A quick visit to Paraburdoo and Tom Price

That's if I remember how to spell these places. Paraburdoo about 140klms from Tom Price was your typical mining town. Temperatures, a little cooler than usual I was promised...yes only 39* today but usually? Oh around 41*C. Hmm! we've chosen a good day then was my reply.
But the spelling wasn't the only reason I remembered Paraburdoo. I was impressed with the way they gave significance to the many young deaths in the town reserving a memorial for each with a small inscription. Pity my photo has come out so dark but you get the idea. The other interesting sight was a metal framework with the name of each participant in the making of it thus allowing the light to shine through the openings thus spelling out the name.It had the looks of a typical Aboriginal artwork but unfortunately there was no-one to confirm or deny my understandings.

Then after a hearty breakfast we drove to Tom Price...another mining town...one friends of ours had lived in for 25 years or so. Wow! We couldn't wait. It must be some township...or so we thought. We stopped at the tourist information centre as one does but all we learnt was that Tom Price had been an American and soon after he left the discoveries came to the notice of everyone involved.

We crossed the road to the only shopping centre ready for our coffee when my camera spied brightly coloured child care centre walls. I liked the one that said 'I'm Hot!' And I knew that it was close to 41*C.

 What did impress me about Tom Price  was
Mt. Nameless. This Mountain we should discover and off we went. 4x4 drives only allowed on the dirt road and soon we understood why. Many rocks and ditches later our BMW told us to go no further...something was overheating...and we didn't want to try our luck!
Once again German technology perhaps wasn't used to 41*C...minus 25*C perhaps!

Dirt road that didn't look too bad!

 But I wondered how or who was so creative as to call the mountain Mt. Nameless? The views were extraordinary the height we were at often being quite misleading.

In the distance one could see the mine site below.

 This view where the road suddenly disappears or so it seems has proven to be a popular image.

Don't forget to click on the picture to enlarge.

Nature and its beautiful colours and patterns.

I can't resist but I did look out for magnificent shapes besides getting the most desired shot. The eye has an appeal for outstanding patterns. For you too? Let's see if you like these!  OK rocks might be rocks and layers added when added over the movement of the environment creating changes in soil types. But....

 But then the eye suddenly recognises beauty and light differences and you go WOW! I have to catch that shot! And out comes the tripod and camera...hands free of tripod...2 second timer waiting to expose the shot...and so the perfect image is created...or so one hopes.

 This time it is the moment of reflection which catches the light and abstract images are the result. One way of filling in an empty few minutes? Perhaps!

Or the manipulation of the water image asks for a longer exposure to smoothe the carpet of watery shadow amongst the reeds.

Then again nature can do a pretty good job on its own...adding colours and a touch here and a touch there and with its many waterfalls the opportunistic photographer is there to smoothe over the water yet focus diligently on the stony surrounds.

More water? And why not. This image shows the stony patterns with water falls spreading the water into pools so we the suffering photographers can cool off after our tough climb.

These images were just waiting at the bottom of the Dales Gorge and what colourful arrangements they were. We may be looking at the growing bacteria of stagnant water but who cares the colours and

 patterns are there to be caught on camera.

A relaxing walk!!

Well so I thought it would be ... after a nerve-wrecking climb and discovery tour using my tripod and camera in the Gorges of Karijini. Never have I felt older or even just my age. Suddenly my sense of balance left me not to mention my hearing aids which had decided on day one to beep their way all over the place. Was it the 41+ degrees? Maybe the German designs have never heard of 41+ degrees? Anyway I had a very attentive guide in Tom Putt. I think he thought of his mother every time he lunged over the rocks to help me. 'Connie can be very needy at times!' I didn't hear that and just smiled! Well at my age...am I not allowed to be needy?
Anyway our day after the tour ended we took everyone's advice and walked along Dales Gorge...the easy way...mostly no dangerous climbing!

