Welcoem to posts!!
in the future - u will be able to do some more stuff here,,,!! like pat catgirl- i mean um yeah... for now u can only see others's posts :c
15.6.21
DAYS SEVENTEEN AND EIGHTEEN - Road Trip 2021 revisited with original blog
MONDAY: I had started editing the Gawler Range video yesterday, so after having a look at the second Indycar race I completed the basic edit and colour correction, and decided to move closer to Port Augusta. I wanted to get to the Caravan Repair place as soon as I could on Tuesday, and so I packed up, did a quick tour around Iron Knob (again). Nothing has changed in a thousand years there. BHP Pegged the first mining lease there in 1897. The iron ore from here proved to be of such a high quality, that it led to the development of the Australian Steel Industry. 21% of the steel required for the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge was quarried at Iron Knob and smelted at Port Kembla, New South Wales. The remaining 79% was imported from England.
I moved on. I passed a gateway with a red flag on it. This normally indicates a gun club is in residence and firing is taking place. But I passed another three such gates and flags after that, and I am no wiser. I did find that where work is being carried out on some railway infrastructure, a red flag needs to be installed until the work is complete. So, is there work being done on a Railway link between Iron Knob and Whyalla? But that link runs in different direction … Curiosity killed the cat, and I ain't that curious LOL.
I arrived at Lincoln Gap (where the Eyre Hwy meets the Lincoln Hwy) and settled into a rest area there for the night.
https://youtu.be/r9LFE8a3rT8
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I've been away for a couple of weeks, helping my son commence his shift from Perth to Dongara in Western Australia. The weather wasn't kind - it was sunny (good), there was a cyclone just off the coast (not good), and the temperatures were in the high 30s and low 40s (bad enough) but the humidity was extreme (definitely not good).
But I did get out and do a couple of hours filming around Port Denison and Dongara on Sunday morning (44° C), before returning to Perth that afternoon. That video is almost ready to go, and should be available next week. Meanwhile, enjoy Australia Day. Cheers, Laurie
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Wednesday this week, I took a drive around the South Coast of Albany. We don't do the usual attractions, rather show you the other lesser known attractions and beauty of our southern coast. This is a great drive for people especially, who are unable to physically undertake a tour, but can enjoy the beauty from the passenger seat.
I have a bit of a rant about a couple of subjects which I would love your feedback on ... one gets to think when driving ... dunno whether that's a good or a bad thing.
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What would I like to see You Tube do, is create 3 different viewing areas for creators. One for shorts (if we must have them), one for AI, and one for genuine creators using traditional methods ... and allow us to choose what we want to see. Youtube is getting like parliament and politicians ... we have no idea what to believe anymore.
What do you think?
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Welcome to 2025. 15 years ago, we tackled the Carnarvon Gorge in Queensland, and part of that trek was the incredible Art Gallery. Tomorrow, we are sharing that moment with you.
And then on Friday, we visit the historical Black Stump ... as part of our visit to Blackall. Fun fact, when I travelled through I picked up a lump of metal in one of my spare caravan tyres ... and it's still there. (I'm currently off the road, and have no need to replace the tyre at the moment).
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I've been messing around with Time Lapse again. Last one was taken at 5 sec intervals, this one at 30 sec intervals. This one with camera's Intelligent Auto setting. Next time I'll use manual settings. This took 119 mins to film, and @ 2 frames per pic, the time lapse is 20 secs long. Hardly seems worth it, does it? 😆
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13.6.21
DAY SIXTEEN - Road Trip 2021 revisited with original blog
Saturday was a travel day. I have been contemplating how do I work it so that I arrive in Port Augusta on Tuesday, hoping to get this leak in the roof fixed. I had tons of time to get there yesterday, but it being a long weekend over here, and being ahead of schedule, means that I am also getting a bit ahead of my bank account. And so it was get close-ish, and camp up for two or three nights, preferably with signal. I found a rest area right behind the Iron Knob mine, with full phone and internet, which has proved perfect.
Kimba was the only major centre to pass through, and for the first time ever, I stopped at the big Parrot, which doubles as the bakery, and I grabbed (yet another) cornish pastie (from the Tumby Bay Bakery) and I could not resist the carrot cake. It has nothing to do with diet, and everything to do with supporting local business... yeah, right LOL
Speaking of local business, these towns have been dying for years, and much of it I believe has to do with the main highway bypassing the town centres, and the pandemic certainly hasn't helped, but I was surprised when the roadhouse at Poochera, which was operating two years ago, and is on the highway, was closed and boarded up.
Last night I set up the desktop computer, and caught up with my social media stuff. Thank you to everyone for reading, commenting and supporting my efforts.
Sunday, today, I woke up to find that I had successfully recorded my Indycar race, so watched that, before settling down to do some serious editing putting my Gawler Range National Park video footage together. I run the camera in the car almost full time, but most of it is my audio/visual diary, which I break into when I feel I have something interesting to share.
Eagles – Richmond, what a heart stopper. But why oh why, when we have won four premierships singing the old version of the song, do we feel that we have to have a new version, which has none of the gusto of the old song, but sounds like an insipid apology for winning. Can you imagine any of the old traditional clubs allowing their songs to be mangled like this. Traditions have to start somewhere, and when you have been fortunate enough to establish a tradition, why in God's name would you walk away from it?
Originally, I was going to move closer to Port Augusta tomorrow and sneak into town on Tuesday morning. But I just might hang around until Tuesday morning and ring first and make an appointment with the caravan repair mob … then again, I might not …
https://youtu.be/RcuUSWRTCpI
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That's it. 2024 is finished for me You Tube wise. I have just uploaded my last video for the year ... somewhere around 205 videos since January 1, 2024.
