Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Two Birds Without a Tinnie (I guess you had to have watched the program?)

My mate Marie and I decided to take a road trip last Saturday. Nothing planned. Just us two birds in a Prado, a loaf of bread, chunk of cheese, bottles of water and a camera.

Marie was in search of Conckerberries and I wanted photos of 'groves of boabs'. Spotting Conkerberrie bushes on the side of the road and a little way in was my first lesson. The bush is not all that distinctive, but the berry is amazing to eat, so I soon learned to spot them. We found lots of the bushes in flower, but not many with any berries ready to eat. It seems Christmas is the time, so another trip is planned. (the bushes have to be not TOO far in from the road, so we don't run into any King Browns)

Boabs grow in self established groves. It is quite wonderful when you teach your eye to look beyond the 50 metres either side of the road. If you let your eyes look far enough, the boab groves go as far as your eye can see. Photos just don't do them justice. The boabs are just something else! I know that over the Christmas break, these are something I have to paint.

Termite mounds are amazing feats of engineering and architecture. I am yet to work it all out, but they change shape and structure between FX and Broome .. like they are a different 'family'. I am sure that is it.

We have had some rain, although most of the rain has been further north. The Mighty Fitzroy River is fed from North and the Old Crossing Bridge is already under water!! Just with the small amount that has fallen. The river is flowing rust red, which I am told, means the rain has been caught in the Margaret River (not the wine country from down south), which doesn't flow often, so begins with silt. We have tried to take photos from places we can take comparison photos from later on. (silly me, though, never took one of the Old Bridge showing before it flooded)

Another thing I love ... dogs are just dogs here! They are playful, work in packs without fear and without aggression. They JUST ARE! Love it. Dogs just roam around, without noticing humans.

Anyway .. here are the photos. Enjoy! (more to come - having trouble uploading)






3 comments:

Unknown said...

You're looking good, Noela. Those trees and termite mounds are really impressive - I may have to buy one of your paintings.

By the way, aren't you supposed to have a big floppy hat on when you're out in the sun? :-)

Noela said...

Thanks Dan!
Lathered up with Sunscreen - trust me! The call me 'gecko' here, because I am SO white! :-)
Next time Marie and I go out like this we intend to take a video camera and do a whole narative .. bit a spoof.
I tell you what, the best of my boab paitings I will send you. (now I just have to get painting!)

p.s. Dan, a tinnie is an aluminium dinghy ... just so as you know.

Unknown said...

I'm glad you cleared that up Noela. I thought a tinnie was a small tin can, like the ones veggies come in. :)