Weekend Assignment #172: Travel Under Own Power

John has done it again... forced me to write about something... well forced is a harsh word to use... but he did I tells you... can you look into these caring eyes and Not do what he asks? can you? I think not!

Weekend Assignment #172: Talk about a time in which you moved or traveled a significant distance under your own power. That means walking, running, swimming, biking, hiking, and so on -- in some significant way your muscles were involved. As for the distances involved, think miles; we're talking some real effort. It doesn't have to be a marathon or a triathlon (although those would count), just a time when you got to the end of what you were doing feeling tired but possibly triumphant as well.

OK my story starts when I was first at University (long story but the cut it short I went twice and got one degree - somehow I feel cheated!) I had it in my young mind that I wanted to be an environmental scientist when I grew up. So I was doing a Applied Science degree majoring in Environmental Science. In my second year I was asked by a post grad student to help with some survey work in the East Gippsland of Victoria. Basically we where working in the major Logging distinct of Cairn River, surveying frogs, gathering numbers and checking which species where around and if any where endangered. It was fun work and we got along really well. Simon the post grad student was about 5 years older then me and helped me out with some troubles I had at the time, girl friend (turned fiance), life, money and all that crap. It was nice to be able to escape into the bush and do some really cool exploring type stuff, drive around in a 4-wheel drive and really Go Bush!! (not in the political sense so calm down Jeff!!)

A 4-wheel drive I hear you say... I thought this was about going under your own power?? Well yes it is, and that part of the story goes a little something like this.

For most of our trips out and about we used a Toyota Land Cruiser, a big long wheel base vehicle, roof racking, wench at front and back, a real machine with an extra tank attached for long hauls. We drove that thing everywhere - I remember a time when we came across this HUGE tree that had fallen across the track, its circumference was taller then the truck, so there was no way our little chain saw was going to cut through that baby. So, we made a path around the tree and even though truck was at a slight angle (so much of an angle I got out and walked) we made it around OK. We really trusted and like that truck, so when we went to the Universities Vehicle Centre to head out again, we were sad to learn that somewhere else had booked out our baby and we where left with a Toyota Hilux. The Hilux was an impressive truck, high wheel base and some Monster tyres, the tray had a hard top canopy on it and all looked really good, so off we went.

The Vehicle Centre always filled the trucks up for us before we left and we always did a quick fill up at the last service station before hitting the real bush. When I filled the tank I noticed that the fuel gauge hadn't moved, we had travelled 3 hours from Canberra so we both expected to see some drop in fuel. This worried us greatly, how could we tell how much fuel we has left if the gauge didn't work? A little concerned we drove to our main base camp, unpacked, set up and had a quite drink to discuss our plans for the week in the bush.

Getting our maps out we worked out we would be travelling nearly 600 kms in the week - would the tank last for that amount to distance, with some 4-wheel driving and up and down hills and still get us back to the service station? Re planning our priorities we worked out a system whereby we would drive to a point and walk the rest of the way, conduct our surveys and walk back to the truck or camp over night.

Now as part of our surveying we had to walk a long way as it was. We first would walk from the track down to the creek or stream, walk up the stream, measuring out every 50 metres for at least a kilometre, whilst also conducting a day light search for frogs, spawn, tadpoles and frog habitat. Then at the end of the survey section, we would set up a small afternoon camp, maybe have a swim in the water (down stream) and cook up some dinner and wait for dusk. Then we would walk back along the section with head lamp and hand torch, looking for those little amphibian critters. Catch, id, measure and release those we saw. Detect and count those we heard and avoid the swimming Red Belly Black Snakes (once i encountered one that was at least 5 feet long, we came to an agreement whereby I went right he went left - I think he ended up eating the frog I heading towards - such is life in the WILD. I have more stories to tell of the nasties we found over the summer, leeches, Copperheads and others).

So here we are, already walking quite a bit, with the extra mileage clocking up as we park many kms from where the creek/streams start, doing over night hikes down rough tracks. All in order to save fuel because we thought we where really close to running out. So after that week so hiking almost everywhere, putting off some streams and area because it took us so much longer to get to them. We finally decided to head back to the service station, fill up and go home. Tired and very weary looking we must have been a site for the operator behind the counter. That was the single best tasting cold beverage I have ever had - and it was only Coke (beers came after we got back to campus - before we showered even... hehehe nothing beats the sink of a week in the bush like the beer soaked carpet of a campus bar!). After we filled up I was responsible for filling in the trucks log book, I grabbed the receipt off Simon and entered all the details, kms travelled, litres of fuel and the cost... I noticed that we had travelled less kms in the bush then we had driving down from Canberra... man we must have walked a lot in this week. I made this comment to Simon who said that next week when we came down again we where going to take it easy and just do some call boxes (a recording device that samples frog calls over a period of a few weeks, a few seconds recording at a time, these are then listened to and records kept as the what frogs called and how often etc), much to my relief.

