Wigglies Waterhole

So I finally braved the heat and dragged my air con ass outside for a little adventure. I had heard about Wigglies Waterhole which is just north of town by about 15 minutes at best. I knew it had two entrances, one that was rough 4WD track and one that wasn't. I decided to take both - I drove in on the 4WD track, and out on the regular bush road. The first was definitely a 4WD track, with lots of rock, ruts, and creek bed. No sand thankfully as that is where my Rav4 struggles. On the way in I stopped at the bridge crossing the creek as there was some noticeable grafitti there. The bridge is the Geoff Moss Bridge, and in 2010, a 24 year old man was climbing down off the edge of it and his harness flipped and he fell out of it, dropping to his death below on the rocks. There is a memorial poem painted on one of the pillars, and other memories painted on the rocks around it. Tragic death for sure.

Then it was onward to Wigglies Waterhole. I came upon a sign for Wigglies Gorge, which I hadn't heard about, only to discover it wasn't much of a gorge, and there wasn't much to see. So I took a few photos and carried on to Wigglies Waterhole. Just as I arrived there, another vehicle turned up with a large Aboriginal family. Three kids, four women and a man. The kids all raced ahead and as they were passing me, I slipped flat on my sorry ass and back - WHAM down on the ground. The pebbles on the path were too rounded and I skidded to such a fall. Thankfully I had the foresight to keep my camera on my chest so it didn't smash against the ground. I had my big camera with me and would be heartbroken if I trashed it. Everyone called out to see if I was okay, and so I got up and dusted myself off, pride and all and carried on. It did hurt, and I am so very sore since then, mostly my ass and back, but also a bit of stiffness in my neck. One would think with so much padding on the ass, I wouldn't be able to hurt it. One would be wrong.

So after collecting myself, I got up and wandered down the hill to the waterhole. Well, there wasn't much water there and it was so warm I couldn't imagine getting any refreshment from it. I also felt like I was intruding as the Aboriginal family descended upon the waterhole as a clan. That was fine. I moseyed around, took some photos beyond the waterhole, and of the area and jumped back into the car and headed out. It wasn't until I returned home and looked at my photos that I realized when I fell, I had moved one of the settings and all of my waterhole photos were overexposed. Dammit. I can't be bothered going back because it was so very unremarkable, but I hate overexposed photos. I should have checked as I was snapping the frames but didn't. I was just still reeling from my fall I reckon. In any event, I've posted a few from the little adventure.

old bridge and road replaced by Geoff Moss Bridge

poem for the fellow who died

area near the bridge

my trusty Rav 4

Wigglies Gorge

someone got bogged pretty bad here

not sure why the signs give two dif spellings

kids at the waterhole

burl on a gum tree

Wigglies Waterhole

Long Distance Woes

So I've been trying to make some calls back home in Canada over the holidays since I'm home in the daytime which is the best time of day for the time difference between us. It hasn't been easy. In fact, it's been downright frustrating. I've been trying to call my family and a couple of friends. So far I've only caught 2 of 7 people. If I could just press one button on my phone and the calls would be dialed, I wouldn't be near as frustrated, but in order to call anyone in Canada, I must dial 35 digits to get there using my calling card. Make one mistake and you have to start at the beginning. Add to that the times the card glitches and they are telling me I cannot make calls to a certain number that I have spoken to before; or it tells me I've put in the wrong pin. So I type the pin in again, exactly the same correct way and it takes it. Then I get sorry, all circuits are busy; or I get  voicemail that they are not home but would love to hear a message from me; or my most frustrating - this customer does not accept calls from an unknown number which is what my number comes up as since I am using a calling card and calling from about 25,000kms away. Or the most frustrating - they're screening calls that they don't recognize, so I don't make the cut there either. I'm on dialing attempt 27 if I can be bothered trying again. Woe is me, I misses me family and friends back home.

Christmas Down Under

So I worked my very last day this year. I am officially on Christmas vacation. It's quite different celebrating Christmas in Australia - no snow, sweltering hot weather, and kangaroos pulling Santa's sleigh. It is the only time of the year that I miss the winter snow, just an inch or two, something to blanket the ground and coat the trees. A nice -5C would be terrific about now after another 39C day. I'm looking forward to winter in a few months. At least the temps are below 30C everyday.

