One more joyous sunrise

Time to reflect on Sea Eagles.

Lucky escape!

There were two blokes, one on the fore-deck and one at the helm, zooming along the river, when along came a Sea Eagle carrying sticks to build a nest.
The boat startled the Sea Eagle, and it dropped the pointed stick, which grazed the bloke on the fore-deck knocking a bit of bark off his arm and went through the window narrowly missing the helsman.

So beware nesting Sea Eagles!

A Happy Ending to a Dogs Adventure

Now 24 hours after being re-united, both dog and owner are still happy to be back together.
The dog had wandered into our camp a few days earlier and occupied a lot of my time, so we were pleased when the efforts of our hosts came up with an owner.
It transpired that the dog named Mack, after the Mack trucks near his home had jumped from a moving vehicle in the bush over a month prior to arriving in our camp.
The owners had searched, left food out and done all they could, but knowing how difficult survival would be had reluctantly ordered two replacement pups due for delivery the following week after we were able to return him home. So neither dingos, nor crocodiles, or pythons had been able to stop this tough little bloke.
He still said g`day to me, which was something I suppose, after refusing to let me out of his sight for a few days. But he was certainly pleased to see his "real" owner, and I did`nt have a camera with me to record the wonderful moment!

After a hunt.

Previously a quadbike was the transport of preference, but now in order to take the wife along Ben has aquired, a "quadbike built for two!"

Ben arrives to go pig shooting

Entertainment

More Camp Drafting

On the way back to camp

And with a new hair-do

Polo-cross

Getting into the spirit.

Camp Drafting

A small herd of wild Buffalo

A small herd of wild Buffalo standing in the middle of the road caused some heavy braking going to Adelaide River. Sorry but the only photo I got was when they were already in the scrub. You can just see them.

Camp Drafting in the Dust

Saturday 13th/14 June I attended the Adelaide River Show, and Cattlemen & women form near and far where there to pit their skills against each other.
campdrafting

A Yellow Peril menaces again!

When the pilot changes propeller pitch with a rev. change on this aircraft that has been flying in and out of Nauiyu airstrip lately the sound would surely wake the dead. And perhaps it should.Perhaps it should wake ALL of us up!!!
I believe it is another "Yellow Peril", not only by appearance, but by perilous threat.
Most likely a minerals survey aircraft mapping out more country for the overseas investors to plan on digging up and ruining in the name of shareholders future wealth. Those who benefit most from trashing our country, don't live here.
And Governments are made up of vote chasing self interested politicians, so they don't care for anything except votes. Grrrrr..... Makes me angry!

And Dancers from Emu Point

Basketball

A hard earned feed.

Little kids running!

Running!

At Nauiyu, Footy!

Leo Abbott

I spent Friday, Saturday, & Sunday with Leo Abbott, who`s family run cattle on stations 117 km West of Alice Springs the smallest being 78 square km, the largest, 1600 square km. Leo`s dad Barry Abbott has for more than 40years taken in young people with serious substance and behavioural problems. Drug, glue sniffing, petrol sniffing, those considered hopeless are sent there by magistrates. They are taught to ride horses, muster cattle and do all the jobs of a drover.
The aim is to have them removed from life threatening practices, then send them out to live there lives. The kids are from any State in Australia or any colour.
The Abbott family are well known for success of what they do to rehabilitate kids.
Leo Abbott has traveled widely in study of developments in looking after substance abuse kids, and is on a range of related committees.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/11/12/1100227576874.html?from=storylhs

Three days later

They did the three trips to ferry everyone to Nauiyu and now their camp is packed up and they are about to leave on the four hour trip on a rough gravel road to Palumpa(Nganmarriyanga)in the hope of arriving before sunset. The tow rope is attached for any water crossings, and the bare-foot driver ready to start the drive towards the West with the sun in his eyes all the way. Doing a bloody good job.

On our way back with the bananas

Up ahead is a bus load of kids from a community West of the river going to Nauiyu to play in a footy match. The bus driver is waiting for a driver inexperienced in bush driving to arrive in a Toyota Troopy. The plan is to tow the bus across without the engine running, because the low slung fan belt is prone to throwing water up into the engine compartment and all over the spark plugs, which off course, stops the engine!!!, which in the middle of the river is not a good thing. BUT, an inexperienced driver towing across??????? And further more they intend doing three trips across today!!
Our fingers are really crossed.
Not my idea of a smart move.

Daly River Police Station

To Nauiyu, regardless!!

We learnt this morning that the Nauiyu Community store received a delivery this morning that included one box of bananas, expected to be sold out quickly!!
So not having had any with our breakfast cereal for a couple of days, regardless of river height, we are going to try and get a couple.

What magnificent design.

Not everybody makes it!

Strong current can be tricky even when the river is lower, as in this instance.

Rain over recent weeks has caused some difficuty

Sunday 30th May the weather improved with an easing of the humidity and Monday morning was bright sunny no humidity. The "Dry Season" had arrived.
BUT, the result of some good showers of rain upsteam over recent weeks, hitting some high tides, has made it really quite difficult for campers and caravans.
The river presents a certain amount of challenge at certain times of day, just at present.

BUT a bit more of a challenge to bring caravans in.

If you like a special jam???

The Wild Rosella makes a tasty jam for those who wish to make it there is an abundance of plants at present

Variety in flowers also.

The Wet Season lingers.

And the unusual very high humidity has some compensations, such as hatching out many varieties of butterflys and moths, adding to the colour.

Plenty of flowers

Lots of roadside water about

Crossing The Daly, at low tide!!!

An earie looking Lake Hart SA

Overnight near Lake Hart South Australia

Perhaps once a roadside business?

There is a hole nearby where perhaps the stone was dug for the building.

Near Burra Creek Gorge South Australia

Possibly used to be a church, but look at the straight edges on the corners

Abandoned Farm house, near Burra Creek Gorge camp area

Start of 2010 Trip

At Burra Creek Gorge South Australia