Photos: Baz – The Landy, and Janet-Planet, at “The Basin” located on Pittwater just to the north of Sydney.
Autumn Days in Sydney – By the water
Author: XPLORE - Out and About
Silence…is golden
Photo: Baz – The Landy, Deception Bay, Redcliffe Peninsular, Australia
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Steampunk meets Napoleon – on a World War 2 Battlefield…
The sound of a shell fired from the World War 2 tank rang out across the field, the boom and compression of the explosion sending a shiver down the spine of all in proximity…
Men in khaki and camouflage fatigues were hitting the ground to avoid the inevitable fall-out from the shrapnel, weapons at the ready as they lay silently waiting for the order to advance on the German line.
The rattle of machine gun fire ringing out from the bunkers and motorcycle side-cars was deafening as the Germans fought to protect their ground, shrouded for a time behind the white plume of smoke that was by now drifting across the battlefield.
Mind you, some of the soldiers ambushed on “patrol” were a about a quarter-of-a-century too late for the encounter given it was a mock battle between American and German World War 2 forces; the advance party were dressed and kitted out for the jungles of Vietnam…!
But hang-on, what are those Vikings doing on the battlefield?
Didn’t they have their run a few centuries ago marauding and pillaging their way across England?
And aren’t those fancy looking blokes dressed to the “nines” with the feather plumes on their headgear “Frenchies” from the days when Napoleon was barking out orders as he roamed the countryside looking for trouble?
The scene was unfolding at Ironfest 2017 in the Central Tablelands township of Lithgow.
Ironfest is an arts festival that explores the relationship between humans, metal and identity and is held annually at the Lithgow Showground. It brings together artists, designer-makers, blacksmiths, and performers of all kind, musicians, Steampunkers, as well as historical re-enactors and steam-machine enthusiasts from all over Australia…
TomO, the Crown Prince, is a member of Ausreenact, a non-political World War 2 living history organisation made up of members who share a common interest in history and militaria, with a particular focus on the uniforms, equipment and vehicles of the Allied and Axis forces in the period 1939-1945. He re-enacts as a member of the US Forces 2nd Armoured Division and has quite a collection of gear and equipment he has assembled from the era and which he proudly had on display in his “bunker” during the weekend.
Each year Ausreenact, along with a number of other military groups, including those dedicated to Napoleonic re-enactment and Knights from medieval times, are invited to attend and take part in the festival.
No wonder the “battle-ground” was chaotic…
Medieval swords flashed and clashed to the boom of Napoleonic guns that were challenging the armoured vehicles from more modern times.
When the Knights were not swinging their swords in battle they were charging at each other in a medieval jousting match.
And here I was thinking how macho I must look wielding the whipper-snipper with menacing precision each time I trim the moraya hedge at home. Strewth, talk about starting to feel just a tad inadequate.
So I’ll just move on…
Away from the “battlefields” there was the sound of iron striking iron on anvils as blacksmiths demonstrated their craft, beads of sweat rolling down their faces as they forged metal into works of art.
And hey, what about all those Steampunk people…?
Steampunk I hear you ask? I too had to look up the definition of a “Steampunker” and I am still not sure I have it right.
One of the best definitions for a Steampunker I have come across is from Jess Nevins, author of the Encyclopedia of Fantastic Victoriana (it hasn’t come up on my book club read list yet) who said…
“Steampunk is what happens when Goths discover brown.”
The costumes were as varied as the people that dressed in this fashion genre inspired by the Victorian era of steam and industrial machinery. I think it was the default costume for many who attended the festival.
But the Steampunkers seemed a happy bunch even if the women’s corsets appeared three sizes to small and their mode of transport was from another age if not simply strange…
Without doubt this weekend is possibly the two days of the year the various groups can safely come out from behind closed doors and still look normal; safety in numbers, so they say.
The activity was as diverse as it was frenzied, but somehow it all worked and integrated in a way that you would not think possible and I even got to take Janet-Planet on the cruise she has always wanted to do…
On the infamous “Love Boat”…
Photos: Baz – The Landy & Janet-Planet, Lithgow, Australia…
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Nature’s Alarm Clock…
The Kookaburra’s bush anthem rings out, typically at 4:30am every morning, but hey, what would Australia be without them..
Photo: Baz – The Landy, Out and About in the Australian Bush….
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Life Outside the Comfort Zone – A week on Army Cadet Camp
An opportunity to spend a week in the bush was the call-out to parents from the school our son attends…
A beautiful spot nestled on the fringes of the Hunter Valley wine region and not too far from Pokolbin Village.
Visitors to the Hunter Valley, which is situated two-hours drive from Sydney’s CBD, will know that Pokolbin is the epicentre of this spectacularly beautiful area.
I am never backward in coming forward when presented with the opportunity to get Out and About in the Australian Bush so I jumped at the chance!
Of course, as with most things, there was a hitch…
The week was to be spent in support of our sons and daughter’s annual Military Cadet Camp.
This entailed cooking and washing up duties and general support around the camp. Filling jerry cans with water to slack the thirst of the cadets as they went about various exercises.
Mind you, it wasn’t really a hitch, after all who would not want to do that for the cadets, their son or daughter?
But with circa 330 cadets on camp, this was no small task – it was cooking on a grand scale and certainly nothing akin to “rustling up” the family breakfast on a lazy Sunday morning!
Impressively, the camp is run entirely by the cadets under the supervision of the cadet unit’s Commanding Officer and his support team. This includes logistics co-ordination and scheduling of exercises, all within a set chain-of-command.
During my week on Singleton Army base I had the opportunity to observe our son, TomO the Crown Prince, on manoeuvres in the mountains on Broken Back Ridge, a ridge that forms a natural boundary to the region.
