Going for a Drive

Each night for the rest of the week we went for a drive. North, south, east and west, we covered each point of the compass. Heading out of Alice before sunset then driving down the road until we decided that there wasn’t much out, and we turned around. It was a shame that there wasn’t much out. The days had been hot but the nights were relatively cool. For whatever the reason, there wasn’t as much out as should have been. Even so, we did get to see quite a few cool things.

Stimpsons Python (Antaresia stimpsoni).

Me illegally interfering with a gecko (by picking it up).

Southern Spiney-tailed Gecko (Strophurus intermedius).

Marbled Velvet Gecko (Odura marmarata).

An angry Mulga Snake (Pseudechis australis) that I suprised (and suprised me) while walking down a dry river bed.

A House Mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) eating grass seed near Glen Helen.

Australian Owlet Nightjar (Aegotheles cristatus) that didn't want to get off the road.

Centralian Carpet Python (Morelia spilota bredli).

A fly on a tree.

Bynoes Gecko (Heteronotia binoei).

Rocking the Rock!

Stewart was here for two weeks and in that time we saw quite a bit. The next weekend we drove down to Ayers Rock. Even though I’d been down there twice before it was still as impressive as the first time. The massive red rock comes looming out of the desert. It starts its looming when you’re still quite a way off and gets even bigger and more loomier the closer you get. We arrived late after stopping to take a couple of photos of critters that we saw along the drive. Despite the lateness of our arrival we were up early before the sun. We drove out to the new viewing platform that was recently built at a cost of over 3 million dollars. Unfortunately they must have ran out of money for the signs. There was one in the local indigenous language but not one in English. I can only guess that more aboriginal people visit the sunrise viewing platform than those who understand English. We drove half way around the rock before I decided to turn around. I don’t know why they only decided to put the indigenous language on the signpost. Is this politically correctness gone overboard or just a stupid mistake? I’m hoping it was the latter. The sunrise was impressive but as there were about eight tour busses that were there as well as a few cars and campervans, (I can only assume they either followed someone in or can speak the local dialect), the view was more of the crowds instead of the rock. One thing that amused me was that they built the viewing platform spending all that money but didn’t bother to take out the two or three trees that were in front between the platform and the rock and blocked a portion of the view from most angles. Even the ones on the very top of the dune!

After the sunrise we went to the base of the rock and waited a while to see if they would open the climb. Unfortunately they didn’t because of apparent high winds (even though there wasn’t even a breeze on the ground), and so in the end, with much wailing and gnashing of teeth, we decided to do the base walk instead. As someone who has both climbed the rock and done the base walk I would have to say that the climb is much more impressive. Hopefully there will be a next time. The Aboriginal Land Corporation has just purchased Voyages Ayers Rock Resort and so it looks like they’ll be closing the climb pretty soon no matter what the weather. It was a hot rock on the day we walked around. Ten kilometers under the blazing sun but by the end we (or at least I), felt we’d achieved something. After that we went to the cultural centre before heading over to the Olgas. Stewart wanted to find a little dragon (a lizard not the mythical kind) in the area so we decided to do the Valley of the Winds walk. It turned out that the little dragons were quite common. We walked to the first lookout (about one kilometer return) and we saw five of the little things. I’m going to have to go back when it’s cooler and do the rest of the walk.
The weekend seemed to go very quickly and before we knew it we were back in the car and driving back to Alice Springs.

Pale Knob-tailed Gecko (Nephrurus laevissimus)


A tourist photographing Ayers Rock.

Western Brown Snake (Pseudonja mengdeni).

Driving back to Alice Springs

I’ve been back in Alice Springs for two days now and today is my first day back at work. Stewart and I set off on the 4th of January driving south through Broken Hill and Port Augusta back to Alice Springs. The drive took around five days to complete and all up we drove over 3500 kilometers. There were a few long days and some even longer drives. Time wasn’t against us but I did have to be back by Monday. In the end we drove straight through. We could have stopped in Dubbo. We could have stopped at Ayers Rock. In the end, we drove straight through and arrived in Central Australia with two days to spare. It was only the second time that Stewart had been to Alice Springs. He drove out with me when I first brought my car out. Then he only stayed for a couple of days then so this time, he had to see a bit more of what Central Australia had to offer.

