walk at the lake

[Myal]

Not a hike , just walk .

My wife is still in the mental health ward .. no hiking , but we get into the bush along edge of the lake near there .

The roos around the facility are amazingly tame , not pets not domesticated , but just tame .
It was a seriously unusual experience to be looking at a roo this close up , not at a distance thru cross hairs .

The track down to the lake is a little washed out , my Better Half has issues with balance, it made getting down there a bit of a challenge in places , mostly because I was slipping around trying to support her and guide her around uneven parts . One of the challenges of caring for someone .

There is a roo in there , pretending to be underbrush

I spend most of my time in areas where there isnt a lot of trees , either agriculture as killed them out , or Im just in deset areas .. the trees here on the coast , along the lake shore are amazing to me .
the scribley barks

and I think , spotty gums , but I dont know for sure .

we got to the lake :

low tide so being me I was looking to see what was to eat .. mussels !
ok muddy ones but we saw fish jumping around too if Id have taken the time the mussels would have been bait not food .

being that this is actually a medium security mental health institution in parts , knives are not welcome on the grounds .

Still it was a nice break for my wife from the bars and the walls she looks at mostly there . Its a unique place , because of what and where it is , there is a patch of wonderful nearly untouched bush to play around in .

 

[Bob W]

Something that I find interesting about Australian forests, how open and walkable they are. The filtered canopy lets plenty of light to the forest floor, which are generally grasses, ferns, and small shrubs. The trees and plants there are so 'exotic' too, unlike anything in most parts of The States. So many different textures and patterns.

The brackish lakes, with the dark stained calm waters, creep me out a little though.

Thanks for sharing your walk with us.

 

[Myal]

Something that I find interesting about Australian forests, how open and walkable they are. The filtered canopy lets plenty of light to the forest floor, which are generally grasses, ferns, and small shrubs. The trees and plants there are so 'exotic' too, unlike anything in most parts of The States. So many different textures and patterns.

The brackish lakes, with the dark stained calm waters, creep me out a little though.

Thanks for sharing your walk with us.

I am continually amazed with the country here , we are extra lucky , living a couple hours from rain forrest , a couple hours from beach , a couple hours from snow ( in winter only ) , 6 hours from dessert , and only a 6 mile drive from any decent shops

With all of that tho , my wifes mental health issues have made me painfully aware of a whole side of survival that isnt often discussed . caring for people with problems .. it isnt always a case of stick em in hospital and have them fixed .. we have been outdoors people for all our lives , the bush is where she finds peace , but she hasnt the ability to find direction or remember things moment to moment often ..

We often enough plan for long term survival , but how often do we plan for long term survival with possible mental health issues ?

I hadnt , I do now

Just my deep thought for the week .

Glad you enjoyed the pics

 

[taldesta]

Well, ever since I read Nevil Shute's The Far Country as a kid, Australia was the one world destination for me. At this stage of life it is clear that I will never get there ... and that's ok.

Please know how much I enjoy your descriptions and pictures and comments. Thanks for bringing your land to life here.

From all these miles away, my sincere best to you, your wife ... the whole family.

 

[RABII]

Well, ever since I read Nevil Shute's The Far Country as a kid, Australia was the one world destination for me. At this stage of life it is clear that I will never get there ... and that's ok.

Please know how much I enjoy your descriptions and pictures and comments. Thanks for bringing your land to life here.

From all these miles away, my sincere best to you, your wife ... the whole family.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[Myal]

from all the way over here , a serious , Thank You

 

[1Hiker2]

Beautiful place, thanks for sharing the pics. Your words moved me. My parents are aging and I want to care for them. They struggle with things that were never a problem before. I know as time passes they will need more and more. They have always been there for me and I want to do my duty as they are the "best". Your wife is lucky to have you. Tomorrow always comes and we deal with it, how we deal with it defines us. What type of blade would you have carried on you walk ?

 

[Myal]

I have an izulaII , reprofiled , its my EDC lately . I left it in the car tho , and felt so naked without it , I did have my mercator Kat knife tho , I forgot , its my key chainknife .

 

[Will Batayte]

Thats a beautiful place to take a hike. I always have found that the outdoors is good for my mindset. Makes me feel connected to the world. Plus sunshine helps with depression. It probably did your wife some good to get out and take a nice walk

 

[Bob W]

I'm very sorry to hear of your wife's illness, but she's very fortunate that she has you to take her for bush walks (Aussie for "hike"), and someplace nearby that's convenient and peaceful.

Well, ever since I read Nevil Shute's The Far Country as a kid, Australia was the one world destination for me. At this stage of life it is clear that I will never get there ... and that's ok.

I've been Down Under repeatedly for work, and it might be more accessible than you think. There is significant cost due to the air fare and travel expenses when you're there, but it's not a difficult place to get around. The people are friendly, the climate is generally nice, the food is very good, and it's easy to navigate the countryside. Car rentals and motels, for the most part, operate just as they do in the US or Canada.
New South Wales alone has over 700 national parks, public forests, and conservation areas. All of these are generally open to the public, and maps and other information is easily found online. Exact number:

New South Wales has 865 national parks and reserves, 6 marine parks and 12 aquatic reserves.

Not to mention museums, pubs, wineries, breweries, historic and prehistoric sites, beaches, Royal Botanical Gardens, city parks...
When in Australia I don't hesitate to wander and explore every chance I get, often alone.
Some other people might appreciate a travel tour group, which are common. You won't get to see much backcountry or experience bush solitude, but it'd be a relief for some people not having to worry about nightly reservations, driving and traffic, and other logistics. And it'd sure be nice to have a paid designated driver when visiting the wineries.

