OUTBACK OBSERVATIONS AND THOUGHTS

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WWW.MERGY60.BLOGSPOT.COM.AU

It appears to be unseasonally warm these last few weeks. Last year it was ice cold at nite and days under 20.  The tourist info states that in winter the outback is an average 18 deg during the day, which seems so many weeks ago.  Lately it has been between 25 to 32 degrees during the day and very balmy at nite.  Am still in shorts and tshirt.  Have not put my jumper on at nite for over a week or thick socks, bizarre.
The temperatures are sometimes double  Adelaide???  I miss the cooler weather, damn.

A weather guy was on the radio today saying that all of outback Qld has had above average temps this winter.  In fact in the whole of Australia there have been temperature records broken this last year. hmmm

In the last week there have been highabd severe fire danger warnings in the QLD/SA Channel country which runs through here down through Innamincka in Sth Aus.  Pretty extreme for winter.

The coldest places so far would have to be along the Sth AUS coast before Adelaide and parts of the Flinders Ranges too in May and June.  But still not cold enough for me to put on long pants!

The dearest petrol so far north of the Flinders Ranges was Oodnadatta $2.17. Cheapest $1.75 at Coober Pedy on the main Stuart Hwy which links Adelaide to Darwin

Have not seen any kangaroos, wallabies or feral goats since south of Marree which is located half way between Adelaide and the NT border.  Must be too dry for them in top half of Sth Aus outback.

There is a medium sized kangaroo called a  wallaroo or euro, which you know it is around cos it makes a hissing sound when you get near it.  So you hear the hiss before you see it. Mostly in the Flinders Ranges.

Have only seen a cupla groups of emus north of Marree. Mostly dingoes as well on the northern side of the dog fence.

No feral pigs seen anywhere must be all in outback Qld where I have seen plenty.

Saw my first feral cat the other day on the bank of the Diamantina river approx 40 k's south of Birdsville, was a tabby cat eying off some waterbirds in a small waterhole

Have only seen approx 3 groups of emus north of Marree. When I was in the Flinders Ranges 2 emus crossed the road in front of me to the left side. Then they started to run along the side of the road ahead  of me and were doing 55 k's an hour before veering off into some bushes. Very impressive. Fast birds.

Dearest loaf of bread has been $6.50

No idea about milk as I have a big supply of longlife milk from Adelaide

Have been buying bananas where available. Dearest $8.50 per Kg at Marree

Still have not seen any camels either this trip or previous outback trips..Not happy

Havn't seen any foxes since the Flinders Ranges.

I have seen Rabbits all through the outback and also Eagles.  Hardy animals

The whole outback Sth Aus, western Qld and southern NT would not have been settled if it was not for the presence of  the Great Artesian water Basin under the outback.  The basin was formed millions of years ago by rainwater from Qld seeping into the underground and spreading under the outback.  So the early explorers (1840-1870) and then the pastoral sheep and cattle pioneers, The old Ghan train line from Adelaide to Alice Springs and the overland telegraph service that followed in the mid to late 1800s would not have occurred without the discovery of the mound water springs  by the explorers previously and then further sinking of bores into the basin to get reliable water for town water supplies..  And then I wouldn't be able to travel around with support fuel, water and food in small towns.  Can you imagine the difference if there were no reliable source of water in the outback.  It would cost a fortune to transport water over the vast distances of the outback and deserts and most of the small towns and the people would not be there.

Birdlife varies around the different areas.  I have come across some permanent waterholes which vary from 100 metres to 4-5 klms in dry rivers and creeks and wetlands created by open running water bores.  These are like oasis in this dry dusty outback. Have seen seabirds such as seagulls, Terns which are the ones that dive for fish on the coast and Pelicans from 1000 to 1600 k's from the coast so far.  They must have good water radar.  Lots of different ducks, moorhens, stilts etc, a pair of Brolgas, finches, budgeragars or budgies and wrens. heaps of galahs, corellas, Eagles, kites, falcons.  They are all mostly around the remote water areas or along dry river or creeks where high trees grow except for eagles who seem to be around most places but only in small numbers.  Oh yeah the usual crows, occasional magpies and mudlarks or peewees too.

In another post I will convey some memorable highlights of the trip so far , thats if I can remember them all..

ARE YOU STILL AWAKE THERE.........