#travelogue — Public Fediverse posts

The Diggings campground on the Turon River

In this post: The peace and the pain of camping.

This is the blog of Mark Wordsworm, the travelling worm. I’m a 40-year-old bookmark (give or take a few years) and I proudly boast my own Hallmark serial number, 95 HBM 80-1. You’ll probably want to read all about me and my Travelling Companion (the TC).

Today’s travel notes

The TC, bless her cotton socks, has a new favourite place to camp. It’s The Diggings campground in New South Wales, Australia. It’s beautiful and peaceful, so she claims, tucked away between the hills, right on the bank of the Turon River. “Peaceful?” I retort. “Hah, read on!”

“Everything in Australia is trying to kill you.” That’s what they say. Here come the 5 hazards that the TC encountered on this short two-day trip. Plus a bonus hazard!

The book I’m in

Gone for Good by Harlan Coben. A good fast read full of twists and turns. Perfect for bookworms like yours truly, who prefer their hazards presented between the covers of a book.

Travel tips

Get out there and enjoy life. It might be shorter than you think! (I’m voicing the TC here.)

The photos

Ah, camping. This worm doesn’t know why the TC does it!

https://youtu.be/MpUu2zs0CJM

Hazard 1: Aggressive ants. At the slightest provocation, they’ll barrel out of their nest on the ground, climb up your legs as far as possible, and nip like fire pokers. Also, it’s important to point out that these particular ants had built their nest right across the doorway of the dunny. (Australian terminology: a dunny is a toilet, especially a long-drop like the ones you get at campgrounds, if you’re lucky to get any at all.) So, just when you’re in a hurry, there’s a hazard in your way.

The peace. A smooth green sward of grass, surrounded by tree-covered hills from which birds sound their music:

Kangaroos abound, bounding around, with several little joeys both in and out of the pouch. Crimson Rosellas feed on the grass seeds, adding their rich reds and blues to the scene:

Hazard 2: Being chased by a kangaroo. Those roos may look cute and cuddly. But… The TC stopped for a moment to listen to some birds. Suddenly a peremptory bark sounded from higher up the hill. She looked up to see a big male kangaroo loping towards her. Not fast, but purposefully. With its chest and arms all muscly and strong. She took the wiser course and walked away. The male stopped near his clutch of females and joeys to watch the TC retreat. She does confess that her heart bumped painfully for a while.

Hazard 3: Aggressive birds. Not all birds are as peace-loving as the Crimson Rosellas in the previous photo. Earlier in this trip, before getting to the campground, an Australian Magpie did an uncomfortably close fly-by. Once again, the TC had stopped to watch some birds, though not the magpie. Suddenly, she heard and felt a loud clap just next to her head. Just a warning pass, no contact. The TC looked up to see a magpie fly off, land on a nearby branch, then turn round and ready itself for another go. On this occasion too, the TC took the wiser course, with her umbrella raised above her head in defence.

More peace. The early morning sun glows behind a wall of mist:

Hazard 4: Deep mineshafts. Beware where you tread, in the misty eery light. Deep mine shafts are scattered at random, remaining from the days of gold mining in the area. The shafts within the campground are fenced off, but a dreadful drop lies in wait for the unwary who wander off the beaten path:

Yet more peace. The Turon River flows past the campground, reflecting sky and trees, home to ducks, kingfishers, and other wildlife:

Hazard 5: River and terrain. You need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to get to The Diggings campground. Depending which route you take, there’s one river crossing and a steep, dry-weather-only descent on a dirt track, or at least four river crossings. Beware the river rising. It can be fast-flowing and deep.

And the promised bonus hazard: In the video at the start of this post, the TC mentioned a spider in the dunny. Yes, it was a redback. A good one to avoid!

On this trip, yours truly stayed safely tucked in a book. Hence, no photos of me in this post. My apologies, dear reader, I know you miss my noble physiognomy.

That’s all for today, folks.

Exploring Tahiti - 1968 - Rare Super 8 Home Movie - Part 4

https://makertube.net/w/gDCcu62jufjuFEoF5JdKun

Is it nicer up north?

Cult film celebrates 20th anniversary

Over 20 years since English comedy actor Graham #Fellows, as character John #Shuttleworth, travelled to #Shetland to find out if it really is nicer up north

Result was #comedy #film It’s #NiceUpNorth, #spoof #travelogue where Shuttleworth mingles with unsuspecting locals

It has gained #cult following. Fellows is taking the film on a 20th anniversary screening tour around the #UK.=

https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2026/09/25/nicer-north-cult-film-celebrates/?utm_source=mastodon_fediverse

#CultFilm #people #travel

Sunset at Menindee Lake

In this post: Sunset and traces of a giant kangaroo at Menindee Lakes Caravan Park.

This is the blog of Mark Wordsworm, the travelling worm. I’m a 40-year-old bookmark (give or take a few years) and I proudly boast my own Hallmark serial number, 95 HBM 80-1. You’ll probably want to read all about me and my Travelling Companion (the TC).

