SR #33 “At last, we are free from masks!”, “Ruined Castle in Katoomba”, “Narrow Neck Peninsula in Katoomba”SR #33 「いよいよマスクから解放」「カトゥンバのルインド・キャッスル（廃城）」「ナロウ・ネック半島トレッキング」

SR #33 “At last, we are free from masks!”, “Ruined Castle in Katoomba”, “Narrow Neck Peninsula in Katoomba”

To date, Australia has recorded 29,087 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 909 deaths.

NSW state government is in process of deregulation concerning COVIT-19, and from this week, wearing mask in public transport is no longer in mandate, but it is still strongly recommended.

Effective 29 March 2021, the number of people allowed to visit at home or gather outdoors has increased. The capacity for businesses and venues has been increased and entertainment venues can operate at 100 percent seated capacity. Restrictions on singing, dancing and nightclubs have been lifted.

As for vaccination, since I belong to the 2nd category of priority [I am over 64, and I have baseline illness of diabetes and high-blood presser], I am qualified to get vaccination next week.

I will add this vaccination to my private precautions against any illnesses including this pandemic. I shall practice proper diet, exercise and vaccination.

But in our daily life, who knows you are safe from any accidents. My fellow hikers, one is Mr. Ra, a member of the Blue Mountains Club, stumbled by stepping his own shoe lace in the mountain, and he hurt his face and hands and knees.

Also, my close friend, Isaac, who is my comrade of trekking the Great North Walk, strained his ankle when he hurried the traffic accident cite where his wife was involved. Fortunately his wife was physically no harm, although their car became a junk completely.

“Ruined Castle in Katoomba”

The most famous sightseeing spot in the Blue Mountains must be “Echo Point” in Katoomba. I guess many of you have visited there if you visited Sydney.

[Three Sisters from Echo Point、エコーポイントから見たスリー・シスターズ、에코 포인트에서 본 세자매 봉]

Sightseeing is one of important industries in Australia. So, it must be a big problem/crisis for many people/businesses. But it seems that NSW government increased many people, esp. young people to work for upgrading its sightseeing spots. Many bushwalk tracks were closed in the Blue Mountains last year. One reason is the bush-fires. I see many young people working jobs of stone mason. And they are re-opening one by one.

Now they have upgraded Echo Point quite well. If you visited there before, please re-visit there. You must be surprise and be pleased. From Echo Point Lookout, you can see the gigantic view of Jamison Valley. On your left, you can see the famous Three Sisters Rocks. In the middle, you can see the 3 gigantic peaks of the Mount Solitary. On tyour left side, you can see the steep cliff, and several Scenic World facilities such as Scenic World Railway (Cable Car) and Scenic World Skyway (Rope Way).

If you have good eye-sight or a pair of binocular glasses, you can see a small rocky mountain between Mt. Solitary and the Scenic World on the ridge. That mountain is Ruined Castle.

[Ruined Castle from Echo Point,エコーポイントから見たルインド・キャッスル、에코 포인트에서 본 루인도 캐슬]

It was the end of February, it rained hard in the morning. Yet, 5 of Saturday Hikers joined me for this endeavor. I told them if it was raining hard, we would go to see the Katoomba Falls and return. If it stopped raining, we would go as far as we can.

When we arrived at Katoomba station, it stopped raining. We used #686 bus to go to Katoomba Falls. When we got off the bus, it was foggy. We went down to a Jamison Valley Track called “Federal Track” via “Furber Steps.

[Witch's Leap near Katoomba Falls, ウィッチズ・リープ(魔女の滝)、위찌즈 리프 (마녀 폭포)]

When we reached at the bottom of Furber Steps, it was only 10 minute walk to Scenic World Village.

When we walked from the mine exhibition for 15 minutes, we came to “Land-Slide” area. In the ancient era, there must have been a big fall of the rocks from the cliff. This area is the hardest part of this trekking. It may take 30 minutes to pass this area. Then it is relatively an easy trekking to the bottom of the Ruined Castle.

Golden Stairs is in the middle of the way from Land-Slide and Ruined Castle. There is a small recent land-slide just before Golden Stairs.

There is a big antheap at the bottom of Golden Stairs. The surface of the antheap is very hard. But there is some soft part of living antheap. If you scrape the soft part, you can see small termites under the soft surface soil.

[At the antheap at the bottom of Golden Stairs, ゴールデンステアーズのアリ塚にて、황금 계단 흰개미 둔덕에서]

It stopped raining completely when we reached at Golden Stairs and we could see the blue sky then. It was indeed a pleasant trekking.

We arrived at the foot of Ruined Castle at noon. There is a public toilet there. There is an information board there. It says it is only 600 meter climbing until Ruined Castle. But it is a bit steep climbing.

[The information board near Ruined Castel,ルインド・キャッスル近くの案内板、루인도 캐슬 근처의 안내판]

We could see the scars of the bush-fire along the ridge. When we arrived at Ruined Castle, we left our bags and began to climb the castle. It reminded me of Mount Yari in South Alps in Japan. When I reached at the shoulder of Mt. Yari, I left my bag at the lodge named Yarigatake Sanso and climbed the peak of Mt. Yari, a heap of rocks looked like a spearhead.

[At Ruined Castle、ルインド・キャッスルにて、루인도 캐슬에서]

It is indeed a magnificent view you can enjoy from the top of Ruined Castle, just like on the top of Mt. Yari.

There were several young people when we reached there. One of them kindly offered to press the shutter of my camera.

[At Ruined Castle、ルインド・キャッスルにて、루인도 캐슬에서]

We had lunch (bento) on the way back to Katoomba Falls. There was a perfect place to take a rest near the castle on the ridge. It took about the same time (3 hours) to go back to the bus stop.

Total walking distance for the day was 22.8 km, 34,509 steps and 77 floors according to my smartphone.

“Narrow Neck Peninsula in Katoomba”

After climbing Ruined Castle, I saw bunch of beautiful flowers in facebook. Ms. K, a Japanese female hiker uploads very attractive pictures. I learn a lot about tracks and flowers from her uploaded pictures and her descriptions.

[Pink frunnel flowers, ピンク・フランネル・フラワー、핑크 플란넬 플라워]

According to Ms. K, pink flannel flowers sprout and bloom after bush-fires. Since I had never seen these flowers, I wanted to visit the place: Narrow Neck Trail.

[Bushfire traces、ブッシュファイアーの跡、부시 화재의 흔적]

On facebook, I asked the nearest public transportation point. Then she wrote “Scenic World.” So, I took #686 bus from Katoomba and went to Scenic World.

