In search of Gold and Ghouls (In the Australian Bush)

November 26, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About11 Comments

We spent the past weekend touring through the Hill End region nearby to Sydney in our new Outback Touring vehicle, a Toyota 79 Series Dual Cab.

Dare I call it “The Landy”.

And it proved to be popular with the locals who mobbed it as we neared the historic gold mining town.

This was a Gold and Ghouls weekend, for it was in the early 1850s that the discovery of gold at Ophir, not too far from Hill End in the State’s Central West, that created Australia’s first gold rush.

It was almost over as quickly as it began and very few found the fortune that they came in search of, and of course those that prospered most were the people who ran the stores, supplying equipment and provisions to the miners, and the many hotels that quenched the thirst of those who were looking for the “big strike”.

Hill End is a historic town administered by the New South Wales National Parks. There is a pub, a store, and plenty of old buildings that give a glimpse into how life might have been in those heady gold fever days. For the more energetic, there is a walk to Bald Hill where there was a lot of mining activity.

And the Royal Hotel is a great place to have a beer, or two, and a meal in the bistro.

Country Pub — ***Royal Hotel, Hill End, Australia***

Leaving Sydney we travelled the Great Western Highway via Bathurst and the small township of Sofala.

We camped at Glendora campground, which is located about 1.5 kilometres from the pub and is well equipped to take caravans and camper trailers, with powered and unpowered sites available and self-registration. In fact this is a good spot for larger groups with full facilities including electric barbecues and hot showers.

There is also a campground in the centre of town, which was about half full…

Leaving Hill End on Sunday we travelled back to Bathurst via Dixon’s Long Point Road, a four-wheel drive track that winds its way down to a rocky creek crossing on the Macquarie River.

“The Landy” had its first workout and performed admirably, although it was hardly taxing for the big V8-engine housed under a bonnet as big as a football field.

The views are spectacular and you can camp by the river and wile away the day under a deep blue sky…

The drive down to the river takes about one hour, depending on whether you stop along the way to visit the Cornish Roasting Pits, which we didn’t do on this particular occasion.

Travelling on you eventually come to Ophir Reserve which is located in a gorge where the Summer Hill and Lewis Creeks converge, and it was from here that the gold in the gold medals presented at 2000 Sydney Olympics was mined.

A great spot for a picnic, and it didn’t take long before TomO found a rope swing.

TomO, young and carefree... — ***TomO – young and carefree…***

Leaving Ophir it is less than an hour drive to Bathurst and another couple of hours back to Sydney.

And what about the Ghouls I hear you ask?

The National Park Rangers do a Ghost Tour that takes in a number of properties in Hill End and can be organised with about a week’s notice. It was uncertain whether “The Landy” would be finished in time for this trip so we thought we’d keep the ghost tour up our sleeve, giving us a reason to return again soon…

For anyone visiting the central west of New South Wales, Hill End and a tour of the region is well worth the experience. And there is some good four-wheel driving to be done, if you are inclined. Otherwise the Dixon Long Point Road is easily traversable and will reward you with some stunning vistas of the Australian Bush…

Photos: Baz, The Landy, and Janet Planet…

Watching, always watching (In the Australian Bush)

Image November 25, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About20 Comments

Watching, always watching (In the Australian Bush)

You’ve got to love the sound of the Australian Bush, but crikey, put a few of these blokes together and the sound is deafening…

Yeah, we’ve got a few creepy crawlies, but these little blokes are nothing to worry about…

Hey, what are you doing on my hat!

Photo: Baz, The Landy

Sunday Morning (In the Australian Bush)

Image November 24, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About14 Comments

Sunday morning at Hill End, a historic gold mining town about 3-hours drive from Sydney…

And how cool is this, my new truck is finished, well almost, I just need to have the mural put on the side this week, but here is a little peek at it.

Janet took this great shot as I was crossing the Macquarie River earlier today…strewth, how good is the Australian Bush hey!

Photos by Baz – the Landy and Janet Planet…

Berry Saltbush (Bush Tucker)

Image November 17, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About4 Comments

Saltbush Berries (Bush Tucker)

Whilst we are Out and About in this great country of ours we love to try and use bush tucker as an additive to our foods whenever we can.

And something that is often in abundance is Saltbush Berries, which have a salty sweetness about them…and the leaves of some of the saltbush family can be boiled as a vegetable!

If you have the patience and had enough berries you could make a jam out of them, otherwise you can just stand there and eat them off the bush!

Crikey, you just got to love this place we call Australia, hey!

Photo: Baz, The Landy

White Cliffs – Outback Australia (Where’s Baz)

November 11, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About13 Comments

Underground Motel — ***White Cliffs, Outback Australia***

I’ve had a little bit of hiatus from the keyboard over the past couple of weeks and perhaps you’ve may have been thinking where’s Baz, has he gone underground or something…

Well talking about going underground, I took this photo late in the afternoon at White Cliffs, Outback Australia on one of our recent trips…

And just below the surface is the Underground Motel where we stayed in rooms fashioned out of an old mine. White Cliffs is an opal mining town, whose day time temperatures in summer can be above a ‘hundred on the old Fahrenheit scale for weeks on end and below zero at night in the depths of winter.

Seemingly, there is little happening on the climbing front just at the moment, even though I have recovered sufficiently from the operations earlier in the year, I’ve just lost a bit of zest for it.

Isn’t life funny sometimes, hey!

I wanted to be on those high mountains so badly earlier this year, in fact I was scheduled to be in Nepal climbing this month, and now I’m struggling to get motivated enough to get back out there – so fingers crossed for me!

And crikey, in the meantime, it is Janet’s scones cooked in a camp oven in the Outback and TomO’s antics whilst on tour– and there’s nothing wrong with that!

Photos: Baz, The Landy

The Pain of the loss of a loved one (Meniere’s disease)

November 4, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About20 Comments

The enormity of losing a loved one, a friend, is only surpassed by the haplessness one feels that they did not hear or recognise those faint cries for help…

Five years have now passed since we lost a very dear friend, a sister, a daughter.

The Fawthrop Sisters... — ***The Fawthrop Sisters…Marion, Janet, Mary and Leah***

Marion, one of four Fawthrop girls and Janet’s sister, suffered greatly from a terrible affliction called Meniere’s disease. Tragically, just ahead of her 50^th birthday the pain of Meniere’s, which had come and gone throughout her life, became far too much to bear any longer and she sought the refuge, the comfort of another world where she could be freed from the bondage of the pain it caused her.