Stopping off in South Australia on the way back to Central Australia.

A sea gull flying away from Port Augusta in South Australia.

Finishing Uni

It's official! I've passed my Bachelor of Science (Environment and Health) degree.

It's such a relief for it to be over and I'm very glad to see that I'd passed everything. I was worried it might be close for Health Promotion Settings as I just scraped by with the first assignment (which was worth 20%). Now I've just got to focus on my job now. I might go back to uni next year. I'd still like to study something else, maybe do a masters if I can. I'll just have to see how it goes. For now though, I'm just going to relax.

Flat Photos

The front door of my flat. Number 27 on the first floor.

The lounge area.

The Kitchen (more of a kitchette I guess).

The bedroom.

The ensuite.

The views of the range is right outside my window.

Here today, knicked tomorrow

Last night was the second night that I spent in my new place. I spend the evening cataloguing the many changes to the inspection report that the property manager did not include. I don't think that she actually inspected the flat since the last person moved in as there were some rather big changes. It was a quiet and unevenful evening. Or at least I thought it was. This morning when I left the flat I looked up at the hills. They were sparkling a burnt orange that is so common for the range. It was quite a lovely sight. My eyes moved down the range, to the stairs and I started to walk towards them. My eyes moved down to my bike. Actually, they didn't. I should say that my eyes moved down to where I'd left my bike the previous evening. My eyes moved down to where my bike should have been this morning. It wasn't there. The previous evening I'd chained the bike up to the railings. Someone had obviously been able to bust the lock on my chain and then knicked my bike. It appeared that none of the other bikes outside any of the other units had been touched. It was just mine. I'd like to say that I was suprised, outraged and offended by the theft. The truth though was that I wasn't in the least bit surprised. It was not a shock. While I was mildly annoyed it was due more to the inconvenience of having to walk to work in the hot sun. Alice Springs is no longer a safe town. I'd been hearing people tell me this ever since I'd arrived. The guy I replaced had two push bikes and one motorbike stolen in the three or so years he was in town. It was almost expected. I don't hold much hope of ever seeing it again. Not that the person who took it will probably hold on to it. They probably just took it, rode it for a short distance and then dumped it somewhere. When I bring my car out here I'll have to make sure it has full insurance. As for another bike. I won't be getting one any time soon. Instead I'm thinking that I should just buy some rollerblades instead. That way I can lock them up in my apartment at night. Welcome to Alice Springs!

From Hong to the Hills.

Today I finally moved the last of my stuff from the departmental house in Hong Street into my new flat. One suitcase, one large backpack, two small backpacks, five boxes, two crates, six plastic bags and I left the partridge in the pear tree as I couldn't be arsed carrying it up the stairs. My flat is on the first floor. It's basically one big room that is cut in two (by a wardrobe) with a bathroom off to one side. It is semi-furnished with a sofa, dining table, bed, fridge, etc. It's big enough for me although now I've got to go shopping for more things to fill it with. First on the list is a massive wide screen digital LCD television and xbox. Of course, with only a push bike to carry things on I think I might have to leave that until after Christmas when I have my car out here. Might make things a bit easier.

Little-button Quail (Turnix velox)

Button Quail, originally uploaded by Ryan McLean.

He may be have a funny hair style, but he's as cute as a button.

Thorny Devil (Moloch horridus)

Thorny Devil (Moloch horridus), originally uploaded by Ryan McLean.

It may be called horridus, but really it's quite cute.

My first day as an EHO

Today the culmination of three years of university study. Today I began my new career as an Environmental Health Officer. Actually, today was like many others that I've had in the four months or so that I've been here with the exception that I'm now responsible for sampling of vector insects in areas of high risk in Alice Springs. That basically means that I go out to the swamp and set traps for mozzies. After I'd sent them up to Darwin it was back to my usual administration role. I'll be doing the two jobs for a little while while I'm learning what I'm supposed to do as an EHO. Over the next couple of weeks I'll also be going out on inspections with the others in the office. Now for the steep learning curve, let's hope I can make it up!