It is easy to find the trail thanks for the iPhone’s GPS function.

Narrow Neck Trail runs on the ride of Narrow Neck Peninsula which is above “Federal Pass” that leads to Ruined Castle from the bottom of Furber Steps.

[Narrow Neck Trail,ナロウネック・トレイル、나로우넷쿠 트레일]

When I walked this Federal Pass with my Korean friends, we passed the bottom of Golden Stairs.

Actually, I walked to Golden Stairs along Narrow Neck Trai. And Narrow Neck Trail is a fire trail ( a track through forest or bush for use in fighting fires) so it is relatively easy to walk.

There is a nice information board along the track. It shows the whole picture of Narrow Neck Peninsula and flora and fauna there.

Then there is another information board which shows the distances of several destinations (Castle Head 2.5 km, Clear Hill 9.5 km, Tarrows Ladder 11 km, Medlow Gap 12.5 km.) I decided to go the nearest destination: Castle Head, that day.

It was a track-head of bush walk trail. It was partly muddy because of long rainy days. Yet I found a cluster of sundew plants. They are tiny but beautiful reflecting sun shine on the dews on their leaves.

[Cluster of sundews, モウセンゴケの群落、끈끈이 주걱 군락]

After one hour walk from the information board, I reached Castle Head. It is a fantastic place! I could see Sky Walk cables of Scenic World on my right side. Straight ahead, under my kfeet, I could see Ruined Castle along the ridge. Then behind the castle, there are big mountains, the highest peak is Mount Solitary. I could even see the trail which leads to the top of the mountain.

[A view from Castle Head, キャッスル・ヘッドから見た風景、캐슬 헤드에서 본 풍경]

There was no hiker around me. I had my lunch on the edge of the rocky cliff. It was a “piston” trekking, so I returned to the same way. I took the bus from Scenic World to Katoomba.

It was a 6 hour hike of a fine day. Total walking distance of the day was 18.1 km, 28,924 steps and 54 floors according to my iPhone.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SR #33 「いよいよマスクから解放」「カトゥンバのルインド・キャッスル（廃城）」「カトゥンバのナロウ・ネック半島」

現在までのところオーストラリアでは累計で909人の死亡例を含む29,097件の新型コロナ感染者数を記録している。

我々の住むNSW州政府は規制緩和を進め、来月からは教会での社会的距離も2mから1m、映画館の収容可能人数も平常にもどり、なによりも公共交通機関でのマスク着用の義務(mandatory)から推奨(recommended)になる。

コロナ用ワクチンも医療従事者への投与が終わり、来月から次の優先順位グループに投与される。私も高齢者(65歳以上)であり、基礎疾患(糖尿病・高血圧)があるので、GPから受けることを勧められている。

私の個人的な対策としては、基礎体力の維持向上、衛生管理に、ワクチンを受けることが加わる。

さて、どんなに注意していても不慮の事故ということが常にある。青山会の先輩でテコンドー有段者の羅さんが、トレッキング中、登山靴の紐が解け、それを踏んで転倒、顔面や手足に傷を負った。

また、「ザ・グレート・ノース・ウォーク」の同行者で土曜ハイカーズの中で最も熱心なアイザックが奥さんの交通事故の報に現場へ駆けつけた際、足首を痛め、以来活動中止中である。(幸い、交通事故の方は、車は廃車になったが体は無事であったそうである。)

「カトゥンバのルインド・キャッスル(廃城)」

ブルーマウンテンで有名な観光地といえば、「スリー・シスターズ」が見える「エコー・ポイント」で、ここを訪れた人は非常に多いと思う。

昨年初頭にコロナ禍が始まって以来、世界中で観光客の激減現象が起こっているが、危機を機会にとらえる積極性が必要だ。

NSW州では、観光地のアップグレードが盛んにおこなわれている。

この展望台に立って、左側の「三姉妹」から中央に目を移せば、ひときわ存在感のある山が「マウント・ソリタリー」である。

[Mount Solitary from Echo Point, エコーポイントから見たマウント・ソリタリー、에코 포인트에서 본 마운트 솔리터리]

視線を左側に移すと、断崖が見え、よく目を凝らせばシーニック・ワールドの鉄道(ケーブルカー)やロープウェイが見える。

[Railway Station At Scenic World, シーニックワールドのレールウェイ駅、시닉 월드 레일 웨이 역]

この断崖に沿って歩き、さらにマウント・ソリタリーに向かって歩くと中間に小高い丘があり、その頂上に城のようにそびえているのが、「ルインド・キャッスル(廃城)である。

この「ルインド・キャッスル」に行くには、断崖の下のフェデラル・トラックにまず下らなければならない。

我々はシーニック・ワールドに近いカトゥンバ・フォールズでバスを降り、ファーバー・ステップスからこの「フェデラル・トラック」に入った。

[Witch's Leap near Katoomba Falls, ウィッチズ・リープ(魔女の滝)、위찌즈 리프 (마녀 폭포)]

フェデラル・トラックの合流点から、シーニック・ワールドのロープウェイやケーブルカーの渓谷の底にある「シーニック・ワールド・ビリッジ」入口まではわずか10分である。

この辺りには石炭層がいまでもむき出しになっていて、昔の石炭採掘の様子が展示されている。

この展示場を過ぎるとビリッジの右側に続くトラックの入口に出る。ここには厳しいトラックなので技術と装備を持つものだけが自己責任で進むことができるという警告意板がある。

「フェデラル・トラック」はルーラからルーラの森を過ぎ、「スリー・シスターズ」から降りる「ジャイアント・ステアーズ」からの道に合流、さらにカトゥンバ・フォールズ、から降りる「ファーバー・ステップス」に合流するが、このシーニック・ワールドビリッジ」の先までは高低差の少ない快適な道である。

しかし、「シーニック・ワールド・ビリッジ」を過ぎて2kmほど進むと、「ランド・スライド(Land Slide)」と呼ばれる、昔、断崖が大規模に崩れた地帯になる。

ここは、エコー・ポイントの展望台からみると右手の崖の下であり、場所によっては大きな岩をよじ登らねばならない難所である。

ここを過ぎればまた快適な渓谷の底の登山路で、約1時間進むと、最近起こった小規模の土砂崩れでフェデラル・トラックが埋まってしまった場所に出る。ここを谷側に迂回すると「ゴールデン・ステアーズ」の登り口に出る。

ここまでは1か月前に到達しており、大きなシロアリの塚がある。ここから先が新体験となる。

[At the antheap at the bottom of Golden Stairs, ゴールデンステアーズのアリ塚にて、황금 계단 흰개미 둔덕에서]