 I can't recall if the photo on the right was in Dales Gorge but nevertheless you get the idea of the vegetation involved. Actually at the top end we found a wonderful pool and as a reward we like so many backpackers there from all over the world decided we deserved a swim. It felt much warmer water on the other side where fresh water was tumbling over the rocks and into our pool.

The walk on the other side of the Gorge was very interesting and before I knew it I was an expert and attacked the tri-pod like it was a natural movement. And of course my setting was on manual at all times. Even tree roots on rocks and desperately seeking soil in which to fasten themselves proved worth photographing.

After a little climbing and sloshing through water we found the falls we had visited once before with the tour group but this time our approach seemed so much easier and once again we were rewarded with a cooling swim.








Even the dragonflies had changed colour. Before they had been pink and blue, stunning in design and docile, wanting to stay clinging to my finger. Clever that way! I couldn't reach for my camera. But this one was red and what a surprise.......it had 4 wings! Not the best photograph but all I could achieve under the conditions. Click on the pictures to enlarge.

But the best was yet to come...another pool...the Fern pool...this we had swum in some time ago with the tour and sat under a cooling waterfall. Some enthusiasts took a photo of the waterfall from inside looking out.





But no one noticed the bats in the trees...except me of course...once again not the best photographs but you get the idea.
What I didn't photograph was the small fish in the water keen to nibble on the dead skin of our feet hanging invitingly over the wooden pier. But they were there and...very ticklish I must say.
Then after a short climb ....the horse was pointed home...and the march was on. Oh the agony!

InnerPilbara!

So you thought I hadn't made the cut! Well I did! Even if there were only six participants all in our age group well, almost all, and our glorious leader Tom Putt, did a great job. I can recommend any photographic tour led by him anywhere and I mean anywhere Australia or even further, say Namibia. But the choice is yours.
Many times were we glad that our group was small especially when we tried to find a spot for our tri- pods on those narrow ledges of rock. But you can be creative almost anywhere especially after swimming knee deep or more in freezing cold water with a water proof back-pack etc.

This was our hut where we slept each night...the almost full moon looking well and truly after us.
20mins was the most time we had each day as meals were provided 5 mins away...and of course early to bed and early to rise was the motto for budding photographers.

So we had the Karijini experience in the Karijini National Park. And we took the hint...Immerse yourself....even if we didn't see the actual experience until our last day. And seeing we had no little people to involve we just took some photos and went on.

We scrambled up and down rock ledges and stony outcrops discovering all gorges and their mysteries. Hangcock's name was everywhere...his spa on the right, a swimable waterhole leading into a much bigger and much colder water hole. The edges made wonderful abstract patterns under water. For these shots to happen we had to 'slide' down a rock wall trying to avoid slipping on the cracking and falling apart surface. It wasn't till we had made it up again that we read the notice on the outlook wall...'Do Not Climb! This area is closed to all access due to unforseen difficulties!' Oh Yeah!

 Our tour began getting to know the countryside and shooting at sunrise and sunset we immersed ourselves in the deepest knowledge. Of course all images were done using the tri-pod... I had to...all laziness forgotton. And...and...Tom made sure I shot in manual! I did what ? Yes and it made me a much better photographer or so I think. So much for shooting with settings on AV!
And then came the bonus! Tom took us somewhere where the only lights we saw were stars...yes the milky way...and wow...suddenly we could photograph the night sky!
Our knees were put to the test! And so were our abilities to wade in waist deep water keeping our photographic gear dry. The very narrow 'spider walk' , hands on either side of the rocky outcrop would hold us in position while we attempted to scale the sizable rocks in our path. Our swims in the cold pools were really a reward...and then to put up our tripods and be creative? Well maybe I am getting too old for these things!
And then just when it was time to say goodbye to everyone and the next day a free day I could see myself relaxing and nursing my aches and pains back to normality...no! Not so! A leisurely walk with swim at each end seemed too good to miss along the Dale Gorge floor....Oh for the quiet life!!!