We had a miserable week of weather last week, but the Thursday evening forecast was predicting cold but fine conditions for the next few days so Jules and I make a last minute decision to cancel the weekend plans and head south in the Goldy! Just a short trip, shooting down to the Dryandra Woodland, between Williams and Narrogin. For the avid readers of this blog, you’ll know that this was in fact our third trip to Dryandra and it has quickly become a favourite location of ours, as it’s only a couple of hours from home, very pretty and generally empty, so there’s lots of peace and quiet. Shooting down after work on Friday afternoon, we got the campsite setup in minutes, started the campfire and relaxed with a bottle of wine.
<< Campsite setup, the fire has just been lit and Jules is opening the wine, how more perfect could it get? >>
As the night got darker, the temperature got colder, but the wine flowed quicker. So fast in fact we’d soon knocked off a second bottle, before deciding to partake in a couple of tipples of cognac to warm the soul. Even our friendly neighbourhood possum joined us, pinching some pizza crust from dinner.
<< A long exposure shot of the campfire, which along with the wine is great for warming ones soul >>
The temp must have dropped to around 3 degrees, but we were snug as drunk bugs collapsed in the alley outside the back of the pub, and slept pretty soundly. Day dawned far too early, but the worm waits for no one, or so some bird said, so brekky and coffee were had, before we set off for a lovely stroll to the Congelin Dam, then up along the woodland fenceline, bounding the farmland. Jules brought the bino’s so we spied on Robin Redbreasts, some beautiful lime green parrots which we’ve not identified yet, ducks, some sort of fly catcher singing his tune and strutting his stuff, but unfortunately didn’t see any of the furry kind of animals that the area is known for.
<< Moss and lichen growing on the trees >>
<< Part of the old railway siding fence, when they ran trains, from York to Narrogin (c1925) through here, to transport wood >>
<< The old railway bridge >>
<< Gum tree in wattle flowers >>
<< Dryandra >>
<< Mr Robin Redbreast >>
<< The base, roots and mud, of an old fallen tree >>
Next, we took the scenic drive around the woodland, somewhere missing the appropriate turn and ending up having to drive the fenceline fire break track around the edge of the woodland, back to our campsite.
<< Part of the Dryandra Woodland, although the terrain and flora changes quickly here >>
<< Beautiful native Hakea flowers which the small birds were loving >>
<< The large, button like nuts of the Eucalyptus Macrocarpa, a native gum >>
<< More Hakea flowers >>
<< and, more Eucalyptus Macrocarpa nuts >>
<< Another spikey, but beautiful flower >>
Lunch was a selection of cheeses, quince paste and bickies, before settling back into our comfy chairs, near the campfire, for an afternoon of reading and champagne. Whilst contemplating having to get up out of my comfy chair to add wood to the fire, I noted movement in the bush and seconds later, Jules and I were in hot pursuit of an Echnida that was snuffling around the area. It heard us coming and so maneuvered itself so its head was under a log, with its back of spiky quills pointing out. We got a couple of photos, then backed off and stayed silent, waiting for it to resume its snuffling. Sure enough, as the visionaries LMFAO once said, “Everyday I’m snuffling,” he soon set off again in search of a feed, nearly wedging himself head first into the end of a log, before wandering off into the bush. Seeing furry (sort off) animals at Dryandra = TICK! (note the Possums don’t count as we see them all the time – sucks to be you Possum boy…).
I can’t seem to upload the video to WordPress but if you’re interested check out this short video on Facebook of our Echnida experince.
<< Looking under the log, under which the Echnida was hiding >>
<< A close up of his quills >>
<< The log he spent a fair bit of time snuffling in >>
A quieter evening tonight, just the one bottle of red, paired with a lovely, although a little under-cooked, roast beef and veg dinner. Note to self, when the temperature is sub-zero, well somewhere in the 5C range, the Ziggy BBQ takes a bit longer to cook the dinner.. It was edible, warm and tasty nonetheless. Being a tad colder tonight, I required a beanie in addition to my normal PJ’s, but once snuggled in, we were toasty as bro.
<< Settling back in the afternoon, next to the campfire, with a glass of champagne and a book >>
<< Silhouetted tree, against the sky >>
<< Campfire lit, long exposure of us, the Budgie’s, enjoying the serenity >>
More coffee, fresh juice and toast saw brekky done, before we packed up and took the circuitous route home, via Pumphreys Bridge. All in all, a lovely quick jaunt to our wonderful native bushland, and we’re now more eager than ever to get our upcoming 8week trip up to Cape York underway. More on that in a couple of weeks so stay tuned.
<< The morning sun casting bolts of rays through the early morning mist and campfire smoke >>