For anyone who has been up on Broken Back and along many of its fire-trails will attest to the spectacular views it commands over the surrounding countryside.
I spent a couple of chilly nights up there, one of them quite wet, but I was doing it in the relative comfort of my trusty and dry swag. The cadets had to build survival shelters to sleep in…!
Whilst on Broken Back myself and a couple of the other parents were part of an exercise where the cadets came across a vehicle that had been involved in an accident. They were not aware of the exercise in advance, but they quickly employed learnt skills rendering medical assistance to the injured, whilst securing the area from possible “enemy attacks”.
Red colour dye, a tin of spaghetti and a couple of skeletal bones provided the props for authenticity…!
They excelled and we lived to recount the tale.
The Cadet unit at Barker College has a great history that spans the decades from the First World War and has seen many of its cadets go on to a military career, something that TomO is intending to do.
But it wasn’t all hard work for the cadets or the parents.
The last night was marked with a parade, a bush Chapel lead by the school’s Chaplain, the Reverend Ware, who was honoured at the service for his contribution to the Cadet unit over the past 25 years.
And after a meal that would satisfy any soldier just “in from the field” there was light-hearted entertainment when the cadets and parents alike performed a variety of skits. Let’s say, some were rehearsed more than others, but that was the fun of it all…
The parent’s skit won the night, apparently the first-time ever, with an exhibition of a drill march.
Perfect? No-way…
But that is what made it all the more entertaining for “the troops”.
This was truly a great experience for me and I am sure I am not alone in that sentiment…
Forged by the adverse conditions they faced it was a highlight to witness the camaraderie amongst the cadets as they were taken outside of their comfort zones. Young men and women from Barker College, our sons and daughters taking leadership roles, following orders, working together towards a common goal and ideal.
Along the Kokoda Track at Isaravu in Papua New Guinea there are four stone monuments inscripted with the following…
“Courage, Endurance, Mateship, Sacrifice”
For those who have had the opportunity to stand there and reflect it is a moving experience…
During my week at camp I observed examples of all four of these qualities amongst the cadets and any parent who had a son or daughter on parade should be extremely proud of them.
I certainly was,
Bravo, Corporal Tom O’Malley
Photos: Baz – The Landy
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Yes Sir, No Sir…how high Sir!
It may will be a case of Yes Sir, No Sir, how high Sir, over the coming week.
As part of TomO’s school curriculum he does military cadets and is keen to advance to a full military career in the future and this coming week he is off to an army cadet camp at Singleton Army barracks in the Hunter Valley.
And this year I get to tag along and join in the adventure, although I suspect for me it will be peeling sacks of potatoes and onions to feed the “starving” cadets who will number approximately 330.
Mind you, a week in the bush is right up my alley and with a bit of luck I get to drive one of the army trucks and take a ride in a black-hawk helicopter – such is life in the “retired ranks”…
Speak to you in a week, Baz – The Landy
Photo’s: Janet-Planet
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Hangman’s Rock…
On the rural outskirts of suburban Sydney, a little more than an hour’s drive from Sydney’s CBD, stands the small village of Wiseman’s Ferry.
Wiseman’s has a history steeped in early European settlement in New South Wales and at the heart of this historic village is the Wiseman’s Ferry Pub – a haunt that is popular with the weekend motorcycle crowd and families alike.
And I use the word haunt literally, as it is rumoured the upstairs guest rooms are haunted.
The pub is now owned by former Wallaby Bill Young and if you are visiting on a weekend be sure to take a look upstairs as it has a small museum and the accommodation rooms do look inviting, even if you might be sharing with a ghost from the past…
And if you ever stay there, let me know how you get on!
The village stands alongside the Hawkesbury River, which travels further upstream towards Windsor and downstream to an opening at the sea near Barenjoey. A car ferry transports you to the other side where you can travel towards either Spencer or the small Hamlet of St Alban’s, either of which are a very pleasant drive.
We are frequent visitor’s to the area and have spent many hours wiling away time in the park next to the river.
On a recent visit we took the ferry to the other side and walked up Devine’s Hill to a place called “Hangman’s Rock”.
It sounds ominous and folklore suggests that in the early days of settlement and at the time the Great North Road was being built, that convicts were hanged at this rock. But history does not point to this ever occurring.
But it isn’t hard to see why the folklore surrounding the rock evolved…
What makes the walk worthwhile, apart from being Out and About in the Australian bush, is the opportunity to view the magnificent work done by convicts on the road that was built northwards towards the Hunter Valley. In fact, it is along this walk that you can best observe the Great North Road as this part is now closed to vehicle traffic and has been preserved.
So if a bit of a hike up a small mountain, some history and a magnificent steak washed down with a cold beer is your thing, then head out to Wiseman’s Ferry for a day – I guarantee your first visit won’t be your last
Photo’s: Baz – The Landy & Janet-Planet
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So Many Tears…
Art has a wonderful ability to transport us to a place in our mind’s eye…
A place where we can explore the meaning the artist is endeavouring to convey and perhaps even challenging our own bias or prejudice.
Currently, there is an exhibition of wonderful sculptures, hand-crafted by talented artist’s of all backgrounds, in a picturesque harbourside park with sweeping views of the city and the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. We spent a morning wandering around Clarke Reserve at Woolwich, an old historic harbour suburb where the exhibition is being held, viewing and photographing the many artworks on display.
For us, one stood out…
“So Many Tears” by Keith Chidzey”
In creating this work, Keith used two old wharf timbers and embedded glass tears into the wood.