In those early times following Marion’s passing we all shed many tears, and a day never passes where Marion isn’t still a part of our lives, a casual smile here, your mind’s eye seeing her dressed up in all her finery.

Marion loved to dress up, to party.

And still, there are those moments where the tears well in our eyes…

Marion was a great lover of the Arts and had many friends in the art world. And it is something that runs in the family, as Leah, the youngest of the girl’s is a wonderful artist, having studied artistic photography, among other things…

As a tribute to Marion, Leah came up with the idea of creating Marion’s Artree, where works of art with a Christmas theme, along with Christmas decorations are handmade by artists’, craft workers and designers.

People whom Marion touched, and others whom she never knew generously donating their time and works for sale, with proceeds going to advance Meniere’s Research.

Please take the time to understand the suffering that people afflicted with Meniere’s experience, and if you are able, please support either the Australian Meniere’s Research Foundation, or perhaps locate one in the country you live in.

Leah and Janet’s Facebook Page, Marion’s Artree, provides more detail…

And bravo, Leah and Janet, and mother, Clare, you have all shown tremendous courage these past few years. We can’t bring Millie-Marion back, but she is always with us, and what a great way to bring an awareness of Meniere’s disease and to help and support others who also suffer…

Personally, I take great comfort knowing that wherever Marion is, she will be dressed to the ‘nines, holding court, a small glass of champagne in one hand, and a packet of fags in the other. It wouldn’t be any other way – and crikey, ain’t that the truth…

Baz, The Landy…

Rounding up the sheep (Is easy)

Image October 23, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About4 Comments

Rounding up the sheep (Is easier)

Try rounding up a teenager to do the dishes, and homework, and, heaven forbid, tidy up the bedroom…

Anyone with a teenager in the house will get the picture! 😉

But hey, we wouldn’t change that for the world, but where are those shears, his hair is getting a little bit long!

Click go the shears boys, click, click, click….

Photo: Baz, The Landy

We can’t Let our Old Bushmen die (A tale from the Bush)

October 21, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About15 Comments

The gathered crowd were anxious to witness a remarkable feat by a man and his whip and with little effort it coiled down the road accompanied by the sound of a thunderous clap.

Mind you, this was no ordinary whip, and no ordinary man who gripped its handle firmly. This is a whip measuring 66 feet in length, and weighing in at 17-kilograms.

Richard had done this a thousand times before and it made my attempt to crack a whip a fraction of its size rather feeble indeed.

The small township of Murringo, situated in the Central-West of New South Wales, was abuzz, and it was almost a carnival atmosphere as people travelled from both nearby, and further afield, to celebrate the opening of the 150 year old Hancock’s Store with owners Richard and Leah Taubman.

The sign above the small, but quaint, building proudly announced “Taubman & Webb, Trading Post – A Tribute Centre to Richard Taubman and the Late Syd Bayliss”.

The Webb part of Taubman and Webb, referring to Craig Webb, a best mate and earlier partner of Richard in a leather making business.

But the store, lovingly restored by Leah and a close family friend, Paul, over a period of two-years and supported wholeheartedly by the local community, is more than just a Trading Store, equally, it is a fine tribute to a true man of the Australian Bush, Syd Bayliss.

Syd’s story is one of a boy who served his country in the First World War after enlisting in the army at the young age of fifteen. It is a story of his passion for the timeless craft of leather plaiting, and one of a man travelling our wonderful country in search of work, of the hardships he endured, and the laughs he shared with those fortunate to meet him.

Syd was no ordinary man…

Mind you, Syd was born into a time in Australia’s past when it was hard to find any ordinary man or woman.

At 13-years of age a young Richard Taubman became entranced by Syd’s story and willingly sought him out, encouraged by his parents to learn the craft that this man of the bush had perfected so beautifully.

Despite the large age difference, Syd took Richard under his wing, becoming a mentor, and more importantly, a lifelong friend; a friendship that spanned the decades until his death in 1983.

Richard has dedicated a large part of his life to ensuring we don’t forget Syd and the men and women like him who forged a path, a tortuous one at times, for future generations of young Australians.

He has written a self-published book about Syd titled “One of The last” and ensured the story of his life is preserved for all in the Stockman’s Hall of Fame at Longreach, in Queensland.

On learning the old Hancock’s Store was for sale, Leah jumped at the opportunity to acquire it and Sunday’s grand opening was the culmination of her vision of restoring it to its former glory. It now stands proudly as a living tribute to the store that Syd owned in the town of Tumut, a tannery and saddlery store named The Valley of the Whites Trading Post, a tribute that Richard has long dreamed of doing.

And rest assured Leah has renovated Hancock’s Store true to its original form.

But it wasn’t all hard work, as Heather, the owner of the Ploughman’s Inn situated next door and now used by her as a private residence attested in a wonderful speech that she gave on behalf of the local community. She fondly recalled how the sound of country and western music serenaded her as tea and scones were served for morning tea on the verandah of the store as the restoration progressed.

Country and western music was a feature of the day with Syd’s brother-in-law, David, penning and singing a song as his own tribute to Richard.

And a highlight was witnessing Joy McKean, the wife of the late and great Slim Dusty, doing the official honour of cutting a ribbon to officially open Hancock’s Store after giving a wonderful account of her and Slim’s first meeting with Richard, and of her own childhood days of growing up, in the Australian bush.

Joy spoke about how both she and Slim where enthralled all those years ago by the passion that this young man and roustabout, Richard, held for the Australian way of life, our culture, our heritage. Something Slim and Joy wrote and sang about together to generations of Australians prior to Slim’s passing in 2003.

All Australian’s owe a great debt of gratitude to Leah for having the vision, the patience and the perseverance to bring Hancock’s Store back to its former glory. Too often we see buildings like Hancock’s Store slipping into decay in our rural towns, in our own communities, and I swear that as I walked through the store I could hear the echo of voices long gone whispering their thanks to Leah…

And I am certain that when Slim penned the song “We’ve done us proud” that he had men just like Richard, a big bloke, with a big heart, and a hat and whip just as big to match, at the forefront of his mind.