Today’s travel notes

Me and the TC camped overnight at Menindee Lakes Caravan Park, on the shore of Lake Menindee. We were on our way from Flinders Ranges, heading towards Sydney. We arrived at Menindee Lake in the middle of the afternoon and set up camp. Then we headed off to Sunset Strip before coming back to camp to take in the sunset. The next morning we made a short trip into the village of Menindee before heading off towards Wilcannia.

The book I’m in

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. The TC is about half way through this book now, and I’m munching through it with great delight. It’s meaty and muscly, a good tale full of nourishing information.

Travel tips

Spend more than one night in the area of Menindee Lakes if you can, to explore all the lakes and waterways and to learn about the history of the area.

The photos

Me at Menindee Lake:

In the photo, Menindee Lake is behind me. I’m facing the caravan park, which you can’t see in the photo.

The lakes are only 30% full at the moment. The receptionist at the camp site told us that they had been full only recently, but then South Australia demanded more water. She found this odd and, it seemed, rather annoying, because South Australia had just had a surfeit of rain, so much so that areas of it had flooded. In fact, that very watery blessing was the major contributor to the wash of flowers described in my previous post: Flowers in the Flinders Ranges.

The TC, bless her cotton socks, was here for the sunset. And she was not disappointed:

The colours kept changing as the sun descended:

Beetle the Jeep nestled up close to our tent to watch the last light leave the sky:

Let’s go back in time a few hours. This view shows the camp site, seen from the lake:

The camp has a good ablution block: the light brown building that you can see just to the right of centre. There’s also a large, well supplied camp kitchen. Beetle and the tent are hanging out behind the tree in the middle of the picture. Our neighbour was the white Toyota visible on the right with the roof top tent. You can just see the blue and silver of our tent in the gap in the foliage.

At the back of the camp, on the left, is a row of old cabins and caravans. These used to be for hire, but are looking pretty derelict now:

Down at the lake shore, the TC measured a giant kangaroo footprint against her own not inconsiderable boot. It’d be an experience to meet the owner of this print in the dusk of evening!

Before sunset, Beetle took us for a drive along the tracks next to the lake, in search of Sunset Strip. We ended up following one of the waterways that connect Menindee Lake with the other lakes in the area, then climbing the bank to get back onto bitumen:

The romantically-named Sunset Strip turned out to be a town. Access to the water was somewhat restricted by the rows of housing along the shore. Beetle did manage to point her noise towards the water, before we had to turn round in obedience to a sign post:

We took the photo then high-tailed it back to Menindee Lakes Caravan Park to catch the sunset. (Of which, Dear Reader, you’ve seen the photos earlier in this post.)

That’s all for today, folks.

Exploring Tahiti - 1968 - Rare Super 8 Home Movie - Part 3

https://makertube.net/w/wtJsw32M7bpS3BBZ6irLxt

Flowers in the Flinders Ranges

In this post: Spring flowers in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia.

This is the blog of Mark Wordsworm, the travelling worm. I’m a 40-year-old bookmark (give or take a few years) and I proudly boast my own Hallmark serial number, 95 HBM 80-1. You’ll probably want to read all about me and my Travelling Companion (the TC).

Today’s travel notes

Me and the TC went back to the Flinders Ranges for another dip into the magnificent landscape. We were last there just a couple of months ago, in July. At that time, there’d been significant rainfall in the region. The hills were cloaked in various shades of green. Since then, there’s been even more rainfall and spring has arrived. As well as the greens, there were the yellows, purples, reds, whites of flowers, both native and introduced.

The book I’m in

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. A fascinating tale based on the author’s own life.

Travel tips

If you can schedule a trip to the area in spring time after rain, it’s well worth it. The green vegetation and flowers make for gorgeous scenery. Though I do admit that I’d like to see it when it’s dry too.

Recommended restaurant

Flinders Food Co in Hawker. Great food and friendly service. In our two trips to the Flinders Ranges, we visited this restaurant five times.

The photos

Approaching the Flinders Ranges, we had our first glimpses of the flowers through the Jeep window:

The deep pink flowers on the hills are Wild Hops. The theory is that they were introduced by the camel trains that used to transport goods between the cattle stations, towns, and railway stations. The Afghans who operated the camel trains used to pad their saddle bags with the hops. Since then, the plant has spread far and wide.

A gallery of colours:

That’s all for today, folks.

Exploring Tahiti - 1968 - Rare Super 8 Home Movie - Part 2

https://makertube.net/w/hDHtKfM8Us8v5kp22GxEzy

Exploring Tahiti - 1968 - Rare Super 8 Home Movie - Part 1

https://makertube.net/w/kzFnn9ZRqhQLmtjKBBqgWN

France / Going up the Eiffel Tower - Vintage 8mm Home Movie

https://makertube.net/w/aRVfSt4XJHjSdAYysa14a7

Up the Eiffel Tower - Vintage 8mm homemovie

https://makertube.net/w/axQ5ZiRXnsD896gbY4whb8

Trip Musings

A Day’s Travelogue

August 22, 2015

A Puzzling Existence

There is something meditative about working on a puzzle though this one has been more difficult than most.