この朝、雨が降り、バスを降りたときほぼやんだが、深い霧の中を進んできた。しかし、ゴールデン・ステアーズに到着したときは霧も晴れ、シダ類が雨に洗われて新鮮な渓谷を進むことができた。

「ゴールデン・ステアーズ」から約1時間、快適なトレッキングをすると、ルインド・キャッスルの麓にでる。ここには公衆トイレと案内板がある。

[At the information board near Ruined Castle, ルインド・キャッスル近くの案内板にて、루인도 캐슬 근처의 안내판에서]

ここまでくればあと目的地まで一息である。600mの階段を上り、山火事の跡が生々しく残る尾根を進めば、よじ登らねばならないルインド・キャッスルに到達する。

北アルプスの槍ヶ岳に上った時と同様、「廃城」の下に荷物を置き、この岩山に上った。

[At Ruined Castle、ルインド・キャッスルにて、루인도 캐슬에서]

岩山の頂上からの展望は「小鑓」の上からの展望を思い出させるような視界360度の展望である。

[At Ruined Castle、ルインド・キャッスルにて、루인도 캐슬에서]

我々が到着したとき、我々の先客の若者たちが下ってくるタイミングで、彼らの一人が私のスマホのカメラのシャッターを押すことを申し出てくれた。

しばらく岩山の頂上で記念撮影をした後、岩山から下って、風通しの良い尾根で昼食をとり、同じ道を通ってカトゥンバ・フォールズのバス停に戻った。

この日の歩行距離は22.8km、歩数は34,509歩、階段は77階であった。

「カトゥンバのナロウネック半島」

ルインド・キャッスルで素晴らしい体験をした後、フェイスブックで知った日本人の女性ハイカー、Kさんの登山体験投稿から山火事の後に発芽・開花するピンク・フランネル・フラワーを知った。

咲いている場所は、カトゥンバのナロウネック半島を走るナロウネック・トレイル沿いの山火事の跡である。

Kさんはブルーマウンテンのトラックにも花々にもとても詳しい。フランネル・フラワーというのは「ザ・グレート・ノース・ウォーク」のブッシュウォークでよく見かけたが、ピンク・フランネル・フラワーはこれまで見たことがなかった。

[Pink frunnel flowers, ピンク・フランネル・フラワー、핑크 플란넬 플라워]

Kさんによれば、この花は山火事などで燃えた後にだけ発芽するそうで、意識していないと見つからないだろう。

[Bushfire traces、ブッシュファイアーの跡、부시 화재의 흔적]

この日(3月26日)、Kさんに教えていただいた最寄りのバス停、Scenic Worldで下車し、ナロウネック・トレイルをスマホのGPS機能で探した。

ナロウネック・トレイルは、エコーポイントから右側の断崖の上から熱帯雨林の海に突き出ているナロウネック半島の尾根伝いのファイアー・トレイル(山火事の際、消防自動車が走る道)である。

[Narrow Neck Trail,ナロウネック・トレイル、나로우넷쿠 트레일]

地図で見ると歩いたルインド・キャッスルへ続く、フェデラル・パスの上を並行して走っている。

前回、ファーバー・ステップスを下って、フェデラル・パスに合流し、ランド・スライド地帯を過ぎた先にゴールデン・ステアーズの底に出た。このゴールデン・ステアーズの上部がナロウネック・トレイルの途中にある。

ここからさらに15分ほど進むと、ファイアー・トレイルの左側に案内板があり、キャッスル・ヘッドまで2.5kmと記してある。ここからはブッシュウォークである。

先週続いた雨で足場が悪いが、途中、モウセンゴケの群落を見た。モウセンゴケの英語名は「sundew」で「太陽の露」という意味だが、私は陽光を浴びてキラキラ輝いているこの花が好きである。

[Cluster of sundews, モウセンゴケの群落、끈끈이 주걱 군락]

このブッシュウォークは断崖の上であり、転落予防柵のない断崖から下をみると足がすくむ。

キャッスル・ヘッドは視界を妨げるものが何もない、360度の展望をたのしめる断崖の上である。

[A view from Castle Head, キャッスル・ヘッドから見た風景、캐슬 헤드에서 본 풍경]

左をみるとScenic WorldのSky Walkのロープが見える。その先はウェントワースの断崖であろう。

正面の遠方中間を見るとひときわ白く岩が突出しているのがルインド・キャッスルであり、その先に存在感のあるマウント・ソリタリーがでんとかまえてる。

マウント・ソリタリーの右側には湖のような水面がみえ、さらに続く断崖はブラックヒースの断崖だろうか。

最高の景色を独り占めにして、断崖の上の岩場でランチにした。

シーニックワールドのバス停から片道3時間、往復6時間で、この日の歩行距離は18.1km, 歩数は28,924歩、階段は54階であった。

SR # 32 "NSW started vaccination", "Natural eels in the neighborhood creek!", "Kenji Miyazawa's ‘Ame ni mo Makezu’/ STRONG IN THE RAIN ", "GNW # 16 (Summersby-Ourimbah)"SR #32 「ワクチン接種開始」、「近所のクリークに天然ウナギ！」、「宮沢賢治の『雨ニモマケズ』」、「GNW#16(サマーズビー～オウリンバ)」

SR # 32 "NSW started vaccination", "Natural eels in the neighborhood creek!", "Kenji Miyazawa's ‘Ame ni mo Makezu’/ STRONG IN THE RAIN ", "GNW # 16 (Summersby-Ourimbah)"

“NSW started vaccination”

NSW has reported no cases from a local source, 4 overseas cases and no cases under investigation. It has been 40 days since NSW's last locally-spread infection. (s of 26 Feb.)

They started vaccination for healthcare workers this week. It will be followed for those who are 65 or elder people as the 2nd level needing people.

Wearing facemasks in public transportations is still mandatory in Sydney, many people wear no masks in town nowadays.

The government is still very careful about relaxation of the restriction and its recent notification on the relaxation of the rule is as follows;

- Quote -

Restrictions will be eased from 12.01am Friday, 26 February 2021 across Greater Sydney and NSW:

- 50 visitors will now be allowed in the home

- 30 people allowed to dance at weddings, with rotation on and off the dance floor

- Increased class limits for gyms to 50 people (currently 30) subject to the 4sqm rule

- Number of performers singing indoors increased to 30 (currently 5) subject to physical distancing requirements

- Singing by congregants allowed in places of worship if masks are worn and subject to one person per 4sqm (currently no congregant singing allowed, with one per 2sqm permitted in places of worship)

- Increase capacity for cinemas to 100%

- If current trends continue, drinking while standing up at indoor venues will be allowed in three weeks’ time (from Wednesday, 17 March).