It was simple, poignant, and a very moving tribute to the artist’s great-uncle, Private Ryles, who perished in the mud of Passchendaele, Belgium, over 100-years ago.
The choice of the wharf timbers is to recognise they most likely witnessed the embarkation of Australian Troops onto ships from the many wharfs dotted around the harbour. Loved ones waving, wiping away their tears as they strained to catch one more glimpse as the troop ship pulled away from the wooden dock.
“We shall remember them…”
Each of the timbers has a carved relief, one of a slouch hat; the other with the inscription on Private Ryle’s headstone where he lays in the cemetery at Tyne Cot.
And, sensitively, one of the timbers is facing the sunset, the other the sunrise.
We reflected on this wonderful piece of artwork, its simplicity amplifying the ultimate sacrifice that too many of our fellow countrymen and women made so we can enjoy the freedoms that we have today; to be able to sit in a quiet reserve on Sydney Harbour’s foreshore in relative safety and free from the anxiety that conflict and war brings.
Bravo Keith, you have created far more than a wonderful sculpture to be admired, it is a wonderful tribute to your great-uncle, to all those who served, and to those who currently serve.
“We shall remember them…”
Photos: Baz – The Landy, & Janet-Planet, Sydney Harbour, Australia
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…And not a care in the world
Photo: Baz – The Landy, Canning Stock Route, Outback Australia
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Land of Lizards – Outback Australia
Ta-Ta Lizard
Thorny Devil
Photos: Baz – The Landy & Janet-Planet, Out and About in Outback Australia…
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High and Dry – In the Australian Bush…
Photo: Baz – The Landy, Kangaroo Island, Australia
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Adventure – On a retiree’s budget…
Hey, just a week or so ago I hung-up my business suit following a “graduation from work”.
And one of the reasons for doing so was that work was just getting in the way of having fun and adventure – something had to give, right?
Anyway, I caught up with a fellow adventurer at the weekend, as it happens, my brother-in-law the Kiwi, and after some kayaking around the beautiful Newcastle coastline and over a couple of beers he tossed out the line…
“So what are you doing now that you have retired graduated from work…?”
“Well, it’s only been less than a week, but I am working on some ideas”…I said, twisting the top off another brown bottle.
“I’ve got a great idea for an adventure just suited to you retired blokes on a shoestring budget…” he said, barely containing a wry smile..
It’s a familiar line I’ve heard many times before and usually pitched after the third beer. And like accepting the “King’s Shilling” taking the fourth beer signifies you’ve signed up for some kind of adventure.
“Okay, Baz I’ve got a bush hike in mind, the Great North Walk, we’ll start the walk early next week so get your pack ready”…
“Can’t I just think about it” I suggested trying to conceal we were on our fourth beer.
It could have been worse, I guess.
Not that it is an ordeal, after all this is a walk that is quite familiar to me and I have walked it in the opposite direction, coincidently, with the Kiwi, and have spent a lot of time on sections of it over the years…
It is worth knowing, just in case you ever have an inclination to walk from Newcastle to Sydney, it is 240-kilometres in distance over rugged mountain terrain; the road trip is no more than 140-kilometres on the freeway; and the price of a one-way rail ticket is $18 for a journey that takes approximately two hours…
…Yes, I’m hearing you Janet-Planet, you’re right, that fourth beer is always forged in blood, sweat, and usually some tears – I should have heeded your advice and stopped at the third!
Mind you, The Great North Walk is a spectacular way to get between these two harbour cities and worth highlighting it was constructed as a celebration of Australia’s Bicentenary in 1988…
There’ll be no luxury, just a simple bivvy bag under a tarp as we progress south towards our destination, Sydney’s Circular Quay where there is an Obelisk that marks the finish.
Coincidently, the Obelisk is right next to a well known Sydney watering hole, the Customs House. We might even have a beer there in amongst “The Suits” to celebrate the end of this adventure…
Yes, Janet-Planet, I’ll limit myself to three beers, maybe…
Photos: Baz – The Landy
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Graduating From Work…
You’ve what…?
I’ve retired!
I hear the cry go out, but you’re too young to retire…
Hey, isn’t that the point.
Besides, I am seeing it as a “graduation from work to full-time adventure”.
But what does retirement truly mean in any case?
Perhaps it is a word for another age, one long past – for me retirement means I have set a different course with my life, reclaiming some of those dreams I have long-held.
After all, you can’t just keep laying “railroad tracks” in the same direction and simply hope you don’t run out of tracks. It is empowering and invigorating to seize control of your life; to make changes as you look to new horizons.
Speaking of which, the Australian Outback beckons and perhaps there are still some mountains that I can climb and plenty of our wonderful coastline left to kayak…
Without doubt this change in my life affords me a better opportunity to claim back my fitness, something that has been lacking over these past couple of years!
It is 42-years since I commenced work with the Bank of New South Wales at age 15-years in 1975. “The Wales” as it was affectionately known was renamed Westpac Banking Corporation following a merger with the Commercial Bank of Australia in 1982.
“Dear Mr and Mrs O’Malley, it is now 6 months since your son entered on probation with the bank.
During that time, Barry has settled into his new surroundings and applied himself to his various duties to the extent he has shown himself suited to bank work…”
And whilst I have left the building today, my official finishing date will be 10 April 2017 and following a significant milestone in the history of the bank.
The 8th of April marks the date 200-years ago in 1817 that the Bank of New South Wales opened its doors to business for the very first time. And those that do the maths will see I have been with the bank for over one-fifth of the time since it took those first deposits from customers.
Coincidently, it was on 10 April 1989 that I commenced working in the bank’s 60 Martin Place Financial Markets dealing room after my return from a secondment to the bank’s operations in Papua New Guinea.
