Thursday, November 1, 2007, 09:03 PM
Just now & again it will happen that everything will come together for a setting Sun to bath a very special scene with all of the glow God can muster. Even more rarely will this canvas of God reveal something that is special to those privileged to have the view. Such was this Sunset last Sunday.
When you see a clear sky gap between the cloud in front & the horizon get ready for a revelation.
I am seated in the theatre in front of Gods canvas & so it was to behold
(Not quite finished)
Thank You to jophanie for her helping hand in this Entry
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( 3 / 1908 )Wednesday, October 24, 2007, 09:15 PM
In recent days we have seen three in one day & all before lunchtime within our garden. I am referring to the Eastern Brown Snake who at this time of year in September / October is out & about seeking a mate. A Crested Pigeon & Fairy Wrens are nesting in the garden now so these might be an added attraction to thier diet.
This snake had been sunning itself on the dirt roadway to our house on this coolish day. Luckily Mo was at home in the safety of the house as I was driving by when it was discovered. I had my camera so followed its departure into a nearby field....I am amazed by how quickly & effortlessly these reptiles can move over the ground, it is always a wonderful experience to behold.
On a more disturbing note with an appointment to our local Doctor last week, when I made mention of these high level sightings in a single day he informed me that there is no antivenom available outside of Wagga Wagga. He explained it is to scarce to be supplied for outlying communities.
Junee Hospital is 15 minutes away but Wagga Wagga is a good 25 minutes so to my liking that is to long a time. We have the compression bandages at hand in case of a bite & I of course say to Jenny to make sure she carries her cell or mobile phone with her at "all times" as this is the most single important life saving device one can have.
It is most important once bitten not to move if it can be avoided. In moving the snake venom is pumped through the lymphatic system of the body, so to remain still is a life saving strategy not easily achieved with the panic of being bitten.
See for more Information on the Eastern Brown Snake
(Pseudonaja textilis) the Australian Museum Website
www.austmus.gov.au
I have received a comment & very informative link from Julian that I would like to include :
http://www.livingwithwildlife.com.au/do ... pdfs.aspx.
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( 3 / 2050 )Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 10:57 PM
Many wonderful memories prevail of our holiday time in Alaska & over the border into the nearby Yukon of Canada. These are as the travel brochures highlight with towering snow capped mountains where Moose can be seen grazing in beautiful grass surrounded ponds. Where Beaver dams abound & Bear & Deer at times for the lucky can make themselves visible for a photo.
I have one lingering memory though which is not as the brochures dictate....I have another of Europe, our later destination which is of the cigarette butts between the cobblestones but that is another story.
On the wall of the Museum in the Old Salmon Canning Factory at Hoonah South of Juneau is a large photo I cannot forget.
It shows some dead horses & one which appears to be alive but on its knees head resting on the ground awaiting the release only death will bring from what was said to be human abuse.
In a Gulch not far from the summit of the White Pass above Skagway Alaska some 3,000 pack animals perished, victims of neglect & this abuse to overloading by Stampeders who in the year 1898 clambered ever upwards from Skagway far below to the Gold Fields of the Yukon in Canada. Perhaps as punishment beyond the Summit border Canadian mounted police at that time only allowed those to pass who could carry 1 ton of provisions for 1 year in the field.
At Fraser beyond the summit border lay a Glacier scarred valley floor of rock, where scoured out pools & ponds of water provided such difficulty to negioate that it was named The Valley of Torment
Beside the train Station at Fraser wildflowers soak up the Summer Sun
We boarded the train here to make the journey down the White Pass 2767ft to Skagway on the Lynn Canal below. We passed by The Valley of Torment, & it is this expression of what it stood for which has become a catch cry of mine.
It was here I think at Inspiration Point on the way down a view happened where I was lucky enough to see a ship down at Skagway.
The Observation Viewing ends of each carriage offer good opportunities for open air photography free of window reflections not always noticed with camera playback inspections...Besides one can experience the smell of the wild with the wind passing by, filled with the sounds of hissing brakes & cotton wood seed getting in your eyes which is much more fun than being inside. One must be vigilant to look up along the carriages however to see what openings in the trees is coming for a scenice photo or a bear close by the train track. This did happen along the way down & I can still see the Brown Bear standing on a rock besides the line nose twitching smelling the air of our passing. Had I an apple I could have easily tossed it to this tourist performer delighting everyone on board. As luck would have it at this point in time my digital camera sound card was full, but I had a Nikon FM2n all manual 35mm as a back up hanging round my neck so was able to grab it quickly to get one capture of the event.
On arriving at Skagway the Station area was packed with people, then after being bused to our Hotel & taking a Main St walk the penny dropped as to why there were so many on the boardwalks with cameras dangling around thier necks. It was of course because the Ships were in & we were to count four of them looming it seemed at the end of town.
Beyond the Shipping Terminal lay firstly the Railway Station line then the town of Skagway nestled in a flat valley floor below the towering peaks up to the Infamous White Pass.
I was up early the next morning & out in the town to find it empty. One could have fired a canon down the Main St & not hit a soul. Then later at Sundown of this July 3 we were to observe what we felt was a remarkable happening.