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the easing of restrictions was due to the support of the NSW community.

“With the rollout of the vaccine now underway, and no new locally acquired cases in NSW, we are able to make further changes towards a new ‘COVID normal’,” Ms Berejiklian said.

- Unquote –

"Natural eels in the neighborhood creek!"

When I walk alone in the neighborhood, I usually walk “Ferndale Park.” One day in the morning, I found an eel in the creek in the park for the first time. Then following day, I found another eel at the another place of the creek. Then again, this time, at the same place of the creek, I found another eel!

[An eel in a creek, クリーク内のウナギ、부근 시내 장어]br />
When I was 12 years old, one of my classmates, Genchan, caught an eel in a reservoir called “Yatoike”in Kamakura, Japan. It’s a pond, not a creek, and he fished the eel. Genchan sold it to an adult then. I myself never caught eels, but loaches or catfish in the rice field in Tsuruok, my wife’s home town in Yamagata prefecture.



[An eel in a creek, クリーク内のウナギ、부근 시내 장어]

[At Ferndale Park, ファンデール公園にて、팬데일 공원에서]

The creek, however, flows into the Lane Cove River in the Lane Cove National Park. My trekking pal, Isaac says there a lot of eels in the river and his acquaintance fished it before.

[Eel's natural enemy, a while heron, ウナギの天敵、シラサギ、장어의 천적, 백로]

I like “glaze-grilled eel” and it seems easy to catch eels in the creek. But it might be prohibited to catch eels in the river.

"Kenji Miyazawa's ‘Ame ni mo Makezu’/ STRONG IN THE RAIN "

My trekking mentor, Changhwan Kim has interests in Japanese culture.　When we walk together, he often talks about Japanese culture including songs and poems. One day, he talked about Kenji Miyazawa and one of this famous poem, “Ame ni mo Makezu/ STRONG IN THE RAIN ”

Since Mr. Kim himself is an iron man and he likes hard training in sever circumstances, he also likes the introductory part of this poem, I guess.

Strong in the rain/Strong in the wind/Strong against the summer heat and snow/He is healthy and robust

I talked about background of this poem and a model of this poem; Sojiro Saito (1877 – 1968), a devoted Christian and a disciple Kanzo Uchimura.

I also introduced Roger Pulvers who translated this poem into English. My wife and I met Mr. Pulvers at the occasion of“The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster Commemoration 2020”SR#21:

http://georgesuzuki.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2020-06-29T14:56:00%2B09:00&max-results=7&start=7&by-date=false

His translation is as follows:

STRONG IN THE RAIN　

(By Kenji MIYAZAWA / Translated by Roger Pulvers)

Strong in the rain

Strong in the wind

Strong against the summer heat and snow

He is healthy and robust

Free of all desire

He never loses his generous spirit

Nor the quiet smile on his lips

He eats four go of unpolished rice

Miso and a few vegetables a day

He does not consider himself

In whatever occurs…his understanding

Comes from observation and experience

And he never loses sight of things

He lives in a little thatched-roof hut

In a field in the shadows of a pine tree grove

If there is a sick child in the east

He goes there to nurse the child

If there’s a tired mother in the west

He goes to her and carries her sheaves

If someone is near death in the south

He goes and says, ‘Don’t be afraid’

If there’s strife and lawsuits in the north

He demands that the people put an end to their pettiness

He weeps at the time of drought

He plods about at a loss during the cold summer

Everybody calls him ‘Blockhead’

No one sings his praises

Or takes him to heart…

That is the sort of person

I want to be

------

Recently Mr. Kim and I are walking along Sydney Harbor National Park like Watson Bay to Bandai Beach and Rose Bay to Watson Bay.

[The track between Rose Bay and Watson Bay, ローズベイとワトソンベイを結ぶトラック、로즈베이와 왓슨 베이를 잇는 산책로]

I enjoy trekking as well as talk with him every time.

"GNW # 16 (Summersby-Ourimbah)"

After walking the last 3 sections of GNW (#28, 29, 30), Isaac and I till challenge the Great North Walk” endeavor. This time, we challenged #16 section from Somersby to Ourinbah.

The biggest problem is how to secure the access to the track-head, and also to be sure of the return travel.

The track-head of #16 is Somersby General Store and we found out that there are 3 early bus services available at F Stand of Gosford Bus Station. They are 6:30/7:00/7:30 am bus number 33.

[In front of Somersby Store AD,サマーズビー・ストアの看板の前で、사마즈비 상점의 간판 앞에서]

It takes more than one hour from Chatswood to Gosford by T1 train. Isaac and I met at Epping and took 6:10 train to Gosford on 22nd of February.

We arrived at Gosford at 7:12 and took 7:30 bus to Somersby Store. When we go there at 8:10 am, I asked a clerk of the store. about the bus time table.

To our surprise, there is only 5:00 pm bus to return to Gosford in the afternoon. So we had plenty of time.

According to the website, the standard time is 2.5 hours for 6 km of Section 16, one way.

The Great North Walk #16:

http://www.wildwalks.com/bushwalking-and-hiking-in-nsw/watagans/somersby-store-to-ourimbah-valley-trackhead.html

So we can walk more when we arrived at the destination.

There is a sign bord of the Great North Walk along the road near the store.

We began walking toward the North from the store at 8:30 am. It was rather flat for about 2.5 km. Then we came to the point where a creek was overflowing the paved road.

[Isaac in front of the GNW board, GNWの標識の前で、GNW 표지판 앞에서]

I took off my shoes and socks, and crossed the creek. Then a female driver who happened to pass the creek, stopped her car and warned that there might be leeches and be careful about them. It was a fine day, but she warned it was a perfect day for leeches.

[Isaac passing the creek, クリークを渡るアイザック、크릭을 건너가는 이삭]

When we passed the creek, we had a short break and I shared a purple sweet potato with Isaac.

[A purple sweet potato, 紫色のサツマイモ、보라색 고구마]

Then we came to the mountainous areas. We walked down to the bottom of valley and going up to the ridges in the rain forest. It was a bit hard to go up and down, but we did twice then came to the rest area.

[In the rainforest, 熱帯雨林の中で、열대 우림에서]

We took a bit longer break, then went down to the relatively gentle slope. We arrived at the destination “Ourimbah Valley Tack Head” at 11 am.

[Atthe trackhead of Ourimbah Valley, オウリンバのトラックヘッドにて、오우린바 트랙 헤드에서]

We decided to walk the next section 17 from Ourimbah to Greta Road until noon.