Many hands have put the pieces together and slowly the picture has revealed itself.

We will not finish it before we leave. The pieces will be put back in the box to await the next visitors.

Today we return to whence we came into the unknown with the hope that what is missing will fall into place and faith that all will be revealed in its appointed time.

Hands more adept than ours know where each and every piece is supposed to go.

Gate 5

Traveling like life involves a lot of waiting.

One must become adept at more than simply killing time.

The hours given to us are too precious for such a slow death.

Arrival

Having survived flypocalypse, we have a remarkably uneventful trip home.

We have had a wonderful time, but it is good to return to the familiar. We reach our house to snuggle with the creatures we share this place with.

I could say that tomorrow we will be in a house of worship, and that is so, but worship is an attitude, and we have just come from such a sacred place 30,000 feet up.

I look towards the dawn with hope and a grateful heart.

Experiencing Upper Mustang in Nepal

https://tulasiacharya.wordpress.com/2026/08/21/experiencing-upper-mustang-in-nepal/

Taking the Ferry in Seattle - Super 8 Home Movie

https://makertube.net/w/cCSFVnJrJN4i8fpBSKHCfN

The #SacredCowShipYards visits #LasVegas #Travelogue

screenshots from the episode again and again and again

"The Autonomous Self-Supportive Heuristic Organic Life Emulator"

https://youtu.be/gxcygxu09sg

Flinders Ranges, South Australia

In this post: Gorgeous scenery and challenging technical driving in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia.

This is the blog of Mark Wordsworm, the travelling worm. I’m a 40-year-old bookmark (give or take a few years) and I proudly boast my own Hallmark serial number, 95 HBM 80-1. You’ll probably want to read all about me and my Travelling Companion (the TC).

Today’s travel notes

Me and the TC recently spent a few days in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. It’s a fair way from home: three solid days’ drive each way from Sydney. The long trek is well worth it. This must be one of the most beautiful places on earth. We were also lucky in that the region has had an unusually large volume of rain over the past several months. The hills and valleys were covered in vegetation, all shades of green and white and grey and red.

The book I’m in

The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers. Since my previous blog post, the characters have been digging themselves deeper and deeper into the complexities of a long-lasting affair. A light snack for this bookworm is looking more like a full-course meal. I’m keen to see how this situation turns out for all involved.

Travel tips

If you go off the main roads, even onto the easy dirt roads, travel with at least one other vehicle. If something goes wrong, it’s very useful to have another, working vehicle to get you out of trouble. The landscape is huge and the conditions can be unforgiving.

Recommended restaurant

Flinders Food Co in Hawker. We went there for lunch, once and then again two days later. The TC, bless her cotton socks, was impressed when a staff member said, “Welcome back!”

The photos

Me at the entry to the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park:

Yes, I’m there. Look closely, dear reader. Yours truly is just a bit dwarfed by the grand sign. Everything in the Flinders is on a grand scale. Look for me between the L and the I. Peg is there too, hanging on to my tassle and balancing on top of the I.

The Flinders Ranges form the biggest mountain range in South Australia. They started forming about 800 million years ago and are one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world. They’re known as a “folded” range, which nicely describes the appearance of the mountains as you approach from the north west on The Outback Highway:

Brachina Gorge and Bunyeroo Road

Our first scenic drive in the Flinders Ranges was Brachina Gorge:

For the most part, Brachina Gorge Road is an easy dirt road, winding through steep valleys and picturesque country. There is, though, the occasional creek crossing, some of which could be tricky in wet weather.

Part way along Brachina Gorge Road, we took the Bunyeroo Road turnoff. Pretty purple flowers decorated the roadside. Pretty to the eye, but they’re known as Paterson’s Curse. They’re poisonous to grazing animals if eaten in bulk. Even so, some farmers allow their animals to eat these plants in moderation, as they’re sometimes the only fodder in a drought (despite being poisonous). So Paterson’s Curse is also called Salvation Jane.

One of the most spectacular viewing points in the Flinders Ranges is Razorback Lookout on Bunyeroo Road. Here’s yours truly at the lookout. In the foreground on the left is an interesting sharply-pointed hill with vertical stripes:

Are those dinosaurs? The ancient landscape would seem to support the idea:

No, they’re emus, Australia’s large flightless bird. They’re the tallest living bird in the world, after the ostrich.

Wilpena Pound

We camped overnight at Wilpena Pound resort. Wilpena Pound is a large, bowl-shaped valley in the Flinders Ranges, formed by huge slabs of rock colliding, folding, and pushing upwards in an oval ring.

