The Barefoot and Kilted City To Surf Runner - The Sequel

Further to my post from last Thursday about Rod MacDonald's barefoot run in the 2011 City2 Surf, here is the sequel.

Rod has sent this message out:

• "First of all a big thank you for your generous donations and messages of encouragement.  From the mass start with my friends to to the many bands playing along the way, many words of encouragement from runners and spectators, people questioning my sanity 'have you run barefoot all the way?', it was an amazing experience.  The road surface was rougher than I expected and in the second half of the run I was seeking comfort on the footpaths and even grass when available.  Coming down the hill into Bondi I saw a runner up ahead with "Pain is Temporary, Pride Lasts Forever" on the back of his shirt.  This gave me a lift and got me home.  So I am a proud and happy, barefooted, kilt wearing, city to surf finisher.

  

  Rod proudly finished the City2Surf - kilted and barefooted

  "I have attached a couple of pictures including my feet, I ended up with a couple of blisters but apart from the soles of my feet feeling tender the rest of my body is in great shape.
"Thanks again for all of your encouragement and get out and go for a run."

Rod's Feet - immediately after the run

Personally I congratulate Rod on his efforts and his fund-raising, but I shall pass on the invitation to "get out and go for a run", however well intentioned it might be. 

I take satisfaction in knowing that at least some Robbo residents are tough and hardy.

Really glad Rod came through it in such good condition, and good humour.

Ulladulla springs to life.

For many months, since reading Benj Whitworth's postings on the Canberra Ornithologists Group forum about the joys of discovering the plants and birds of Ulladulla, I have wanted to explore the Reserves there. 

My friend Kirsten, who grew up in that area, kindly showed me around several of the Reserves there, yesterday.

There are several excellent Reserves at Ulladulla (on the coast 45 minutes driving time, south from Nowra).

Having done a considerable circuit at the Wildflower Reserve, we adjourned (via the excellent Hayden's Pies) to the South Pacific Heathland Reserve, This is just along Dowling Street, behind the Ex-Servicemen's Club which is on the Pacific Highway, on the southern end of Ulladulla. (see linked map for both Reserve locations)

The first place we visited is known as the Wildflower Reserve. At first it seemed to be a fairly uninviting patch of coastal forest. Kirsten will kill me for that comment. But there were many interesting plants there, especially leaves of Acianthus, Corybas and the related Nemacianthus - all tiny Ground Orchids -   (upon close examination of the forest floor). 
We saw lots of birds, most especially a mixed feeding flock of Silvereyes, Brown Thornbills and Wrens, with Pardalotes and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters in the canopy above, in the Wildflower Reserve.

Kirsten photographing a very thin-leaved Acacia.

It is possibly Acacia elongata (but I am no Acacia expert)

Acacia elongata (possibly)

Click to see the ribbed stems and 3 flowers coming from each leaf axil.
That species (A. elongata) looks right to me.

Compare this image from the Bega Valley area.

Sprays of Comesperma volubile were draped over many shrubs

 This was an unexpected bonus.
Waxlip Orchid - Glossodia major

Glossodia major just opening up.

Believe it or not, this was what I had been hoping to see.

Well, hopefully a fresh flower - but this dried flower is still identifiable

because of the long filamentous tips on the sepals.

It is the Mayfly Orchid, Nemacianthus caudatus

Long filamentous tips on the sepals of Nemacianthius caudatus are still evident.

One of the identifying features, apart from the long sepals,

is the brilliant red underleaf.

Underleaf of Nemacianthus caudatus

But there were hundreds of birds in the South Pacific Heathland Reserve too.

Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos.

They love the Casuarinas and Banksias in the Heathland Reserve .

Head of Black Cockatoo seen on top of low Casuarina bushes

New Holland Honeyeaters (3) in Casuarina above Grevillea bush.

And now to some of the more obvious flowers

from the wonderful South Pacific Heathland Reserve.

These Correa reflexa plants were prominent in this Reserve.

The flowers were very fat (I think so anyway).

Possibly Correa reflexa var speciosa?