The bank has given my family and me a wonderful life, one that has been filled with the opportunity to develop professionally and personally…
“I am proud of the contribution I have made to the bank and today as I walk out the front doors of Head Office in Sydney, perhaps with moistened eyes, I will look back at the mosaic that is the Bank.
I will remember fondly the people I have worked with over the years, the challenges we faced, the successes we achieved, and, importantly, the laughter and banter we have shared.
I will wish those who remain all the best for their future as they continue to weave the living tapestry that is the bank; as they continue to make their own impression on that mosaic…”
People have asked me, what will you do?
Well, TomO, the Crown Prince, has just started Year-11 at school and I’m looking forward to simply “being around” for him as he navigates his way through these two important remaining years of his high schooling.
And the future, how do I see that taking shape…?
My answer is simple, to spend it with the love of my life, Janet-Planet.
All who know this wonderfully kind person will attest, she is an absolute angel – I was so lucky to marry the girl next door thirty-three years ago.
Yes literally, next-door neighbours making eyes over the back-fence!
Combo Waterhole
Together we plan to enjoy the next chapter in our lives and look forward to watching our TomO make his mark on the world as he paints his own picture on life’s canvas…
A romantic notion?
For sure it is, but Janet-Planet and I are romantics to the core and loving every minute of that, it has kept us young at heart…!
And who knows where those “railroad tracks” will takes us, but sometimes you just need to walk to the edge and not be afraid to peer over it.
We truly believe the world becomes your oyster when you are willing to put your fears aside and simply…
“Live in the moment”
After all, that is the only moment that we can ever truly live…
“Thanks for your friendship and the memories, Big Bad Baz…!”
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Great Southern Land…
Photos: Baz – The Landy, Outback Australia…
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“Simplicity – The Ultimate Sophistication…”
Photo: Baz – The Landy, Outback Australia
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Selfishness – A simple word (With a complex meaning)
Baz – Mt Aurora, Southern Alps, New Zealand
Selfishness is a word that we are likely to be confronted with every day…
But what does it really mean and how should it be applied to our daily lives, if at all?
Most dictionaries define selfishness as…
“Devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one’s own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.”
I pondered on this definition and eventually came to a conclusion that this is possibly one of the most misused words in the English vocabulary.
I asked myself the question..
Is it selfish to pursue our dreams, to live the life we desire, to see what we can achieve; to explore new horizons and to develop as individuals; to stand at the edge and look at the world through a different lens…?
Baz – Boar’s Head, Blue Mountains, Australia
As individuals our life and the way we lead it creates a mosaic of who we are.
The pieces of a jigsaw puzzle randomly sitting in a box are meaningless unless they are joined.
In much the same way the pieces of our lives, scattered, cannot portray or project anything about who we are or what we seek to be until pieced together.
Interlocked they provide a mosaic of whom we really are…
The picture unfolds…
Whom or what would we be if we were not able to join the random pieces together and pursue our dreams?
Would we ever achieve our real potential, or would a fear of selfishness limit us and how we develop as individuals?
Baz – The Landy
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A place to contemplate (Outback Australia)
Photo: Baz – The Landy, Gumhole Waterhole, Outback Australia
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Adversity – A stepping stone to success (Hey, what colour is this..?)
Seemingly, whenever I tell someone I am colour-blind they feel compelled to put me to the test.
“No… really, is that what you see?”
“Can’t be, you sure?”
And every so often I get that old chestnut…
“Are you like a dog and just see black and white?”
Mind you, I’m pretty relaxed about it these days…
Perhaps my dress sense gives me away, after all, there was that matter of the yellow pants I bought all those years ago.
Sensibly, these days I outsource my clothing purchases to Janet-Planet who has a good eye for fashion, mind you she has a naughty sense of humour as well, so I usually get TomO to do a second pass on any clothes she buys me, just in case she’s in a playful mood.
But even that has its limitations as without doubt TomO has inherited his mother’s sense of mischief…
Throughout my school years I always wanted to join the air-force and fly fast jets.
Yes, I know, everyone did, but I really wanted to!
It wasn’t until I underwent the air-force medical that the discovery was made, which went to explaining quite a lot. I only wish they had given me the medical first, rather than have me sit through hours of entrance exams only to stamp that brand new file…
“Colour-blind, FAIL….”
..Talk about being gutted, but I eventually moved on and ended up in the employ of the Bank of New South Wales, licking stamps to put on envelopes…
And speaking of my banking colleagues.
I did manage to give them a good laugh when I came home with an old Holden Station Wagon.
Not that there was anything wrong with having an old Holden…
But a pink one?
It was unique…
I was living in a small country town in Northern Australia and I’d had my eye on that car for a long time and couldn’t believe my luck that it hadn’t been sold before I saved enough money to buy it.
I swear that car was yellow, such is the vagaries of a colour-blind!
But hey, I wore that car like a badge and there was no missing it at the Mareeba Drive-In on a Saturday night…
And for heaven’s sake we won’t even talk about coloured crayons, other than to say the sight of a colouring-in book and crayons is still stressful to this day…
But my colour deficiency did motivate me to thumb my nose at the air-force, give them the
bird, so to speak, not that they shouldn’t have rules about colour deficiency, that sounds perfectly reasonable to me, but I wasn’t going to let it beat me either.
“After all, adversity is just a stepping stone to success, right…? It only gets the better of you if you let it and there was no way this would hold me back, ever…”
I’ve enjoyed a successful career with the bank, 42-years worth…
Ah, no, I’m not still licking stamps, but thanks for checking!
And I went on to fly my own plane.
