This is a series of posts about my life -(so far) – as I remember it.
It has several aims. It will act as a form of therapy – even rehabilitation for me, It will also serve as a reference point for those who may be charged with my care – for them to better understand who I am. Finally it will chronicle my life for my children and hopefully their children.
Tar Trek
These are the voyagers of the TarShip Qashquai on its continuing Mission
Some inspiration to set the "frame of mind" can be found here!
Episode 1: The Voyage to Orbost
Episode 2: The Voyage to the High Country
Episode 3: The Voyage to TarBase Tumut
Episode 4: The Voyage from Cabargo to Bega
Episode 4a: Supplemental The Encounter At Kalaru
Road Trips
The following are "edited" versions of some recent road trips. By editing I mean I've speeded up the videos by a factor of around 10 - giving me a mean speed of around 800km/hr, and added some theme music that seams appropriate.
This is the road trip from Nowra to Eden
http://dennis.southerndag.org/Video/AutobahnLowRes/AutobahnLowRes.mp4
This is the return trip
This is a quick trip around the mountains 'back' of Berry.
A quick trip over the Blue Mountains
Now some Wildlife encountered.
"Bad Stick!"
http://dennis.southerndag.org/Video/RoadTrips/Elephants/Elephants.mp4
An Encounter of the Sales Kind with Meerkats at the Western Planes Zoo
http://dennis.southerndag.org/Video/RoadTrips/meerkats/meerkats.mp4
Can't go wrong with Meerkats.
Now for Skippy's Revenge!
http://dennis.southerndag.org/Video/RoadTrips/skippys/skippys.mp4
Following is a video of a recent trip from the Southern Highlands - though Kangaroo Valley to the Shoalhaven. 60 km in 3 minutes - that's an average spead in excess of 1,000 km/hr!
Strictly speaking not a road trip but a "Rail" trip. This is the local train -(when it runs) arriving at the end of the line.
March 2019 - The Snowy Mountains.
This was a three day trip, with the objective of visiting Cabramurra, the highest town in Australia, during summer. We had visited Cabramurra before, but in Autumn, and the wind was bitterly cold. This time we were hoping for something a little warmer. It was but, but not much.
Stage 1: to Yass
Stage 2: Yass to Tumut
With stops in Jugiong overlooking the Murrumbidgee River, at Snake Gully 5 Miles from Gundagai, in Gundagai to view the old Rail and Road bridges that crossed the Murrumbidgee river, then via Brungle to the edge of Tumut. Then east along the Lacmalac road to Little River, then across the Tumut Plains into Tumut then on to Adelong to visit the old goldfields at Adelong Falls. Finally returning to Tumut via the old railway station.
Now for something completely different!
I find myself walking
The following are a few brief words to narrate a dream.
It’s dark and I find myself walking, the road is dusty, and it’s never seen bitumen. The road is grey path in a dark landscape. The sky is shrouded in cloud and only the dimly filtered light of a fading moon lights my way.
I remember rising early as I do normally, breaking my nights fast and setting out to walk. Walking with a purpose only dimly viewed. It’s not clear but it burns bright in my mind.
My feet hurt, my body’s way of asking, why am I walking? Where am I going?
The road is gravel and dust, long corrugated with mounds of dust lining the long graded gutter. Low and dry scrub stretch away, occasionally dotted with the silhouette of a low tree. Dry grass and clay pans, silence to the dim horizon. The air is neither warm nor cool but stirring slowly with a gentle predawn breeze. I don’t know where I am, only that I am my journeys path. I walk slowly on, my pain melts into the dust.
Before another road crosses my path. A dim sign swings in the breeze. Its direction long bleached by the sun and the elements. It offers no direction, no guidance. I am lost to the direction I should take, confused by the seemingly identical choices, my path is only one of the ways. There is no help on this road. I am confused.
Then I become aware of a presence beside me. Darkly cloaked and blending into the darkness. Was he there when I came to this crossroad? Does he follow me? Do I follow him? Who is he?
He speaks, and I know him. Like me he has no name only a purpose. Mine is as a Journeyman, his is as a guide. I speak with him every day. People often call him Death, but he is only its guide. He holds no fear for me and knows it, for when the time is right I will follow without fear, curious to continue my journey.
As he speaks the clouds begin to thin, and the stars begin to show though the darkness. The Crux shows clearly and I have a way. Turning, I can see the constellation of the Emu – dark amount the stars. A dim red glow forms on the horizon and I can hear a Kookaburra announcing a new day. My friend waves and slowly walks away and I turn into the rising Sun and continue my journey.
As the horizon glows I can see Burra the eastern grey grazing the dew covered morning grass. She raises her head to acknowledge my journey. All is well with the world and I have direction. Where my journey ends I don’t know – I am a journeyman not a destination.
Travels on the A1
Recently we did a few road trips. This is a "quick" view of one of our journeys. Four hours of travel are compressed into 20 minutes - Giving a simulated speed of around 800 km/hr.
Compare this with our rail network
Hammer Time
I received an interesting bit of technology this Christmas. Remarkably simple. A bit reminiscent of when No1 son at about age 8 heard a LP playing for the first time. He remarked you could hear the music coming right out of the grooves.