This is the very pretty (but small) flower of Eucalyptus sieberi

It is known as the Silver-top Ash.

Pimelea linifolia

A young flower head of the NSW Waratah (Telopea speciosissima)

Telopea speciosissima

 The sweet honey-smell of the Wedding Bush 

was almost overwhelming in places where these plants were growing.

Ricinocarpos pinifolius

Further to our finding the large Waxlip Orchid in the first reserve

in a moss bed in the Heathland Reserve we found a colony of

the Small Waxlip Orchid Glossodia minor 

Click on the image to see the diagnostic dark double "calli"

on the labellum.

Here is a loose colony

on a moss bed.

If you expand the image (click)

you will see the flat hairy leaves of these plants.

Glossodia minor in a moss bed

Here is a local favourite at Ulladulla - the rare Grevillea macleayana

It was previously known as Grevillea barklyana subsp. macleayana

It is referred to by PlantNET as the Jervis Bay Grevillea.

It has the classic "Toothbrush Grevillea" flower structure.

 

Grevillea macleayana

Probably my favourite image of Grevillea macleayana. 

It shows why it is so popular with the local Honeyeaters and Wattlebirds.

There is a lrge bead of nectar which has leaked out from the flower.

It shows how rich these plants are in nectar.

A bead of nectar visible in the flower of Grevillea macleayana

Here is one of the surprises of our trip

Lyperanthus suaveolens  - the so-called "Brown Beaks" Orchid.

Close-up of Lyperanthus suaveolens

Full stem of Lyperanthus suaveolens

Pigeonhouse Mountain

Whenever I glimpse this mountain (always in the distance)

I am reminded that it was named by Captain James Cook in 1770.

A symbol of our earliest European conquest (and place naming).

My good friend James, believe it ought be called Nipple Mountain.

I wrote that before I checked for the Aboriginal name.
"Didhol or Dithol" which means 
Woman's Breast on account
of the distinctive shape of the mountain. 
(according to Wikipedia)

Pigeonhouse Mountain in the distant hinterland behind Ulladulla.

The Barefoot and Kilted City To Surf Runner

I received the following message from my friend Rod McDonald. 
Rod will be running in the City2Surf run this weekend, as a fund-raiser for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

I just hope that our own "Everyday Hero", Rod McDonald manages to stride powerfully, and proudly wearing his kilt, down Campbell Parade - if nothing else, that will be an historical irony! (Yes I know, the Campbells say it is not quite as popularly reported). Anyway, that's not the point of this post - it is about Rod's Fundraising Run.


Lets wish him all the best, and please feel free to sponsor his run.

Rod's message reads:

"To those of you who have you have already donated 
to the Motor Neurone Disease Association thank you.  
If you haven't donated yet 
here is a photo of me warming up for Sunday in my kilt. 

"Please click here to make your donation.

Thanks...Rod "

Rod McDonald warming up in his kilt 

at Corbett Gardens

ready to run in the City2Surf on Sunday. 

Photo by Natalie Pilato

Rod's comment:  See I wasn't joking!  

In the interests of promoting Rod's fundraising effort, I am re-publishing the Southern Highland News article (with appreciation and acknowledgement).

"All kilted up and ready to run barefoot"

BY NATALIE PILATO

10 Aug, 2011 12:00 AM

ROBERTSON man Rod McDonald, is going all out for City2Surf this Sunday, as he runs the 14km race barefoot and wearing a kilt purchased from a Bowral op shop.The thought of participating in one of the world's largest fun runs intimidates most people.
But for Rod McDonald, he has not only taken on the challenge to endure through the race itself, but he is also toughing it out barefoot.
He said he has always had an interest in sports and participating in fundraiser events and after hearing about a friend who had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) he decided he would run in the City2Surf and raise money for the cause.


"At first I didn't sign up to run in a kilt, in fact I've never worn one before," he said.
"But I saw a review on a running kilt and then thought I'd do something a bit different and use it as an incentive to raise money." So far, the incentive has worked with $1300 raised.


