THE LAST ROAD TRAVELED . . .

If there aren't many places you haven't been in quest of travel, wildlife, outdoors

decide to do this last trip and choose Gibb River Road as the last course

you'll discover this is so much more than just a road, incredible journey to travel

very soon the mysteries of Nature, the Ranges, Gorges and Bush start to unravel

From tarmac to dirt road, the Gibb River Road, only just re-opened after heavy rain

there were the mighty Mitchell Falls, an oasis in almost barren, undulating terrain

our spirits soaring high, sense of being one with Nature, exploring Falls on foot

after long time traveling, they are magnificient, certainly heightened holiday mood

Stopping at some amazing Gorges, pitch tent, swimming, watch spectacular sun sets

waking to glorious chorus of birds, unbelievable sun rises, Nature's colour pallets

Galvan Gorge surrounded by lush greenery, amid this dry barren no-mans land

nearby Bell Gorge, dramatic sheer walls, hewn out of rock, by some mythical giant hand

The Gorges each have an individuality of their own, with sheer walls, water falls

in this dry rugged country little wildlife, it is rare to see a kangaroo, hear dingo call

amazement at mother Nature never stopped, towards end of journey surprise in store

Windjana Gorge, fresh water crocodiles, waiting for prey, motionless on sandy shore

A prehistoric world where it seems time has stood still, plant life seen nowhere else

in some places sheer rock walls of multi colours shimmering in heat, historical wealth

rock tunnel leading to a waterhole, most undescibable beauty, mid boggling to see

Tunnel Creek, cool, deep in places, bats flying low in and out of cave, a bit scary

Gorges linking all this still, peaceful, water protected by ancient multi coloured wall

trickles of wet-season waterfalls, ferns, small rocks, bird life in caves, distant dingo call

in sky above, large birds or prey, swooping, gliding, never still, maybe snakes in grass

the mood had changed, homestretch looming, our final trip's ending had come to pass

Different from the Australia we knew, felt lots more Australian, didn't even have to try

this was a journey totally different from all that we had seen in years gone by

the trip of a lifetime, running out of superlatives to even describe what it was like

the feelings, sights, sounds, firmly implanted upon our minds for ever and our life

HARPS IN THE LONG PADDOCK . . .

In early days in times of drought, no feed for stock

system of tracks evolved called "The long paddock"

stretches from Far-North Queensland to Victoria in south

feeding many a farmer's stock their hungry mouth

The use of the long paddock is rapidly declining

our native animals' sun has once again began shining

researchers put"harps" along these grazing tracks

wanting to know what, where, how wildlife is coming back

No more hiding from bleating , dumb woolly choppers

many a bird said to catch now insects and grasshoppers

those beasts with those nasty horns no more using this patch

more now for us, said the kangaroos to the wombats

Small birds, bats, about those harps they don't sing

we fly into them, hard to see, damaging our wing

we do try to fly either higher or really very low

otherwise for us the long paddock is now a no-no

The main reason for the long paddocks decimation

road trains, quicker, faster transport to new vegetation

in times of devastating floods, fires, long- term drought

not many farmers, their cattle or sheep, get caught

Road trains, along highways, byways, by day and night

putting legends of drovers and swagman to flight

no more boiling of the billy, damper, stew, campfire

forcing many of these colourful characters to retire

Yet another chapter in Aussie folklore, heritage is lost

in age of computers, mighty dollar, the high cost

it is sad, incomprehensible, perhaps a twist of fate

Pitt Street farmers say " Prosper or perish mate"