Tag Archives: adels grove

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Cambrian Life

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I wasn’t out in the field everyday (I was on holidays after all), but I liked to see what people brought in at the end of the day. One afternoon, Hubby returned with slabs of Cambrian trilobites and brachiopods. I was very happy because trilobites are my favourite fossils.

Fossils from Entrance Creek

I like their other-worldliness, these fossils being representatives from another time – when the Gulf Country and most of Eastern Australia was still under water, and when the only creatures on land were insects and spiders. Hubby suspected that there may be a new species in those slabs – he was only partially right.

This trilobite is a known species in the Gulf.

Fossils from Entrance Creek

We’re yet to find out what species this is.

Fossils from Entrance Creek

The ridged brachiopod (shell) is a known species, but those specimens came from western NSW. We’re yet to find out what species the smooth brachiopod is.

Fossils from Entrance Creek

These are giant burrows of some kind. So far no one has any idea of what could have made them. It must have been big, scary thing, whatever it was.

Fossils from Entrance Creek

And lastly, these are fossilised mud cracks! Surprising the things that survive.

Fossils from Entrance Creek

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Impact Crater

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The landscape at the last water bore we visited was flat.

Water monitoring

Very flat.

Water monitoring

I was later told that we were inside an impact crater from a meteorite which fell to earth hundreds of millions of years ago. Later I looked the area up on Google Maps, and what do you know, it did look like a crater. Whereas the surrounding hills were all in lines and curves, the hills around the crater was definitely a circle.

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Water Monitoring

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The week however wasn’t all about palaeontology. I also joined the geologists on a few of their water and rock collecting trips. They sampled water from the local creeks, took rocks from the surrounding area, and attempted to collect data from the monitoring devices they had left in various water bores the previous year. These monitors tracked water levels and pressure and temperature.

It was the last activity that took the most time – the monitoring devices were frustratingly difficult to retrieve. These devices were basically suspended into the bores with a length of rope and then taped into place. To retrieve them involved a lot of fishing about.

North of Century Mine

Unfortunately, their survival rate was low. If they hadn’t detached from the rope, chances were that the bore they were in had been trampled by a herd of cattle. Even if you retrieved the monitor, you might not be able to extract the data from it.

Water monitoring

Water monitoring

In the end, only one device out of five came up with the goods. I guess it’s pot luck out in the Outback.

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Walk to Lookout Hill – Part 4

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I was greeted at the top of the hill by a series of cairns, built by past visitors. They have almost been as industrious as the termites.

Walk to Lookout Hill

Adels Grove was far below, under the trees. There was also an airstrip that you can just glimpse.

Walk to Lookout Hill

Airstrips are the lifelines of the outback, especially in an emergency. Speaking of emergencies, the Royal Flying Doctor Service are the heroes of the outback, and the focus of a lot of fundraising. During our stay the local mine invited Ernie Dingo (of Getaway and other things) to do a fundraising show for the service. I was glad to see that it was well attended by locals and visitors alike, and that the audience made a significant donation.

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Walk to Lookout Hill – Part 3

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Past the wattle bushes, I encountered the first termite mound of the walk. Termites in Australia are very industrious creatures, and the best examples of their work are in the north of Australia. The mounds around Adels Grove aren’t massive (I’ve seen 3 metre high ones by the roadside) but it is a good example of a typical Savannah landscape.

Walk to Lookout Hill

As I started to climb Lookout Hill, I saw more of the surrounding landscape, and how quickly it changed. The strand of trees running through the middle of the shot (some 200 metres away) was where Lawn Hill Creek ran. Yet on the hill, all was dusty and rocky.

Walk to Lookout Hill

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Walk to Lookout Hill – Part 1

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We’re starting a walk to Lookout Hill this week, but the walk really started from our tent. We stayed in one of the permanent safari tents on the site. As you can see, it was a big family tent and very comfy, especially when it was only for the two of us. It was made up with proper beds and bedding. I’m a big fan of ‘glamping’, I must say.

Permanent Tent

But a tent is a tent, and as Joan noted on her recent road trip to Central Queensland, it’s been a bit cold this winter, even in the Outback. Hubby said that it was the coldest visit he’s ever had to the area, and it was his sixth trip. Temperatures got down to as low as 5C during the night, but rose to the mid 20C’s by the afternoon. I was just thankful for the clear weather after living through months of rain down in Sydney.

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Twilight at Adels Grove – Part 4

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Luckily, the swimming areas were unaffected. This was where I was to spend a few happy afternoons. The spring-fed waters of the creek was beautiful to swim and float in. I also enjoyed the passing parade of zebra-striped archer fish and the occasional canoeist.

Twilight

Surprisingly, not too many visitors were keen to brave the water. At eighteen degrees Celsius, most of the holidaying Queenslanders thought the water too brisk for even a five minute swim. I thought the water cool but refreshing – Sydney beaches were as cold, if not colder, in the middle of summer. Besides, I wasn’t going to miss an opportunity to swim in a beautiful creek. You certainly don’t get water as clean and sweet as Lawn Hill Creek down south.