healthy lifestyle – Euca Lips

Talking to the frogs

September 28, 2020September 28, 2020 by John Heyworth, posted in Perth Walks

Two years ago (2018) I recorded mum talking to the frogs and it was featured on the ABC radio show Off Track presented by Ann Jones.

Since then, every time we go to the park, mum tries to communicate with any frogs that might be around – but with no success. We could never find one. And now it is spring: Bingo! We heard a frog respond!

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Mum is not as well as she used to be (late-onset Parkinson’s disease) and her voice is now too soft for the frogs to hear and respond, so I had to help her out.

It made mum very happy!!

Off Track

(Below is the original POST NOVEMBER 2018)

Subiaco Common

Rating: 100 FBIO’s

You can find the entrance to Subiaco Common on Mere View Way in the suburb of Subiaco.

My mother lives near the common. It is a beautiful place to talk a stroll.

Mum has late onset Parkinson’s disease and apart from finding it difficult to walk she also has difficulty projecting her voice. Sometimes I find it difficult to hear her talk and have to lean over close to hear what she is trying to say. Recently she has commenced speech therapy to try and improve her voice.

On this occasion she decided to practice some vocal exercises while we were walking through the park. As we walked along she would suddenly (and surprisingly) project some loud ‘Aaahh!’ sounds; often in various pitches and often to the amusement and/or puzzlement to some of the other walkers in the park!

As we walked passed a pond I suddenly heard an echo to one of mum’s vocalisations. We stopped and I asked mum to say ‘Aaahh!’ again and again there was an immediate echo!

To our amazement the echo was a frog! Mum seemed to pitch the sound just at the right frequency to trigger a response from it. We found this very amusing, every time mum said ‘Aaaah’ the frog would immediately respond to her. But if we just talked, the frog would remain silent! I took out my phone and recorded it.

The common is a wonderful space to take time out if you live or work near here. It is in a lovely setting of trees, flowers, lakes and waterways and there is also a BBQ area, a children’s playground and even an open ground for exercising the dogs or kicking a footy.

Mum and I had a fun day there and the frogs added much to our enjoyment of this enchanting environment.

Cervantes

January 15, 2019January 15, 2019 by John Heyworth, posted in Perth Walks, Western Australian Walks

Cervantes, a small fishing town.

Rating: 500 Frequent Bio Points

1000 points if you walk though any of the natural habitats!

Cervantes

Cervantes is a small fishing town, an easy two and half hour drive up from Perth along the Indian Ocean Drive. The town was named after a ship-wreck. The ship was named after Cervantes the author of Don Quixote.

The town has white sandy beaches perfect for fishing or swimming and for enjoying tasty and fresh seafood (Cervantes is famous for it’s Lobster Industry).

Cervantes is an excellent place for boating, camping, fishing, four wheel driving, scenic driving, snorkeling, surfing, swimming and walking. The picture below was taken from Thirsty Point where two brave windsurfers braved the elements (the beach was closed due to a whale carcass washed up on the shore – shark alert!).

This quaint little town is very close to Nambung National Park, the home to a desert area with many ancient rock pillars amid sand dunes known as the Pinnacles. You can walk or drive through this moon-like landscape (many people go at dawn or dusk or even at night-time if there is a full moon!). The area is less then 30 mins away from Cervantes by road and entrance is through a Discovery Centre (which means there is the inevitable entrance-fee attached).

The atmosphere here is eerie as the gentle breezes seem to whisper along the desert sands and through the moon-like rock forms.

Just east of town is a saline lake called Lake Thetis where you can see Stromatolites (ancient living marine fossils). The lake is one of only a few places in the world with these living fossils.

We walked to the lake via Thirsty Point and through some bush land where we came across wild kangaroos, emus and even a snake or two (always best to wear long trousers when bush walking, however snakes are very shy and usually avoid you).

Hangover Bay is not far from Cervantes and is aptly named especially if you happen to have overly feasted on seafood at the Cervantes Tavern or at the Lobster Shack. Dolphins are common here and sea lions can also be occasionally seen. We didn’t see any the day we went there but we certainly enjoyed walking along the shore and swimming in it’s tranquil waters.

