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Blog of Jack and Jude
explorers, authors, photographers & videographers
 

GIANT CUTTLFISH WIPED-OUT ~

The South Australian government has released this year’s giant cuttlefish count from the Spencer Gulf.

The count shows an almost 100 per cent decline from the 63,000 cuttlefish counted last year.

What’s next?

There are calls for the giant cuttlefish to be listed as an endangered species.
Last year the department counted 63,000 cuttlefish in the Spencer Gulf waters. This year 1,811 were recorded.

Professor Mike Steer, executive director of the South Australian Research and Development Institute said:
“The giant cuttlefish population has been depleted and has likely been impacted by the algal bloom.” 

The annual gathering near Whyalla is one of the only known mass-breeding aggregations of its kind.
“It’s the only place where our giant cuttlefish come for breeding,” SA Climate, Environment and Water Minister Emily Bourke said.

Jack and Jude witnessed them breeding
We witnessed their breeding first hand, hookah diving amongst these unqiue creatures, and are deeply affected to hear another of Earth’s magnificent creatures is on the brink of extistion.

The future of the giant cuttlefish –

Adult giant cuttlefish die shortly after spawning, leaving the next generation reliant on that single winter event.

“Normally when there’s tens of thousands of cuttlefish and each female is laying dozens of eggs, you would expect there to be millions along the coastline. But, along that 8 kilometres of coastline we only found 440 eggs,” Manny Katz said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-21/giant-cuttlefish-sa-spencer-gulf-pirsa-count-decline/107062048

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Sir Anthony Hopkins explores memories and mortality

Sir Anthony Hopkins is one of the most recognised and celebrated actors in Hollywood.

From the chilling Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, to the reserved butler Mr Stevens in The Remains of the Day and the deeply moving Anthony in The Father, the Welsh actor is renowned for his magnetic screen presence and emotional depth.

Anthony Hopkins on composing at 88

At 88, Hopkins is releasing a new album following his signing with Decca Classics, one of the world’s most prestigious classical music labels.

Titled: Life Is a Dream, the album showcases orchestral compositions Hopkins has written over the past six decades.

I think we tend to lie to ourselves, thinking ‘Oh, I can’t do that.
But how do you know until you try? So that’s what I do.

I think music reflects pain and sorrow. Arthur Schopenhauer said that music transcends all human experience. It’s not a language we understand. It has nothing to do with human behaviour or human speech, but it has an extraordinary way of expressing ourselves.
But in my own life, I’m now aware, that life is one long, long goodbye.

From the moment we’re born, we say goodbye to childhood, we say goodbye to adolescence, and eventually we say goodbye altogether.
At the end of it all is hello, my love, and goodbye, my love.
And that’s the theme of life, that nothing is permanent.

It doesn’t make one miserable. In fact, it’s a kind of solace because there’s nothing I can do about it.
I’m here. And one day I will not be here.

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OUR NEXT BOOK

Snippets:
Lake Nakuru, Kenya –
Late that day, emotionally and physically exhausted, we came into the small town of Nakuru. At the town’s entrance stood a sign proudly declaring Nakuru as the home of the recently declared Nakuru National Park—our intended camp for the night.

There we met Tommy, a pitifully dressed fellow, who beamed with delight at having a bit of company. Hearing we were his first visitors in over two weeks, Judith invited him to dinner. His brilliant white smile against his ebony-black skin delighted us. Even better, he offered to drive us around to see the birds, which he said were most active at dawn and dusk.

Tommy proved to be an expert. He knew a great deal about the birds and other wildlife at Lake Nakuru. He began by explaining that it was one of several soda lakes scattered along the Great Rift Valley, a volcanic landscape of steep escarpments, hot springs and geysers.

Then the magic happened. As we rounded the last bend, the most astonishing sight any of us had ever witnessed came into view. Pink flamingos seemed to cover the lake’s entire surface, shifting and shimmering in a vast, living sheet of colour.

According to Tommy, pulling up at the lake’s edge would not disturb the two million lesser flamingos. He told us they were the dominant species here, feeding on the abundant blue-green algae. To us, they appeared to stand about waist-height, their vivid pink and crimson plumage glowing in the light. Their long necks curved down until their carmine bills were upside down, dragging through the alkaline water as they filtered the algae, just as Tommy had described.

Among them waded the taller, more stately greater flamingos. Fewer in number, perhaps only tens of thousands, they were easy to distinguish by their pale pinkish-white bodies and red wings. They moved through deeper water with slow, deliberate grace, their long legs sending out delicate ripples while their heads dipped rhythmically in search of small invertebrates as well as algae.,,,

Serengeti, Tanzania:
The silver glow of the moon began to brighten the eastern horizon just as the setting sun radiated brilliant hues of red and gold across the western sky. Standing under that magnificent African sky, filled with hope for the future, I wrapped my arms around my sweetheart. Drawing her in close, I breathed in her familiar scent and leaned down to whisper, “Let’s be super quiet in our tent tonight,” before giving her earlobe a playful nip. Judith giggled and spun around in my embrace, and we sealed the promise with a passionate, wet kiss that made me wish the night would hurry up and arrive.

Lost in visions of passion and sweet caresses, an almighty roar shattered the twilight from the pool right behind us. Before we could even break apart, another booming bark of fury answered the first. We spun around to see two colossal hippos standing toe-to-toe, facing off. Both had their jaws unhinged so wide their faces appeared almost flat, displaying their massive top and bottom tusks. Armed with these lethal weapons, they lunged to bite each other—pushing, slashing, and throwing up violent waves on what had just been our romantic, placid pool. They were like two schoolyard bullies in a contest of pure might, creating such a terrifying racket that we instinctively stepped back from the water’s edge, fearing for our safety…

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Gordon River Gorge with Ronnie Morrison

While shooting the Garry Kerr film “Two men in a Punt” we travelled upstream on the Gordon River in SW Tasmania to the Denison River. Travelling in 5 metre tinnies with 60 hp outboards, the lead piloted by Ronnie Morrison carrying the sound lady and Jack and Judith, followed by his son, Deek taking the cameraman and producer. This journey traversed the narrow Gordon River Gorge where we encountered enormous overfalls. Exciting and dangerous as well, but Ronnie Morrison’s knowledge and skills saw us safely through and return.

Sad news:
A few months ago, our good mate and mentor, Ronnie Morrison passed away peacefully in his sleep. A lover of Nature and his fellow travellers, Ronnie will be greatly missed. His work improving the community will be remembered with sincere appreciation. Cheerio Ronnie, we hope your’re smiling down upon us from a front row spot in heaven.

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OUR KIDS growing up on a Homemade Boat Sailing Around the World.

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Our Amateur Radio DX Expeditions are now online
Stories and images of our 5 expeditions around the world aboard the SY BANYANDAH

1/ 1978 Mellish Reef – Coral Sea VK9ZR
2/ 1979 Spartly Islands – South China Sea 1S1DX
3/ 1981 Kingman Reef – Pacific Ocean AD0S/KH5K
4/ 1981 Tokelau Reef – South Pacific ZM7ZR
5/ 1982 Mellish Reef – Coral Sea VK9ZR

 

1982 Mellish Reef – Coral Sea

 

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