It wasn’t quite a fast-jet, but hey nothing wrong with pretending sometimes. And when I tired of sitting in the pilot’s seat, I swapped the plane for a parachute and jumped out of them – until I broke my bum in a mid-air incident (but that is a story for another time).
But strewth, I’ll tell you a funny thing, odd as it may seem I didn’t like the colour of the plane I owned, so I repainted it…go figure!
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Tranquility – In the Australian Bush…
Photo: Baz – The Landy, Kangaroo Island, Australia
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Down by the river…
Photo: Baz – The Landy, Paroo River, Outback Australia
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Windmills – In the Australian Outback…
Photo: Baz – The Landy, in the Australian Outback…
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Nature’s Canvas – The Australian Outback
Photo: Baz – The Landy, Great Victoria Desert, Australia…
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Heat wave hits Australia (How to survive…)
Keep the fluids up…
Okay, yes Janet-Planet, I will put up the disclaimer
…”Please drink responsibly”
Crikey!
Photos: Baz – The Landy, and Janet-Planet, Out and About toasting Australia!
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Crumbling – In the Australian Outback
Cadelga Outstation, Outback Australia…
Photo: Baz – The Landy…
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A Desert Home…
Photo: Baz – The Landy, Little Sandy Desert, Outback Australia…
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A Termite Mound – You’re kidding me?
Strewth, how big is that termite mound, hey, and what about the spectacular colours of our parched southern land…!
Photo: Baz – The Landy, Plenty Highway, Outback Australia…
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The Sleeping Quarters…
Lake Cohen, Gibson Desert, Australia…
Photo: Baz – The Landy
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Remote…deep in the Australian Outback!
Remote..
Immersed deep in the Australian Outback…
Photo: Baz – The Landy
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The Australian Outback – More than just a state of mind…
Deep in the middle of one of Australia’s remote desert lands at a place where perhaps only a handful of Australian’s of European descent have stood, if that many and not a soul in sight
Photo: Baz – The Landy
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Rosenberg’s Goanna, inquisitive and vulnerable…
The Rosenberg Goanna is a monitor lizard and Kangaroo Island, situated off Australia’s southern coastline, is the last stronghold for this wonderful and inquisitive reptile. We came across this one on our recent visit to the island.
It has been declared a vulnerable species, so let’s hope we won’t just be looking at them in wildlife journals in years to come…
Photo: Baz – The Landy
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Weathered…
Fisherman’s shack, Kangaroo Island, Australia
Photo: Baz – The Landy
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Uniquely Australian…
Photos: Baz – The Landy (Out and About)
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Breakfast, in the Australian Bush…
An egg poached in an orange over a coal fire with bacon on the side. Seriously, it’s gotta be the best thing since sliced bread, hey!
Photo: Baz – The Landy
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The Kitchen (In the Australian Outback)…
Camp-fire cooking over coals
Photos: Baz – The Landy
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Never ending or beginning, just spinning in the wind…
Windmills, in the Australian Outback.
Photo: Baz – The Landy
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Dawn over the Billabong, and not a care in the world…
Ourimperee Water-hole, Currawinya National Park, Australia…
Photo: Baz – The Landy
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Everyone has a plan (Until they get punched in the face)
Rest assured I am not about to start throwing punches, but I came across this quote recently.
And it is quite sobering, especially given it was from Mike Tyson.
Remember Mike?
Could there be anything worse than being on the receiving end of a Mike Tyson punch?
Mind, you I suspect he is correct in the assessment he makes about plans and it got me thinking about the topic and how it might relate to remote area travel.
And can I confess upfront, I’m a “planning nutter”…
Many of you will be aware we spend plenty of time Out and About in the great Southern Land, Australia, exploring its natural beauty and wonders and much of this is done in very remote locations.
And if it isn’t the Outback we might be on the side of a mountain somewhere in the world…
Climbing Sweet Dreams – Blue Moiuntains
So what about planning and what considerations should be taken into account?
Whilst the degree of planning may vary from one person to another, I am sure that almost all of us have one in mind, whether committed to memory or in written form…
Mind you, everything has risk attached to it, right?
The question is whether the risk can be managed to a level that is acceptable, firstly to you and secondly, broadly acceptable to those who may be called upon to provide assistance if something goes wrong.
And I use the word broadly because it is subjective to make a judgment on what others might find acceptable.
To get around this, I use the reasonable test and ask myself the question – would, on average, reasonable people find this a reasonable assumption to make?
In my view planning is one of the most important aspects of any trip and should be approached as a risk management exercise. I put planning at the top of my list…
Whilst in the stress free environment of your living room at home you can assess all aspects of the expedition without the pressure of things crumbling around you out in the field and for which you have not developed a response.
When it comes to remote travel in Australia I find many place a lot of focus on equipment, and vehicles, communications; how much food and water needs to be taken along with the required fuel.
And for sure these are all important aspects to any trip planning, falling under the heading of trip logistics.
But what about your health and fitness and that of your travelling companions?
Are you in suitable shape both mentally and physically for this specific expedition?
What about expected weather conditions and how will you respond to changing conditions?
At what point do you call the trip off – what decision criteria have you established for this both in the time prior to departure and once it is underway?
This is an important one; more than one person has died from the “press-on-regardless” mentality.
We’ve planned this trip and we’ll complete it at all costs…regardless!
How can this type of thought trap be avoided?
…Establish criteria to prevent it from happening!
No one wants to call off a trip once under way, but it might be the best decision despite the disappointment. Having guidelines decided and agreed upon in advance takes much of the angst away from this type of decision making it easier to arrive at if faced with a particular circumstance.
And what about a point of no return decision?
How many people consider this when travelling from point A to point B in remote and arid countryside, crossing the Simpson Desert, for example or other remote areas?