Thanks to Richard the inspiring and moving story of Syd Bayliss lives on and so does his craft through his skillful hands…

On the drive home to Sydney, back to the big smoke, I quietly reflected that for as long as we have people like Richard and Leah, visionaries with a love of the Australian Bush and of the people who have made Australia what it is today, there is little risk that our “Old Bushmen will ever die”.

Photos: Baz, The Landy

Mutawintji Gorge (Outback Australia)

October 17, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About9 Comments

Mutawintji Gorge is spectacular for its towering rusty red rock cliffs and overhangs, its magnificent rock pool, cool and soothing on a hot outback day…

We took the time to wile away the hours at the base of the cliffs, and later climbing them…an oasis in the desert, a timeless place, inhabited by an ancient people.

Photo: Baz, The Landy

Strewth – Just for a good old fashioned laugh (At Landrover’s)

October 16, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About10 Comments

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Being the owner of three Landrover Defenders has meant that I have trebly been the brunt of many Landrover jokes!

And crikey, for sure, I’ve got a good sense of humour, but I swore that I would never tell “Landy” jokes after I bought a new Toyota Landrcruiser…but,

Driving in my Landcruiser

Driving in my Landcruiser

A truck that won’t rust

Looking in the rearview

“The Landy’s” in my dust

Put in the “diff-locks”

And start headin’ up some hills

There’s no need to worry

No more hefty “Landy” bills

Take a good look underneath

You’ll see no oil drips

She’s dry as a whistle

Like parched desert lips

And when it’s time to turnaround

To point our way back home

There’s one thing that’s rest assured

There’ll be no breakdown moan!

😉

ps: I sold “The Landy” and it has gone to a new home!

Chanel No. 5 (Chanel No. 30)

October 14, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About24 Comments

They say that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, and exquisite perfume is probably not too far behind in the “pecking order”.

This weekend past, Janet, my beautiful partner and mother to our equally beautiful son, TomO, celebrated a significant milestone by turning fifty-years young!

Anyone who knows Janet would be in disbelief, unless they were aware, and of course it gives weight to my view that “how old would you be, if you didn’t know how old you were”?

Never mind, she is not fazed by it, and nor should she be as every year she blossoms even more so than the last, like a rose, timeless, delicate…

Not that she is a wallflower, not by any measure, we’ve jumped out of planes together, chasing each other across the wild blue sky, we’ve leaped tall buildings in a single-bound in a race to the ground, she always wins…

Janet - An Incredible in full flight over Picton, Australia — ***Janet – An Incredible in full flight over Picton, Australia***

Janet - she's no wall flower — ***Janet, waving, down here Baz – Catch me if you can!***

***Janet beats Baz down the AMP Tower, Sydney Australia (Again!)***

We celebrated in style with a cocktail party, “glammed-up” with family and friends.

Yes, I did buy a brand new black Tee shirt for the event.

***Family and Friends – At “Dinsmore” our home***

And Janet loves a party, I wouldn’t call her a party girl, but she loves being around wonderful family and friends, all of whom adore her.

Crikey, didn’t I luck out by living next-door to Janet, yes, Janet was literally the “girl next door” and our coming together simply developed over time.

But how is this, Janet is a wonderful gardener and mows our lawn each week, strewth, if I was to go near the lawn mower I would incur her wrath, okay, a slap on the wrist…

Seriously, going down to see Bluey and the boy’s at the local footy club for a few beers is quite okay, but don’t you go touching that lawn mower Baz!

Anyway, in amongst the birthday celebrations, Janet and I held each other, and remembered that day thirty years ago, yes on her birthday, when I asked her to marry me!

Janet and Baz — ***Stunningly beautiful***

Most people were surprised and didn’t actually know until I gave a small speech!

She said “yes”, phew!

I never buy lottery tickets, or gamble, after all my luck was all used up on that beautiful day…

I shared our story, of giving Janet a bottle of Chanel No. 5 perfume on that birthday, and there was a quip from the gathered that I must have flogged it, ‘cause there was no way I could have afforded it back then!

It was worth every cent I scratched together, and every birthday since that is what I have given Janet on her birthday.

But a couple of weeks ago, I asked here, “what do I buy you on this very special occasion”?

Janet - cheeky as ever — ***And that cheeky little grin***

Janet looked at me, in her cheeky little way and said, “you know, it is traditional, I wouldn’t want anything else”!

So sweetie, Chanel No. 30 it is!

Happy birthday!

The Bush Christening (On the outer Barcoo)

October 10, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About24 Comments

Welford National Park — ***The Barcoo River***

Rivers, creeks, and billabongs, they have a way of drawing you in, somewhat like a divining rod in search of water.

Australia has a wonderful maze of inland river systems, which, at times dry up leaving waterholes, or billabongs, as we know them…

They feature heavily in stories and poems, songs and prose, of the Australian Outback.

Recently we camped beside a billabong, nearby to the Darling River, one of Australia’s largest, which slowly meanders its way towards a confluence with the mighty Murray River at Wentworth.

Steamboats plied their trade along the river as far north as Bourke, carrying supplies to the towns that dotted the Darling, transporting wool bales back to the cities on the return trip. Of course, drought, of which there were many, could see the boats stranded for long periods of time.

This land attracted many writers, inspired by the wide open spaces of the Australian Outback, and included Henry Lawson, whom I wrote about recently, and Banjo Paterson.

Jundah — ***The (Dusty) Road less Travelled***

They are two of my favourite Australian writers.

Simply, their writings are timeless, despite both passing long-ago, you can sit by a billabong or a river and hear the echo of the men, and women, they wrote about, the friendly banter, the sorrow, the laughs, the tears, the highs and the lows.

Both men travelled extensively in some of my favourite parts of the Australian Outback.

One such place is the Barcoo River, nearby to the town of Jundah and the Welford National Park in far western-Queensland. A small town of not too many people, where the pub, owned and operated by Monica, is the go to place to hear news, a social epicentre for the area.

Lawson and Paterson, parched from travelling the dusty land, would have quenched their thirst at establishments just like the Jundah Pub!

Banjo Paterson was especially inspired by the Barcoo and surrounding area.

We travelled to this area to visit the site of Maggee’s Shanty and Richard Magoffin’s Grave which were not too far from Jundah and the Welford National Park. Those familiar with the writing’s of Banjo Paterson will recognise this is the place immortalised in his poem A Bush Christening.

The grave of Richard Magoffin, who perished in 1885, is nearby.

