscape. The world seemed to hold its breath, and I felt like we became part of a mesmerizing moment where time stood still.

Meeting new people:

The hot air balloon flight was a shared experience, we shared the ride with several other adventurers. As we glided through the sky, laughter and friendly conversations quietly filled the air. Broken up with long moments of silent awe. And yes there was a marriage proposal on board, a young couple becoming engaged and the rest of us cheering & applauding their special moment – what a beautiful memory for them to have.

The gentle and ever so slightly bumpy landing:

We had a safety and landing briefing before we took off and we knew how to brace and hang on when landing! As the flight neared its end, the pilot skillfully maneuvered the balloon towards a suitable landing spot. We actually lightly grazed some trees on the final few feet (no harm to the trees). Once we landed, I felt a real sense of exhilaration washing over me, happy to be back on solid ground, but still full of a sense of calm, joy and happiness from the experience.

My friend chose the absolute best adventure for the both of us and I am so grateful that they did. The awe at the magnificence of the views and the overwhelming sense of peace and tranquility of being so high above the earth in nothing but a wicker basket. We even got to help deflate and fold/roll up the balloon afterwards.

@libertyballoons

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nature makes me happy

My little garden

By 60plus&lovinglife December 11, 2022 0

It’s taken a while!

I moved into my unit 15 months ago. I changed things and added things to make it truly my home.

I have a rear courtyard and I had a patio built so that I can sit out there any time of year. I also put up bamboo fencing to improve how the space looked and for more privacy, as it’s higher than the original fence behind.

I bought some outdoor wall art, outdoor furniture and an outdoor heater for the winter months.

I have plants in large pots including a Meyer lemon tree and a miniature nectarine tree. There’s a mini frangipani and a couple of other plants.

The whole area is warm and welcoming, private and beautiful. Great for me and my dog or for entertaining friends.

Alongside the side of my unit, facing the shared area with my neighbours is a garden bed. It was empty when I moved in and each of my neighbours have shrubs and groundcover in theirs. Mine looked bare and a bit sad and boring.

It’s taken me this long to decide what to do with the space. A friend of mine has a little business called Gardening Gals. I messaged her around a month ago to discuss her planting a garden for me in the garden bed. I trust her expertise and knowledge of plants and I said that I wanted native plants that are drought resistant and would attract birds.

I said I really wanted Kangaroo Paw plants as they are local, native and look amazing when fully grown. She came up with a plan that would have higher growing plants at the back of the garden bed that will grow to give that area more privacy, interspersed with, and a little in front more low lying plants and groundcover.

Red Kangaroo Paw

She came on Friday with her offsider and they prepared the soil with soil improver and Saeasol and then put in my new plants. I have red, yellow and black Kangaroo Paw. Grevillea in red and yellow and a variety of different groundcovers that will look glorious when they sprawl out and flower!

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nature makes me happy

Motorbike frog

By 60plus&lovinglife December 1, 2022 0

I love frogs!

I am fortunate that at my workplace we have a garden section. In that section we have some resident fauna, including this cute little motorbike frog!

I don’t always get out into nature, so it’s lovely having a work garden to wander through occasionally and check out the critters. Motorbike frogs are native to the South West of Western Australia and they get their unique name from the sound the male frogs make when mating, which sounds like a motorbike going through it’s gear changes!

I was listening to one of my new favourite podcasts recently called “big picture science” (I’m a bit of a science geek and love to listen to science based podcasts, in addition to my favourite health and wellbeing ones). The interviewee was discussing nature and people and how we need to be more interconnected. Can’t argue with that one. However, the commentary was that people/humans see themselves as distinctly separate to nature, hence the common expression of getting “out into nature” (which is a statement I use a lot and have done pretty much my whole life) implying that we are not actually part of nature itself.

For me, I feel very much connected and a part of nature when I am surrounded by trees or by a river or the ocean. Less so when I am in the city and/or suburbs. I think that is common for most people and possibly why many people feel apart from or separate from “nature”.