I don't want to crap all over Myal's topic with my own Aussie hikes, or bore people with re-run pictures, but here are two topics about my Australian outdoor adventures:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...yhike-in-Mt-Royal-National-Park-NSW-Australia
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/998451-Aussie-hiking

 

[taldesta]

I've been Down Under repeatedly for work, and it might be more accessible than you think.

You are kind to be so encouraging. The bucket list is a close and real companion to my thoughts now, though, and it would cost me all I have to see it through ... primarily my last camping motor trip West in Canada and some aimless wandering into the Northern regions of Saskatchewan, the province my dad is from. And lots of exploring North ... as I have travelled the South of the provinces several times over.

So, for Myal the pressure is on. Speak of your land. Show me. Tell me. Many thanks for the travel in my mind's eye! This will be more than enough for me.

 

[lambertiana]

Thanks for taking us along for a walk to see things that I will probably never be able to see in person.

Also wishing all the best for your wife on her road to recovery. Having spent some time caring for my wife when she had some serious medical issues, I understand your position, too, and encourage you to enjoy your walks in the wild for your own health, too.

 

[Myal]

You are kind to be so encouraging. The bucket list is a close and real companion to my thoughts now, though, and it would cost me all I have to see it through ... primarily my last camping motor trip West in Canada and some aimless wandering into the Northern regions of Saskatchewan, the province my dad is from. And lots of exploring North ... as I have travelled the South of the provinces several times over.

So, for Myal the pressure is on. Speak of your land. Show me. Tell me. Many thanks for the travel in my mind's eye! This will be more than enough for me.

OK
Its hard to resist when you make it a challenge like that
This is kinda random order ..but its all original snaps , nothing borrowed or hijacked .

heading toward the dead centre .. some open space

we are multi cultural here , really !! I believe this demonstrates an American influence ? ( kidding )

It is a challenge at times to fit so much nothing into a shot and convey the hugeness of the place .

Its not all emptyness tho , but if you want solitude , there is an abundance .
This is just a backroad not far from my home ( maybe 60km away ?)

camping with the family in happier times , there is plenty of free camping here .

when you see a road as this you know you got to go see whats down there

 

[Myal]

we have ghost towns .. or ghost servos anyway ...

some more seen thru the windscreen shots .. this is just a 4cyl toyota , nothing special besides mud tyres on it . this is actually a road ..not a bush tack , well it is meant to be a road .. I just enjoy poking around back tracks at times .

at the river with a bunch of kids that were in my care at the time :

we have wild horses , brumbies
I believe they are whats left of the original whalers used for things as light horse brigade and mounted troops
they are beautiful animals , all cleanskins

one of the tropical locals you *dont* want to annoy .. if he want the laundry , let him have the laundry

 

[Myal]

its not all sun and heat tho here , we get cool weather too , nasty white stuff that kids like to shove down ya neck ... till you can catch them and shove it down theirs ..

My favorite drive tho , is east west across the nulabor , my excuse is my brother lives over on west coast , but Ive been known to literally spend 3 weeks driving , to have coffee with im and drive home another 3 weeks , exploring camping , loving the trip , oh yeah , and seeing my bro

You tell I like the outback ? rent a camper , hit the road , have a look at the place , its amazing .

 

[Myal]

me and the family

camping in the scrub

the west coast , people get casual about rules for beaches at times .. but the beaches are still awesome

we have forrest

 

[Myal]

we have the iconic cliffs of the great australian byte

long straight roads that go forever , I believe australia is one of the few remaining places in the world that it is possible to drive for days with no one else in your view in front or behind .. true you got to go a ways out of town to experience that tho ...

newman rocks , the afgahns who ran the camel trains across the nation before there were roads made this pool to water their camels , dammed up one end of a natural depression / channel in the rock.

more free camping in the scrub .. I live for this , really .

its not without troubles , we found these guys broken down .. we towed them to the nearest mechanic .. 900 km away ...

more free camping .. i dont know there is a slot to fit camping your way across a country into , car camping ? travelling ? whateverwe do it

there are public facilities to use for travelers

You really can get the feeling here that the dam road just will never end tho

 

[Myal]

I believe these are salmon gums , I could seriously well be very wrong , but their forms has had me walking around in the scrub just looking going wow , dam , wow for ages at times

we do have lots of this ;

and when you think you seen it all and cant take any more you find things as this to tease you some more

bad pic but love free campin in scrub , so do the kids

you cannot buy this kinda dam .. wow , omg dont slip , dam wow i just want that pic ...

and you know you got to do like everyone else and snap these ..

 

[Jerry D.]

I love the pictures - thanks for sharing them!

There is a roo in there , pretending to be underbrush

That's great. I can just see Jon thinking, "Be the bush..... Be one with the bush. I AM the bush.... You do not see me. Move along"

 

[shockjockey24]

Amazing...I got to visit Sydney and see the blue Mtns on vacation a few years ago The most beautiful, amazing place I have ever been (and Ive been to England, the Mediterranean and driven across the U.S and Aus takes the cake ) Thanks for the pix brother!
Sorry to hear about the wife, mine takes depression medication and has been in "facilities for observation" before. I often wonder what would happen in a SHTF scenario as far as her meds/mental health. Her theory is she might not need the meds, because all of the things causing her depression (work, school, money, the govt, etc) would go away...freeing her from what depresses her. Every time she says that I say I'm ready to move to the bush!