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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Wildflowers – In the Australian Bush
After weeks of rain in Sydney, Baz and I managed to find a sunny day to walk through a favourite spot of ours in the Kuringai National Park in the northern suburbs of Sydney. The rain had washed the bush clean and the colours in this banksia were glorious!
Photo: Janet Planet – Kuringai National Park, Sydney
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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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Bark Art – deadwood in the Australian Outback
Photos: Janet-Planet, Anne Beadell Highway (and I use the term “Highway” loosely) Western Deserts, South Australia…
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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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A place to contemplate (Outback Australia)
Photo: Baz – The Landy, Gumhole Waterhole, Outback Australia
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A White-Faced Heron – Delicately Poised…
Photo: Janet-Planet, Kangaroo Island, Australia
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Tranquility – In the Australian Bush…
Photo: Baz – The Landy, Kangaroo Island, Australia
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Australian Wildflowers – Radiant and Radio-Active
Lobed-leaf Hop Bush, Maralinga Atomic Bomb Site, Australia…
Photos: Janet-Planet
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Wildflowers – In The Australian Outback…
Delicate flowers in the Australian Outback – Red Mallee Eucalyptus…
Photos: Janet-Planet, Murray Sunset National Park, 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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Surviving an Atomic Bomb!
In 1956 the British Government built an atomic bomb testing site in the South Australian outback with assistance from the Australian Government of the day…
We discovered these beautiful flowers growing at “ground zero”… Don’t they demonstrate the tenacity of nature by defiantly shining through in spite of the brutal treatment this wonderful landscape was subjected to?
You can read more about the area in our blog titled “An Atomic Blast (In the Outback)”.
Photos: Janet Planet – Maralinga, South Australia
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Wildflowers in the Australian Outback…
“Cunningham’s Rattlepod” its beautiful soft green colours offset against the bright red sand dunes in Welford National Park, Outback Australia.
Photos: Janet Planet…
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A Desert Home…
Photo: Baz – The Landy, Little Sandy Desert, Outback Australia…
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Natures Art Work – In the Australian Bush
Photo: Janet-Planet, Yengo National Park, 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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Bark Art – In the Australian Outback
Photo: Janet-Planet, along the Anne Beadell 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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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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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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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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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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Spread your wings…
An Australian Kookaburra in full flight…
Photo: Baz – The Landy
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Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun!
One of the best things about camping is sitting around the fire cooking camp food…
And with a long-weekend on offer we are heading bush to escape the bounds of modern urban living, well for 48-hours at least!
On our travels we always cook on an open fire using our cast-iron camp oven. What better way is there to bring everyone together, hey?
Rest assured there is no shortage of laughter and friendly banter as we raise a glass to friendship, the setting sun projecting a montage of ever changing colour on a ruggedly beautiful landscape…
Camp Fire by the Billabong – Outback Australia
And what better way to greet the warming rays of the sun as it reaches out on a brisk spring morning than devouring a batch of scones with lashings of butter and jam, expertly prepared and cooked by my wonderful partner, Janet…
Camp food and fun in the bush with family and friends, you’ve gotta love it…hey?
Photos: Baz – The Landy
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If only the walls could talk…
Flinders Ranges, Outback Australia…
Photo: Baz – The Landy
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On Walk-About…
How good is the Australian Outback, hey? Absolutely mind-clearing country…
You could well be forgiven for thinking I was lost out here somewhere on walk-about, mind you there is some appeal to that…
Photo: Baz – The Landy
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…Speaking Welsh (And Jibberish)
Aberystwth, a seaside town deep in the Welsh heartland is about as far away from the red ochre soil of the Australian Outback you could get, but it has much in common.
The locals are warming and friendly, the beer is cold, and I’m sure if you drink enough of it you’ll be able to converse in the Welsh native tongue.
The amber fluid usually finds its way around most language barriers…
Strewth, speaking of cold, it is the middle of summer, 15 degrees and the wind so strong that it’d “blow ‘ya dog off its chain”…
But hey, I’m not complaining, blimey, I could get used to this, for a while anyway!
Photos: Baz – The Landy
Ps: Did Benny Hill ever “Carry-On” here?
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To Travel is to Live (And Warm Beer)
“To move, to breathe, to fly, to float,
To gain all while you give,
To roam the roads of lands remote,
To travel is to live.”
I was reminded of this eloquent quote from Hans Christian Andersen as Mrs Landy, Janet-Planet, and I took an early morning stroll in the picturesque village of Dittisham, situated on the River Dart in Devon, England.
Yes, I hear the chorus ring out…
“There is no red dust or never ending blue skies in the South of England Baz”…
Crikey, I can live with that, for a week or two, but seriously, warm beer?
Mind you, after a couple of pints down at the Ferry Boat Inn, okay Janet, three, I didn’t realise we were counting, one can almost get used to it…
“To travel is to live”.
Photos: Baz – The Landy
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Sucking the life out of “The Local”
Have we gentrified our pubs so much that the life and soul of “the local” has all but disappeared?
The thought came to mind recently as I sat in the bistro of our local, a typical suburban pub in Sydney within walking distance from home.
I lamented that there wasn’t anything as simple as bangers and mash on the menu as I drank a beer served in a glass that would look more at home as a vase with a bunch of flowers in it…
Let’s face it, there is nothing better than the company of friends and good pub food washed down with a couple of schooners of Fourex. Not some beer brewed with water taken from a stream on the eastern side of a mountain in some place I couldn’t pronounce even if I wasn’t into my third schooner.
I mean, what’s wrong with a good old Fourex? Okay, VB or Carlton Draught if you prefer and a Chardy for the girls…
Perhaps I’m showing my class here, but one of the things I truly look forward to is a trip into the bush, the outback, down a dusty track where you are likely to develop a thirst that can only be quenched with a schooner or two at day’s end in a pub that is most likely called “The Royal” or maybe “The Railway” or “Tattersall’s”.
Crikey, even Janet (Mrs Landy) has been known to down a beer or two in these revered establishments!
It’ll be nothing fancy mind you, a few bar stools here and there mostly occupied by Bluey and the boys who’ll tip their hats and give you a G’day as you step through the door. The menu simple, but tasty and its okay to toss your dog a couple of scraps to clean off the plate when you’re done…
The conversation is typical, but mostly amusing, no-one is taking it too seriously, or concerned that you are wearing the right clothes, after all shorts and singlets are the go, if you like, and you’re not going to need to mortgage ya’ house when it comes to your turn to shout!
Crikey, Mrs Landy and I have enjoyed some great moments in some out of the way places in the Australian Bush, The Outback – and we might have had just that one too many on an occasion here and there, but that is usually because our classic pubs in the bush are timeless, especially when the amber fluid flows and the banter ramps up!
So tell me, where is your favourite “watering” hole, hey?
Photos: Baz – The Landy
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Man made objects – In a barren landscape
Trilby Station, Outback Australia…
Photo: Baz – The Landy (Out and About)
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