I might take tomorrow off.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me, taken the time to sit in my passenger seat and travel the country with me, and especially all of you who took the time to comment and share your stories and experiences as well.
Happy New Year and safe travels to each and every one of you and your loved ones.
Here's to 2025.
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I hope you all had a great Christmas with family, friends and the usual blow-ins.
To see the year out, we drop into Isisford in Queensland. It's a bit off the beaten track, but a lovely little town, with one or two surprises ...
Then on Friday, we bring in the New Year by checking out Tambo, which is just back down the road a wee bit.
That's what's scheduled, and who knows what else we may find to pop up over the next few days.
Definitely will be at least another Blog from my 2021 trip for a bit of fun reading, with the appropriate video linked to it.
Happy New Year folks, enjoy responsibly.
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11.6.21
DAY FIFTEEN - Road Trip 2021 revisited with original blog
I was up early, made sandwiches, packed up, and headed into town to drop the van off. I wasn't sure how many kms I would cover today, so topped up the main fuel tank and headed for the hills. I hit the border of the Gawler Range National Park, and the good road which is maintained by Wudinna ended, and the rough corrugated road started, and then straight into a wet, slushy, muddy road that suggested that I should put the hubs in just in case. The Park have only just re-opened some of their roads a couple of days ago after heavy rains.
I passed Mount Allalone, (so named because it stands All Alone apparently), and the road improved. As you enter the business part of the park, the road runs around past the administrative and accommodation buildings for the staff, before you arrive at the Shearing Shed and Shearers Quarters. The shed last saw service in 2000. It was a 6 stand shed in it's day. I managed to wander through the kitchen, quarters and mess room doing a bit of filming, before hitting the road again. I had chosen to do the outer loop. This was a 4WD only designated road, and so I was expecting a roughish track... It wasn't, it was a good road for what was described.
The Kolay Hut and campground came and went, before I arrived at the Pondanna Outstation. I found my way into the house, hit a light switch and was surprised when a light came on. That was handy, lighting up the rooms for photography in my case. There must be a portable light source of some sort out there. It was an ideal place to sit quietly (outside) and eat my lunch. The Ranges are predominately flat grasslands surrounded by the hills, and to sit and enjoy the view and silence was lovely.
I had spoken to a couple who had told me that they had enjoyed driving over the top of the hill and were enamoured by the views. For the first time, the road was starting to climb, and become more of what I had been expecting track wise. And then I was on top of Conical Hill, and the view was as promised. The descent was a real rocky track, stopping only to photograph a couple of kangaroos, who after scampering across the road and up the hill stopped and continued to graze, whilst keeping an eye on what I was doing.
I had been urged to go and see the Organ Pipes. And so a 10km drive in over a really rough road was endured. A thought came to me … the road while just a dirt base wasn't bad, but they had decided to put a layer of road metal on top, and it was this that formed the corrugations – where there was no metal, far less corrugation. They really need to drag a couple of old tractor tubes over the road to smooth things out a bit. It apparently works.
The car park was reached, and a walking track stretched into the distance through the bush to these Organ Pipes.
Let's reflect for a minute on the quality of the park and its presentation. The roads were great, well above the expectation considering many were labelled 4wd only. The signage was excellent, and the presentation of the points of interest could not be faulted. However, when you reach a car park, and are then expected to walk to the desired site, it wouldn't be too much to ask, to include on the direction sign, the distance to be walked/climbed/stumbled to the attraction. Not once was there a walking distance included on any of the hiking/walking signs. Now, I am bloody unfit, and have only just started this walking thing on this trip, so am nowhere near match fit as yet, and I had been walking all over the place today, and I know my limitations. If I had known how far it was to get to the Organ Pipes, I would probably have decided not to attempt the walk. I stupidly left my hiking stick behind, and so was in danger of stumbling or falling (my fault), but it was the end of the day, and I was the last one in there, and the track in just didn't seem to end. Finally, I think I got the photo (I need to check it against someone elses), because I'm not sure whether I actually got there, and then I had to return to the car. Now, I made it, but it could have been someone else, and it could have ended in tears, all because there was no distance provided for the hiker to make a decision. You start and you keep going, and it seems to keep getting further away, and then you have to return. It's not good enough.
Another thought on National Parks, and I have been going on about this for years. Why should these attractions only be available for the able bodied, relatively fit members of the community, and denied to those who are not able bodied and confined to wheelchairs for example. In this particular Park, there was only one path to a lookout that would accommodate a wheelchair. I believe that ALL National Parks should have pathways suitable for wheelchair access.
My overall thoughts on Gawler Range National Park. The day wasn't long enough. I ran out of time. It is a beautiful park, beautifully presented, the roads are well maintained. I had a wonderful time. Just stick some distances on those walking tracks.
The kangaroos were out in force as I returned to Wudinna. Grey, with a red neck and white front … is that what they really look like?
I picked the van up from the RV park, fuelled up, and am tonight back where I was last night. Last night, no signal, nothing, again waking up to a phone full of messages. Tonight, I've made a number of phone calls and uploaded some stuff to FB. It is what it is I guess. So these reports will come through, eventually, maybe, if we are lucky … or unlucky LOL
https://youtu.be/CdTU1-Cb6Jg
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Sit in my passenger seat and see what I see, as I travel onroad and offroad Australia. PLACES, not FACES.