December 2019

07December 2019

December, and the harvest continues, well, almost. With only one grower now delivering it's time to clean up, and that will take a few weeks, so not quite free from the workplace just yet.

14 December 2019

Between the end of deliveries and the start of the cleanup we were given some days off, and so rather than sit around and do nothing we opted for a trip to Lake Campion. I had seen some photographs of this lake on the Internet and decided that we needed to visit for a look, and some photography and drone work.

It seemed a little strange to be packing and connecting the van up, but despite being on a very familiar road, that feeling of freedom quickly returned, and before long we had arrived at the lake. Our track can be found here.

Despite having the place to ourselves we drove around for a while looking for that perfect campsite which had a view of the lake, the breeze to help keep us cool, and a phone signal. We eventually found somewhere that not only was, but felt right and settled in.

With the high 30 degree temperatures of late exploring the area was a very hot affair, and after walking out on the salt lake and then around the large rock formation it was time to get the drone out for an aerial exploration.

With the lake bone dry, the higher parts looking like islands in the sun and the salt ridges providing a honeycomb effect there had to be some photos, and sure enough there was.

The Sparkler

This dry water flow looked good from above and I named it The Sparkler.

Fractured

Some of the salt ridges and cracks from above which I named Fractured.

Tracks

An old set of wheel tracks made for an interesting subject.

Of course there was also time for some ground based camera work towards sunset, before we settled in for a very quiet and peaceful night, still with the whole place to ourselves.

The next day was spent doing very little other than processing some photographs and editing some drone footage for my youtube channel, and of course some more sunset photography.

Our last morning at the lake started very early with a 4.20am alarm. Having missed the previous sunrise I though I would try one this morning, and looking out of the bedroom window upon waking inspired me greatly. There was a large amount of cloud and the promise of the sky lighting up as the sun rises above he horizon.

Leaving Joanne in bed I quickly dressed and headed out across the rocks to a few spots I had already scouted out for compositions, eventually settling on one with some weather beaten rocks sitting on a large rocky area, looking towards the sunrise and over the salt lake, just 100m from our camp.

Setting up and patiently waiting the sun began it's rise and the clouds began to clear into different shapes. Then, as the sun popped up over the horizon into a cloud bank it was time to get some shots with the long lens.

Lake Campion Sunrise

The sun begins it's rise in the days sky.

The wind had started to pick up and was quite cool, and making me wish I had brought a jacket, but it didn't take too long before the view in the sky completely took my mind off being cool as I changed lenses, composed and started to grab some shots of one of the most exciting skies I have witnessed, not to mention the two wedgetailed eagles that were riding the wind and floating overhead looking for breakfast.

Lake Campion Sunrise Clouds

The banks of cloud really started to put on a show as the sun exploded into the sky.

Lake Campion Sunrise Clouds 2

The view kept changing as the sun rose behind the clouds.

Lake Campion Tree

This old, weathered tree among the rocks caught my eye.

Lake Campion Rock

The rock and the boulders made for a challenging composition.

So after a spectacular sunrise it was time for breakfast and then to pack up. With the daily temperature heading for 40 degree's C we made our way to the small town of Nungarin via the scenic route. Arriving in town we paid for a spot at the recreation centre before settling in as the mercury climbed. Our track can be found here.

Being the only people in camp we enjoyed a quiet night and then as the mercury climbed once more we made our way back through Merriden and down to Bruce Rock, ready to start the site clean up on what turned out to be yet another 40 degree day. Good job we were starting and finishing early!

20 December 2019

Well the clean up is done and we are now happily unemployed again. We will be heading to family for an early Christmas and while there deciding where we are going to head to, preferably somewhere where the temperature is lower than what we have experienced for the past few weeks.

27 December 2019

Christmas came and went as did enjoyable visits with family. Leaving the hustle and bustle of the coast behind we have made our way up into the hills to the free camp at Jarrahdale for a few days. With good friends Bob and Julie heading up later today we made our way up to find the whole RV camp empty. We chose a spot that would be good for two rigs and settled in.

Mark Twain once said "...years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do that by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - and so we will.