Prior to arriving at this equi-distance point consideration should be given to whether the destination can still be reached, or might it be wiser to return to the previous checkpoint whilst you still have sufficient fuel and supplies to do so.
There could be any number of reasons that might affect your decision; weather would be an important one for example. But there could be many others that should be assessed at this critical point before continuing on your journey.
Once the point of no return is crossed the decision has been made and you are now committed to it regardless, possibly with dire consequences if not well thought out, or even considered.
Planning for a trip begins and ends at home…
By the time you head down through the front-gate you should be confident in your endeavours and that you have thought out potential issues and how you will deal with them. By now you and your travelling companions should have committed to some form of template as to how you will respond to specific and non-specific situations.
Once under way the expedition progress should be evaluated against what you expected and anticipated in your planning – and if it doesn’t align consider the impact it will have on your objective and how you should response to these changes…
And for sure, there may be issues that crop up that you didn’t have a specific plan for, but you can still have a response for these situations along the lines of how it might affect the successful completion of the trip and what is the implication of continuing or not continuing?
Consideration should also be given to the well-being of the group or others that may be called upon for assistance especially if things are going as planned.
Problems often arise not because of a primary occurrence, but the impact it has as it cascades down through a number of scenarios and usually we receive plenty of opportunity to address these before they manifest into a much larger issue.
Have a plan, have a plan, and have a plan – that is my pre-trip mantra regardless of the undertaking or where in the world I am planning an adventure…!
It is one thing to be confronted with an issue and making the incorrect assessment or choice, but it is almost unforgiveable to not act and make any decision at all when something goes wrong…
…History is littered with the deaths of people who simply failed to act, having a plan is a good way to avoid being in such a predicament!
And hey, planning needn’t rob you of the spontaneity that travelling can bring, to the contrary, hopefully it enhances the experience by giving comfort that you have considered how you will respond to adverse and changing conditions as the trip progresses.
How much time do you put into trip planning and would yours withstand that…
“Punch in the face”…?
Photo, Baz – The Landy
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In-Vehicle Computer Mount (A Solution)
A favourite catch-cry in the corporate world, of which I am firmly entrenched, suggests any goal needs a plan and a “road map” detailing how you are going to arrive at your objective.
But what about “road maps” when we are Out and About – Having Fun?
I grew up wandering the bush with a compass in hand and a bunch of paper maps and in my flying days I had similar.
Even with the advancement of GPS technology I still haven’t been able to give-up my paper maps and compass.
Mind you, “The Landy” our Toyota 79 Series Dual Cab is fitted with a VMS In-Dash GPS running Oziexplorer mapping software. Although, I find the VMS lacking in functionality as it only runs a “light” version of the full Oziexplorer program and the screen size challenges even those with 20/20 vision.
On an outback expedition to the Gibson and Little Sandy Deserts I was able to review a Panasonic Toughbook in action. A robust laptop, the Toughbook has its genesis in the US Military and could survive almost anything thrown at it, especially the bone-jarring corrugations found on many of our outback tracks.
Rest assured, this sort of toughness comes at a hefty price for a brand new unit, but on my return from the expedition I purchased a reconditioned unit from a Melbourne based dealer for a fraction of its new cost.
It can be turned into a “tablet” and I use it with a wireless keyboard and it has a solid-state hard-drive, which makes loading up extremely fast.
The challenge was where to locate the unit so it would be accessible to both driver and navigator in the front seat, but without comprising comfort and safety, especially if air-bags were activated.
I reviewed a variety of over-the-counter products, but concluded none were likely to survive the corrugations of our outback roads and a custom made mount was the only way to go.
I settled on working with the team at Industrial Evolution, a Sydney based company specialising in making computer mounts for police vehicles.
The owner, Brett Franzi, was pleased I made contact as he had not had access to the more recent batch of Toyota 76, 78, and 79 series vehicles and my request provided the opportunity for a design template to be made.
Why go with the in-dash mount?
It is centrally located and securely attached to the dashboard and whilst it does take up some real estate in the central dash location, the alternatives would have done so also.
Importantly, it meets ADR Standards and fitting is a straightforward process and is easily achieved by the most basic of handymen.
Mind you, the proof is always “in the pudding” and tests on all types of road surfaces covering in excess of 30,000 kilometres over the past couple of years has proven the Panasonic Toughbook, combined with the in-dash mount from Industrial Evolution, to be a great partnership…
A great solution that gets my vote, but hey, don’t leave home without a map and a basic compass – they have never been known to fail…!
The cost, well it will depend on what items you purchase, but don’t expect too much change out of $500.
Photos: Baz – The Landy
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Bark Art (Postcard from the Outback)
Australia’s Outback is like a giant canvas full of visual wonders.
And whilst we both like to capture the “big picture” framing our wonderful red landscape against a never ending blue sky, I like to put the macro-lens on the camera and photograph…
“Bark Art”
With so many species of trees in the Australian Bush and Outback I have a never-ending supply of material to frame that special shot.
And I look forward to sharing many of them with you, Janet-Planet…!
Photograph: Janet-Planet, Anne Beadell Highway, Outback Australia
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Postcard from the beach – A “Hoodie”
Hooded Plover, Stokes Beach, Australia.
I photographed this wonderful little fella on a recent trip to Kangaroo Island, just off Australia’s southern coastline.
This small bird, affectionally referred to as a “Hoodie”, is on the endangered list with numbers estimated at around 200 on the island…
Photo: Baz – The Landy
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The Pink Lakes…
Situated in the far north-west of Victoria is a park that showcases the rugged and spectacularly beautiful Mallee landscape of low scrubland and sand dunes, the Murray-Sunset National Park.