Magoffin came to Australia from County Down in Ireland in 1853, digging for gold in Victoria and fighting at Eureka. Later he settled with a brother at Chiltern, Victoria, before moving to Bourke, where they sank dams and ran a carting business before tough times sent them further north, to Queensland.

There was very little to see of Maggee’s Shanty, although a plaque indicated its site, but Magoffin’s Grave was very well kept.

And under darkened skies, with the threat of rain present, we huddled together at the site of Maggee’s Shanty, and read…

The Bush Christening – By AB ‘Banjo’ Paterson

On the outer Barcoo where the churches are few,

And men of religion are scanty,

On a road never cross’d ‘cept by folk that are lost,

One Michael Magee had a shanty.

Now this Mike was the dad of a ten-year-old lad,

Plump, healthy, and stoutly conditioned;

He was strong as the best, but poor Mike had no rest

For the youngster had never been christened,

And his wife used to cry, “If the darlin’ should die

Saint Peter would not recognise him.”

But by luck he survived till a preacher arrived,

Who agreed straightaway to baptise him.

Now the artful young rogue, while they held their collogue,

With his ear to the keyhole was listenin’,

And he muttered in fright while his features turned white,

“What the divil and all is this christenin’?”

He was none of your dolts, he had seen them brand colts,

And it seemed to his small understanding,

If the man in the frock made him one of the flock,

It must mean something very like branding.

So away with a rush he set off for the bush,

While the tears in his eyelids they glistened-

“‘Tis outrageous,” says he, “to brand youngsters like me,

I’ll be dashed if I’ll stop to be christened!”

Like a young native dog he ran into a log,

And his father with language uncivil,

Never heeding the “praste” cried aloud in his haste,

“Come out and be christened, you divil!”

But he lay there as snug as a bug in a rug,

And his parents in vain might reprove him,

Till his reverence spoke (he was fond of a joke)

“I’ve a notion,” says he, “that’ll move him.”

“Poke a stick up the log, give the spalpeen a prog;

Poke him aisy-don’t hurt him or maim him,

‘Tis not long that he’ll stand, I’ve the water at hand,

As he rushes out this end I’ll name him.

“Here he comes, and for shame! ye’ve forgotten the name-

Is it Patsy or Michael or Dinnis?”

Here the youngster ran out, and the priest gave a shout-

“Take your chance, anyhow, wid ‘Maginnis’!”

As the howling young cub ran away to the scrub

Where he knew that pursuit would be risky,

The priest, as he fled, flung a flask at his head

That was labelled “Maginnis’s Whisky!”

And Maginnis Magee has been made a J.P.,

And the one thing he hates more than sin is

To be asked by the folk who have heard of the joke,

How he came to be christened “Maginnis”!

The Bulletin, 16 December 1893.

As a footnote, the heavens opened up as we walked back to the vehicle bringing much needed rain to the area, but turning the roads into a slippery brown sludge.

Defender 130 Twin Cab — ***Covered in mud***

The Landy, with Tvan in tow, arrived in Quilpie a few hours later covered in mud!

Such is life, but what a great day with my two favourite people…

***By the Billabong with Janet and TomO (the walking hat!)***

Photos by: Baz, The Landy

From the Outback

October 9, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About11 Comments

The author of a blog titled ‘tiny lessons blog’ contacted me recently and asked could she use one of my photographs for a poem she would like to write.

Of course, I told her, and she has done the photograph great justice in the way she has digitally altered the way it presents, and with the poem that the photograph inspired her to write.

The photograph was taken a number of years ago in the Simpson Desert, Outback Australia. It is the fourth largest desert in Australia and it is the world’s largest sand dune desert.
Travelling from East to West, I spent around five-days in the desert crossing about 700 sand dunes and covered around the same distance in kilometres, so a sand dune almost every kilometre.

Accompanying me on the trip was my father Brian, my mother Fay, and son TomO, who was around three-years old at the time.

It was a wonderful trip on many levels, my parents loved being taken to a place they had never travelled before, especially with their grandson. They had a passion for travel, but would never had contemplated a trip like this, and lived vicariously through the travels that I undertook with Janet…
For TomO, I weaned him off his bottle on this trip, and he threw away his night-time nappy…
And me, well it was great to be out with a wonderful family, although we did miss Janet, who was spending time with her sisters in the Margaret River Region of West Australia…

Please be sure to visit tiny lessons blog, where the author describes herself as a, happy beach bum, former director, active world traveller, so-so wife, mother, grandmother, and good friend. And adding, that she is not a photographer, but a pretty creative illustrator.

Thanks tiny, and to all, be sure to visit “down under” one of these days, we’d love to see you!

TINY LESSONS BLOG

Photoart by tiny lessons blog/original image by https://thelandy.com/

I got a post card

from the Outback

sent by me in the future.

It simply said:

I had solitude for breakfast

and bird’s song for dinner

my soul is embedded

in the vastness of nature

a magical, golden place

where the trails are marked

“This way to heaven.”

Thanks Baz, the Landy, for permission to work on one of your wonderful photos from the outback. Folks, check them out at https://thelandy.com/ .

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Dawn breaks over Australia’s Outback (In a brilliance of colour)

Image October 7, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About12 Comments

Dawn break over Australia’s Outback (In a brilliance of colour)

Dawn and the hour or so before the sun pierces the eastern horizon is a favourite time of day for me.

And when travelling in the Australian Outback I am often rewarded with a view like this one, captured at Welford National Park…

Crikey, tickle me pink, how good is this sunrise over in the Outback.

Photo by: Baz, The Landy (how can I tell? Janet and TomO aren’t early risers!)

Sand Dune Country (In the Australian Outback)

Image October 6, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About28 Comments

I love the colours in this photo they take me to the Outback, no matter where I am…

What do you reckon?

Photo by: Baz, The Landy

“The Hill” (In search of the real gems)

October 4, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About36 Comments

Australia has many outback towns that are full of charm, old buildings, magnificent pubs or watering-holes, and of course, just as many characters to fill them.

There are also some hidden gems to be found, if you scratch the surface deep enough and spend the time to fossick around, talk to the locals who might be just willing to point you in the right direction.

And you can bet there is always some healthy and good natured banter at the coming together of the city and country folk, especially if it is over a cold beer.

