22 July 2016 Friday

Today I visited Australia’s last operational whaling station in Albany, West Australia. Closed for good in 1978 it still has some interesting tales to tell. Put a lot of people out of work, for good reason and it appears that the local population supported the closure. The entire station is open to the public, even the whale oil storage tanks are utilized as media centers to show how it was done: Not pretty.

 Lots of distasteful pictures of the slaughter, many stories of heroic actions taken by whalers to save lives of other whalers and others as well. A special group of people that were supplying a demand for an oil that didn’t smoke or stink..

Spent the night in Albany, pretty cool down here at night,10C last night, had to pull out my emergency blanket.

23 July Saturday

Drove a ways Saturday to get to the Valley of the Giants and Tree Top Walk.  The tree top walk is not for those afraid of heights. Not sure how high I was but high enough to ask myself ‘why am I doing this”. Next I went for a walk among these giant trees. Not as big as the Redwoods in CA, but bigger than the Douglas Fir in WA. Let the pictures do the talking.

23 July 2016 Saturday

Spent the day at the National ANZAC Center. A memorial for the Australian and New Zealand volunteers to WW1 and to the heroic acts at Gallipoli and elsewhere. This memorial is large,has a lot of WW1 artifacts. The roads are lined by tree planted by relatives to honor thier loved ones. Each tree has brass plaque with a soldiers name and rank. Similar to what use to be Victor Memorial Drive in Mpls. A popular place I'm guessing from the number of people  here.

24 July 2016

Spent the day driving. Started out at a RV park in Ravensthorpe, WA. Drove about 650 km (360mi) to get to a rest stop 50 km East of Balladonia, WA.

Saw my first Emu; big birds! Had 3 or 4 little ones with him and wasted no time getting off the shoulder and into the bush when saw me slowing down. The Emu is the ultimate gift you can give the brides Mother as a dowry type thing in the Aboriginal Culture. Part of their betrothal process. 

Lots of Rape seed (canola) grown around here. You can drive for miles and see nothing but the yellow fields as far as you can see. All of a sudden it becomes miles of sheep, then miles of tilled fields ,then miles of Green freshly planted something ?, then more miles of yellow fields. I had an idea what was going on but stopped to ask a sheep herder. With a barely understandable accent he explained it has to do with how the planting and harvesting machinery is moved about..

Ended todays journey on Australia’s longest straight highway. 140+ km of perfect straight road. About 90 Miles. Staying at a Rest Stop in the Outback. Black hardly describes how dark it gets out here. It is cloudy tonight but nearly a full moon above so it isn’t that black. Haven’t seen many of these since the Northern Territory.

26 July 2016 Tuesday

 Spent most of the day driving through the outback. Nothing new just the absence of human activity. Stopped at place called “ Head of Bight” of the Great Australian Bight Marine Park. It was worth it. Observed 4 Mothers with their newborns in pristine water. A place where this whale comes to have their young. A sight to see for sure. Took many pictures and when I find some WIFI some pictures will be be on the blog. Australia claims the same as Alaska “the last Frontier”. So far I’d call it even!

Drove some more and staying at the Penong Roadhouse. Still heading for Coober Pedy. The underground city. A goal of this trip.
Thought I'd throw in some outback table fare.

Think I'm back in business. In case I didn't mention it the phone I bought at the Sydney airport term, the one that is "good all over Australia" hasn't worked since I left Queensland and wifi is scarce across the Northern Territory and Northern Section of West Australia. I was told to get a Telstra phone, Did that and it comes with a bonus; providing wifi to my laptop via bluethooth. Two birds with one stone!
Spent all day yesterday at Wooramel Cattle station, mentioned it before but promised details. 360,000 acres supports a lot of cattle; thousands, lots of sheep; many, and goats; lots. Mixed in are lot of ferral livestock; cows, sheep and goats.  I was told all of the Goats are ferral and as mentioned before HUGE. About the size of Shetland horses.A river runs through the cattle station but has been dry for some time. still is a sight to see with all the Gum trees and thier configurations.
They herd the live stock and drive them to corrals using airplane spotters and ranch hands on motorbikes. These ranch hands are called Jackaroos. A training position to be come an owner or manager of a cattle station. Saw some of these guys; Always moving ,doing something. Think one of them may have been a female; A Jillaroo. A very nice place full of Ausie travelers. Ausies indeed are some of USA's best friends.
Did a lot of driving today from the Wooramel to a small town called Leeman. I left the main road and followed the bait to drive the Indian Ocean shore line. Paved roads but Monsoon rains along the coast. Think I saw water once or twice other than the windshield. Hope to see some ocean tomorrow. I'll be gettin back on the main highway in the morning. Still about 400 km from Perth.
To S&S Very good to know we can communicate again.

