Drivers, cyclists, skateboard riders, walkers like the beach circuit on Sundays but it was in gridlock and a chance to get the camera out and enjoy the scene while waiting.
At the conclusion of the coming super-car race, Newcastle people could be allowed to do a lap of the   course in compensation. 

Walking was very popular yesterday. In Newcastle - for a change.

New life new hope in this exciting time of disruption although disruption is at arms length in this benign life of complacency that is the experience of many of us.

Splash!

 Jumping off a little old bridge was very popular. Anarchy prevailed in a village tucked away up north!  

Peaceful waters

Seeking peaceful times in 2017 and more than just 'going with the flow'.

Road Trip 6493ks

Camped by a billabong.............beyond Leeton

'UNESCO' and 'endangered' hovers over the coral reefs of Queensland.  The ocean has warmed up and as a consequence, disastrously, colour has drained out of areas of coral. Cycles of recovery occur but are predicted to be less likely with increased global warming.
  The minister to do with global warming wants to rest on his laurels. Can't we do better than his reasoning that if the coal mines (in Queensland) are not developed than another country such as Indonesia will produce more coal of a type that is more polluting.
 Saving the wonders of the reef and reduction of carbon pollution comes at a cost. There is a price to pay in money and jobs.

 The coral in the photo is a rather old souvenir that was found by chance in Newcastle. It is more colourful than the image and surely it is the natural colour.  Although I have been to the reef area I never saw the coral except for a bit of snorkeling where coral was not a big feature but the island was lovely. 

Road Trip

Darling River  Wilcannia. NSW.
A series of connected lakes are filled by periodic flooding of the river...a process that is becoming rarer and rarer.
Lake Woytchugga (2000 hectares) is one of the ephemeral overflow lakes, getting water every 7 - 10 years. Overall, water birds and others including the red-tailed cocatoo use the vegetation to nest and to survive. Aquatic life is present.
The area is full of cultural significance in the life of the traditional inhabitants.  Fish, yabbies, mussels, shrimp, ducks, swans and waterfowl were foodstuffs during gatherings.
Sufficient water is key to survival of these age old remote environments.
Data displayed by river authorities. 

Road Trip

Parliament House displays a whole wall of large panels: Six River Odyssey.  In vain.  Green wash.  That's all it is.
Many of the politicians therein are incapable of a noble decision. Anti environment. Water - Water minister!!

Dedicated heros work to prolong the life of the Murray Darling Rivers while others ignore all the science and work in opposition.
The overall picture is of most importance and those who suffer up stream could restructure with assistance.
Deals are broken and South Australia, a small threatened but competent state, has been doubled crossed.

  From Hindmarsh Island, S A -  the ultimate mouth of the Murray River, in the distant centre is the outlet to the open sea and a dredge or two are in situ, this October. Water was less scarce at the time.

Coorong National Park in its beauty was the setting for the classic nature tale Storm Boy by Colin Thiele which was also made into a film.  And it has an indigenous aspect.
The National Film and Sound Archives is currently featuring an on line revival of this significant film.
 See nfsa.gov.au
 

Yet another Chautauqua. Even through the glass in the window of the train carriage the scene was truly green.  Rice fields grew all the way there and back in Java.
  It must be the case that over centuries of tending the land it has been levelled, divided and devised to succeed in holding a shallow bath of water for the growing of the staple food. 
  The impression is not one of broad acres which would seem fitting to meet the high demand. More often multiple small fields in different stages of growth are seen and well orchestrated and cultivated by one or two expert farmers or a small group.  Corn and other unidentified crops are there also. 

 Amazingly the crops must be harvesting by hand as no mechanisation was apparent except for the rotary hoe seen now and again getting along half submerged. No water buffalo. Fertiliser is made available and was the subject of some scamming according to the press. Plastic pieces were hung to flap in the breeze and act as scarecrows.
  Rice fields have 'fingers' into the small villages

and up onto higher 'shelves' in the hills, every where.
  The island has a fair share of hilly country.  Gardening extended up very steep hills, in valleys and fields and centers of population were a constant feature. 
  Next to the watery fields a farmer's house, in brick, would be seemingly built sat flat on the damp ground.  In all, the housing steadfastly resists change.
  The cooked rice was invariable good. 

