in bed fairly early yesterday the few beers kicked in and so I was on
the road at 10am this morning. Its going to be a long day ahead, as I
have 1200km to travel before stopping in the van for the night.
As I drove out this morning, i have managed to increase the count of
australian creatures spotted from 1 to 2. the first one was a prickly
backed thing that looked large a large hedgehog (im assuming it was a
porcupine) and it was wandering along the side of the road, and today
i think i saw my first wild snake! At least, after almost driving over
the top of it at 100km i think it was a snake, it looked like all the
other flotsam accumulated on the side of the road, but as my wheels
went past it looked like it was wriggling in a snake like fashing. The
brief glimpse of a black object hardly should count but seeing as the
number is so depressingly low I have counted it anyway! I did get told
before i left that it was always a bad idea to drive over the top of a
snake, often it just results in the snake being flipped through a
window (mine were closed) or getting caught in the tires and being
VERY disgruntled when you finally stop. Considering I've driven 300km
since then I very much hope it isnt still in the wheel rim! Im fairly
sure i missed it, it just got a bit of a shock i hope.
In terms of the countryside, its definitely changing as I go along.
Yesterday was very much about farm and corn fields, today has been
more open grassland. Yesterday, the trees were tightly packed, very
thick and really tall, today they are more spindly, with plenty of
space between them and not very tall at all. the view today has
predominantly been hazy blue hills in the distance, with smoke plumes
rising and beige grass and light green trees standing out. Just before
I stopped i passed over the tropic of capricorn, so i am well and
trully north now with only 1000km total before Cairns. I am very much
looking forward to relaxing in a hamoc with a cocktail when I get
there!
It also seems that no matter how far i go, i cant leave things behind.
Listening to the radio this morning, a whole bunch of schools around
the country had got together to sing at the same time (oh the wonders
of video conferencing technology) and the national radio station had
sent a team to Cranbourne, and speaking to the locals about how the
area has changed they were talking about the days when they used to be
able to walk all the way to Berwick through the farmers fields. Right
from the other side of the country, im still hearing about Melbourne!
Lunch break is now over, its back to the driving seat to make
Townsville tonight!
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