15 July 2016

Left Darwin a few days ago and anxious to do so, 34C, hotter than I care for and I'm told I got out on time. Went to 40C the day after I left.
Drove to Willeroo about 500KM (300Miles) and to Kununurra the next day. To Fitzroy Crossing the following day and Derby the next. Heard later that there was some violent behavior in Derby the night I left.
Drove to Sandfire Roadhouse next day and found the accomidations pretty good. These roadhouses are nott what I thought they would be.
Went on the Roebourne the next day and took a tour of the area including a iron ore mining operation owned by Rio Tinto. It is huge. They load ships 24/7/365 off of two wharfs all headed for China, Indonesia and Southeast Asia. The demand is so great a third loading wharf is being built. And the iron ore is here in Western Australia. The ground is dark Red everywhere I have been.
Following day I spent with an Aboriginal Guide: Clint Walker. Spent 8 or 9 hours with Clint. Took me to many sites that are special to the Aboriginals. Explained in great detail many Beliefs, Customs
Mysteries, Dreaming, Religion and Rituals of his people. I wish I could remember it all. But he is a forth coming man and we traded emails and I expect I will have questions for him and Jerry Kelly back in Tennant Creek
What a great experience I am having learning about a culture that is about 50000 years old.
Left Roebourne and spent the nightNanutarra Roadhouse, left eary the next morning and drove toWooramel where I am now.
At Wooramel Cattle Station. A small livestock operation of 356,000 acres 1430 sq km. 60 km of Indian ocean shoreline.They cattle,sheep and goats. The goats are ferrel and huge about the size of a shetland pony. The owners harvest them and ship them to Middle Eastern countries.
More when I learn more.
 

Wednesday 6 July 2016

Spent the last few days in Jabiru, Darwin and Katherine in the Northern Territory (NT). At Jabiru went for a Cultural river boat ride that is run by the Aboriginals. Learned much about their culture and saw some salt water Crocs. There are signs all over that warn not to enter the water and stand away from the shore line. The bottom of the campground fence is cemented into the ground as the salty’s will dig under fence in search for a snack.

In Darwin I visited the WW2 Museum. Quite extensive with all usual things you find at WW2 Memorials. From an Americans view I was pleased to see the Aussies recognition of our help with their war effort against the Japanese.

Later that same night at a Caravan park where an Independence Day celebration was being held I ran into a couple of fellow Americans. Both well lubricated with Aussie beer. After a bit of talking I discovered they were both US Marines. One was from close to Hastings. I will not mention names here to protect the innocent: When they learned I was Irish they wanted to do was shake hands. Claimed he was Company Commander but politely refused to discuss what he was doing here. His friend was silent about anything. Made the evening more interesting at least

Katherine was a drive through town. Have seen a lot of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. In  Tennant Creek, Katherine and Darwin many are seen on the main streets of town congregating  anywhere there is shade and a place to sit down.

Monday night I stayed at a small Caravan Park just west of Katherine. Got to gabbing with a gal, Tina was her name. We wound up chatting through sunset and into the night. Shared a lot of info and learned we had a bit in common. Including right hand thumbs that were healing from what appeared to be encounters with a hammer. Tina looked at me seriously and declared “this is scary”. I thought so too.

Saw her again the next morning and we parted with a hug and exchange of emails. Tina is best described as one that I would bring home to meet Mom. She is a young chick, only 68.

Drove to Kununurra Yesterday, booked a flight on a tour of the Kimberlies, spent a restful night, got my oil changed and wrote this note.

As an Aussie would say: See ya Later!.

Pat    

29 + 30 June 2016

Charters Towers to  Mount Isa to Tennant Creek

Hi Again

The wheel bearing was fixed sooner than I expected. Decided I could move on to (the next place west)

First thing I saw was a camel, think it was in someone’s yard but it's hard to tell may have been the range.

Heading for Mount Isa tonight Driving the Outback reminds me of a new definition of nothingness. With exception of an occasional vehicle and the road I’m on there is little sign of human involvement. Made it to Mt. Isa area. Slept in the outback. It gets more than dark out here. The stars are so dense it is like a cloud.

Made it to Tennant Creek, went to the Aboriginal Culture center. It was late but Kate stayed and explained some things about Aboriginal art. Two Aboriginal ladies come in the morning and paint what I would call story boards. Each picture has a story that goes with it, but if you don't know the symbols you can't figure out the story. I expressed a desire to learn about Aboriginal culture, she suggested coming back the next day and meeting with Jerry Kelly

Came back to the Culture Center the next day, met Mr. Kelly. Got a wealth of info directly from Mr. Kelly Some topics: Map of aboriginal Colonies/Tribes each with their own language, 11 languages in Tennant Creek and other defining characteristics, Skin names and how they describe a person, a lesson in Bush Tucker (bush food), looking at picture of deceased (a totem) why some do not say hello or welcome, the connection between people and land and some stories that would bring a tear to your eye.

Here’s one: Mr. Kelly was one of the children, one of 50.000+ taken from their parents during a 1910 to 1970 government policy that did such a thing in the name of assimilation of the Aboriginals with the Europeans. He found his Mother in Tennant Creek, once he was released with the help of skin names.

I hope I got this stuff correct. If not; Mr Kelly will probably let me know as we swapped emails. 

Staying at a caravan resort that has everything. Currently sitting beside a pool full of people, at a table next to a table of local Aboriginals. I am listening but don’t understand a thing. There is a lot of rhythm in their speech. One talked to me but asked that I not write about him. Done!

Heading for Darwin tomorrow