Listed historical Walka Water Works near Maitland, Hunter Valley.  Old machinery is displayed.  Otherwise, the area is used for outdoor recreation. This was the site of the original water supply.

Flood water rose up to the top and over the bank on the eastern side.  The bridge had been smashed and a young archer shot an arrow about 40 metres to carry a rope across the river to set up a rope and pulley with an indispensible milk crate used to carry supplies back and forth. 

  The bridge served a small community.  Alternative access over private property has been made but is not as handy.

Timber from the bridge had

lasted a long time and shows signs of old age and a lot of repairs.

 

Liquids. This is Macca free country.  This is beyond the Golden Arches. No sighting are made of McDonalds in some northern latitudes despite the global reach. The inbetween snacks are ok at McCafe, parking is always handy, newspapers to read, the scene is familiar, or too familiar, for the traveller.

  Underground water is pumped to a watering hole near the highway. Supposedly ready for whatever live stock are in the area even when nearby rail transport is no more. Judging by the hoof prints all the cattle carefully follow the same little track as they approach the dam despite the wide open spaces.  Ducks also like the oasis.
  The greenery is a change but the thorny plant is a pest that spreads.

Newcastle baths pounded by waves Friday.  The tide was receeding.

  Eye strain, stress and compulsive viewing this weekend with the Socceroo's victory and Serena W in Melbourne - a knock out with Toyota styled celebratory leaps!  The pair were in complete contrast.

    At the swimming pool the usually benign seating was submerged. Experience leads one to step back to avoid a shower. A man said he ruined his camera there in the last storm.

In Queensland, the Burdekin river or similar on getting closer to Townsville and the coast.  Unlike southern rivers this river has extensive wide flat sandy wet and dry areas possibly less than a third of which is pictured. Full flood would be something else. Townsville is reached at the end of the day with a full moon and the wide open plains left behind us.   Across this very long corridore, along the Flinders Highway in northern Queensland the population is insignificant in number and it is quite a task to provide what they've got.

The road to the East coast goes along the flat country in Queensland and crosses hundreds of dry and wet creek beds. Water flows south during the tropical-north wet season probably.That occurs late in the second half of the year off hand. So road and rail construction had its challenges.
For the Sabbath, today, the very ancient book of Exodus has Moses striking a rock so that water would flow out and that was a big relief because he was beginning to think the people would stone him if there was no water.  I read, once again, how living water is a metaphor for the devine...and for if there's an emptyness... was that know long long ago...it's a very old story....Queensland is a land far more ancient than Exodus....     

Things to do on an extremely hot extremely humid late afternoon. Two surf boats race to the shore at Crescent'. Surf was 'up' yesterday.

Just outside Hat Head where hibernation was setting in until next holiday that brings campers and caravaners.  The action of the tidal river is something to behold but I missed out seeing that. Mid north coast NSW.

On Lake Macquarie, yes, the yachties were 'dragging the chain'.  Sunday was breeze less and cloudless.

Winter approaches and the sun's rays get lower and lower on the horizon at Croudace Bay and all over.
House design is best that makes good use of where the sun reaches over the seasons so as to save energy and decrease the carbon footprint and save money over heating and cooling.  Insulation and water tank requirements are in place. Maybe more is leglislated. But that's just the start.
For instance, in this climate, it is madness to build a home with next to no eves to provide shade while designs that use passive solar heating and passive cooling and lessen dependence on air-con are quite possible and responsible as earthlings if we could break away from suburban conformity.

 

Beyond Pirate Bay to the south eastern tip of Tasmania on a warm sensational cloudless calm balmy day. Now, some days later, cool autumn days have arrived instead - according to the forcasters.
To the south is a vast distance to Antarctica and it was ironic that the coast was clear and no wild southern seas were evident that day and features such as the Devils Kitchen, no less, were devoid of any wild displays apart from rumblings.
Others may take a fast speed boat on an xtreme and deafening ride around the bays and cliffs.

It is proposed that global warming has resulted in warm sea currents flowing further south than is usual to this coastline and raising the water temperature bringing fish species usually seen in northern waters and decreasing the growth of special amazing underwater 'forests' of tall sea grasses.