Simon had a chat to the vehicle maintenance guy, saying that the fuel gauge was not reading right. The guy laughed and said "long range tank"'. Both Simon and I where puzzled by this response and said in unison "What?".

"The Hilux has a long range tank, the gauge doesn't register until you use up all the fuel in the long range part... hey you guys didn't even get to half a tank.." to which he then had to stop ridiculing us 'cause he was laughing so hard.

Needless to say that beer went down well and the few after it... we never took the Hilux again.

Raygun - the means to get Ray -

I have just found the site!!! This is brilliant - I wish I had enough cash to purchase one of these... Hmmm Rayguns.... If only I has the cash... Oh well go have a looksee.

I could run around the house zapping all the baddies and maybe even set up a room complete with all these great Sci-Fi props... Oh such loveliness.... dreams...

Weta are a brilliant company and the fact that they are selling things like this means that fans like me can one day when we are cashed up get things like this... just because.

Happy day!

Monday Photo Shoot - Crowds

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Get a picture of a crowd or crowded event. Conventions, weddings, parties in cramped spaces -- you know, anywhere there's lots of folks doing something.

I had to really go searching for this one - didn't think that I had any, when I stumbled upon this little gem. It was taken a few years ago at a Radiohead concert in Sydney. I got pre order tickets - that ended up being at the back wall - literally... so much for pre-order !! So I took my digital camera along to see what I could get didn't think much would turn out but the lights make for a good contrast etc... Then they did a huge Blue explosion of colour and I managed to capture it and the crowd!

I am kinda excited about finding this because I am off to see the Cure on the 10th August, they are my all time favourite band... and this probably will be the last time they come out here... It will be on at the same venue as this concert but I tickets in Section 9 (My favourite section!!) Does having a favourite section at a music venue mean that you go to too many concerts... or just a more discerning music goer??

Story time

OK so I'm not usually into the sort of stories my other half reads, romance with a touch (ALOT) of horse stuff involved (no not that! just events and the like - dirty mind you have). They don't interest me - not because the stories are bad (although I think she gets her fair share of bad ones) just that I am more into Fantasy and Sci-Fi - So when Anjel Pony started a new blog just for her serialisation of her horse novel. I thought "well I will go along and support her." Not expecting to become involved with the story, not expecting it to grab me in any way - just to enjoy her creative efforts and offer support.

But I was wrong.

It's not so much that I like the idea of stories about horses and horsey things, it's that the characters in the story are real, which is something that I strive for in any of my writing. Anjel has captured her characters, flaws and all. It is easy to step into the minds of the characters and understand them in some way.

I know that this story comes from experience that Anjel has had, and I think it is a great way to write. Use your own life and experiences to tell a story. I think this is going to be something that I can come to and read - get an inside into her mind - and also to enjoy the characters and what ever will happen to them.

Go here to read the Prologue or here to her main page.

Good news

Yes I have good news at last from the news centre, the jerk-off judge who sued a dry cleaners has LOST his case and will have to pay court costs.

What with Paris out of Gaol it seems to be a great week... here for exclusive footage!

Well mostly! (cue drum roll)

India, that source of all things good and wholesome (at least food wise), has the new best way to beat poachers... sic your croc on them!

But Mr Banerjee says large crocodiles leaping out of the water to attack prey or capsize boats and canoes are proving to be a good weapon.
"Unlike guard dogs, crocodiles cannot be tamed and are ferocious and can attack anyone in the swamps," he said.

So beware would be poachers - I bought a croc and I'm not afraid to use it...

"Release the Crocs"

Day Off

I have a day off tomorrow and as such I plan to do something with it... Yes maybe even finish a computer game - I am looking at you Dazza!! - note worthy note here (hehehe I crack me up) Dazza helped me finish Halo when I got a little stuck, we went co-op and blasted our way to the end of that darn game! Woot! So I am guessing that between the two of us we could easily complete Halo 2 just in time for me to win lotto and buy Halo 3 with my Xbox 360 (that I do not have as yet!!)
Well it is either that or I shall go slightly mad!! I need a day of total oblivion and time wasting - aside from getting a load of washing done and cleaning up the kitchen, ok honey! Anyway Dazza might be busy - I asked him to tell me when he would be free either tomorrow or Thursday. So maybe I'll just be Blogging my day away tomorrow and on Thursday we will take over the world. One game at a time - I could finish Battlefront 2, I started to play that again the other day.. Hmmmm the choice is big
Have fun!

Delay...

Sorry I have been away of late... the play is drawing to a close and I find myself with less time to do anything at the moment. Alas I have been working more - the project I am doing is coming to a close so I am a little more busy at work and doing more days!!

On a brighter note my darling is celebrating her birthday today and I am Happy and proud of her. She is such a great actor (she is playing my sister in the current play we are in) and a wonderful teacher and horse rider... She makes me proud everyday.

I have still to complete the next part to the Yowie story - it is still coming...one day but with the play finishing and time getting a little more easier to find I will get on to it - I promise...

Well off to search the web for things to things to tell you all about!