Murray-Sunset gives you a feeling of being Out and About in Australia’s vast outback without the need for travelling the vast distances usually associated with visits to “the interior”…
On a recent trip south to Kangaroo Island we took a couple of days to traverse parts of the park and view the Pink Lakes for which it is renown. Pigmentation caused by algae colours the lakes pink during the summer months and is quite spectacular to view later in the day.
Throughout the 1900s salt was commercially mined in the area with operations ceasing around 1975, but relics of this era can be viewed as you make your way around the lakes on the Pioneer Circuit.
Our starting point for travelling into the park was the small township of Linga where there is a well-signed and formed dirt road that takes you to the Pink Lakes. The Pioneer Track is a circuit that is suitable for two-wheel drive vehicles taking visitors on a tour around the lakes and can easily be accessed from the larger towns of Ouyen or Pinaroo for those wanting to do a day visit.
Being summer, we were cautious to ensure temperatures were not too high in the park before committing to travelling through it. Not that we are unaccustomed to extreme heat and humidity, after all, we grew up in Queensland and lived in tropical Papua New Guinea for a number of years. But at this time of the year the park sees far less visitors and despite being not too far from a number of towns it remains a remote area that should be respected.
After a short drive from the highway we arrived at the Pink Lakes and Janet took the opportunity to photograph numerous plants and flowers at Lake Hardy before we moved on to Lake Crosby, a larger lake with camping sites available.
For those travelling the Mallee Highway this would be a good overnight spot to take a break, or alternatively, a good base to further explore the park over a number of days.
Murray-Sunset is a large area with a seemingly endless amount of tracks that you can explore, but for the most part, this will require a four-wheel drive vehicle due to the many sandy sections that are encountered.
And come well prepared with plenty of water and basic recovery gear as you may be on your own. We did not see anyone else in the park during our short visit.
With only a limited time to explore the park we headed north along the Underbool Track with an overnight camp at the Underbool campsite, before continuing north the following day to the intersection with the Pheeney ‘s Track and a drive towards the western boundary of the park.
There is a campsite not too far from the western border of the park on Pheeney’s Track, however we headed northwards along the North South Settlement Road and had our second night in the park at the Shearer’s Quarters campsite.
This is a campsite set amongst the trees not too far from the Shearer’s Quarters. And there is a walk that you can take through the scrub, but this is best done late in the day during the warmer months. And if you are lucky you’ll be rewarded with a glimpse of some of the wildlife and wonderful display of wildflowers. And not to forget, marvellous bark-art as we like to call the patterns found on the many types of trees one encounters when exploring…
After a pleasant overnight stay at this campsite, which we had to ourselves, we made our way out of the park at Taplan, a small town on the park’s western border, before making our way south to Cape Jervis, the stepping off point for our Kangaroo Island Adventure.
We had frequently looked at Murray-Sunset on our maps and had it penciled in our “places to see book”.
This short visit gave us a taste of what the park has to offer and provided an opportunity for us to give our new Track TVAN Firetail a test in the sand. We had no doubt it would perform as well as our older TVAN Canning that it replaced, and it did, flawlessly…
We have vowed to return in the cooler months, although we suspect that in the depths of winter Murray Sunset would be a very cold place, but with changing seasons comes new perspectives, a warm campfire and the opportunity to XPLORE…!
Photos: Baz – The Landy and Janet-Planet, Murray Sunset National Park, Australia.
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Golden – In the Australian Bush
Sunset falls on the lagoon, the call of birds heading to roost echoing in the golden sky…
Photo: The Landy – Discovery Lagoon, Kangaroo Island, Australia
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Bird on a Wire – In the Australian Bush
Crimson Rosella, Cape Jervis, South Australia…
One of my favourite birds, and Janet-Planet imitates their call beautifully!
Photo; Baz – The Landy
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Seasons Greetings from the Australian Outback
Crikey, it is Christmas day in Australia…
Janet, TomO and I would like to wish all our friends around the world a happy festive season however you may celebrate it.
And if it isn’t something you usually celebrate, that’s okay, just give your family and friends a big hug, or something like that and have a little sing-a-long with us anyway…
Jingle Bells – The Aussie Way
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Kiss a Frog – And get lucky (In the Australian Bush)
How good is our Australian Wildlife, hey!
Recently, Janet-Planet and myself spent a week on Kangaroo Island, off the South Australian Coastline, exploring its rugged landscape and photographing some marvellous wildlife.
This little bloke hopped into our camp (literally) late one afternoon and whilst we are not “frog” experts we believe it is a “painted or burrowing frog” and one of six known frogs to inhabit the island…
But, hey…whatever its name, you got to love it, hey!
Photo: Baz – The Landy
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Do Not Disturb – Koala at play…
There is something very appealing about the lifestyle!
Photo: Baz – The Landy, Flinders Chase National Park, Kangaroo Island Australia…
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Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro (through youthful eyes)
With a spectacularly rugged coastline, an enormous diversity of wildlife and plants, and not to forget wonderful local produce, including some very nice boutique wineries, Kangaroo Island should be on everyone’s bucket list to visit…
And rest assured, Janet-Planet and myself have indulged every aspect of this adventure to KI, an island nestled just off the southern coast of Australia, with quite some vigour whilst TomO is in Africa!
TomO, the Crown Prince, along with a number of his fellow schoolmates, who are mostly aged 16 or 17 years old, have been helping to paint classrooms at the School of St Jude before attempting to climb Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro.
The School of St Jude was established in Tanzania by an Australian, Gemma Sisia, in 2002 to educate the poorest of the poor. Gemma’s belief remains that a free, high-quality education should be the right of all children in the world and that education is the strongest weapon in the fight against poverty.