A 360 degree view of Wilpena Pound as sundown approaches:

https://youtu.be/8hDwZgScIGo

The Moon and Venus came out as the sun went down:

Bendleby Ranges

Bendleby Ranges is a property in the Flinders Ranges where you can camp, explore 4WD tracks, and enjoy the natural beauty.

Finding the property can be a challenge, especially if you decide to take the back routes. We didn’t so much decide as end up taking the back routes. Luckily this sign assured us that we were nearly there:

The property owners have set out 210 kilometres of 4WD tracks that you can drive yourself. The tracks are rated for difficulty, from easy to hard. They’re all very beautiful, winding through hills with a huge landscape as the backdrop:

Marchant Hill Lookout at Bendleby Ranges:

This video shows part of a gorgeous and technical drive in the “Hungry Ranges”, the name given to an area containing the more difficult tracks at Bendleby Ranges. The track in the video is rated 10 out of 10 for difficulty. It should also be rated 10 out of 10 for beauty.

https://youtu.be/FAJdkA-n8rY

Some of the tracks do require serious four-wheel driving know-how and a well set up vehicle with diff locks, high clearance, and a winch. There are some dangerously rubbly and steep ascents and descents.

A well-known track is Billy Goat Ridge, not to be confused with Billy Goat Bluff in the Victorian High Country (see my earlier post about the Billy Goat Bluff Track). A signpost announces the start of Billy Goat Ridge:

The track wanders off into the distance. It looks deceptively tame, but it offers a good challenge to a keen four-wheel driver:

Dawn at Bendleby Ranges can be frosty, especially in the month of July (mid winter) when we were there:

At 7am, the weather app said the temperature was -2 degrees, feels like -4.7. The tent was covered in ice:

There was even ice on the inside of the tent. The ice thawed when the sun hit the tent, and dropped in sheets with a pretty tinkling noise, all over the TC’s bedding and clothing. Everything got wet.

The TC, bless her woolly mittens, prides herself on being a hardy soul. But even she decided that one night in an iced-over tent was enough to prove the point. We moved into a room the Shearer’s Quarters for the next night:

The team at Bendleby Ranges opened up the Shearers Quarters just for us! The accommodation was comfortable though basic, and aah the warmth provided by the aircon was bliss.

That’s all for today, folks.

Broken Hill in the Living Desert

In this post: The city of Broken Hill, how it got its name, and the living desert that surrounds it. Plus some desserts.

This is the blog of Mark Wordsworm, the travelling worm. I’m a 40-year-old bookmark (give or take a few years) and I proudly boast my own Hallmark serial number, 95 HBM 80-1. You’ll probably want to read all about me and my Travelling Companion (the TC).

Today’s travel notes

Me and the TC recently made a big trek westwards from Sydney, to explore parts of NSW and South Australia. Broken Hill was one of the places on our bucket list.

The book I’m in

The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers. I’m nestled in near the start of this book, getting to know the characters and the situations they manage to get themselves into. So far, it’s a warm and amusing experience.

Travel tips

Take an early morning stroll in the living desert, but make sure you don’t get lost. It’s big country: Large landscapes, rolling hills, and a lot of sameness.

Recommended restaurants and bakeries

The Silly Goat is excellent for brunch. Their sweets looked scrummy, though we didn’t endulge this time.

The Musicians Club provides a good nosh-up for dinner. Their citrus tart is a delicious dessert.

The Deli presented us with delicious, gluten free cakes, a little like muffins.

The photos

Me at the top of the Line of Lode (it’s a mine dump), with the city of Broken Hill spread out below:

Why the name “Broken Hill”? The city is named after a range of ragged rocky outcrops that looked as if it had a break in it. The broken hill itself has since disappeared. It turned out to contain the world’s largest ore seam of silver lead, and zinc. After the resulting mining spree, the hill is now a large flat mine dump, part of which is still being mined.

The mine dump is called the Line of Lode. Let’s put on our wings (this worm is still patiently awaiting the day that I morph into a beautiful winged creature) and zoom some distance away from Broken Hill. This shot shows the Line of Lode and the city:

Due to the wealth of silver, zinc, and lead in its rock, Broken Hill became a bit of a trend setter in mining matters. Mining revenue supported the new nation of Australia in no small way. The mining and minerals technology developed in the city were adopted worldwide, as were many of the financing practices. Some of today’s large mining companies owe their beginnings to the miners at Broken Hill. Take BHP Billiton for example: BHP comes from the company’s former name, “Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited”.

