Lake Reflections

I was fishing on Lake Eppalock this morning at dawn when a large storm cloud cruised in front of the rising sun.

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Then the light show began .. . I remember reading something about being out in the open, in water, in a metal contraption and something about electrical conductivity . . whatever . . .

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The sky and sunrise was in stereo, lovely . . .

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I did not even get a bite, but an old guy at the boat ramp cheered me up when I asked how he went, he said "Not too well, I only got 20 fish and I had to work bloody hard to get that many!" WTF!!!

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Cruised around and saw plenty of 'fish' on the fish finder. Check out my track *here*

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Number 7 Reservoir

With the establishment of Bendigo as a city in 1851, there was high demand for water as Bendigo is not situated on a river, so the Bendigo Waterworks Company was formed in 1858 to design and construct reservoirs.

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f8, 1/200 sec

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Of 8 planned reservoirs only the No. 1 and the No. 7 in the plan were built. No. 1 reservoir was built in 1859 across the Bendigo Creek however it leaked and was decommissioned then No. 7 Reservoir was built and completed in 1861 with a capacity to hold 270 million litres of domestic water to supply 15,000 Bendigo residents then using 160,000 litres per day.

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f8, 1/60 sec

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After the successful Number 7 Reservoir a water treatment works was constructed with a holding reservoir within the Robinson Crusoe Gully called Crusoe Reservoir. It was built to hold approximately 1500 Megalitres and included an advanced water filtration system. The Crusoe Reservoir was completed in 1873. Plans to build the remaining 6 reservoirs was abandoned.

The water engineers version of Machu Picchu below?

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 16mm f16, 1/50 sec

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In the reserve adjacent to the No. 7 Reservoir are some large and old pines heres one that looked very old.

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 16mm f11, 1/160 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f5.6, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f5.6, 1/60 sec

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Eppalock Sunrise

Another early morning fishing expedition. A fantastic sunrise, glassy conditions but no fish for me today.

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I use MotionX-GPS on the iPhone and can share with the following track *HERE* (live until Oct 26, 2011). MotionX-GPS is the essential GPS application for outdoor enthusiasts. It puts an easy-to-use, state-of-the-art handheld GPS on your iPhone. MotionX-GPS can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store. Or try the free version, MotionX-GPS Lite.

Mallee

While travelling up to the Manangatang centenary for a quick day trip I captured these images which I think are quintessentially Mallee. The Mallee Wimmera region is Victoria's outback. There is salt flats.

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f2.8, 1/6400 sec

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In good years you see these Paddy melons on red sandy soil in mallee scrub by the road. Paddy melons are also called Wild melon, Afghan melon and the Bastard melon amongst other things. They have no use save throwing them at your siblings.

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 16mm f9, 1/500 sec

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This Buloke Shire Council truck has been here in a ditch surrounded by Mallee scrub and Saltbush as long as I can remember. It looks like it got bogged and they could not get it out, so just left it there.

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f11, 1/160 sec

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First Blood

Sunrise on Lake Eppalock launching my boat for my first solo fish since building the boat in Project Maccullochella. A bit of trolling is in order.

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43.5 Kmh or 24 Knots :-)

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Golden Perch (Yellowbelly) about 30 cm caught and released

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English Perch (Redfin) I kept 6

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f9, 1/60 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f8, 1/40 sec

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Lake and Plants

After fishing here in 25 Km+ hour winds Saturday battling choppy surface in my little tinny, this was a stark contrast to the Sunday evening sunset on a glassy Lake Eppalock.

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 16mm f16, 1/40 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 16mm f16, 1/80 sec

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Interesting bokeh and colour compliment from a pot behind this flower.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f3.2, 1/50 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f2.8, 1/400 sec

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