Outback Adventure

I just returned from a 10-day field trip to the outback. We worked in 100+ degree temperatures from about 7AM to 7PM just about daily, so this sign was a bit of a joke for us. "REST! HA!"

The scenery in southern Northern Territory is spectacular. It's abit like the Hill Country of Texas, but not. Gotta come visit!

Here's my friend the huntsman spider. He was hanging out a a picnic bench of the rest area we work working at. Don't worry, he's the size of your hand, but is harmless -- he just munches on bugs and doesn't sting humans. He did, however, somehow end up sitting on my hat -- and nearly made one of my coworkers speachless when she saw him on my head!

This is the picnic table he lives under.

Here's a picture of our last data point on the last day. MAN it was hot and humid from rain the day before. We were collecting geophysical data to try to figure out how much water made it from the Finke River into the aquifer as a result of a once in 10 years flood last November. It's about 102 degrees here. We had to cover the gravity meter with a towel to keep it from overheating. UGH. Also try cutting steel rebars for suvey locations with a hack saw in this heat. Holy cow.

During the trip, we travelled between four different sites. You have to keep your eyes open driving here. Instead of deer, like Texas, they have kangaroos -- and they are suicidal -- they tend to jump INTO your car, even though they see you coming for miles... and no fences, so look out for cattle, too!

"What's the last thing that went through the bugs mind before it hit the windshield? It's arse!" Sorry, I had to tell a joke. The summer monsoon has been strong this year, so there are a BUNCH of bugs out. And the outback flies...



Check out the buggers in this video, but DANG it sure is pretty up here...


Here is a little video of the New Crown Station, where we stayed for a few nights. It's a HUGE range, called a cattle station in Australia. Really cool stuff. Have fun viewing!

We also had the luxury of staying in a hotel two nights in Erldunda -- on the road to Ayers Rock. Technically, it's a road house with a restaurant, rooms, and a gas station. They have them every 100 to 200 miles down the road. This sign on the door cracked me up.
Snakes!

Here's the TV in my room (beer for scale).

Check out the brand name!!! I'm feeling funkier already! HOOO! HAAA!


This is a typical night after field work -- download data from the gravity meter. It's kinda fun to see the hotel room, too.

This is the giant echidna (Aussie porcipine) by the hotel parking lot. Kinda fun, huh?

Here's the emu across the parking lot from the echidna. She looks sweet, but apparently she has sharp claws that can slit a throat if you really bug her.

Most hotels and parks have complementary BBQ grills -- NICE -- here's some 'roo we cooked up for dinner. See "First You Pet It, Then You Eat It" posting from a few months ago for more fuzzy info.

Here's some more pretty scenery with the Land Cruiser. The background is a big 'o thunderstorm and faint rainbow.

Off we go into the sunset...