The Line of Lode is part museum, part working mine. Derelict structures greet you as you make your way to the top:

Erected on top of the Line of Lode is a memorial to the miners who contributed so much to the city and the country. More than 800 people have died during mining activities here. The memorial shows names of deceased miners in columns lined with dusky pink roses, along with each person’s date and manner of death. This photo shows but a few of the names. The list stretches for several more panels:

The city of Broken Hill

The Line of Lode looms large from the city too. On Sulphide street, the 30-metre high mullock (an Australian term for a hill of mining waste) lurks behind the Palace Hotel:

The streets in the city are named after the ores mined and the chemicals used in the mining process. Here’s Argent Street:

The Broken Hill Courthouse is also on Argent Street:

Several areas in the city are designated alcohol free zones, in a bid to improve public safety. In these areas, it’s illegal to consume alcohol 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

A big ant prowls Crystal Lane. This impressive creature is part of the pavement art created for the “Beyond The Dust” festival in 2025:

Above the streets, Corellas lurk. Like this one, which looks like a somewhat jaded reveller with its soiled feathers and splodged eye shadow:

Living Desert State Park

Twenty minutes’ drive from Broken Hill, along Nine Mile Road, is the Living Desert State Park. We were lucky to see the desert even more alive than usual, due to the unusual amount of rain the region has had over the past several months. The desert was covered in green shrubbery, even outside the park.

The park itself is well worth a visit. The entry fee is $10 per person, payable at an automated pay point beyond the gate. The payment system is eccentric. It’s unmanned, just a machine, and accepts card only. When we arrived, there were a few confused people wandering around looking for help. Eventually, by group effort, we all made it through the system and into the park.

Video: It’s mid morning in the Living Desert State Park. Several kangaroos bound across a bowl-shaped valley below us:

https://youtu.be/enYrbjHXKDo

The next video shows more kangaroo action, later in the day. It’s approaching sunset. Two kangaroos tap each other playfully with their paws. Being but a small worm in a large world, I’m not sure what type of kangaroo or wallaby these are. They’re reddish in colour, with rather endearing tufty hairstyles:

https://youtu.be/eXMB2jBakyk

As the sun goes down, sculptures make interesting shapes at the top of a hill in the park:

We left Broken Hill early next morning, driving into the sunrise:

That’s all for today, folks.

The #SacredCowShipYards visits #LasVegas #Travelogue

screenshots from the episode again again

"The Autonomous Self-Supportive Heuristic Organic Life Emulator"

Now featuring Auto-Transcription!

https://youtu.be/gxcygxu09sg

The #SacredCowShipYards visits #LasVegas #Travelogue

screenshots from the episode again

"The Autonomous Self-Supportive Heuristic Organic Life Emulator"

https://youtu.be/gxcygxu09sg

Westwards through Wagga Wagga

In this post: Isn’t the whole interior of Australia made of red dust and clay? That’s what this worm has always been told. But not so.

This is the blog of Mark Wordsworm, the travelling worm. I’m a 40-year-old bookmark (give or take a few years) and I proudly boast my own Hallmark serial number, 95 HBM 80-1. You’ll probably want to read all about me and my Travelling Companion (the TC).

Today’s travel notes

Me and the TC have just returned from an epic trip into Australia’s outback. We drove west and north for three days, drove around a bit, then drove back for three days. We discovered a huge land covered in shades of green with the red earth glowing through.

On the first day of the trip, we drove from Sydney on the east coast to Wagga Wagga, slightly more than a third of the way across the state of New South Wales. Wagga Wagga is the largest inland city in New South Wales.

What does the name Wagga Wagga mean?

Firstly, why isn’t it just “Wagga”? Well, the local Wiradjuri language uses repetition to show the plural. So, “Wagga Wagga” indicates more than one “Wagga”. Several languages use repetition like this, including Malay / Indonesian.

The word itself, “wagga”, means “dance” in Wiradjuri. Wagga Wagga is therefore the place of dances. Until recently, the official interpretation was “place of many crows”, but the Wagga Wagga city council set that straight in 2019.

Informally, you can call the city just “Wagga”. Everyone knows what you mean.

The book I’m in

Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky. If you want to think about what form alien life might take, and what it might feel like to meet that life, then this is the book for you. It’s terrifying and fascinating. The best of SciFi.

Travel tips

Have two drivers if you can. Australia is a big country and the roads are long. Being able to swap drivers every couple of hours, and having someone to talk to, helps avoid driving off the road by mistake. This type of message from your GPS is not uncommon: 585 km to your next turn:

(Savvy readers will notice that the location of this map is Broken Hill, from another day of our trip. Heh, call it artistic licence to include the screenshot in this post.)

Recommended restaurant

Nabiha’s Kitchen, Baylis Street, Wagga Wagga. Visit this place for a charming and authentic Lebanese meal. The warm welcome and intimate atmosphere make it feel like you’re having a meal in someone’s home kitchen. Take the time to chat with Nabiha and her daughter, Vicky, to learn the story of the restaurant and the family that owns it.

The photos

Me at Wagga train station. This tablet was unveiled a couple of months before the TC was born (bless her woolly booties):

We took the Old Hume Highway into Wagga. The TC was expecting Wagga to be in the middle of flat country and arid red dirt. But no, it was green!