He said the response from people has been positive with most curious to know if he will really run in just a kilt, but more are concerned about running barefoot.
"About 80,000 people run in the competition it's not that difficult, anybody can do it really," he said.
He also said he doesn't like wearing or running in regular shoes, as he finds them too restricting on his feet.
Instead he wears a barefoot sports shoe called Vibram Five Fingers.

"There are so many little bones and muscles in feet that I don't like regular shoes," he said.
which helps strengths muscles by acting like webbing for toes and feet.
"There are so many little bones and muscles in feet that I don't like regular shoes," he said.
"But hopefully I can run faster barefoot anyway."


Despite the outcome on Sunday, he admitted he will continue to pursue his passion for sports with the next event held in three weeks time, the Husky Half marathon.
"If I enjoy running in it a kilt, I'd do it again," he said.


"I'd like to run in a marathon before I die."

DJW comment: That last comment sounds a bit "terminal", Rod. 

I don't think it is looming just yet, despite how it appears to read. 

Certainly hope not.

Remember you can make a donation to support Rod's run and the Motor Neurone Disease Association on line at the "Everyday Hero" linked website.

Go Rod (Barefoot) !!!

******

By the way, this is the "Vibram Five Fingers shoe" Rod mentioned.  

(Sometimes known as a "Toe Shoe").

These are the shoes Rod uses when refereeing Football (Soccer) matches.

Rod's Vibram Five Fingers Shoe he uses for Soccer Refereeing

*****

Everything you need to know about the Mining Industry.

A very good friend, who shall remain nameless, sent me this.
Apparently it is from the New Yorker.
I tried to find it on line, but couldn't.


This cartoon might be about Coal Mining, or it might be about CSG mining, or it might be about Uranium Mining, or whatever.

The original caption says: "These new Regulations will fundamentally change the way we get around them".

Can't resist asking: It might be about  ore? more? or MORE!!!

Thirlmere Lakes visit yesterday

The Thirlmere Lakes are looking worse than ever. We found some Japanese visitors wandering around in the bush, presumably looking for the Lakes.

But Kirsten and I were looking for Orchids and we found lots of them.
We were barely in the gate on Slades Road when we spotted out first colonies of them. I had Acianthus (just about finished) and Pterostylis nutans on my side of the road, and Kirsten was getting excited about a really good colony of the tiny Trim Greenhoods (Taurantha concinna) on her side of the road. 


We saw hundreds of the Trim Greenhoods along the roadside, especially down beyond the 4th dry lake.


The Wattles were spectacular, the birds were singing, and it was a good day to be out and about.

Hardenbergia violacea

Trim Greenhoods were very common along the road
which runs the full length

of the Thirlmere Lakes National Park.

Trim Greenhood (Taurantha concinna) from rear.

Trim Greenhood - note the forked labellum. (Click to enlarge)

Grevillea arenaria subsp. arenaria (as best as I can work out)

Nodding Greenhood (Pterostylis nutans)

Gompholobium grandiflorum

Pixie Caps (a few still in flower) - Acianthus fornicatus

A roadside scene - Wattles lining the track

Sydney Blue Gum in Blue Gum Creek

 Strange but beautiful growth on a leaf of a native plant.

Deformed growth on leaf. Possibly "galls"? Very pretty, though

If you want to know what Nature Blogging is all about...

I have just scrolled though my list of Aussie Nature Bloggers - (If you are not familiar with them, please see the list on my right hand side-bar). 

I have been a bit remiss in checking the recent works of my blogging colleagues, as I have been very busy with water conservation issues. 

But tonight I just happened to have uploaded a new "contact" to my list of Aussie Nature Bloggers - "A Roving I will Go" . I had not found Joy's Blog before, until she happened to comment on one of my Blog postings - the one about the dead Baza.

Well, I was delighted to find that Joy had recently posted an interesting item about "Death on the beaches". Clearly, she is another person who recognises the value of close examination of specimens which we cannot otherwise study up close.