The track came to the flat part and we enjoyed relatively easy walk. There are several stock farms and we saw many horses eating grasses. At one ranch, when I stopped at a fence, a brawn horse noticed me and came close to me. It was a friendly horse. I gently touched his nose.

[A horse approaching, 馬が近づいてきた、말이 다가왔다]

[A horse approaching more, 馬がさらに近づいてきた、말이 더 다가왔다]

We walked The Ourimbah Valley Road until 11:50 then we made an u-turn to go back to the Track Head.

　 We had lunch in front of the Track Head sign and began walked back the section 16.

When we came back to Somersby Stor, it was 3:30 pm. The store was closed at 2 pm. We waited　at the bench table of the store until 5 pm.

Since we were not very sure time table, we were anxious until the bus came. It did not come at 5 pm. We waited for another 10 minutes and began talking about walking back to Gosford Station (about 12 km), then the bus came!

While we were waiting for the bus, I found a fat leech on the grass near the bus stop area.

Later when I came back to my shared house and took shower, I found that my right leg with bit of blood. So the leach sucked my blood! There was no pain, so I did not notice until I saw my leg.

Next time, I should carry some sault with me.

Anyhow, we were thankful that the bus came and not necessary to walk more than 12 km more.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SR #32 「ワクチン接種開始」、「近所のクリークに天然ウナギ！」、「宮沢賢治の『雨ニモマケズ』」、「GNW#16(サマーズビー～オウリンバ)」

「ワクチン接種開始」

NSW州では連続1か月以上、ローカルの新規感染者数0が続いている。新コロナ感染症に対するワクチン接種が医療従事者を皮切りに今週から始まった。高齢者に対する接種がこれに続く。

公共交通機関内のマスク着用義務は現行のままであるが、街中のマスク姿はかなり減った気がする。州政府は慎重ではあるが、規制緩和が徐々に進んでいる。

最近の規制緩和の発表は次のとおりである。

NSW州政府は、２月２６日（金）からNSW州全体の新型コロナウイルス関連規制の一部を緩和すると発表しました。

（１）家庭への来客は、最大５０人まで。

（２）結婚式でのダンスに関して、同時に踊れるのは最大３０人まで。

（３）ジムのクラスへの参加は最大５０人まで。ただし４平方メートル規則に従うこと。

（４）屋内で歌う歌唱者は、物理的な距離の要件に応じて最大３０人まで。マスクを着用し、４平方メートル規則に則る場合、礼拝所での合同歌唱も許可されます。

（５）映画館での人数制限は席数まで（キャパシティ１００％）。

（６）新型コロナウイルスの市中感染がない状況が続く場合、屋内施設で立席での飲酒は３週間以内（３月１７日（水）以降）に許可。

「天然ウナギ！」

ところで今月のはじめに、毎日のように歩く近所のファンデール・パークのクリークで体長約50cmくらいの天然ウナギを3回目撃した。1か所は川幅も狭い小川で別々の日に2回、もう1か所は100m以上下流の淵のような場所で見た。

SR #31 “Status Quo of COVIT-19,”“GNW#28 : From Teralba to Charlestown,”“GNW#29 : From Charlestown to Merewether” and “Penguin Bloom, an Australian Movie” シドニーレポート#31 号「新型コロナ感染者数の状況」、「GNW#28 (テラルバ～チャールズタウン)」、「GNW#29(チャールズタウン～テレウェザー)」及び「『ペンギン・ブルーム』、オーストラリアの新作映画」

SR #31 “Status Quo of COVIT-19,”“GNW#28: From Teralba to Charlestown,”“GNW: From Charlestown to Merewether” and “Penguin Bloom, an Australian Movie”

“Status Quo of COVIT-19 in Australia”

Status Quo of COVIT-19 in Australia seems quite well. We had the 1st wave in the end of March last year when daily new cases hit over 200 in NSW. The 2nd wave in early August when daily new cases hit over 700 in Victoria.

[Confirmed cases, cumulative count、オーストラリアの累積感染者数、호주 감염자 누적 수]

Then we had the small 3rd wave, which recorded 40 new cases in the whole country. We are currently being reported less then 10 cases as whole country. NSW government relaxes its regulation farther from January 29 this year.

[New confirmed cases, daily coun,日毎の感染者数の推移、]

Yet wearing face masks in public transportations remains mandatory and 200 Australian dollar (16,000 yen) fine will be applied for breaking the rule. Therefore, people I see on buses or trains, wear face maskes 100 percent on public transportations in Sydney, Blue Mountains, and Central Coast areas.

[New confirmed cases, daily count by states, NSW州とビクトリア州の日毎の感染者数、NSW 주와 빅토리아 주 날마다 감염자 수]

Thank God that I am free from wearing masks while I am bush walking anytime.

As for the Great North Walk endeavor, After Isaac and I walked #14 and #15 from Wonderbyne to Somersby via Mooney Mooney Creek, we stopped for over one month. It is due to the school holidays since the (school) buses are not operated for #16 and further sections.

The Great North Walk connects Sydney and Newcastle, 260 km. It consists of 30 short tracks, and we walked #1 though #15 last year.

We put off our challenge from #16 to #18 until the new school terms, but we decided to resume from #28 where public transportations are available.

“GNW #28: From Teralba to Charlestwon”

Monday, Jan. 18, I met Isaac at the platform of Hornsby and took the northward train at 7:50 am. Actually, it was a wrong train. It was a special limited train and it did not stop Teralba.

[The Special Limited Train at Gosford, ゴスフォード駅にて「特別急行列車」、고스포드 역에서 "특별 급행 열차 "]

We changed trains at Gosford and took the next train. We changed train again at Cardiff and went back 2 stations and arrived at Teralba at 9:58 am.

It was my first time to get off at Teralba station. We found a big sing board of the Great North Walk near the station. We walked down toward Lake Macquarie then turned left along the high way.

[Lake Macquarie, マッコーリー湖、맥쿼리 호수]

[At Watkins Bridge build in 1899, 1899年に建設されたワトキンス橋にて。1899 년에 건설 된 왓킨스 다리에서]

[The sing board on the way to Warners Bay, ワーナーズ・ベイへ行く途中の標識板、와나즈 베이로　가는 길의 표지판]

It was a pleasant walk along the lake for about 6 km, then at Warners Bay, we needed to turn left toward the inland. Unfortunately, we missed the sign and we walked farther along the shore for more than 1 km. When we came to the dead end, we realized that we walked the wrong way.