Sunlight through clouds and a line of skeleton trees on an undulating horizon ushered us into Wagga:

A pile driver obliged with an atmospheric rhythm as we crossed the Murrumbidgee River (there were roadworks nearby). On the other side of the river, rolling green hills spread out before us:

https://youtu.be/sOrWRu3I0TE

On the way into the city, we stopped at Marrambidya Wetland for a walk. These gum trees were enjoying a puddle:

The TC is a bit of a twitcher. Hence the next picture, of a fairy wren similarly enjoying a puddle. Bird watching is not a great pastime for a travelling companion of mine, yours truly being a worm and all. But I stay safely hidden in my book at times like these.

Double trouble:

Wagga itself has restful, wide streets. There’s every type of shop, supermarket, and service that you might need. A big-name road runs through the town: Sturt Highway.

Wagga railway station:

Wagga Wagga Base Hospital is the largest hospital in the region, servicing the city and surrounding areas. The hospital was first founded in 1856, and has undergone several reconstructions since then, the latest being completed in 2023:

The next picture shows Sturt Highway, four hours west of Wagga: a flat, wide horizon with the road disappearing into the distance. This is more like what I expected of the view, except that it’s all green!

That’s all for today, folks.

Flying to France and the Eiffel Tower - 8mm Homemovie - 90s

https://makertube.net/w/7FeGd6nuMjbJ18yg9QLkyh

All aboard for Paisley: a trip round unloved Britain

‘Most people who have been to Crewe station have never been to Crewe.’ In a moment of serendipity,…
#EuropeSays #Britain #Europe #EU #Clacton-on-Sea #Crewe #demolition #dilapidation #Felling #Gateshead #History #Ipswich #Jaywick #Paisley #StHelens #travelogue #Warrington
https://www.europesays.com/britain/94091/

https://www.europesays.com/britain/94091/ All aboard for Paisley: a trip round unloved Britain #Britain #ClactonOnSea #Crewe #demolition #dilapidation #Felling #Gateshead #History #Ipswich #Jaywick #Paisley #StHelens #travelogue #Warrington

All aboard for Paisley: a trip round unloved Britain

‘Most people who have been to Crewe station have never been to Crewe.’ In a moment of serendipity,…
#EuropeSays #Britain #Europe #EU #Clacton-on-Sea #Crewe #demolition #dilapidation #Felling #Gateshead #History #Ipswich #Jaywick #Paisley #StHelens #travelogue #Warrington
https://www.europesays.com/britain/93831/

https://www.europesays.com/britain/93831/ All aboard for Paisley: a trip round unloved Britain #Britain #ClactonOnSea #Crewe #demolition #dilapidation #Felling #Gateshead #History #Ipswich #Jaywick #Paisley #StHelens #travelogue #Warrington

All aboard for Paisley: a trip round unloved Britain

‘Most people who have been to Crewe station have never been to Crewe.’ In a moment of serendipity,…
#EuropeSays #Britain #Europe #EU #Clacton-on-Sea #Crewe #demolition #dilapidation #Felling #Gateshead #History #Ipswich #Jaywick #Paisley #StHelens #travelogue #Warrington
https://www.europesays.com/britain/93418/

https://www.europesays.com/britain/93418/ All aboard for Paisley: a trip round unloved Britain #Britain #ClactonOnSea #Crewe #demolition #dilapidation #Felling #Gateshead #History #Ipswich #Jaywick #Paisley #StHelens #travelogue #Warrington

https://www.europesays.com/uk/1119136/ All aboard for Paisley: a trip round unloved Britain #Britain #ClactonOnSea #Crewe #demolition #dilapidation #England #Felling #Gateshead #GreatBritain #History #Ipswich #Jaywick #NorthernIreland #Paisley #Scotland #StHelens #travelogue #UK #UnitedKingdom #Wales #Warrington

The #SacredCowShipYards visits #LasVegas #Travelogue

screenshots from the episode

"The Autonomous Self-Supportive Heuristic Organic Life Emulator"

https://youtu.be/gxcygxu09sg

Haven't watched a SacredCowShipYards video in awhile.

But, THIS goes to the top of the (virtual) pile!

"The Autonomous Self-Supporting Heuristic Organic Life Emulator"

#SacredCowShipYards #LasVegas #Travelogue #JGBallardTribute

https://youtu.be/gxcygxu09sg

I’ve put Paddling with a Naturalist on sale for just $0.99 from now until the end of the weekend. For anyone who loves the outdoors, Paddling with a Naturalist offers an opportunity to gain a strong sense of the forces behind, and the interconnectedness of the natural world. If you’re interested in nature I think you’ll enjoy it.

https://bretthodnett.com/paddling_with_a_naturalist.html

#WhatToRead #Readers #BrettHodnett #WritersOfMastodon #Science #Author #Writer #Biology #Writers #Books #Livres #Bookstodon #Evolution #EPUB #Ebook #Nature #Wilderness #Outdoors #Summer #Canoe #Canoeing #Paddling #AlgonquinPark #Travelogue #Ontario #forest #trees #Naturalist #Outside #Outdoors #Wildflowers #Wildflower #Flora #Fauna