Broken Hill, a frontier town on the far western border of New South Wales, is one place that will need little introduction to most Australian’s. A town built on the back of silver and the hard toil of the men who worked the mines, and the women who supported them. It is the original home of the Big Australian, the Broken Hill Proprietary Company, or BHP as it later became known, and the nearby area of Silverton was the site of the Mad Max Movies starring Mel Gibson…

It also has a great pub, The Silverton Hotel!

It was with great anticipation that we drove The Landy into town a couple of weeks ago as it was the staging post for our travels into Mutawintji National Park.

***Mutawintji National Park – An Ancient Land***

And speaking of characters, we were able to catch up with a local resident of The Hill, a man who oozed knowledge of the area and a passion for sharing it, over a cold beer of course!

Dave Beharre was aware of a love I have of Broken Hill and the Corner Country region. Contacting me ahead of our visit, Dave offered information on places that we might find of interest, knowledge collected from the many years spent as a tour guide operating out of Broken Hill.

Outback Australia — ***The Old Cobb and Co Coach Route – Broken Hill to White Cliffs***

TomO, an avid reader, was thrilled to be presented with some books on the area from Dave…

Such is the way of the people of Australia’s outback, a tough, no-nonsense people, embodied with a pioneering spirit and a heart of gold…

And talking about scratching the surface and finding a gem, we visited the Living Desert Reserve just outside of town and situated on a hill that provides majestic views over the harsh, but wonderfully beautiful countryside.

Country of the Wilyakkali People who traditionally occupied the lands around Broken Hill.

The Reserve is set on 2,400 hectares of land and has a number of walking trails that you can traverse. At its centre-piece, perched atop a hill, is a number of sculptures carved from sandstone rock, around 52 tonnes of it brought in from the MacCulloch Ranges, a range situated about 250 kilometres to the east of Broken Hill.

The sculptures were completed in 1993 by artists from around the world in collaboration with Australia’s first inhabitants, the aborigines.

The story of the bringing together of all these different people and cultures, sculpting by day and at night, dancing and singing by the glow of a warm fire under a sparkling outback sky, and in tongues native to their own lands, is one that portrays a spirit of human co-operation.

The sculptures include Nhatji – the Rainbow Serpent, Thomasina – the Water bird, the Bride, Motherhood, Moon Goddess, Tiwi Totems, and the Jaguar – Bajo El Sol Jaguar.

The latter, a creation of an Aztec Sculptor from Mexico.

Diamantina National Park — ***An Endless Sky and Endless Horizon – Outback Australia***

Broken Hill is more than an Outback Town, it is a living beauty, touched by sunrises whose rays reach out to breathe life into the land, and of sunsets that redden the parched, dusty ground with a brilliance that is hard to define, but awe-inspiring as the sun slips below a far-off western horizon…

Above all else, “The Hill” is a town full of endearing people – they are the real gems that you will find there!

Photos: Baz, The Landy

Fly Nets and Veils (Or the Aussie Salute)

October 3, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About11 Comments

Seemingly, our land down under is cursed with the world’s largest population of flies. They tickle your nostrils, gather on your back, shelter in your ears and heaven forbid, get swallowed with every breathe you take, well almost…

And here is the thing, where do they go at the end of each day, you know, the sun goes down and they disappear faster than Wally when it is his shout down at the local footy club.

It is like in an instant, the sun slips below the horizon and it is pure bliss, well at least for five minutes, which is usually the time it takes to go and find a light to put on. Strewth, flick the switch and some weird and wonderful bugs appear out of no-where…

It had me thinking on this trip, yes I did have a couple of beers, so the mind was fluid, but I mean, did the bugs clock-on when the flies clocked-off?

Or was it a case of the same horse, just different eyebrows, and in fact it was just the flies dressed up. Lets’ face it, they had the time, cause if I said it took me five minutes to get out a light, it was probably ten minutes by the time I finished my beer, had another, and then flicked the light, so they had time!

Janet has just asked me where I’m heading with this, which is just as well because I’m not really sure…

But anyway, you can either put up with the little blighters, wave your hand around your face from time to time, pretend you didn’t really swallow one or two, or you can grab a fly net and whack it over your head.

TomO and I have generally opted for the viewpoint that they are a source of protein, and casually ignore the fact they have probably spent the last hour or so sunning themselves on a cow patty, or you can go the Janet option and grab a veil.

I snapped this photo of Janet, with fly veil at the ready, whilst Out and About last week, and I’ve been fascinated by the look on her face – what was she thinking…?

So I invite you to put a caption on the photo…over to you!

Design a logo Competition (And the winner is)

October 2, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About11 Comments

Mural for "The Landy" — ***Mural for “The Landy”***

We are not long back from the Australian Outback and planning is underway for a couple of trips next year, already!

We were travelling in “The Landy” our original Outback travelling machine, although we did take delivery of the new vehicle just before leaving for the big sky and red soil country…

Prior to leaving I was inviting you to send a design for a mural that will go on the side of the canopy of the new vehicle and I was also asking you to suggest some names for the new vehicle.

I’m pleased to say that after a few beers and wines around the camp-fire we have a winner. In fact, the winner was a clear stand-out, and was produced by Sassy who has a wonderful blog called Sasieology…

In her bio, Sassy writes that she has made a promise to visit at least one new place and try at least one new activity every year…

I’m yet to see Australia turn up on her blog, but perhaps she’ll visit wearing her new Akubra hat one day!

Strewth, not sure how we’ll find her a good feed out in the “beef” country we frequently visit though as she is a self-confessed plant-based vegetarian.

And hey, don’t you go misreading me here, nothing wrong with that…~~if you’re a rabbit~~

But, do baked beans count? We love baked bean jaffles on our travels…

Whilst we have modified the original design that Sassy sketched, she fully captured the essence of what we were looking for, perfectly!

A mural that depicts a vehicle that will cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge in full view of the Sydney Opera House and the magnificent Sydney Harbour most days, but equally, be at home in the red ochre deserts of the Australian Outback.

That is the work this vehicle will be put to, much the same as “The Original Landy”.

Just a sec, Janet is asking have I sold “The Landy” in order to pay for the new one…

“Yes, working on it sweetie” 😉

Anyway, let’s not get bogged down in a small domestic issue here, so Sassy, we’ll be sending you…

An original Akubra Outback Club Hat,
A jar of our prized Australian vegemite,
Two packets of Tim Tams (you’ll love these!), and
A bottle of our famous Bundy Rum.