[We missed the interconnection at Warners Bay, ワーナーズ・ベイの分岐点を見過ごした。와나즈 베이의 분기점을 간과했다.]

When we came back to Warners Bay, it was already at 12:30. So we had lunch there while seeing the beautiful lake.

[A statute at Warners Bay, ワーナーズ・ベイの銅像、와나즈 베이의 동상]

After having lunch, we went to the intersection and found King Street. Then we went to Queen Street. We found the track head which led to the forest after following Queen Street..

[Isaac in front of King Street,キング・ストリートの前にて、킹 스트리트 앞에서]

We follow the small pole of GNW signs, but when we miss the wright sign, we face the problems. It happened once again when we came to the power line track.

[In front of the track head, トラックヘッドにて、트랙 헤드에서]

We went back to the point where we saw the right sign, then we realized what we missed it.

[At Charlestown Golf Course Tracks, チャールズタウン・ゴルフコース・トラックにて、찰스 타운 골프 코스 트랙에서]

After the last incident, we walked rather smoothly. One small trouble was the persistent attacks by mosquitoes when we were walking along the golf course. Probably the area was wet, having many ponds.

We arrived the destination: Charlestown Park at 4 pm. The official couse time is 4.5 hours. We walked 90 minutes extra which I think, was not too bad.

[At Charlestown Park, チャールズタウン・パークにて、찰스 타운 파크에서]

We took a bus from Charlestown Shopping Center to Newcastle Station. It took one hour to arrive at Newcastle Station. But it was not a railway station. It must be a historical station. We had to take a tram called "Light Rail" to the railroad station “Newcastle Interchange.”

[Old Day Newcastle Station, 昔のニューキャッスル駅、옛날 뉴캐슬 역]

We took 5:45 train at Newcastle Interchange and arrived at Chatswood at almost 8 pm.

[A Light Rail to Newcastle Interchange, ニューキャッスル・インターチェンジ駅行のライトレール、뉴 캐슬 인터체인지역 행 라이트 레일]

My pedometer counts 35,906 steps and the daily walk6km. Walked distance was 23 km.

“GNW29: From Charlestown to Merewether”

Monday, Jan. 25, fine. I joined Isaac in the 8:53 am train at Hornsby. We arrived at Cardiff at 10:45 am. We took #262 bus, but it was to the wrong direction. I realized when the bus stopped Cardiff Shopping Center.

[Cardiff Station on T1 North Shore Line,T1北海岸線のカーディフ駅、T1 북쪽 해안선 카디프 역]

We took the right bus from Cardiff Shopping Center ang got off at Charlestown Squair. We were not sure the location, so Isaac used GPS function of his smartphone, which resulted that we started at the last leg of GNW #28.

[The Wooden Board Sign at Charlestown Park,チャールズタウン・パークのNGW標識板、찰스 타운 파크의 NGW 표지판].

Anyhow, we arrived at the starting point of GNW #29, Charlestown Park at 12:30. We decided to have lunch there first.

After having lunch, we took a picture in front of the War Memorial of Vietnam War.

[At Charlestown Park in front of Vietnum War Memorial, ベトナム戦争戦没者碑の前で、베트남 전쟁 전몰자 기념비 앞에서]

There was a big sign board of the Great North Walk in the park, but it was a bit difficult to find the first small sign across the Pacific Highway. We spent a little short time to find.

[In front of the sign board, GNWの標識の前で、GNW 표지판 앞에서]

After following the small marks, we found the track-head at another small park, then it was relatively easy to follow the marks until Yuelarbah car park where the Great North Walk sign board.

[Near the track head of Yuelarbah Track, ユエラバー・トラックの入口付近、유에라바 트랙의 입구 부근]

Then the Great North Walk runs pareled with Yuelarbah track. We could not find Glenrock scoutcamp track and continued Yuelarbah track, then we came to Leichhardts Lookout which is one of the important landmarks.

[A view from Leichhardts Lookout, レイッヒハーツ展望台からみた風景、레잇히하쯔 전망대에서 본 풍경]

It was the last right point of this trip this time. We followed the completely the wrong track called Yuelarbah Management Track which ended up the dead end near the beach.

h T [A beach view from Yuelarbah Track, ユエラバー・トラックからみた海岸風景、유에라바 트랙에서 본 해안 풍경]

According the GPS map we saw our smartphone, the Great North Walk went between the beach and Yuelarbah Management Track. We happened to see a guy whom we asked the direction about one hour ago. He came behind us and then he faced the dead-end. Then he returned and turned toward the beach, so we followed him.

[We came to Glenrock Beach, 我々はグレンロック・ビーチに出た。우리는 글렌 락 비치에 나섰다.]

We came to the beach, but could not meet the Great North Walk. So, we headed for the inland direction and found the track which leads toward the hill.

We decided to ask another gentleman who came after us. He is a resident of Merewether, so he walks that track almost everyday he said. We decided to follow him. At the point of intersection, he asked us which track we liked; a short, but steep slope, or a bit long but zigzag track. We chose the latter.

[On a hill overlooking the coast, 海岸を見下ろす丘の上で、해안을 내려다 보는 언덕에서]

When we came to the top of the hill, he led us to a lookout, from where we could see the beautiful beach, he was kind to took our picture. Then we returned to the bush walk.

[A resident of Merewether who led us, メレウェザーの住民が我々を案内してくれた。메레웨자 주민이 우리를 안내해 주었다.]

We soon came to a paved road which led to Merewether Baths, that day’s destination. We thanked the man and walked down to Merewether Baths.

We could see several water-pools along the beach. I guess they call these pools “baths” and then we saw a unique building on the shore. Later, I became to know it was Merewether SLFC (Surf Life Guard Club).

[Beach at Merewether Baths、メレウェザー・バスの海岸、메레웨자 버스의 해안]

We came a park called “Jefferson Park” next to Merewether SLFC. It was almost 5 pm. We thought it was enough for the day. There were bus stops on the both side. One bound for Newcastle, the other goes to Broadmeadow. We took the bus bound for Broadmeadow because it came first. We took the train leaved at Broadmeadow at 5:30 and I came back to Chatswood at about 8 o’clock.

My pedometer counts 30,200 steps and the daily walked distance was 20.3 km.

“Penguin Bloom, an Australian New Movie”

I went to see a movie today (the 29 of January.) The title is “Penguin Bloom.” It was released on the 21st of January this year in Australia and digital (Netflix) in USA. So, I wonder if you can see this movie in Japan, too.