Corviglia Piz Nair, Switzerland - Super 8 Homemovie, 1990s

https://makertube.net/w/5zwQQsBJtHs4yt2hp2BZ3H

To fold, or not to fold

"thanks to Andrew Ritchie’s ingenuity, I’d had a relaxing train journey across the country. I’d cycled 70km – along and around an old railway path – and encountered just a handful of cars. I’d enjoyed a long lunch catching up with my mate."

https://www.mattpedals.bike/to-fold-or-not-to-fold/

#cycling #biketooter #travelogue

Driving a Ferret - 90s Super 8 Homemovie

https://makertube.net/w/5nbjv5eCWrnAQ1aPLY4mHG

The woman behind Kerala’s historic 1958 London travelogue emerges after years of anonymity https://english.mathrubhumi.com/features/books/the-woman-behind-keralas-historic-1958-london-travelogue-emerges-after-years-of-anonymity-hvoj83py?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #Travelogue #MathrubhumiWeekly #London #Palakkad

2019 on the way back from a holiday in Moorea (Tahiti), we decided to plop a rest break at The Varnish, a speakeasy inside Coles (replete with a bathroom urinal with a placard stating "Charles Bukowski pissed here") and a jazz trio including legendary bassist David Piltch. #travelogue #zeruchontour

Outsider’s journey through Kochi explores city life, people, transport, and belonging through everyday moments https://english.mathrubhumi.com/features/specials/kochi-outsider-falls-in-love-city-internship-2026-fort-kochi-travel-story-vmt2kntr?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #kochi #city #culture #travelogue

Visiting the Greens - Super 8 Home Movie

https://makertube.net/w/2wFA8QQZoBcD9NSNywVwMW

A ferry and a flight - Various Super 8 home movie footage from the 90s

https://makertube.net/w/twU9DgMruyNaBHwzbKeTGd

Hoedspruit predators and pretties

In this post: Of friend and foe in Hoedspruit, South Africa. Be aware: they’re not what you might think. Unless you’re a worm like yours truly.

This is the blog of Mark Wordsworm, the travelling worm. I’m a 40-year-old bookmark (give or take a few years) and I proudly boast my own Hallmark serial number, 95 HBM 80-1. You’ll probably want to read all about me and my Travelling Companion (the TC).

Today’s travel notes

Me and the TC (bless her fearless heart) have just spent a few days in Hoedspruit, South Africa. A land where the wild things roam outside your door. Where sleep comes only to those who love wildlife. Where beauty is all round, and so is the bare, sometimes ugly, necessity of nature.

The book I’m in

Fool Moon by Jim Butcher. A funny, heart warming, creepy tale of a lone urban wizard pitted against a bewildering variety of werewolves, hexenwolves, lycanthropes, and loups garous. This book is the second in the series dubbed the Dresden files. Well worth a read.

Travel tips

Don’t go out at night. Predators roam the streets. Yes, really. Expect a leopard. Watch for wild dogs. No werewolves, but Ooo those owls!

The photos

Me taking a walk on the wild side:

Our accommodation lay in the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate, where human abodes nestle among the thorn trees and wild flowers. At dusk, doors close firmly, children and dogs are hurried inside, and the wild creatures own the turf.

Who’s the friend, who the foe?

Your experience may differ! Here follows a worm’s eye view of friend and foe.

First the foe. Birds are not my favourite things. Too much beak and claw, not good for soft small bodies like yours truly’s. Take for example this creature, fierce of eye, sharp of beak and claw:

It’s called a Grey Go-away-bird, because of the noise it makes. The name applies equally to my sentiment when I saw this specimen. Go away, bird!

It’s clear that the designers of the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate share my wariness. (Birds of a feather, them and me, you might say? Rather not, thank you kindly!) The estate provides a neat little hut where you can hide from the birds. This is the serene scene from one of the windows in the bird hide:

If you’re like the TC and fancy the odd bird or two, take a look at her blog post: Birds in Hoedspruit, South Africa.

Still on the theme of foes, this large gecko might give me a run for my money:

Moving on from the foe, what about the friend? I spotted two of my kith and kin. Both have adopted a more elaborate approach to wardrobe than yours truly. Self adornment as a defence mechanism.

First, a Lappet moth caterpillar. This little dude will shoot its hairs at anything that touches it. I’m now looking into acquiring a face shield such as this:

My next little buddy goes to wardrobe extremes. A good defence, no doubt, against the neighbourhood pterodactyls. Meet the Inquisitive Monkey caterpillar:

Birds aside, are there other animals around?