Last Christmas was quite special. My daughter arrived on my birthday (19th) and after a few days in Alice Springs we hit the road to camp for the rest of it. The heat followed us until after we left Port Augusta, and then it was comfortably in the high 20s from there on until we made it to Melbourne and it was up above 35C again. We had Christmas Day in Adelaide and New Year's in Melbourne. This year I'll be in Alice Springs for all of it. I was meant to be taking off on a road trip today to Broome, but found out a few weeks ago that no one who was planning to go could get the time off work as they has all changed jobs in the past month. And the gal we were going to visit has to work as well. Just as well, most of us are heading to Byron Bay in March for Bluesfest so we will make up for it then - so stoked about the lineup - Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, Ben Harper, Steve Miller Band, Wilco, Jason Mraz, Bonnie Raitt, Roger Hodgson (Supertramp) Iggy and the Stooges (Iggy Pop), Xavier Rudd, Counting Crows, Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin), Derrick Trucks (Allman Brothers Band), Matt Anderson, and so many more! It's a camping festival so will be just one big party. I guess that is my Christmas present to myself - music!

This year my birthday was pretty low key. My manager baked me a cake and shared it with my coworkers. After working late, I met a friend for supper at the Todd Tavern, had some crappy ribs (boy these Aussies need to learn about what good pork ribs are), and a pint and then went home and spent the night watching the X-Files with the cat, and knitting mittens. Yeah, I know, knitting mittens in the middle of the desert hot summer.

So Christmas this year will be low-key - I have lunch at a friend's house with her family, and other orphans. There won't be a turkey dinner though since it is too damned hot to have the oven on all day. I might get myself some turkey breast or a chicken to roast. I doubt I'll decorate or put the tiny tree up for Dundee to destroy. I think I've lost the Christmas spirit. My biggest excitement will come from talking to family back home and hearing what they think about what I've given them for Christmas. I've sent some interesting gifts back to Canada, some that are Aussie originals, so should be cool to hear how they are received. At least all of my parcels made it to Canada on time. My daughter sent two large care packages to me but alas, they have not arrived, so probably won't see them until next year since they usually take 2-3 months and they weren't mailed until late in October I think. My mother sent me money, so I picked up a painting on a gum tree bark of an Aboriginal elder a few weeks ago at the market for myself, as pictured here. So there won't be any presents under the tree I can't be bothered putting up. I miss the days when we all exchanged presents, and the tree was loaded underneath with tons of presents for Amber, and the excitement of watching her open her presents. It's been many years since those days...
     So I reckon I'll probably go for a few drives to go swimming at the waterholes nearby. There are still a few I haven't been to closer to town. When the temperature is a sweltering 41C on Christmas Eve, it might be just what Santa ordered...

Enough With the Heat Already

     With the temperatures averaging about 39C-41C the past few months, I'm over it. I know, I chose to come and live in the middle of the desert but even the locals say it's been a hot spring and summer. Usually the heat doesn't start until November, but this year it began in September, which is early spring. And we have about 3 months of it left given that summer just started a few weeks ago. I don't think Alice Springs will find me here next summer. I've decided to look at moving west to Perth or south to Melbourne in May/June as my lease is up then and I don't want to renew for another six months and find myself moving in the hot summer. I have some good friends that have moved to Melbourne, but it is Perth that draws me. Better weather year round, turquoise waters, and lots of well paying job opportunities if WA is still recruiting when the time comes. They also pay relocation which is important as I have no desire to sell all my stuff to buy again when I arrive. I had thought about moving there this year but just wasn't up for another move so soon again. I wanted to spend at least 2 years in one place for a change, and so I'll work another 6 months in my new job and unless something drastic changes, I'll start applying for jobs in February with the hopes of moving in late May when my lease terminates. I'm keen to live in another area of Australia before I return home, and Perth caught my eye earlier this year, particularly the Fremantle area just south of Perth. It is a major city of over 1 million people, and an international airport. I would be able to fly cheap to Asia and flights home would be much cheaper as we have to pay at least $400 extra just to get out of Alice Springs. I feel like I've seen a good portion of central Australia, and have enjoyed my experience here, and will continue to enjoy it as I get to work out on the APY lands after Christmas, but I very much miss the ocean, and have had it with this unrelenting heat. I miss spending time outside because the heat is so very oppressive in summer, and I can't take it. While I'm in no way ready for the snow of my homelands, I have had my fill of sweltering heat. I miss being outside, reading a book in the shade of a tree overlooking the water, be it ocean, lake or river.