And that brings us to the determination of a winner for a name.

Despite receiving many suggestions, we could not agree on one, preferring to leave the new vehicle simply as “The Landy”.

We placed the name of all who participated into an Akubra Hat, yes mine, and pulled out a winner, Nancy, who has a blog titled My Year of Sweat.

I’m betting she’ll love those Tim Tams and with all the exercise she’s be doing, knocking off a couple of packets of our delicious Tim Tams won’t be a problem. And I’m betting the rum will go down well.

So please make direct contact so I can arrange to send you the following goodies…

A jar of our prized Australian vegemite,
Two packets of Tim Tams (you’ll love these!), and
A bottle of our famous Bundy Rum

And don’t tell Janet, but after a couple of beers around the fire I thought what is another Akubra Outback Club Hat between bank balances…

After all the cost of this vehicle makes the United States National Debt look healthy…

So not only will I be sending you some of our favourite Aussie tucker, we’ll get you to size up for a hat as well…

Hey, keep an eye out for those big sky country photos, we took heaps!

And by the way, thanks to everyone for having a go, because for sure, that is the Aussie Way…

Cheers, Baz – The Landy

“When the Ladies Come to the Shearing Shed” (Toorale Homestead)

October 1, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About11 Comments

Toorale Shearing Shed — **The Shearing Shed**

Being an avid reader of colloquial poetry I welcomed the opportunity to once again be out in the countryside that inspired the great Australian Poet, Henry Lawson…

For those not familiar, Henry Lawson was a poet, a writer of fiction, and many will argue, Australia’s greatest writer.

Earlier this year we packed ourselves into “The Landy” and headed to Grenfell, his birthplace in the Central West of New South Wales, to attend the Henry Lawson festival, as well as just getting Out and About – of course!

On our most recent trip to the outback we visited Toorale Station which was a vast sheep and cattle property before its purchase by the Federal Government in 2008 and development into a National Park in 2010.

The purchase of the property did have political overtones, and was done, in part, to release water that was used for cotton growing back to the river systems.

At the time it drew a mixed response, but that is a debate for others…

Toorale had at its centre, a magnificent homestead, with a glass ceiling ball-room, sprawling verandahs, wonderful gardens and hand-painted wall paper.

Standing at the gate, my mind’s eye could picture a by-gone area, of women in long-white dresses sipping tea from delicate porcelain china, shaded by the afternoon sun by one of the many trees in the manicured garden, while men toiled on the land..

Toorale National Park — ***Toorale Homestead, Outback Australia***

Janet, with a sly grin, casually mentioned how things had changed whilst casting an eye towards TomO and I…

Set at the confluence of the Warrego and Darling Rivers it remains a place of cultural significance to Australia’s first people, specifically the traditional owners, the Kurnu-Baakandji / Paakantji People.

Ross Morris, a member of the Kurnu-Baakandji / Paakantji family, showed us around and was enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead for the park, especially the cultural centre, which is teaching their traditional language, heritage and beliefs to younger members of their community.

In fact, it is now a language module offered at the local school in the nearby town of Bourke…

Ross spoke fondly of the time his father and grandfather spent on Toorale, and of the original owner, Samuel McCaughey, later Sir Samuel.

And it was Ross’s proclamation that it is no longer Black and White, a nice pun I thought, when he explained that we all have a bond to Toorale, whether through traditional ownership, or the heritage created by earlier settlers to the region.

His attitude brought a smile to my parched lips, as I love learning about aboriginal culture and history, something TomO shares in common with me…

Ross’s viewpoint was also echoed by other first Australians’ we spent time with on this trip, on our visit to Mutawintji and Peery Lake.

Samuel McCaughey was by all accounts a big-hearted bachelor and built Toorale for his much admired niece, Louisa, but tragically corporate ownership of the property in more recent times saw it decay and it is currently very dilapidated and in need of substantial repairs.

Old Building — ***Toorale Homestead, Outback Australia***

Janet and I asked each other how could such a treasure be left to ruin in the elements, Ross shook his head…

But what of Henry Lawson I hear you ask?

Henry spent the later part of 1892 working as a roustabout on the property and it has even been suggested that he penned one of his poems “When the Ladies Come to the Shearing Shed” whilst working in the shearing shed on Toorale…

Sheep Shearing — ***The Old Shearing Shed, Toorale Station, Outback Australia***

Perhaps he did, but I cannot say that was the case with any certainty, but nor does it matter, as the “Toorale Shearing Shed” is typical of shearing sheds all over this great country of ours…

TomO, Janet and I were presented with a great treat whilst admiring the shearing shed.

A lady who was travelling with us on this particular day, Janice, stood in front of the shed and recited, with great aplomb…

“When the Ladies Come to the Shearing Shed” – By Henry Lawson

‘THE LADIES are coming,’ the super says
To the shearers sweltering there,
And ‘the ladies’ means in the shearing shed:
‘Don’t cut ’em too bad. Don’t swear.’
The ghost of a pause in the shed’s rough heart,
And lower is bowed each head;
And nothing is heard, save a whispered word,
And the roar of the shearing-shed.

The tall, shy rouser has lost his wits,
And his limbs are all astray;
He leaves a fleece on the shearing-board,
And his broom in the shearer’s way.
There’s a curse in store for that jackaroo
As down by the wall he slants—
And the ringer bends with his legs askew
And wishes he’d ‘patched them pants.’

They are girls from the city. (Our hearts rebel
As we squint at their dainty feet.)
And they gush and say in a girly way
That ‘the dear little lambs’ are ‘sweet.’
And Bill, the ringer, who’d scorn the use
Of a childish word like ‘damn,’
Would give a pound that his tongue were loose
As he tackles a lively lamb.

Swift thoughts of homes in the coastal towns—
Or rivers and waving grass—
And a weight on our hearts that we cannot define
That comes as the ladies pass.
But the rouser ventures a nervous dig
In the ribs of the next to him;
And Barcoo says to his pen-mate: ‘Twig
‘The style of the last un, Jim.’

Jim Moonlight gives her a careless glance—
Then he catches his breath with pain—
His strong hand shakes and the sunlights dance
As he bends to his work again.
But he’s well disguised in a bristling beard,
Bronzed skin, and his shearer’s dress;
And whatever Jim Moonlight hoped or feared
Were hard for his mates to guess.