The other inhabitants of the area are mostly friendly. Take Warty the Warthog for instance, who greeted us kindly when we arrived:

One of Warty’s brood decided to prove a road sign correct. Useful, in the time of misinformation that we all endure:

Later, Warty brought his family round to visit. They found our company so agreeable that they decided to spend the night under the household car. This video shows the fond farewell that the TC’s brother gave the warthog family the next morning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMbp5st6jww

Several types of buck peer out from among the thorns. This one is surely one of the prettiest — a spiral-horned antelope called a Nyala:

A zebra, a symphony of stripes:

Game drive at Khaya Ndlovu

The TC, bless her sturdy boots, decided to take us all on a game drive. We set out for to Khaya Ndlovu on the Rietspruit Big 5 Game Reserve, a private reserve close to the Kruger National Park. The name “Khaya Ndlovu” means “home of the elephants”.

Predictably perhaps, we took a wrong turn and ended up on a dirt road running alongside the outside fence of the reserve. It was early in the morning, because evidently the early worm catches the game.

Trouble is, it’s unwise to get out of the vehicle in the dark, because, remember, predators are about! We couldn’t turn around without having someone outside to guide the driver. Instead, we bashed on.

After a hoary few minutes, we arrived at the Khaya Ndlovu guest lodge. Hot coffee was on offer to fortify the nerves, then we set out in an open game vehicle just as dawn was breaking:

The drive was an experience to remember. The TC was in her element, jolting along dirt roads, some of them with nicely (her word, not mine) washed out ruts, and a few river crossings for good measure.

Rhinos nestled up to the vehicle, unaware that we were there until they bumped their noses on the truck:

Giraffes loomed with wary disdain:

We stopped for a break at a waterhole. The person in the distance is wearing a warm jacket provided by the game drive hosts:

Vervet monkeys looked on:

The last word is from a bird

“Really? You need a photo at this time of day? Just go away, do!”

That’s all for today, folks.

I’m excited to have re-released my 2010 book, Paddling with a Naturalist. If you’re interested in the natural world I think you’ll enjoy it. Have a look.
https://hodnettcanoeguides.ca/paddling_with_a_naturalist.php

#WhatToRead #BookBlog #Readers #BrettHodnett #WritersOfMastodon #Science #Author #Writer #Writers #Books #Livres #Bookstodon #BookCover #Evolution #EPUB #Ebook #FreeBook #FreeBooks #GiveAway #FediHUMAN #Nature #Wilderness #Outdoors #Summer #Canoe #Canoeing #Paddling #AlgonquinPark #Travelogue #Ontario #forest #trees #Naturalist #Outside #Outdoors #Wildflowers #Wildflower #Flora #Fauna #SilentSunday

Boat Building - An 8mm home movie

https://makertube.net/w/sfvo8rz4UpZfLG7AtwxQ8e

Catching the Ferry - Vintage Super 8 Film from the 90s

https://makertube.net/w/3UbCPMJ1G5HmpGvRCu5Ymr

St Moritz + Alaska - Super 8 Footage 90's

https://makertube.net/w/qqaocae2C7iWdBQ5urmPmk

Driving in France - Vintage Super 8 Home movie - 90s

https://makertube.net/w/oAtY2yzyjapLhE3nyaMwkb

Idk… but this is probably why you should still post the pics and vids anyway just bcoz. Doesn't matter whether or not you're no longer friends with your travel companion(s).
p.s. they're still alive and well, I think.
#jumunjin #throwback #travel #travelogue

https://www.laviezine.com/1551150/i-tried-to-reach-st-tropez-without-flying/ I Tried to Reach St Tropez Without Flying #BrittanyFerries #ByTheCurb #bythecurb #CôteD'Azur #France #FranceDestinations #FranceTour #FranceTravel #FranceTrip #FranceVacation #FrenchRiviera #PlacesToTravel #SaintTropez #SaintTropezFranceTour #StTropez #travel #TravelChallenge #travelogue

Turn your family vacation clips into videos everyone actually wants to watch. Here's how it works 🎬✨

Read more: https://flip.it/h0v3Hz

#travel #traveltips #travelhacks #familytravel #travelvlog #travelogue #wanderlust

Tokyo Art & Adventure

https://photos.app.goo.gl/L1CxbaiwQRPFUsLk8

#Earth #Japan #Tokyo
#Travel #Travelog #Travelogue
#Art #Photography #Photo #VisualArt
#Fun #Adventure #Tourism
#TokyoCameraClub


Homeless Tokyo Adventures

Here's a short video taken over the last 2 weeks in Tokyo.

https://youtube.com/shorts/MKw59ISFbOw?si=R37JhkhEXod9AcSS

#Earth #Japan #Tokyo #Homeless #Whistleblower
#Travel #Travelog #Memoir #VideoMemoir #Shorts #ShortVideo
#Travelogue #Adventure #Art #Video #VisualArt #StreetArt
#Photo #Photography #NaturePhoto #JapaneseArt

In "Return to My Trees" Matthew Yeomans walks among modern & ancient #forests in #Wales - getting lost in #history #nature & #folklore - from #druids to #Industrialisation & into the future

#CulturalStudies #TravelLiterature #travelogue #CelticStudies #WelshHistory