One of my colleagues who is here more-or-less permanently;
on contract for the long-haul of the conversion, made the very kind and generous
offer to take me to the wildlife park for the day. It is off to the north of the
town near where the NASA Radio Communications center is. This, I was assured,
would be my chance to see some of the native wildlife in its natural
surroundings!
So, after a nice breakfast (or "breaky" as the
locals call it) at my favorite coffee bar I returned to the hotel to meet-up
with Andrew and head off to the Tidbinbilla wildlife preserve. The weather was
not brilliant, the skies were overcast and the prediction was that it would get
no better, but what can you do… as Dad is fond of saying: "You play the
cards that were dealt to you!"
So we set-out, stopping at the Canberra Historical Center
for a look at the map of the area and a quick history lesson and then we
set-off in search of the 'roos!
The light mist of my morning venture over to Dzire became
a drizzle as we drove through town, and eventually an all-out downpour as we
made our way around the park. But, being the intrepid explorer that I am, there
was no way I was going to let a little thing like a monsoonal downpour deter me
from getting a little sight-seeing in.
At the visitor's center we discussed the conditions of the
roads and bridges with the ranger and learned that there was a talk at the eucalyptus
forest at one about Koalas. We made plans to be near that area of the park and
set out.
Apparently, the wallabies and I have the same view of
weather. Just because it is pissing down there is no reason not to hang-out in
a lovely little picnic area and have a good time! One family of more intrepid picnickers
had the same notion as we came across the family we had seen at the park
entrance barbecuing an elaborate lunch at the family playground/picnic area.
But I digress…
The day was splendid! We enjoyed the trip around the park,
we got a break in the rain long enough to get out and hike along the backbone
of the park, where huge blocks of quartz-rich granite sticks out of the ground
in a ridge like the remains of the shattered rampart of a giant, ancient castle laid waste by the siege of time.
All-in-all, we saw Kangaroos, Wallabies, Cockatoos, Kookaburras,
Koalas, and the coolest little guy; a Potoroo. Potoroos are a sort-of kangaroo
rat; and they are fast! I tried getting shots of them and do have one that is
only slightly blurred, but they are quick little buggers. At first it appeared
that they were scurrying, but when the slowed down a touch it became clear that
they were, in fact, hopping along like a kangaroo. What is it about the
wildlife in this place and the hopping? Is it that when you have this wide-open
and relatively flat a continent to get around in, hopping long distances at a
stride is the best way to get along?
Anyway, we had a lovely time, and the ranger who gave the
talk on the Koalas was very accommodating and informative. Actually, he had
just left as we pulled in for the one-o'clock talk… it was 13:02, I suppose he didn’t
want to hang-around in the rain. But he came back and gave us a really nice,
informative discussion of the species.
We made it back to town at about four and had had a
wonderful time in the bush.
Wherever you are today, I hope that you're having a
wonderful weekend.
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