Jim Moonlight, wiping his broad, white brow,
Explains, with a doleful smile:
‘A stitch in the side,’ and ‘he’s all right now’—
But he leans on the beam awhile,
And gazes out in the blazing noon
On the clearing, brown and bare—
She has come and gone, like a breath of June,
In December’s heat and glare.

The bushmen are big rough boys at the best,
With hearts of a larger growth;
But they hide those hearts with a brutal jest,
And the pain with a reckless oath.
Though the Bills and Jims of the bush-bard sing
Of their life loves, lost or dead,
The love of a girl is a sacred thing
Not voiced in a shearing-shed.

(© Henry Lawson)

If you are travelling in this part of the world, be sure to give Ross a call, he can be found at the National Parks Office in Bourke…

And remember, if all else fails, remain out of control and see what develops!

Photos: Baz, The Landy

Watching, always watching (In the Australian Outback)

Image October 1, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About3 Comments

Watching, always watching (In the Australian Outback)

The Australian Emu is prolific in the outback regions we have been travelling through, following a couple of good seasons of rain.

This one was captured on camera in Mutawintji National Park.

Photo: Baz, The Landy

An Ancient Land – An Ancient People (Peery Lake, Outback Australia)

Image September 28, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About2 Comments

An Ancient Land – An Ancient People (Peery Lake, Outback Australia)

Peery Lake, in far Western New South Wales, is a fascinating place to visit and like many places in the region we can trace evidence of Australia’s original inhabitants for tens of thousands of years.

In fact, it would be hard to walk more than 10 – metres without finding some evidence of an ancient culture, an ancient people.

We were fortunate to be shown the area, which is located nearby to the opal mining town of White Cliffs, with Anne, a wonderful person of aboriginal heritage who took us under her wing enhanced our knowledge and understanding of Australia’s Indigenous People…

Photo: Baz, The Landy

Dawn breaks at the Billabong (Outback Australia)

Image September 26, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About10 Comments

Dawn breaks at the Billabong (Outback Australia)

Crikey, how would you love to this wake up to this view each day?

Outback Australia, you just got to love it, hey!

We are currently travelling in the Outback, exploring a lot of aboriginal rock art, engravings, and paintings…

And in between, enjoying a yarn, and a couple of ale’s around the camp-fire…

Strewth, roll me over and tickle me pink, I don’t reckon it gets any better than this…

Photo: Baz, The Landy

Outback Australia (Mutawintji National Park)

September 23, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About9 Comments

Have you ever wondered what it is like to stay in an underground motel, a room dug into a side of a hill?

Tonight our accommodation is the Underground Motel at White Cliffs in far-western New South Wales.

TomO and I have been frequent visitors over the years, stopping off on our way to and from the Outback, but seemingly, Janet has never been on those trips, so tonight is a first for her.

And what a welcome sight the reception was, standing tall on Smith’s Hill, about the only hill in sight for a hundred or so miles, well not quite, but the landscape is very flat and barren.

We have spent the past three days in Mutawinji National Park undertaking a number of walks through the magnificent gorges set in the rugged and fiery red Byngnano Range. And the wildlife was beautiful…

Kangaroo - Mutawintji NP — ***Kangaroo – Mutawintji NP***

Mutawintji is the tribal area of the Makyankapa and Pandjikali people.

Aboriginal people have lived and hunted in this area for thousands of years and during our stay in the park we spent time with an aboriginal elder who took us to view some rock art and engravings of great significance to his people.

Mark shared the love of his land, his people, his culture with great passion and enthusiasm and we look forward to meeting up with him once again in the future, to share the experience of this great land together…

Strewth, you wouldn’t be dead for quid’s, hey!

Photos: Baz, The Landy

Outback Australia (On tour in Mutawinji National Park)

September 20, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About19 Comments

We left Sydney a couple of days ago in “The Landy” heading west for a tour of Mutawinji National Park and Outback New South Wales.

Our trip to Mutawinji National Park in far western New South Wales, and Trilby Station, situated on the Darling River, will give us some great exposure to Australian Outback Landscapes.

Mutwawinji NP is about 130-kilometres to the north of Broken Hill and situated in the Bynguano Range.

Apart from the natural beauty of the park, with its many gorges, rock-pools, and red gum lined creek beds, it is of great significance to aboriginal people who have been visiting the area for thousands of years to avail themselves of the food and water. The area has also been used for ceremonial reasons and still is to this day.

Throughout the park there are many examples of rock engravings, stencils and paintings. This is one of the park’s great attractions and we will endeavour to see as much as we can, which is usually done with the guidance of the Park Rangers.

After a few nights in the park we will head east towards White Cliffs, a town renowned for its opals and the many “characters” that come to mine the prized stones and we will stay in an underground motel, just for the experience!

After freshening up following a few days in the bush, we will leave for Trilby Station, a working sheep and cattle property on the banks of the famous inland river, the Darling River. A favourite of ours, we will camp by the Billabong and engross ourselves in very little, just taking in the atmosphere of the outback.

***Kangaroos, Trilby Station, Outback Australia***

We’ll have a few days of relaxation before leaving Trilby and travelling via the small locality of Louth, making our way towards Narromine for our final night of the trip.

Of course, all trips come to an end, and as we make our way back to Sydney on our final day, passing through the towns of Orange and Bathurst, I’m sure there will be plenty of stories and experiences to recount from our couple of weeks “Out and About in The Landy”.

And be sure to keep an eye out for some pictures of our tours over the coming week, hopefully we can capture the beauty of our magnificent outback on camera…

Photos: Baz, The Landy

The “New Landy” (With a red bow?)

Image September 13, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About6 Comments

How cool is the “New Landy”

We picked it up today and it will be fully customised to our requirements for outback travel over the next six weeks.

But strewth, you can’t put a red bow on the bonnet of a V8 Super Truck – surely not.

Seemingly it is a tradition for the car dealership where we purchased it…

Oh well, just don’t tell Bluey and the Boys, I’ll never live it done at the footy club…

For the petrol heads amongst us – it is a Toyota 79 Series Dual Cab 4.5 litre V8 (Diesel mind you…)

And by the way, we head off in a few days for the Outback. Although, we are going in the original “Landy” our Landrover 130 Twin Cab Defender…

Hey Janet, give me back the keys to my Super Truck, Janet, Janet…Janet…

The Australian Outback (Big Sky Country)

Image September 9, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About5 Comments

The Australian Outback - Big Sky Country

This is big sky country…and how good is it!

