"In the beginning"

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The views expressed in this blog are not necessarily the views of the blog management, (on the other hand, they are not necessarily not the views of the blog management).

No effort has been made to stay within the bounds of the truth in this blog as it has always been the view of the management that the truth should never be allowed to stand in the way of a good story.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Fun Monday May 26


Alison from rdhmom is our host today.

http://rdhmom.blogspot.com/

Here’s da rules.

Vacations...this is the time of year when most of us go on vacations. Show us and/or tell us about your favorite vacation - where you went, what you did, etc. Pictures would be great. Let's all take a trip around a the world via our FM friends!!



Way back in 1979 we (I was married then) took a year off to do a “Trip around Australia”, this was, and still is, the aim of every active Australian (yeah I was “active” at that time).

So we bought a Ford F100 pickup and a lovely new caravan and off we went, well for a while anyway, we soon discovered that lots of the places we wanted to visit demanded a FWD vehicle and also that our beaut caravan was too big to allow access to said places we wanted to visit.

So we downsized to a Toyota 4WD and a tiny caravan and off we went (again).

Now that we had our rig sorted out we could do all the things we wanted to, I hope the photos will give you some idea of what we did and where we went, I have just had a think about that remark and decided that as I have about 2500 slides taken while on this trip I'm really not going to be able to show you much of what we did/saw, so here are a few odd bits that may be of interest, come visit and Ill show you a slide show that will either enthrall you or put you to sleep.


click on all photos to enbiggen them.

This was the Ford F100 and 20 foot caravan we started out with.

This was outfit number two, a Toyota Hilux 4WD and a 12 foot caravan, The rocks
behind us are known as the Devils Marbles and are in the Northern Territory near Alice Springs.

Rather than spending an hour or so sorting the photos into order, which wouldn't make
them any more interesting... here they are in random order.
This is Wave Rock a formation that has been carved from the sandstone by wind and
water erosion over the years. Wave Rock is in WA, about 500 miles from Perth.

These are wild flowers near the base of Ayers Rock as it was known then... its now
known as Uluru and is managed by the local indigenous people, it is located in the
Northern Territory about 900 miles from Adelaide SA.

This is the most photographed Rock in Australia, as the sun sets there are often dramatic
colour changes, from Brilliant red to a deep purple.

This is the view from the top of the rock, as can be seen its a huge formation, the largest
monolith in the world, from memory its about 3.5 miles around the base.

This is a small Hairy Nosed Wombat strolling around the sand dunes at Wilson's Promotry Vic.

A huge Boab Tree near Derby in WA, this tree is hollow inside and was used as a temporary
lockupin early years when the police were taking prisoners to Broome, it held 15 adults.

St Mary's by the sea is a lovely little church at Port Douglas in Queensland.

Sturt Desert Pea, a native wild flower found mainly in SA.

The Golden Wattle is Australia's national flower.

A water Buffalo, once found in the hundreds in the Northern Territory, they have since
been eradicated as they were spreading TB and Brucellosis to the beef cattle in NT.

A large (64 foot diameter) radio telescope at Parkes NSW, this was a major link in communications
with Apollo 11 in 1969

The Pinnacles are petrified rock that protrude from the sand in sizes ranging from inches
up to several metres over an area of several acres near the WA coast 100 miles from Perth.

The first half of our coat of arms, a grey Kangaroo.

The other half is the Emu, this flock were in central NSW

One of the many beautiful beaches in North Queensland, this one at Port Douglas.

This is a Kookaburra (sometimes called a laughing Jackass) because of the peals of
laughter that are their call, they are a member of the king fisher family and become quite tame.

Lake Argyle in WA about 2000 miles from Perth, the largest fresh water lake in Australia.

Cradle Mountain/ Lake St Clair in Tasmania, the highest lake in Australia.

Nerada Tea Plantation in North Qld. this was the only tea plantation in Australia at the time,
I have no idea whether there are now others.

The Hammersly Gorge in WA. our mini Grand Canyon.

Julie seated at "Natures Window" near Kalbarri in WA.

Wild flower known as Kangaroo Paw because of the similarityof the flowers to the Paws.

Probably our most endearing wild animal the Koala... They are NOT Bears.

Chateaus Tanunda Winery located in the Barossa Valley in SA.

Craig's hut constructed as a set for the movie "The Man From Snowy River" this hut was
burnt down in the 2007 bush fires but has since been rebuilt.

Part of our heritage being engulfed by drifting sand, the Eucla Overland Telegraph Station
in WA was part of the early network of radio communications.

A fire spottinng lookout perched in a huge Karri tree in the south west of WA,
we climbed to the top of this tree via a ladder consisting of spikes driven into the
trunk that wound its way around the tree about 12 times.... VERY HIGH.

A flower spike from one of the many different Banksia Trees that grow here.