[The Movie, "Penguin Bloom", 「ペンギン・ブルーム」というオーストラリア映画、"펭귄 블룸"라는 호주 영화]

The story is based on a true story and it was written in the book of the same title.

https://www.booktopia.com.au/penguin-bloom-cameron-bloom/book/9780733334948.html

A wife of a professional cameraman fell off from a balcony in a hotel in Thailブルームand when they were having a vacation there. She was saved but had to live on wheelchair in the rest of her life. She was in despair and always unhappy and irritated that I can understand. Then one day, one of her sons found an injured magpie chick at a beach near a cliff. He picked it up and brought to his home.

First, his mother disliked this noisy small bird, but gradually all of his family including his mother were in love with this bird.

I like birds in general. The Australian magpies are quite common birds. They do not afraid people, and come close to you even in the Blue Mountains. Their voices are unique, sometimes they imitate other sounds like human babies.

[Luncheon after seeing the movie, 映画鑑賞の後でランチョン、영화 감상 후에 런천]

Later, a new member of “Yourside,” the aged care service agent, who sat next to me at the luncheon table at a restaurant said it seemed like a beach in Sydney. He introduced himself as Garoy and a good surfer so he must know many beaches.

After seeing the movie, the clients of “Yourside” went to a nearby restaurant and had luncheon together. There were about 20 members of “Yourside.” We found out that it was a birthday of a lady who originally comes from Hungary.

We celebrated her 90th birthday with a birthday cake and we sang “Happy Birthday To You” all together.

[A Hungarian lady's 90th Birthday, ハンガリー出身の女性の90歳の誕生日、헝가리 출신의 여성의 90 번째 생일]

She was very glad but almost at tears. She said she did not have any relatives here, and her friends here were her closest people. She hugged some of her closest friends and I really thought we were lucky living here in Australia where hugging was allowed, not recommended though.

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SR #31 「新型コロナ感染者数の状況」、「GNW#28 (テラルバ～チャールズタウン)、「GNW#29」(チャールズタウン～テレウェザー)」及び「ペンギン・ブルームというオーストラリア映画」

「豪州における新型コロナ感染者数の状況」

オーストラリアでは私の住むNSW州で第1波が3月末(200人/日)、VIC州で8月上旬に第2波(700人/日)が来て州境が閉鎖されたりしたが、その後、12月に小さな第3波(全国で40人/日)があったのち、このところは全国でも一桁の日が続いている。

[Confirmed cases, cumulative count、オーストラリアの累積感染者数、호주 감염자 누적 수]

しかし、今月から公共交通機関利用時はマスク着用が義務となり、違反者には罰金が科せられる。したがってバスや電車の中はマスク着用率100%である。

[New confirmed cases, daily coun,日毎の感染者数の推移、일일 감염자 수]

[Deaths by age and gender,性別、年齢別死者数、성별, 연령별 사망자 수]

、 ブッシュウォークの時にマスク着用義務がないことがありがたい。

「ザ・グレート・ノース・ウォーク」は、シドニー～ニューキャッスル間を結ぶ260㎞を結ぶ道である。この道は30のショート・トラックに細分した案内があり、私は韓国人の山友のアイザックと昨年ちょうど中間の#15まで進んだ。今年はこの後半に挑戦しようと思った。

ところが#16以降は公共交通機関によるアクセスが不便で、1か月以上中断してしまった。今月は最後の3区間のうち、#28の「テラルバ(Teralba)からチャールズタウン(Charlestown)」及び#29の「チャールズタウンからメレウェザー(Merewether)」に挑戦した。

「GNW#28：テラルバ(Teralba)からチャールズタウン(Charlestown)」

2021年1月18日(月)、アイザックと私はホーンズビーの駅で待ち合わせし、７時53発のニューキャッスル行きの電車に乗るはずであった。

しかし誤って7時50発の特急列車に乗車してしまった。車掌が検札に来たのでオパールカードを出すと、これは特急で別に特急券が必要であることが分かった。

GNW#15の目的地であったゴスフォード(Gosford)で下車して、後続の普通急行に乗り換えた。出発地のテラルバ駅に行くには、カーディフ(Cardiff)の駅でシドニー行きに乗り換えて2駅戻る。

テラルバへ来たのは初めてで、駅の前の通りを直進するとマッコーリー湖(Lake Macquarie)に出る。湖水は透明度が高く美しい。

[A building in front of the Teralba Station,テラルバ駅前の建物、테라루바 역앞 건물]

駅前にGNWの大きな標識板があり、小さな標識に従ってあるけば湖畔にでて、左折して湖畔に沿ってあるけばよい。

[At a beach of Lake Macquarie, マッコーリー湖畔にて、맥쿼리 호반에서]

快適な湖畔を約6km進むとワーナーズ・ベイ(Warners Bay)というかなり広い公園のようなスペースにでる。ここを内陸部に向かって左折しなければならないが、この場所の標識を見過ごしてさらに1km以上進んでしまい、引き返すことになった。

[We missed the interconnection at Warners Bay, ワーナーズ・ベイの分岐点を見過ごした。와나즈 베이의 분기점을 간과했다.]

結局、湖畔の道は行き止まりであり、気づいて戻るとすでに12時半過ぎであった。我々はワーナーズ・ベイで湖を見ながら昼食をとった。

[At Warners Bay, ワーナーズ・ベイにて、와나즈 베이에서]

[In front of the track head, トラックヘッドにて、트랙 헤드에서]

内陸部のコースは標識を見失うことなく、順調にブッシュウォークを続けた。このコースは比較的平坦で歩きやすい。チャールズタウンのゴルフコース付近は湿地帯で蚊がやや気になった。

[The track to Charlestown Golf Course, チャールズタウン・ゴルフコース・トラックに続く道、찰스 타운 골프 코스 트랙에 이르는 길]

[At Charlestown Park, チャールズタウン・パークにて、찰스 타운 파크에서]

目的地のチャールズタウンパーク(Charlestown Park)に午後4時に到着。ここからニューキャッスルまではわずか12km余であるが、乗車した路線バスは意外と時間がかかり、ニューキャッスル駅には５時に到着した。

[Old Day Newcastle Station, 昔のニューキャッスル駅、옛날 뉴캐슬 역]

ところがバスの終着駅のニューキャッスル駅は現在鉄道が通っていない。NSW鉄道の駅はニューキャッスル・インターチェンジ駅(Newcastle Interchange Station)であり、軽便鉄道(Light Rail)でさらに15分ほど時間がかかる。

[A Light Rail to Newcastle Interchange, ニューキャッスル・インターチェンジ駅行のライトレール、뉴 캐슬 인터체인지역 행 라이트 레일]