Janet, TomO and I will be heading out in “The Landy” in about a week’s time to visit Mutawinji National Park, which has a lot of aboriginal history, rock engravings and paintings.

And I look forward to sharing some more of the Australian Outback with you…

In fact, this will be the last trip “The Landy” will make for a while as the new vehicle, “The Landy – Mark 2” arrives later this week and will be customised for Outback Travel over the next couple of months.

Photo: Baz – The Landy

The Australian Dingo (In the outback)

September 2, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About10 Comments

The Australian Dingo

The Australian Dingo, at home in the Australian Outback…

Aren’t they such a beautiful animal!

We took this photograph in the Channel Country, far Western Queensland.

You’ve just got to love the landscape, the flora and fauna, that makes the Australian Outback what it is!

photo: Baz, The Landy

Crikey – Win an authentic Aussie Akubra Hat (Design a Logo)

September 1, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About9 Comments

At the risk of looking like I am casting off an old friend, a tried and trusted travelling companion, who has stood by me through thick and thin, good and bad…the highs and lows!

I’m selling The Landy…

Yep, that’s right, trading it in for a fancy new Toyota…

The Landy - Out and About — ***The Landy – Out and About***

Phew…that rolled off the tongue just a little too easy.

Crikey, just having a read over that and realised you might have been thinking what is Baz doing with Janet, or heaven forbid, TomO.

Nah, rest assured, I have no better outback travelling companions in the world, besides Janet’s camp oven scones are to die for and TomO’s energy is infectious.

But after a number of years of great service and tours and despite a couple of teething problems here and there, it’s time to retire The Landy…

As we are running out of driveway space both The Landy and Red Rover are under the auctioneer’s hammer…

Okay, shoosh, I might keep Red Rover, but crikey, don’t tell Janet…

But therein lies a bit of a dilemma for me.

I have been called Baz – The Landy for as long as I can remember.

When we take delivery of our brand new Toyota 79 Series Dual-Cab, which, incidentally is still on the boat in a shipping container coming from Japan, what will I call myself and the vehicle?

I mean “Baz, The Toyota” or “Baz, The Toy” doesn’t quite work…

Um… Baz, The Toy, hey?

Seriously, great real…

Just keep calling me, Baz -The Landy, okay.

In fact, you can call me anything you like, just don’t call me cheap!

Yes, hold your horses, I’m getting to the how you can win bit. ~~strewth, talk about an impatient mob.~~

I have to come up with a name for the new truck, which will look just like this one once completed and in the same colour…

So here is the deal…

How about you blokes’ and sheilas’ that pop into here to see what I’m raving on about from time to time suggest some names for the new Truck.

And if you’re artistic, how about designing a logo that can go on the gull-wing doors of the canopy.

A logo that represents what we are about and reflecting our interest in travelling the Australian Outback..

***By the Billabong, Outback Australia***

Yeah, good point, I’m not sure either on “what we are about” so I can see how it might be hard for you – just wing it, okay!

Put your thinking caps on, send me your thoughts on a name in the comments section following, and if you have a logo in mind email it to me at thelandy@optusnet.com.au

The only condition on the logo is it must be as Australian as a Chiko Roll, okay?

Hurry up then, go back and click on the link if you don’t know what a chiko roll is…

But I’ll let you in on a little secret, they are the best thing since sliced bread…

Yes, I know, some of you don’t live in Australia, ~~strewth we can’t all be that lucky~~, but just use some imagination.

And yeah, sure, have a couple of cocktails and grab the kids colouring in crayons, whatever works best… ~~at least I’ve given you a new reason to throw a couple back!~~

Janet, TomO and I will review them and decide on the winning name and logo…

Winning?

Yeah, you’ve put the cocktail down now we’ve got to this bit, haven’t you?

So here we go, I will send the winner of the name and the winner of the logo the following…

A jar of our prized Australian Vegemite,

A packet of Tim Tams, okay two packets ~~and a gym membership to work em’ back off your hips~~,

A bottle of our famous Bundy Rum ~~that will clinch it for some of you~~, and

An autographed picture of me in my budgie smugglers, ~~sorry just kiddin’ -I’ve handed so many out recently I’ve run out.~~

But, that’s not all, so I’ll tell you what…

Because I’m a bloody good bloke, if you come up with the winning logo design I’m going to throw in an authentic “Akubra Outback Club Hat“.

Strewth, they’re worth a small fortune and you’ll be the envy of all, but hey, you lot are worth it…~~well some of you maybe~~

Of course, I will ensure there are plenty of pictures taken of the new truck Out and About in the Australian Outback with the winners’ entries blazoned all over it.

And, just for the record, ’cause I don’t want the art police pulling me over in the outback accusing me of stealing your design, I get to emblazon it over the vehicle, okay! ~~that sorts out the LA Law and Boston Legal wannabes~~

So get cracking you lot…

Appropriately, we will decide the winners sitting around an outback camp fire on our upcoming trip to the Outback in September…

Around the fire - Trilby Station, Outback Australia — ***Around the fire – Outback Australia***

So you’ve got about a month, and hey, don’t be like TomO with his homework and leave it till the last night, okay!

And if you are willing how about re-blogging this among your mates or sharing it with your friends on facebook, they might be interested! ~~if you’ve got any mates or friends to share it with~~…

And remember, if all else fails, just remain out of control and enjoy yourself…

Baz - The Landy (hiding the budgie smugglers!) — ***Baz – The “Toy” Landy (hiding the budgie smugglers?)***

photos by: Baz-The Landy, Janet Planet and TOmO

Western Plains (Outback Australia)

Image August 26, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About7 Comments

Grasslands of the Western Plains (Outback Australia)

Strewth, you wouldn’t be dead for quids…

I could get lost out here for ever!

Photo: Baz, The Landy

Simpson Desert – Outback Australia (Which Way?)

Image August 22, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About7 Comments

Five days, seven-hundred kilometres and almost a thousand sand dunes to go…(and loving it)

photo: Baz – The Landy

Crikey – Win an authentic Aussie Akubra Hat (Design a Logo)

August 21, 2013November 18, 2014XPLORE - Out and About1 Comment