    I've been feeling somewhat homesick lately though, probably because we're nearing Christmas, and everyone is talking about going home, or having family arrive for the holidays and I'm here on my own, wishing I could have my girl with me again this year. I miss her the most. I think I need to start considering my return to Canada in a few years. I want to apply to a master's of criminology or social work and those applications are due usually the December before the following September entry, so I have about a year to get one together as I am considering registering for September 2014, if I am accepted that is.  One program that has caught my eye is the University of Calgary's MSW in International and Community Development with field placements possible in Africa. Yeah, that would be right up my alley. 

     For now though, I have immersed myself in the work of domestic violence advocacy with the people on APY lands, and learning Pitjantjatjara, while looking to explore more of central Australia once the heat breaks in February or March. Stay tuned!

And The Todd River Flows Again in 2012

We've had some rain off and on for the past week, and then today it poured from above, both here and north of us, which makes perfect conditions for the normally bone dry Todd River to flow again. I had been sitting at home and happened to check on Facebook and saw a post by the NT Police Facebook page saying the causeways were starting to flood a bit and might be closed, so off I dashed with my camera, forgetting to take my big one, but came back for it later. As I arrived at the first causeway and drove across it, I could see that the Todd River was indeed flowing once again. It last flowed in March of this year. Within moments it became a raging river and the excitement began. There were tons of people out having a look as the river swelled to the banks. I phoned everyone I thought might be interested, particularly those who were new to town and hadn't seen it before.
     And as if the river flowing was not excitement enough, someone lost their car in the flooding at Charles Creek, which is a tributary that flows into the Todd River. They were caught off guard and swept off the road, and luckily escaped, but within an hour the car was off down the river. I went home to get my better camera and when I arrived at another causeway next to the Todd Tavern, which is the one I drive on every day to get to my place, an Aboriginal woman came screaming and hollering up the bank to me, and I knew then something was up. I couldn't quite understand her, but then it was clear, two people were stranded on an island in the raging river. Initially she said there was a child with them, but that later proved not to be true. The woman and the two people stranded were very, very, intoxicated...very. So I called the police and let them know they needed to get someone to rescue those folks before the river swelled and took over the island. What bothered me most is how many people had walked by the screaming woman without batting an eyelash. I know that there are a lot of Aboriginal people that wander about town and the riverbed, camping down there, and drinking day and night, and their usual method of communication is often yelling out, but to me it sounded different. Within a few minutes the police rocked up and the situation was under control, except that the stranded man was trying to cross and kept falling back on his butt because he was so piss drunk. It probably saved him. The police then made their way across and rescued the man and woman to safety. I was up on the riverbank with the first woman, who was very distraught, but once she saw them come to shore settled down, and then began to thank me, and want to hold my hand, then to hug me, then she wanted me to sing to her....yeah, sing. By that point one of my new coworkers had joined me so there we sat on the riverbank singing Tie Me Kangaroo Down...I kid you not. Then the woman asked me for a blanket, and then to come home with me. I didn't have a blanket and she was not coming home with me. Minutes later my coworker advised me that this woman was well known in town and can be violent, and had assaulted one of my other coworkers a few months ago...so I swiftly made my way back to my car, and moved on to the next causeway for more photo ops.

     An exciting way to spend my Saturday night...and the real bonus is that the storm broke the heat wave we've been under day and night, and the temps dropped to the high twenties...it had been about 40C all week.




     Earlier in the day I had been driving across the same causeway when a police car spun around and did a u-turn parking on the side of the road...I soon saw why - there was a large group of Aboriginal people walking along the causeway with cold beers in their hands...they didn't get to keep them...awww. Then I went for groceries and as I entered the Yeperenye Mall, I walked past 3 cops walking a guy out in handcuffs...oh Alice Springs, you do entertain me...