Interesting discussion and ideas to think about. I like things that make me think or question things or reflect on my own concepts of how I view the world.

Spotting that little motorbike frog in the plant made me smile and brightened my day and I hope it makes you smile too!

For more information on motorbike frogs, check this link: motorbike frog

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nature makes me happy

Western Australia – my home

By 60plus&lovinglife October 20, 2022 0

I love getting out of the city and exploring my state. I live in one of the most remote cities in the world and it’s the biggest state in Australia, covering nearly one third of the country. There is great beauty from the Kimberley’s in the north and down to Margaret River and further down south

Horizontal Falls Broome — Horizontal Falls – Broome. Western Australia

So much of the scenery is breathtaking and varies from crystal blue ocean to deep red/ochre rock formations. So much of the place is remote and you really feel the vastness when travelling.

Rock formation Broome — Isn’t this stunning? Kimberley’s W.A.

The critters aren’t always friendly and you need to watch out for the bitey ones! Don’t worry, I surely did not get too close to this one! That’s why you need the zoom option on the phone camera! There are warnings to keep clear of croc habitats and don’t worry, the intense heat (usually in the high 30s-40s [celsius] or 90+ degrees (farenheit) is never hot enough for me to think of sharing the water with the local wildlife!

😲

Down South of Western Australia:

I love travelling down south, there are so many gorgeous towns to visit as you meander along the coastline or inland for a different perspective. Margaret River is one of my favourite places, best to visit in the off-season as it does get a lot of tourists, local, interstate and overseas and can get a bit hectic.

They have the best wineries in Margaret River and there are also some interesting critters to be seen. These stingrays are kinda friendly and can be found close to the shoreline in Hamelin Bay. They are a protected species and you should not get too close to them or step on them, but you can be in the water whilst they are swimming around nearby and they will approach you as they are curious. They are pretty docile and amazing to see them so close up!

I really don’t get out of the city often enough and it’s when I go through my photos and remember all the beauty to be found just in my corner of the world, I get a real hankering to take off again travelling!

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nature makes me happy

Nature as medicine

By 60plus&lovinglife October 1, 2022October 3, 2022 0

It’s beautiful Spring weather in my part of the world. Finally! After a very soggy and rainy winter we are seeing some sunny days. It seemed the perfect time to head out into nature over the weekend and visit one of our national parks. It’s wildflower season and there are beautiful blooms out there. I love the native flowers the most. However, we have a tulip festival in our town at this time of year and the tulips were glorious in all their colours!

I’ve long believed that taking time out of the city and getting into nature is great for my emotional wellbeing and I’ve recently read research that supports my thoughts. Every time I have the chance to have a weekend in the countryside, I feel a sense of peace and tranquility as soon as I leave behind the suburbs and drive alongside country roads surrounded by trees. The stresses of life seem to melt away tree-by-tree. This is partly by being in nature and partly because being away from work and other stressors, there is this sense that you must let go, at least for a while.

Back to reality now, but not too soon. It’s a long weekend here, so I have the day free. I decided to go for a 10k run this morning. I usually run around 5-6k, but I’m nearing the end of a running challenge for September, called The Long Run, a fundraiser for prostate cancer.

I’m in a bit of a competition with a couple of my workmates and as much as I love younger people, they think it’s a done deal that one or other of them will have the most kilometres by the end of the month. I’d slipped a bit in my km’s last week as I had acute bronchitis and pharyngitis.

Feeling all better, I tied up my running shoes this morning and off I went. Only to come a cropper at the 4.5k mark. Tripped (no idea on what or if it’s just my own feet getting in the way) ? I landed on my hands, elbows and one knee. Ripped a hole in the knee of my favourite running tights and scraped myself up a bit! I figured I was close to the 5k turnaround and unless I called a rideshare to get me home, I may as well trot along and finish the 10k.

I’ll be feeling it tomorrow!!

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You are viewing nature makes me happy

It’s taken a while!

I love frogs!

😲

Down South of Western Australia: