The Tanami Desert and fossilised rivers . . .

The Tanami Desert is an ancient landscape of spinifex and many a termite mound. It is hot and to all appearances it seems that not a drop of water could be found. The surface indications are also very misleading at even the first observations. There is plenty of water in fossil rivers, in
deep underground locations. In the days of Gondwana land, not long ago, this land was a virtual muddy swamp. Dripping rainforests, crisscrossing flowing rivers, places where dinosaurs used to tramp. Over millions of years the swamp dried up, sediment in rivers became soil, fine sand. Climatic elements also shaped the vegetation and wild life remaining on this land. Termite mounds provide an even better clue as to what water exists underground. In some places they are very small, where water levels are high, a bigger mound. Providing yet another clue are the juicier than normal desert plants of the Tanami. Profuse low scrub, spinifex grass is taller, thicker, lance-like leaves thrusting to the sky. Vast reservoirs of salt water, undergound, from oil explorations, it is known.Saltier than seawater, would need expensive treatment, for anything to be grown. Along remaining river valleys, groundwater closer to surface than anywhere else.Discoveries of fossilised rocks, Aboriginal paintings of variety of animals tells. Fewer than half of these species survive, due to changing climatic conditions shock. Extinctions were more dramatic and cruel soon after white man introduced grazing stock. Those that disappeared, little- , hare-, nail-tailed -wallabies, bandicoots, kangaroo rat. Never to return, after man, in a little over 150 years, has destroyed their habitat

A meeting in the sky . . .

It's an unusual place, to say the least, a meeting in the sky
whilst hang gliding, attracting me with it's plaintive cry
a wedge-tailed eagle, big, black, circling oh so close
wings spread out and claws extended in attacking pose

Must have been angered by my intrusion, one could tell
narrowly missing in attacking dive, in giant shadow I fell
soaring then to tremendous height, no more than mere speck
so small, realising it's size, it was hard not to loose track

This unexpected encounter with wedge-tail eagle, so high
rekindled a childhood fascination about this bird of prey
as distinctive a part of Australian landscape as our kangaroo
you'l l find it from arid interior to snow covered peaks too

A hunter combining great flying power, extra ordinary grace
magnificent pair of wings, soaring on thermals, high cloud base
fast projectiles when diving, keen eyes, a special purpose tail
claws that are sure to grip, hooked beak, in hunting never fail

Maligned by farmers, killing many lambs, 'twas said in early days
governments encouraged their demise, for a bounty they'd pay
now they are protected, these magnificent acrobatic aerialists
if you've never experienced these birds, a great thrill missed

EVOLUTION of AUSTRALIAN WILDFLOWERS . . .

Evolution of our wildflowers, dramatic, fascinating, conside-
ring the harshness, isolation of Australia. Flowering is a means
of achieving, at appropiate time, fertilisation. This mechanism
plants use to produce seed for next generation.

Being voiceless, flowers evolved colours, shapes, patterns, scents,
distinctive looks, textures,appealing to myriad insects and birds.
It is intriguing, these features, we can only look on in awe, no
artificial world here, nature in all it's splendour, in the raw.

With strategies which have developed over millions of years and
isolation, most flowering plants have spread widely in this con-
figuration. Appearing in the most unlikely places, seashore to inland
plains, mountain tops, river valleys, adapting a suitable strain

The Australian climate, landforms, creating varied environments,
geology, sunlight, space, soils, water, very basic requirements,
adaptability, diversity all a key factor in these most remarkable
plants. Evolving over millions of years, even in the present time.

Ancient soils very poor, no plant life they could possibly sustain,
on close inspection, they are highly specialised systems of living
they do contain.mechanisms for reducing water loss in severe
drought, equipped to recover even after severe bush fires

Yet, thousands of species of plants, on what is on offer, thrive,
diversification and adaptability, the key in a remarkably
fragile environment, some present in all climates, tropical, tempe-
rate, wet, dry, we do have an obligation to help their survival,
the least thing we can do is try.

BREAD and BUTTER pudding . . .

Outback Australia, between Swallow and Camooweal
a whistlestop, hotel, motel, a good square meal
they make you very welcome, you will have a ball
plenty of meat, vegies, bread and butter pud as special

When you ate it, a very special taste you'd find
it always did wonders for your state of mind
some claimed it cured the common cold, the flu
others said it made you race to the outside loo

Many a question of how, what secret, asked in vain
as to what the bread and butter pudding did contain
the usual, was the cook's standard evasive reply
perhaps this is the first time you've come by?

Middle of night, in hotel's kitchen, a flickering light
the cook was at work, what a sight when in full flight
another batch of bread and butter pudding she 'd make
with these tourists, hotel's reputation was at stake

Milk , flour, eggs, stale bread, to make a lovely goo
then there was the most important secret thing to do
substituting the all important raisins, no fancy pack
with a handfull of dead flies from outside the old flytrap

RAINFOREST'S CHANGING MOOD . . .

Misty low clouds, slowly drifting over high mountains
shrouding dense green vegetation with very fine rain
very little penetration of sun's rays through dense canopy
stately, here and there, in all kinds of hues, stands a tall tree

In rainforest an absense of any noticeable bird sound
you can hear the drips of water, from up high, falling on ground
a sodden mess of dead twigs, leaves, shedded bark, on forest floor
fallen trees, rotting, decaying, returning nutrients to soil so poor

Some covered in coloured fungi, red, pink, brown, even blue
tiny pools of brackish water, reflecting mirror like, every hue
intricate cobwebs, droplets of water, hanging like pearls on string
spiders, patiently waiting, for next meal to come by, to tangle in

On gnarled, not always fallen trunks, new leaves emerging in sun
soft yellows, pinks, dappled greens, new life cycle again has begun
throughout rainforest, after rain, birds and frogs starting to call
familiar sounds returning, stars above, night is beginning to fall

Another dawn will soon break, rain temporarely gone, sunlight
frog choruses diminishing, songs of mornging birds again delight
mood of the rainforest has changed, a new experience beginning
there's no turning back, body and soul with new energy ringing

PASSAGE OF TIME CELEBRATED . . .

In the pastel light, after a hot day, in the setting sun
upon the escarpment, in fissure, a solitary Ghost Gum
absorbing, on its twisted white limbs, sun's dying ray
higher up, among rocks, surefooted wallabies play

In the sudden descending blackness of tropical night
the quietness, the landscape becomes a different sight
there are no stark, brilliant colours by light of full moon
eerie shapes, strange shadows, delicate flowers bloom

Crocodiles in water courses, patiently waiting for prey
water buffalo, wild horses, thirsty, edgy, slowly try
on ground and overhead flocks of migratory birds
cacophony of sound, deafening, nothing else is heard

Change of seasons, from dry to wet, tattoo of rain
transforming parched landscape to endless green plain
the walls of sandstone gorges take on whole new sheen
on some, simple Aboriginal paintings, a sight to be seen

The wet season has started, revitalising again this land
torrents of water, in, what was yesterday, river of sand
sometimes the seasons change early, sometimes late
an annual ritual, the passage of time, it helps to celebrate

MAGIC TO DREAM ABOUT . . .

The night air is crisp, illuminated by a brilliant full moon
it's hard to go back to sleep, knowing dawn will break soon
heard thumpings in middle of night, reverberating in still air
huddled deeper into sleeping bag, wondering what went there

Dawn breaks, casting orange glow over sparsely wooded plain
as it gets lighter and hotter, it swallows setting moon again
the morning chorus of suberb songsters, like Sun- and Cat-bird
others, because of smaller numbers, dry habitat, seldom heard

Sheer walls of Gorge, in early light reveal eons of earth's history
before the Dreamtime, richly sculpted rockface, rise majestically
along walking track, deep water holes, shimmering crystal clear
flowering Wattles, Bottlebrush, shade, pause a moment here

Above gorge, lookout providing spectacular panoramic view
a landscape tortured thru the ages, awe inspiring, old, yet new
potholed creekbed, resembling dinosaur foot prints, imagination
small lizards sunning themselves, wild flowers, plenty of variation

Exploring, hiking, photographing, swimming, whatever is the case
time out to contemplate dramatic landscape, beauty of this place
words fail to describe its existence, it seems unlikely and yet
it ever so slowly evolved over time with every sunrise and sunset

Traveling in this amazing land, many more such places to be seen
some are easy to reach, others take a bit of effort if you're keen
now that the holidays are over and back to reality, daily grind
often daydreaming about magical Porcupine Gorge we did find

The KIMBERLEYS . . .

The parched, unforgiving, expanse of what is the Kimberleys
does hide land full of unexpected beauty, Aboriginal mystery
beautiful Wandjina Gorge, Tunnel Creek and the Lennard River
each has it's own surprises that overwhelm, make you shiver

Tall majestic walls of Standley Chasm, waters of Tunnel Creek
bats wheeling in caves, crocodiles slithering into muddy deep
day comes to a close in quiet surroundings, dramatic change
unnerving sound of giant flying crickets coming from the range

Sunrise, sunset, spectacular affairs, imprinting upon memory
one becomes aware why this land is sacred to the Aboriginie
endless expanse of Kimberley counry, empty rocky yellow plain
dry short stunted trees, cloudless azure sky, land crying for rain

Kimberley's isolation, still connecting Aboriginals to this land
ancient people, rich culture, sometimes taking extreme stand
stories of Rainbow Serpent, Earth Snake, others, still being told
a people, proud of ancestral Dreamtime stories, keeping hold

The mysteriousness of this land, makes you want to come back
retracing steps, just wander, experience again The Outback
The Kimberleys, seemingly an inhospitable land at first glance
but, after being there a short while, will delight, give it a chance

WHY EVER GO ABROAD . . .

We've got eucalypts, wattles, unique wildflowers,
deserts and endless plains, panoramic horizons,
nature's beauty and starkness, contrasts overpower
floods, droughts, fires sometimes the landscape scar
sprawling cities, towns far flung, loneliness, isolation,
salt lakes, rainforests at ocean shore, history, folklore,
struggles to farm the land, ingenious innovations,
land of Aboriginal myth, mysterious rock paintings
where seemingly ever none or tranquil rivers flow,
unleashing their destructive powers when in flood,
where majestic eucalypts and river gums grow,
mangroves, tangled roots, smelly bottomless mud
there is mining of opals, emeralds, iron ore, lead, zinc
copper, gold, manganese, our technology and science
is up there with the world's best, diamonds and oil,
in times of world conflicts surely have passed the test,
to many nationalities we are a land of milk and honey,
temperate climates, can follow sunshine all year round,
social security, governments freely handing out money,
no passport needed wherever in this Australia you go,
land of the emu, kangaroo, kookaburra, crocodiles,
brumbies, galahs, rabbits, brolga, cane toad, yabbies,
billabongs, Southern Cross in sky on cloudless nights,
comfortable lifestyle, carry a swag if you like and roam,
having all this, why wouldn't you call it Home, sweet Home.