It is a very different type of venue and clientele to the American shows that he does each year. Consequently, it was a learning experience but a successful one.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The Munich Show
It is a very different type of venue and clientele to the American shows that he does each year. Consequently, it was a learning experience but a successful one.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Wallaby "Ted"
Say hello to Wallaby Ted.
(click on images to enlarge - it's worth it!)
Glenn was recently at a privately owned mine in Queensland to collect and buy rock. The owners only visit this area on their property maybe every six months or so but every time they have been there up pops (or should I say "hops") this wallaby. Probably because they feed him.
It was morning teatime and Glenn stopped for a cuppa and along comes Ted.
He looks such a character!
Glenn was to discover that this was a wallaby not to be reckoned with!
He should have known by the state of his ears - half the flaps missing and tattered as a result of fighting, no doubt.
As he broke off pieces of biscuit to give Ted he obviously wasn't going fast enough.
Ted made a move towards him and tried grabbing the whole packet! They have sharp claws and can do a huge amount of damage with their back legs too so Glenn pushed at him before he get the advantage.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Mooka - Phase III
Another couple of hours' driving and we pull off to sleep. The spot Glenn chooses (in the dark) happens to be an old Main Roads camping area where the concrete slabs from site offices still remain. Nice and flat to sleep on! (And no ants!) It rains during the night and in the morning there are puddles on our swags. Inside our swags, however, was cosy and warm and where I have my best sleeps.
The wildlife moves in. We had lots of amazing stick insects this time. They join us in the evening around the campfire, attracted by the spotlights. Last time it was thousands of moths. They were in my hair, my wine, my dinner, etc.
I'm not sure who won this 'stare out' competition. (There's a lizard sitting on the rock.)
Mookaite is the pavement of a creek bed so much of it is covered in mud when it comes out and needs to be washed (see hosing fiasco above). It then gets packed into bulka bags (by yours truly and Glenn) and loaded onto the 6WD truck ready for the 13km trip to Winnamia.
During these twelve days at Mooka we did five of these trips (50 bags) and that's a lot of digging and a lot of rock so during the day I take short breaks with Woody. It was very hot so we walk a little way down the creek where there are deep pools and he can enjoy a swim.
There's so much colour in the Northwest of Western Australia this time of year.
An eagle flies overhead and appears to have a battered wing. We see many eagles when driving - they thrive on roadkill and along with crows and foxes do a great cleanup job!
Not far from the creek can be found hundreds of aboriginal artifacts just laying on the surface. Strange to think they've been laying there for thousands of years. Mookaite is perfect for knapping and you can see how the aborigines have knapped the edges of these shards chipped from larger rocks to make perfect cutting tools.
Some might wonder why the government departments allow such devastation to these beautiful places but there are many limitations put on lease holders. These come in the form of permits, native title restrictions, rehabilitation regulations, etc etc.
On the way to returning the 6WD truck to where it is stored we get a puncture. I've lost count of how many punctures we've had.
Look closely at the photo below (or click on it to enlarge) to see Bustards. I've never seen so many at once. They tend to stay in flocks like this.
The roadtrain is loaded and we're off home!
Friday, August 31, 2007
Noreena Jasper
Glenn gets the backhoe into operation and soon the bags are filling up.
Crazy Lace Agate Mine
We had an interruption to our digging - Glenn injured his wrist badly enough to have to rest it for a few days so we made a flying visit home. This proved beneficial, however, as we had mail to deal with and more importantly it meant we could pick up the dog from the kennels. We missed him more than we thought. The intention was to save him the discomfort he would suffer from the dreadful grass seeds. Last year each evening we would sit after dinner and pick them out of his skin and ears. I decided this time I would keep him away from the grassy areas one way or another.
As you can see, he was glad to be home.
We’d been home a few days when we heard rain was forecast for the Pilbara Region so we left in time to get there before the roads were closed. They are unsealed roads and with the Almighty Dust of the Pilbara it doesn’t take much to turn a road into a quagmire. We arrived late at night and it was nice to get into our cosy tent.
In the morning it was pouring with rain so Glenn strung up the tarp for shelter and that was where Woody and I sat waiting for the rain to stop while Glenn unloaded the truck.
It eased off by the afternoon, just as the weatherman said it would and work could begin again.It’s not long before we have a truckload to take into town and this time His Lordship gets to ride in the sleeper cab!
A couple of days later we saw another ore train that was 2kms long and had two engines at the front, three in the middle and two at the rear.
Our black and grey dog is soon black and red.
Is he looking lovingly at Glenn?
Anyone would think from reading this blog that our life revolves around the dog!!! Absolutely not!!!
Apart from punctures... (we woke up to this one)
(There's a man under that truck!)
...and mechanical problems, other small setbacks occur (see below). Fortunately there is another bucket Glenn can use but it’s half the size of this one.
The digging here is complete but before we leave the area we take a drive to a lease not too far away for Munjina Stone. It’s a beautiful place and yet another beautiful rock.
We pack up our camp at the Crazy Lace Agate mine and head off for Roy Hill.