Puggles, Powerful Owls & Personal Protection

Friday 21st was my first outing with the threatened species group. While Mike took a bunch of people out to see a rather rare spider orchid I went in search of more Williamson's Bush-pea with a very nice couple from Laharum. Afterwards they were kind enough to show me their resident family of powerful owls (awesome birds) and their very cute puggle (baby echidna), which is currently living in their mulch heap.


Saturday and Sunday it tried to rain on us but we stuck it out and still managed to climb. We went to Bad Moon Rising Wall near Hollow Mountain on the Saturday and got in about three climbs despite the rain. Mick led Bad Moon Rising (14), a very interesting looking climb despite wet spots and loose rock. Matt led an 18 that Dave Bowles recommended that felt more like a 22 at the start, perhaps the hold that Erin pulled off altered the grade, or maybe the fact that Davie is a lot taller had something to do with it.

Sunday I had a crook gut so didn't climb. It was pretty hard to take sitting there surrounded by that scenery - I don't think!
Matt climbed a gutsy 20 called Common Border, and I belayed Frank while he seconded Matt. Mick and Sal climbed nearby on Mine (14) and Erin climbed Red Sky (15) and Gathering of Dinosaurs (17).

While we were getting ready to leave on Sunday Matt spotted a small bird with a yellow chest on the veranda. He was disappearing into a hole in the earthen bank at the end. It turned out to be a Spotted Pardalote (no Tim, not a Striated Pardalote). Very cute bird.

Sunday night everyone else headed back to Melbourne while I headed in the opposite direction to Mildura for a weeks training to become a General Firefighter. Thursday we had to go out and do a prescribed burn. I'm glad it wasn't a hot day as the heat from the flames and the smoke were quite bad enough thanks. I have always admired full-time firefighters and now even more so. I was glad I had the fire boots on because you could still feel the heat through the soles. No wonder the mirrors on the utes melt and the tyres burn - it gets very very hot. (In case you were wondering - no I didn't volunteer, what do you think I am crazy? It's part of the job!) Look elegant in my Personal Protection don't I? Oh, and in case you hadn't already sussed it out click on the small pictures for a larger version.