Janet and I enjoy adventure and jump at any chance to XPLORE and as parents we have been blessed with a son who has embraced the opportunity; the challenges that exploring remote parts of Australia and the world brings.
We believe the experiences we have exposed TomO to through our pursuits has enabled him to develop skills of judgment and risk assessment well beyond what a lifetime in a classroom could ever teach.
Importantly, we have always taught him not to use the “F” word (failure, and yes, the other one as well!).
A little over 24-hours ago TomO and his mates began their final push to the summit of “Kili” from Kibo Hut after spending a few days of acclimitisation on the mountain.
Following is a message we received in the pre-dawn hours this morning.
Needless to say, we are extremely proud of TomO’s achievement, of all in his group, and despite the hardships endured, the fatigue created by this journey, he had the presence to be able to write to us in detail, via SMS, an account of his experience just after arriving back from the Rooftop of Africa…
And it’s alright if your eye moistens a little as you read, ours did.
Bravo TomO, you are an inspiration to all…!
Hey there, randomly got phone reception, but anyway just wanted to let you know that we just walked back from Kibo Hut about 3-hours ago. Yesterday we walked into Kibo around 3pm in the afternoon and slept through till dinner at 5. Had dinner packed then went to bed waiting for the 11pm wake up.
Got up then lined up outside in sub-zero temps and then began to walk up the mountain.
Was really cold which made it harder than it already was, slowly made our way up a gravel like track (hard to explain what it looked like) and the higher we got the more snow we began to see next to us. We then got higher and higher above the hut and people began to drop out, was really, really cold couldn’t feel my toes.
Thought about sitting down at some points but I kept going on because I knew I sat down I wouldn’t make it. Kept going and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done my feet were just so so heavy and I started swaying at one point but I kept going.
We were just before Gillmans Point when we began to see the sun on the horizon. Got there and was really excited, had a break there for like 5 and then kept on going to the full summit, was so so so hard like I was so exhausted and everything, but eventually I got there and was so happy. Didn’t get much video or pictures because it was too cold (so cold my phone died).
Others got a fair few shots, so yeah there will be a fair few photos going around.
I’ll call when I get to Springlands and tell you the rest, can’t be bothered to write anymore I’m really tired, missing you both though, talk later…
Baz – The Landy (On Kangaroo Island, but more on that later)
Ps: Tanzania works on Eastern African Time (EAT) which is 8 hours behind Sydney Australia. Mount Kilimanjaro stands at 19,340 feet above the African Plains. TomO and his mates will be resting up in a Safari Park before returning home on Christmas Eve…
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Watching, always watching – In the Australian Bush
Australia’s flightless bird, the Emu…watching, always watching!
Seemingly it has been a long time between drinks, but Janet-Planet and I are currently on tour heading to Kangaroo Island off Australia’s southern coastline…
Photo: Baz – The Landy at Cape Jervis, South Australia
Ps: TomO is in Tanzania climbing Mt Kilimanjaro and visiting the School of St Jude with his school mates…
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The thunder of a hundred hoofs (Camping in your backyard)…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo9KGZiPiSw
Breaking the bounds of urban living from Australia’s largest city and heading bush into the Australian Outback without a care in the world is always tantalisingly attractive.
Fortunately, as a family we are to be able to hitch up our camper trailer and head west at least once or twice a year.
The glow of a setting sun on a faraway horizon, the warmth of a camp fire crackling in harmony with the sizzle of a roast cooking in the camp-oven, and the chorus of laughter and banter with family and friends is what draws us to camping in this great country of ours.
And if you are like me, my mind’s eye pictures this scene almost every other day!
The problem for many of us is that work and the studies of teenage children tend to get in the way of a sojourn across a parched, rugged landscape under a never-ending blue sky.
Such is the beauty of Australia.
Recently, the call of the bush and a shoulder of lamb roasted on the fire was far too great to resist so we headed for a camp in our own backyard. Well, not quite literally our backyard, but a short drive up the freeway to a place called Glenworth Valley.
Glenworth Valley is a sprawling 3,000 acre property located just to the north of Sydney that caters to a variety of activities including, horse riding, quad bike riding, and for the less active inclined, a float on a li-low down a quiet meandering creek or if you like, just a leisurely stroll along many of the bush tracks.
Glenworth Valley has it all…!
And for those who cannot go a couple of days without a coffee fix expertly prepared by a barista, don’t be alarmed, you are catered for in a small café located near the stables.
Usually, we avoid camping with the crowds, in fact, as a family we are quite comfortable being in the middle of no-where without another soul in sight. The trouble with living and working in an urban environment is you usually need to travel some distance to find your idyllic spot, especially one that you won’t need to share with someone else…
The trip to Glenworth Valley was a rewarding way to re-charge the soul with family and friends despite there being just more than a few other campers who were perhaps encouraged out by the warmer weather and a long-weekend.
But don’t be put off by there being other campers, we still had plenty of room to kick-back and enjoy our camp-oven roasted lamb, washed down by a glass or two of red!
If you ever make it to Glenworth Valley don’t miss watching the horses’ race out of their holding yard and along the bush track that leads to their paddock. The thunder of the hoofs of over a hundred horses in full flight is a daily ritual that happens not long before the sun slips below the western hills, a spectacle not to be missed, that’s for sure…
And don’t worry about taking your alarm clock, the kookaburra’s will herald in a new day dawning just before you hear the sound of the horses returning from the paddock to be saddled up for another day of riding in the picturesque Glenworth Valley.
Enjoy, XPLORE…
Photos: Baz – The Landy
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Spread your wings…
Xplore 