Cervantes is well worth a visit and if traveling here in Spring the area around Cervantes comes alive with spectacular displays of wildflowers between July and October. The Lake Thetis stromatolites and the Nambung National Park Pinnacles are both must-see attractions.

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Perry Lakes

October 6, 2018January 15, 2019 by John Heyworth, posted in Perth Walks

Nature Reserve

Rating: 300 Frequent Bio Points

Perry Lakes

Perry Lakes consists of two lakes ( East Lake and West Lake) within a 80–hectare reserve.

Easy 1 -2 hour walking, BBQs, toilets, children’s playground, outdoor Gymn, shaded areas.

Floreat Park, WA

Perry Lakes is situated near Bold Park, between the city of Perth and the Indian Ocean. You can walk, ride your bike, try out the outdoor exercise equipment, enjoy a picnic, exercise your dog or just enjoy the ambience of being in a nature reserve.

This year both lakes are full of water. Something I haven’t seen for many a year. As far as rain goes, this has been a good winter but unfortunately hasn’t been a regular weather pattern in recent years.

Walkways can take you through around the lakes and sometimes through some very beautiful environments

As you walk around the lakes you will come across a variety of wetland birds including ducks, ebrets and white-necked heron.

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On the Perry Lakes website there is a link to a Noongar story about Perry Lakes narrated by Neville Collard.

Perth has some fabulous nature reserves and this is one of them. Very family friendly!

Please do not feed the wildlife and if driving into the park be careful of turtles crossing the road (and if walking during springtime – be aware of the occasional magpie swoop).

Bold Park

September 20, 2018January 15, 2019 by John Heyworth, posted in Perth Walks

Sanctuary by the Sea

Rating: 500 Frequent Bio Points

A Class Reserve

Bold Park

Walking Distance: 1 up to 9 km Various circuits

Easy 1 -2 hour walk depending on trail/s taken

The entrance to Bold Park is near Perry Lakes in the suburb of City Beach.

Bold Park beautifully situated between the city of Perth and the Indian Ocean. All trails are for walkers only, no bicycles allowed but you could ride to Perry Lakes and park your bike there.

Today I took the Tuart Walk as well as parts of the Zamia and Banksia Trails.

A couple of cockatoos kept an eye of me as I made my way up to the entrance to the park.

This was a beautiful walk on a tranquil, warm spring day. I would occasionally come across one or two walkers but for the most part the trails were very quiet.

At times it was easy to imagine that I was well away in the countryside.

However stunning views of the city occasionally reminded me that I was less than 10 kms from centre of Perth.

Further on up the Zamia trail I caught glimpses of the Indian Ocean. It was astonishing to realise that some beautiful Perth beaches were only about a kilometer away.

Along the way the trails were flanked by beautiful flowers.

Many people go to Kings Park. It is truly magnificent. But don’t neglect Bold Park. It is a great place to take a relaxing stroll, absorb the natural surroundings and replenish your sense of well-being! Highly recommended!!

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Rottnest Island

November 2, 2016January 15, 2019 by John Heyworth, posted in Perth Walks, Uncategorized

Wadjemup – Land across the water where the spirits go.

Rating: 1,000 Frequent Bio Points

Plus 500 Bonus Frequent Bio Points every time you walk or ride to a bay away from the settlement!

Rottnest Island

19 Kms across the sea from Fremantle, Western Australia.

Rottnest Ferry services are available from Perth and Fremantle.

Rottnest Island is an A Class Nature Reserve preserving flora, marine and wildlife.

Cars are not permitted on the Island and bicycles or walking are the main means of transport.

Rottnest is a place of natural attractions and healthy activities.

Rottnest is the home to the quokka, a small marsupial with a pouch similar to Kangaroos and Wallabies. In 1696 de Vlamingh thought that quokkas were “a kind of rat as big as a common cat” and he named the Island ‘Rotte nest’ (meaning ‘rat’s nest’).

The traditional and Indigenous name for Rottnest is Wadgemup.

After colonization Rottnest was used for a time as a prison for convicted Aboriginals. These convictions were often only for very petty crimes. The conditions on the Island have been quoted as being horrific; ‘squalid, cramped, dank and dark’. This was a shameful period in the recent history of the Island. A memorial centre is to be built and at least some proper respect will be paid to those who lost their lives there.