So, after having uploaded a new link to Joy's site, I stayed on to check the list of new postings by my regular colleagues, I found that Duncan, over at Ben Cruachan - Natural History , had excelled himself, with a post entitled "Sixty five years of Photography". How could I resist that story?

There is Duncan as a youngster, all grainy in early black and white imagery, then going bush on classic stiff-framed motorbikes, fitted with the necessary saddlebags, for long and serious bush exploring. And there is more and more. As they say: "Read it and weep". Or laugh along with Duncan, over the years. 

And yes, Duncan, your Powerful Owl photo is a classic. 

A definite "keeper" that one!

Finally, to remind yourself that Duncan has been around and known all the best "plant people" over the years, do check out his special memorial page for Bill Cane, plantsman extraordinaire. It was written in 2010, as a tribute to his friend.

Please note that Duncan has closed off "comments" - probably as I imagine it took up too much of his time trying to respond. But I am sure he will notice if you drop by his site. It is genuinely one of the legendary Nature Blogger sites.

I can do no more than recommend both the doyen of Australian Nature Blogging, Duncan, and a newcomer to our ranks, Joy, as well.

********************************

A warning for fellow Bloggers:
Unauthorised of images (without attribution).

I have always relied on trust and the polite version of image protection, namely the Creative Commons Licence. It states:

You are free:

• to Share — to copy, distribute and transmit the work

• Under the following conditions:

• Attribution — You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).
  
• Noncommercial — You may not use this work for commercial purposes.
  
• No Derivative Works — You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work.

Well, I was surprised to get an email from a Facebook colleague to say that one of my images of a Gang-gang Cockatoo (another road kill, as it happens) had been used without attribution in a nasty Facebook page by someone calling himself "Henry Catperson". it was a ghoulish series of images of cats killing and eating birds.

Well, after having been tipped off about the breach of the Creative Commons principles I lodged a formal complaint with Facebook.

They replied to say to say that the page had been removed (blocked).

That page now reads:

• This content is currently unavailable

• The page you requested cannot be displayed at the moment. It may be temporarily unavailable, the link you clicked on may have expired, or you may not have permission to view this page.

Some justice after all.

By the way, my friend and blogging colleague David (of Focus on Nature) has for a long time, recommended a copyright protection service called "Viscopy".

After this experience, that service makes more sense to me.

Bunochilus tunstallii on Mt Alexandra, Mittagong.

This afternoon, Kirsten and I made a surprise discovery on Mount Alexandra (a sandstone hill above Mittagong - on the opposite side of Mittagong from Mt Gilbraltar). There was a small community of 5 or 6 plants of Bunochilus tunstallii, in lovely fresh condition. 

This species is closely related to the Tall Greenhood (Bunochilus longifolius) I showed yesterday. and which is pictured below as well.

Bunochilus tunstallii - from Mt Alexandra.

These plants are on Mt Alexandra Reserve, overlooking Mittagong.

A good flowering stem of Bunochilus tunstallii

As far as I am aware, Bunochilus tunstallii is not recorded this far west (it is normally coastal and near coastal). Perhaps it is known from the Blue Mountains? 

PlantNET says:
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in moist areas of sclerophyll forest in coastal and near-coastal districts; south from Robertson.

NSW subdivisions: CC, SC, CT

http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Pterostylis~tunstallii

The map there looks like it might have Blue Mountains records, but there is no mention of that in text.

Geologically where these plants were growing is directly above the Nattai Gorge, and is classic "Lower Blue Mountains" sandstone habitat. The other distinctive plants in this habitat were Waratahs, and Woody Pear. Xylomelum pyriforme  etc. 

Mt Alexandra has very different geology and habitat from "The Gib" (Mt. Gibraltar) - just across the valley.

For comparison, here is a photo of the Tall Greenhood  (Bunochilus longifolius). 

Bunochilus longifolius

There are fine detail differences in the labellum structure, colour and the stiff bristles on the labellum of this species (the "type species" of all these various "Tall Greenhoods") which helps distinguish it from all the other closely related "Bunochilus" species. Click on both "close-up" images to see them closely.