WTFriday … dim-minion-ishing

Korean Bein’ Likin’ Bikin’

After 2 years with not so much as a Couchsurfer or a Warmshowers cyclist visiting, we’ve been comparatively inundated this year.

Anthony is our latest visitor. He arrived from the west, which is a little unusual. Most of our visitors are heading in the opposite direction.

As a result, he’d done some of the worst of Australia’s roads before he arrived, so I guess the smooth, straight bitumen was pretty easy by comparison. He also had an amazing piece of luck on the Oodnadatta Track. You can read about that, and his other adventures, on his Facebook page and watch his video on his YouTube channel.

Despite it being winter, the night before Anthony left was very warm, so he and Mr Goanna enjoyed a cleansing ale (or 2).

Up before the sun

I knew there was a blood moon yesterday morning but I’m not in the habit of getting up before the sun, especially on the weekend. But sometimes I’m awake and might as well get up anyway.

So out I went to take a look. And, just for once, there was a clear sky.

The moon rise last night was even redder. We had a fabulous view of it from our friends’ verandah. But I hadn’t taken my camera, so you’ll just have to believe me on that.

Cache me if you can

We spent this morning geocaching in a nearby town.

“Geo-whatting?” did you ask?

Sunday Driving

It’s been over 3 months since my last post, so thanks for hanging in there … if you still are.

In that time I’ve been to the US and am yet to write that trip up, but I’ll be getting to it soon.

In the meantime, here’s how we spent our morning driving in, if not quite our own backyard, at least our local area.

Springsure and Old Rainworth Fort

Last weekend we spent a lovely day taking hubby’s parents to a local historic site outside the small town of Springsure.

On the way down we stopped to view the Virgin Rock. I can’t see it myself but, apparently, on a good day, from the right viewpoint and at the right time – and possibly if you’ve been smoking your greens – this looks like Madonna and child.

From there we made our way to Old Rainworth Fort. The displays focus on the history of the area, local families, the pioneering lifestyle and the Wills Massacre in 1861 – the largest massacre of white settlers by aborigines in Australia’s history.

Typical of history written by European settlers, there’s no accurate record of the number of aborigines killed in retaliation, but it was probably about 170 – wildly out of proportion to the 19 members of the Wills family killed.

Light up my life

Ok, so we didn’t have to travel further than the local school for this one. But I still thought I’d like to share it. We are members of our local Rural Fire Brigade. Well, I’m the secretary, so I don’t put the gear on and point hoses at flames, but managed a few photos at the training day and controlled burn held today.

If you have a local volunteer fire brigade, do please support them. We’re lucky that we don’t have to do any fund raising. A local mine donated the cost of solar panels for our shed and these generate more than enough to cover our annual expenses. Although many items are provided by the government we do still have to pay for some equipment and fuel. So the sun is providing us with an income, but there’s a fair chance your local brigade is struggling to raise money. Do consider supporting them. If you live in a rural or semi-rural area you never know when you might need them.

And, if you’re a bird watcher, fires do tend to bring out the birds of prey as the small wildlife tries to escape. My photos aren’t so good. Will try to do better next time.

A World on Our Doorstep

Last weekend we only travelled 40km but experienced many cultures. It was the annual Central Highlands Multicultural Festival. We’d been to the first one but always seemed to be away every other year until this 10th one. It must be the time of year we usually travel.

We arrived early and with a plan. And, just for once, we didn’t stray too far from it. Walking around we checked out the different food stands and their menus and made tentative decisions about what we’d eat, pondering the choices over a gelato each – boysenberry for him and blood orange for me. Off to a good start.

Next stop was the the bar for some international beer and wine. Not too many, though, as we had to drive home. A couple of German beers for him. How could you go past an Erdinger Dunkel, if only for the name? 3 New Zealand whites for me.

All the while there was different entertainment going on around us. On the stage and on the ground. Dances and music from many cultures and countries.

Time for some food. First stop … Korean, which neither of us had eaten before. Kimchi, Bulgogi and rice. We’ll be having that again. Delicious. Then the Thai stall for some spring rolls and curry puffs. Nothing we hadn’t had before but still very good. And I dredged up my limited Thai vocabulary to say “Hello” and “Thank you”. Always gets a smile when you make the effort. It’s worth the effort to get the smile.

Dessert was Koeksisters from the South Africans. I somehow expected them to be more like a doughnut texture but they  weren’t. Which isn’t to say they weren’t delicious. Just glad we only ordered one serve between us. Yum, but very sweet.