There are many walks on the Island including guided walks and bird watching walks

The Island is surrounded by beautiful and often secluded bays.

The waters around Rottnest as crystal clear and perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

October and November are best times to see the many humpback whales heading past Rottnest towards the Southern Ocean.

Accommodation is basic but clean. It is a safe place for children and families.There are facilities for disabled and elderly visitors. This has become a place for all people to enjoy.

Developers want to get their hands on the Island and build 5 star hotels and resorts.

Locals do not want the Island to become a place just for the wealthy.

My mother has Parkinson’s disease.

We have just spent a lovely week at Rottnest.

We were well looked after on the ferries and on the Island.

Mum says she felt so much better after having spent a week in such a healthy environment.

Her appetite was good, she slept well, and there was an obvious improvement in her health each day and throughout our stay.

Rottnest is a pristine environment and a natural wonderland.

Highly recommended!

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Park for Parkinson’s

September 13, 2016September 14, 2016 by John Heyworth, posted in Perth Walks

Perry Lakes

My mother has Late Onset Parkinson’s Disease. She is 85.

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Some times when I visit her she is struggling a bit to move around her apartment. Every Sunday morning we go for a walk in the park. We drive down to nearby park lands called Perry Lakes. This is large beautiful area with lots of trees and several lake areas situated right next to Bold Park (an A class reserve).

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The air in Perry Lakes is always fresh and the bird life plentiful.

And there are outdoor exercise machines here too!

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We take our time as we walk through the trees towards the several outdoor exercise gym machines. On those days we are nearly always overtaken by other people!

freda-8 Two exercise machines are particularly good for mum.

This first one is the cross trainer walker machine and is a little like a ski walking machine.

It helps her coordinate her arm and leg movements and helps her to make large strides.

freda The second is an ab-hip swinger.

Mum often comments that she can feel this one loosening up her hips.

She finds them both easy to do and I can see how much more she is loosening up as she exercises on each machine.

The results of taking these exercises in the park are always apparent afterwards. When we return to the apartment her ability to move around the apartment has greatly improved. We often remark that it is not just the exercises but also the fresh air and the natural surrounding that re- invigorate her. It is noticeable to us that the effects are better than those when she exercise indoors.

For mum, the walks are easily worth 1000 or more Frequent Bio Points (this is subjective of course)! It may not cure her but it at least helps improves her condition.

White Cockatoos recorded at Perry Lakes

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Thank you to the Rotary Club and the Town of Cambridge for supplying and maintaining this resource.

Quinninup

August 20, 2016August 25, 2016 by John Heyworth, posted in Great Southern Walks

RATING: 750 Frequent Bio Points

Every year I try and escape the technologies and demands of city life by going down South for a couple of weeks. In the Great Southern Region of Western Australia I discovered the charms of an old timber town called Quinninup.

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Quinninup is a few kilometres down from the turn off to Pemberton on the South West Highway.

The little town is a hidden gem. It is not the place to go to find 5 star accommodation or for any resorts surrounded by sparkling spas, pools, cocktail bars and artificial plants.

But it is the place to go for easy, beautiful and restorative walks in our magnificent Karri forests!

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Accommodation varies from old timber cottages, caravan park and cabins as well as holiday homes with beautiful views of the Karri Lake.

Meals are available from a great little country pub.

THE WALKING TRAILS

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Toadstool Quinninup

There are three easy to moderate walking trails around Quinninup; The King Karri Trail;, Karri Lake Walk and the Orchid Trail.

There is also one lesser known moderate to difficult walking trail called the Ridgebark Trail.

Winter is a great time to walk the Karri forests of the South; the snakes are all asleep and the forests are vibrant with intriguing tapestries of various creepers, fungi, mosses, ferns and lichens.

However to catch the wildflowers and wild orchids then Spring is ideal. The snakes might be awake but they are rarely a problem (they slide away and hide from human footsteps). It’s a good idea to wear appropriate sturdy shoes and long pants. Dress for the weather (rain can come up quickly and unexpectedly). Always carry water in the warmer months. Avoid walking the forests on stormy, windy or very hot days.