Australia Part II

 As we wind our way down the North Island of New Zealand it is the geography - what it doesn't hide in its folds and fissures -  that is the striking contrast. This island is the land of rain, and green. No snakes and spiders to worry about as we wander into the black of night in search of glow worms across Miles' - a local dairy farmer's - back paddock - The 6 bulls he keeps here for his breeding for his 300 odd dairy cows and the squishy-slippy cow paddies keep me alert.

Australia was somewhat monochromatic with its 600 plus species of gum trees but rich in crazy creatures that wandered across the endless highway miles and through and over the parched outback. While camping at Arapiles, with a headlamp, a thousand flourescent green huntsmen spider eyes would stare back at you from beneath the scrub. Laughing Kookaburras and Major Mitchell cockatoos would awaken you at dawn with raucous birdsong.Grey roos would congregate and unabashedly hop around the gum trees at sunset.

Definitely looking forward to a return to Oz and reconnecting the good people met along the several thousand KMs from Newcastle to Melbourne... Also looking forward to uploading the crush of photos from the Grampians, the Araps, Mt. Buffalo and beyond...