It was as though the Pied Pipers played & the children of Skagway came out drawn by this music.
Not long after when a Band from the Red Onion Saloon took over a boy in a little red car appeared on the St & peddled right up to almost where this Band were playing.
Shortly after this photo was taken the boy in the little red car peddled over near to where we were standing on the board walk corner out front of the Red Onion Saloon. From the conversation we overheard between this lad & one of the Mums present it was apparent he was a bit of a "Scally Wag" !
The children of Skagway gathered & from the youngest to eldest & wonderful interaction occured which we thought would not happen in our home town in Australia....Jenny being a long standing Primary School teacher commented this would just not occur with children of these different ages at home.
I lost sight of what happened here but I think there was a crash into the board walk when the rear wheel drive over revved & the handbrake failed.
The little red car lay abandoned by the side of the St...Forget Finding Wally See the Orange Crocs. From within a group of teenagers the little boy was hoisted skywards & with arm outstretched above for a moment he was King of the Castle.
The light was failing but I did manage to get some blurr happening.
The next morning being the 4th of July Celebrations began at 9.30 with The Kids Parade & Who do you think was to appear larger than life ?
There were many things of interest in the main Parade like the First Nation People
My favourite however were the Hot Dogs complete with mustard
When a big red car appeared I wondered if this could be the little boys Dad ? The little fella was no where to be seen as he was out in front once again on the Main St of Skagway.
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( 3 / 2456 )Saturday, September 15, 2007, 12:22 PM
On the sunny afternoon of Aug 14 when Jen the wren & I walked down the Main St of Interlaken in Switzerland to pass by the fountain at the Park, little did we know that the view of the snow covered peaks of Jungfraujoch-the Top of Europe beyond that park, would be the last we would see of those towering peaks.
Like many we stopped to take some photos & luckily I did as the next day the clouds rolled back in & Jungfraujoch was not to be seen for the remainder of our time in Interlaken. Had we known we would have gone up that day but we needed to get to the Hotel De La Paix & settle in.
There was something about this Hotel on arriving that looked vaguely familiar but I did not know what. We were lucky to have the room at the top front corner having two windows. As mentioned in the earlier post with the link, this Hotel was just the cutest place one could imagine...Jenny was very chuffed to say the least
This is the reading room in the Hotel with some of the antique clocks that adorn the furnishings where Jenny upon seeing me raise the camera did a runner from view as the saying goes.
Later when reading the History of William Tell an elderly man came down the stairs then went back up again, then he came down again, then back up. We looked at each other with a little frown & roll of the eyes, moments later he began dinging the desk bell at the Bar with the palm of his hand whilst looking anxiously about.
It was at this point this man reminded me of the Major in Fawlty Towers & not only did he bear a striking resemblance but also it was the Hotel itself that earlier than had stirred my memory of a similarity once observed before.
The day prior to leaving this lovely part of Switzerland the cloud base rose & our hopes went up with it that we would get to see the top of Europe. By this time we had found our way around & so headed for the train station to make a dash into the mountains for what would be our last chance of a view if the clouds continued to clear.
In the tunnel beneath the Train Station platforms I met Maria who sits throughout the day making her jewellry. Maria came from Bolivia & whilst my Spanish was rusty we got by in conversation for a little time of sharing....I am pleased to say we purchased a necklass that is now admired by a young woman here in Aus.
All to quickly our train journey caught up to the clouds which seemed to have stalled just above Murrenbahn so we were denied any sort of glimpse to the top half of this huge mountainous area.
On the last leg of the two train journey approaching Murrenbahn I was reminded of home when two young lads with dogs first thought to be Aus Border Collies were seen in our carriage. I was informed in saying hello that they were English Sheepdogs...I could not resist asking for a photo & kindly Erik who is from Rotterdam in Holland with his two Sons sat on the wall at the Station with this well behaved & obviously well travelled pair of dogs.
There was no point in going any further so after a coffee with some disapointment we headed back down. Maria was still there on our return & greeted us with a warm smile as we passed by in going up to the bus stop.
It was at the bus stop outside the Station at Interlaken Ost a woman made ready to board a bus with her young daughter & very lovable four legged friend. The procedure was well rehearsed it seems as she knew just exactly what to do.
The bus arrives & It's Action Stations !
No room for the faint hearted with Woman Child & Dog being first to board ahead of the rush
The man with the Back Pack lent a hand & whilst I was at the back of what I likened to be a media frenzy for Paris Hilton. I was shooting over the surge of humanity & Jenny said "You did not get that?" but a quick inspection of the back of my camera revealed I had & the last I saw of the woman was she made it safely aboard with daughter & precious cargo.
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( 3 / 2338 )Tuesday, September 4, 2007, 10:44 AM
Thanks to Google Maps Australia, the request from Karen E IL in the U.S. that a map would be more than useful to Myozspot, visitors can now find exactly that in the Contents Bar.
I am more than pleased to see the facility for Sat & Hybrid applications...By grabbing with the the hand cursor (via your mouse) any point of the Map, it can be dragged sideways or up & down, with zooming in by opening & closing the hand. Enjoy !
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