Also, as usual, there was plenty to do, and plenty to eat. Like the 'loaves and fishes' crackers & dips, cakes & slices, biscuits and of course the hosts' beautiful scones suddenly appeared for an afternoon tea feast.
We saw presentations on visits to O'Reillys and Carnarvon Gorge, and reminisced on the camp at Iron Pot Creek at Toonumbar National Park. We were delighted by the wildlife on a Mt Alford property and videos on the Albert's Lyrebird and bee-keeping in the good old days. Keith gave us a short talk on the Great Artesian Basin under our feet, and perhaps the reason why the brigalow is found in our neck of the woods. The Club's photographic archive was pored over, and there were many books, brochures and maps to keep us occupied.
After an early bbq tea and some lovely dessert we set off in the dark for a bit of scrub. This was some nearby roadside brigalow unfortunately infested with asparagus fern. We inspected all the shrubs and trees, adjacent paddocks and grass verges. There weren't any animals except for a quick glimpse of an unidentified microbat caught in a torch beam, the reflective glinting of spiders' eyes, and the occasional churring of crickets.
We had all rugged up expecting a chill breeze however it turned out to be quite mild and windless. The Milky Way was a soft smudge across the night sky. Our night-spotting torches seemed to carry to the stars as we picked out Saturn and Jupiter, and the well-known constellations. What a peaceful way to end the day.
Thanks to our hosts for such an enjoyable time.