チャッツウッドへ戻ったのは午後8時過ぎになった。一日の歩行距離は23.6 km, 歩数は35,906歩だった。

「GNW#29：チャールズタウン(Charlestown)からメレウェザー(Merewether)」

1月25日(月)、晴れ。ホーンズビー(Hornsby)にてエッピング(Epping)から乗車したアイザックに合流。カーディフ(Cardiff)には10:45に到着した。

しかし、バス停をまちがえ反対方向の262番に乗車してしまった。ショッピングセンターに到着した時点で運転手に確認したら、チャールズタウンが反対方向ということに気づいた。

ここのバス停には262の表示がなく不安だったが、11時15分ごろ、263番バスが来て、運転手に確認してから乗車した。

チャールズタウン・スクェアで下車したが、出発地点のチャールズタウン公園にたどり着くのに時間がかかり、この公園に着いたのは12:30。我々はここで昼食にした。

[At Charlestown Park in front of Vietnum War Memorial, ベトナム戦争戦没者碑の前で、베트남 전쟁 전몰자 기념비 앞에서]

ここはパシフィック・ハイウェー沿いの小さな公園だが、食事をするのに都合の良いベンチとテーブルがあり、ベトナム戦争の戦没者慰霊碑があった。

昼食後、慰霊碑の前で記念撮影をしてから、出発した。だいぶ出遅れたが、パシフィック・ハイウェーを渡ってから、しばらく道迷いの後、GNWの標識を見つけたのは13時半ごろか。ここからブッシュウォークのトラックヘッドまでは比較的順調にあるき、ユエラバー駐車場(Yuelarbah Carpark)までは標識に従って歩いた。

[At the track head of Yuerabah Track、ユエラバー・トラックの入り口にて、유에라바 트랙의 입구에서]

ただしその先のグレンロック・スカウトキャンプ・トラック(Glenrock Scoutcamp Track)がわからず、なんとなく次の目標であるレイッヒハーツ展望台(Leichhardts Lookout)に出た。

[Leichhardts Lookout, レイッヒハーツ展望台、레잇히하쯔 전망대]

この展望台からは入り江が見え、そこへ行くことはわかったが、この先、GNWのサインをすべて見失った。

本来は海岸へ向かって下る道だったが、ユエラバー・トレイル)Yuelarbah Trailを進み、さらに行き止まりのユエラバー管理トレイル(Yuelarbah Management Trail)に入ってしまった。

[A beach view from Yuelarbah Track, ユエラバー・トラックからみた海岸風景、유에라바 트랙에서 본 해안 풍경]

するとユエラバー・トレイルで道を尋ねたサンダル履きの若者がまた現れ、彼も行き止まりの地点から引き返して海岸方面へ向かった。

[We came to Glenrock Beach, 我々はグレンロック・ビーチに出た。우리는 글렌 락 비치에 나섰다.]

彼について海岸に出たが、GNWらしき道は見当たらず、結局内陸部へ向かう道を進むことになった。ここで後ろからきた年配の紳士にMerewetherへの道を聞くと彼はそこの住民で、帰宅途中だから案内してくれることになった。

直進すると急こう配で、右折すればジグザグというので、ジグザグ道を行くことにした。するとすばらしいLookoutに出たが、これはGNWから外れた地点だった。

[On a hill overlooking the coast, 海岸を見下ろす丘の上で、해안을 내려다 보는 언덕에서]

再度ブッシュにもどり、彼の家の近くの道路で、メレウェザー・バス(Merewether Baths)へ続くところで別れた。舗装道路を道なりに進むと、海岸とユニークな建築物の近くの公園に出た。

[A resident of Merewether who led us, メレウェザーの住民が我々を案内してくれた。메레웨자 주민이 우리를 안내해 주었다.]

建物はメレウェザー SLSCで公園はジェファーソン公園(Jefferson Park)だった。このバス停からはニューキャッスル方面とブロードメロー(Broardmedow)方面があり、後者が先に来たのでバスに乗車。からブロードメロー→ホーンズビー→チャッツウッドと帰った。チャッツウッドには午後8時に着いた。

[The destination of the day, Jefferson Park、目的地ジェファーソン公園、목적지 제퍼슨 공원]

1日の歩行距離は20.3km, 歩数は30,200歩だった。

「『ペンギン・ブルーム』、オーストラリアの新しい映画」

これは2020年にオーストラリアで製作され、今週こちらで開封された映画のタイトルである。日本ではまた公開されていないが米国でNetflixで公開されたというので、日本でも視聴が可能かもしれない。

[The Movie, "Penguin Bloom", 「ペンギン・ブルーム」というオーストラリア映画、"펭귄 블룸"라는 호주 영화]

これはタイの観光地に家族で旅行中、転落事故により脊髄を損傷した母親と彼女の夫、および彼らの3人の息子たちの物語である。

車いす生活の母親は絶望に浸る生活であったが、息子の一人が海岸で偶然巣から落ちて傷ついたカササギのヒナを拾って育てることから、このカササギの成長と彼女の魂と家族の愛の回復のこころあたたまる物語になっている。

https://www.booktopia.com.au/penguin-bloom-cameron-bloom/book/9780733334948.html

オーストラリアのカササギはほぼ毎日見かける鳥でその鳴き声がユニークなことで私の好きな鳥の一種族である。

また、私の日本での退職後の仕事「ガイド・ヘルパー」の体験から、ハンディを持つ人の気持ちも理解できるし、新しい可能性の発見も見ていて気持ちの良いストーリーだ。

私は昨年11月から金曜日に映画を見る機会に恵まれるようになった。今月の前半は新型コロナの第3波の影響で、ソーシャル・アウティングが中止になったが、先週から再開された。

今週は参加者が約20名。そのうちの1人が90歳の誕生日であった。我々は映画観賞の後、近所のレストランで食事会兼彼女の誕生祝を祝った。

[Luncheon after seeing the movie, 映画鑑賞の後でランチョン、영화 감상 후에 런천]

彼女のスピーチによれば、彼女はハンガリー出身でこちらに身寄りはまったくなく、自分のことは自分でできるので施設ではなく、「ユアサイド(Yourside)」の知人の一人一人が彼女にとっての親戚であると語った。

[A Hungarian lady's 90th Birthday, ハンガリー出身の女性の90歳の誕生日、헝가리 출신의 여성의 90 번째 생일]

みなの「ハッピーバースディ」の祝福に涙ぐみ、親しい数人の友達とハグしているのをみて、この状況下でこの親しみが許されるオーストラリアの状況をこころより感謝した。