Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 6 – Across Bass Strait

October 12, 2024

The excitement builds – today is the day we cross Bass Strait. We are caught up in Tas-mania! The 26th largest island in the world was colonised as a penal settlement in 1803 to dissuade the French from settling there during the Napoleanic Wars. Environmentally, the Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) is presumed extinct from hunting and … More Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 6 – Across Bass Strait

Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 5 – Geelong

October 11, 2024

The Sphinx Hotel in Geelong is a curiosity – complete with 15 metres high Sphinx, a pyramid, pharoahs and columns. It is a very clever pyramid scheme. Now that is a grand entrance. The other entrance The Big Amphora is quite jarring. Inside … the foyer We were sure we had been transported to Egypt. … More Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 5 – Geelong

Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 4 – Big Day in Victoria

October 10, 2024

How to avoid Melbourne traffic on roads less travelled. The original 1917 SPC factory (Shepparton Fruit Preserving Company)…. …. and the newer plant across the road. The Big Cherry at Wyuna (Older image from Wikipedia) We had hoped to start the day by seeing a different kind of fruit – the The Big Cherry at … More Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 4 – Big Day in Victoria

Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 3 – Gold, guitar, gargantuans and grazers

October 9, 2024

550km today through the South Western Slopes Biogeographic region of New South Wales. Sheep west of Cowra. These guys couldn’t break into the next paddock. There was no battering ram. Angus with four mates…all called Angus too. Grenfell main street Grenfell’s favourite son is Henry Lawson. On meeting this lovely young lady, Henry recited a … More Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 3 – Gold, guitar, gargantuans and grazers

Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 2 – Big Day in New South Wales

October 8, 2024

Now this is malarious! The Big Mosquito at Hexham. We’ll need to call the SWAT team for this big guy. Did you know the inventors of mosquito repellant had little to go by at the beginning of their research – they had to start from scratch. The Big Ugg Boots at Thornton near Maitland. Some … More Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 2 – Big Day in New South Wales

Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 1 – On the road south

October 7, 2024

Hello everyone! The time is right for a trip to Tasmania. So its “Down with the Devils” for us as we travel far south. There are the carnivorous marsupials to see – the Tasmanian Devils, but there are also the odd references in Tasmanian marketing such as “Welcome to Hell” for the winter-time Dark Mofo … More Down with the Devils – Tasmania 2024 – Day 1 – On the road south

The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 22 – Driving for Peanuts

June 22, 2024

Chinchilla Weir Whistling kite at Chinchilla Weir Yikes! Big Watermelon Slice at Chinchilla – it looked pretty good despite being a bit seedy. Bottle trees at Durong Bowls Club Bottle tree trunk patterns Bottle tree seed pod Durong Hall – scene of many local social events for 90 years where love was found and hearts … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 22 – Driving for Peanuts

The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 21 – The Western Downs

June 21, 2024

Jack Taylor Weir at St George dams the Balonne River. The Big Murray Cod featured in this blog two years ago – it is an impressive scuplture but cod have been bigger. Let minnow if you have any fish puns so I can put a few in a roe. The yabby’s last view. White-necked heron … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 21 – The Western Downs

The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 20 – The Balonne Highway

June 20, 2024

Aside from the Cunnamulla Fella (who you would definitely want on your side in any potential bar brawl) there are many other things to see in Cunnamulla. We had a look at some of the Top 10. We didn’t partake in the Artesian water baths as we had already showered in the therapeutic waters at … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 20 – The Balonne Highway

The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 19 – Thargo and Eulo

June 19, 2024

Thargomindah – early morning river walk beside the Barcoo at Pelican Point White-browed woodswallow Little Corella Thargomindah Post Office. One of the oldest buildings in Thargo The bridge over the Bulloo into town at the old Cobb & Co crossing Fairy martins on the banks of the Bulloo The road through mulga east of Thargomindah … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 19 – Thargo and Eulo

The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 18 – The Adventure Way

June 18, 2024

Driving before sunrise again for a big day. Lake Houdraman – located east of Quilpie The pelicans were up early too – they were directed here by the billboard. A Restless flycatcher was alert… … and hovering over the water weeds looking for insects. White plumed honeyeater Gum blossom near Quilpie White-browed woodswallows – there … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 18 – The Adventure Way

The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 17 – Outback towns

June 17, 2024

We were up early and driving before sunrise. Sunrise on the Landsborough Highway. Hooker’s bauhinia (pegunny) (Lysiphyllum hookeri) were plentiful between Barcaldine and Blackall. Blackall has entrance signs at both ends of town. This one the southern approach. The Big B at the northern approach – after the excitement seeing the Big G earlier on … More The Big Backyard – Western Queensland 2024 – Day 17 – Outback towns