Beautiful waterfalls in Bell Gorge WA 300 miles from Broome.

A Sea Lion at Point Labbat (not very far from Wudinna where I am currently.

A street scape at Charters Towers Qld. one of the many very rich gold mining areas
from our past.

I hope you enjoyed the quick look around Oz.... there's lots more to see, come and visit.

21 comments:

willowtree said...

Brilliant post Pete, my only criticism (well, not really a criticism) is that you could have made at least three posts with all those photos!

Have I missed any Vicki updates? (never mind, I just went back and checked, I'm up to date, but we could do with one about now, it's been nearly 2 weeks)

karisma said...

Well, I enjoyed the photos, I was a little concerned at the need for the small caravan though! I have been dreaming of this trip too but I was thinking of one of those very large Winnebago things with all the luxury etc. Now perhaps I will have to do the motels instead? Could get expensive!

Laughing at WT's criticism up there, you know for my Fun Monday I linked to a trip from last year where he said exactly the same thing to me! Except he felt I could have stretched it over a week. LOL.

I am really keen to go to Uluru but not sure of my chances, I do believe it is too far from the ocean! Perhaps I will have to make it a girls trip.

Junebug said...

Beautiful photos of beautiful places. I would love to visit someday.

Pamela said...

once more, my appetite is whetted -- I want to come visit.
BUT... only if I can have a personal tour. ha! You know where to go - and probably where not to.

Walker said...

Great pictures Peter.
It's great when you live in a big country and the different terranes it has to offer with their beauty.
I tried doing that once here in Canada but I made the mistake of doing it in the winter.
Snow looks the same everywhere I found out, go figure.

Alison said...

what a great post Peter...I feel like I have "seen" Australia now, but I still would love to see it all in person some day!!

thanks for playing this week!!

Gattina said...

Very interesting post for me ! My son travelled, flew and dived in Australia for 6 weeks some years ago and brought back very beautiful pictures. It must be a very beautiful continent !
I digged out a trip we made in 1971 through the States ! I don't have many pictures either. At that time I didn't like to photograph and bought postcards and after that I always filmed !

Anonymous said...

that wave rock formation looks amazing.

Arlene,
Lakewood flowers

Hootin Anni said...

Peter, Peter!! I am just speechless!! [well almost] Now I really feel that I was right there with you on your trip around your country! Wow...it's all so breathtakingly beautiful. I am just so overwhelmed...the wave rock is a work of nature and truly a piece of art all on its own!!

WOW!!!

This is really a fun Fun Monday this week, seeing all the stories of all the great vacations!!

Jan said...

I certainly "enjoyed the quick look around OZ". Thanks for the tour. We had planned on visiting in the '70's, but anti-American feelings were running high. I know that's no longer the case, but we've never put it back on our list. That'll have to change.

Sayre said...

Oh, my! Those photos are absolutely stunning! Did you really do the whole year? That is the kind of trip I dream of taking one day.

ChrisB said...

I can only say wow to all these beautiful photos. To spend a year exploring must be a wonderful experience! The wave rock formation is amazing, and so is that tree. It's hard to believe it held so many prisoners. I've really enjoyed travelling with you :)

Faye said...

What a treat to get some honest to goodness photos of Australia. Agree with Willowtree--we could hear more about each photo since too many of us won't get to your part of the globe. I did make it to NZ a couple of years ago, but no comparison, I'm sure.

Sai Hijara - Ferraris said...

Peter, looking at all the photos gave me a mixed feeling...I was torn between delight and missing someone so much!

It's always nice to travel...and to travel in time to remember past vacations is more exciting!

Have a nice week!

Jeanette said...

Hi Peter, No birthday celebration Photo's..
Great photo's of your trip around Oz.
I recognise quite a few of places here.
Take care I hope Vicki is staring to feel a lot better love to all Jan.

Merle said...

Hi Peter ~~ Great post. I hope you have a very nice birthday celebration
tomorrow for your birthday. I had a really good one this year.
Is Vicki's pain easing at all?
Love to all. Merle.

Merle said...

Hi again ~~ Phyll Flint rang the other day on my birthday and said they would try to ring you on your mobile on the 28th. I said I would say Happy Birthday from them in case
it wasn't switched on. Cheers, Merle.

Dave said...

Beautiful pictures Peter! Wonderful trip... *S*

You already saw my favorite vacation hopefully on my blog... the one to Europe!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Dad! Hope you have a good day.
Love Lyn xx

Cliff said...

Yes I've enjoyed the look around OZ very much. Thanks a heap.

Hale McKay said...

Those were some great photos, Peter. It really gives someone, such as I, who have never been to a Australia a unique glimpse of the land down under.

From other posts - I'm glad to hear things are looking up with Vickie's health.

And a belated Happy Birthday to you.