Camp on the Darling

Darling River bend at the camp site. Take the boat out or sit in the shade and wet a line.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200  2.8 @ ISO 200, 70mm f8, 1/500 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200  2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f8, 1/160 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 70-200  2.8 @ ISO 200, 125mm f8, 1/200 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f8, 1/250 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f8, 1/320 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f22, 1/25 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f22, 1/25 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f22, 1/25 sec

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There and Back Again

Packing up the ute and tinnie and taking a week holiday to go to an undisclosed private camping location on the Darling River in New South Wales to fish and explore the beautiful area between Wentworth and Pooncarie.

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f22, 1/60 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f22, 1/60 sec

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Wheat growing near Manangatang Victoria. You make bread out of this? Yeah right!

 iPhone 5 Click on photo for larger image view

Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f22, 1/80 sec

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Nikon D300, Tokina 11-16 f2.8 @ ISO 200, 11mm f22, 1/60 sec

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Fishin and Huntin

This last week I was lucky enough to get an invitation to some exclusive access to camping, fishing and shooting on a property called Beemery. Beemery Station is a 40,558 ha (100,221 acre) farm near Bourke and is situated on the Barwon River and the Kamilaroi Highway between Bourke and Brewarrina. The Barwon, Bogan and Culgoa rivers combine to form the Darling river here. We got some fish, masses of big yabbies and goats and pigs.

Bag o Yabbies

 River Sunrise

 Boiling the billy

Bogan River Weir 

Gone Fishin 

 Gas Light

Guns & Ammo 

 Parrot

 Pig Trap

 Bluey the yabbie

 Two hot camp ovens

Yabbie 

Camp light 

 Track in 5000 Ha Paddock

Accidental by catch while spinning for Yellow Belly. Released healthy. 

Yella 

 Hypnotising a yabbie (yep!)

It will sit here for hours 

 Typical property condition.

Hermione's New Collar

Hermione got a new collar from the U.S. hand made by Kippy & Co. I found them on ETSY. Etsy is a quality handmade marketplace where very small businesses can make some money while making the world more fair, more sustainable, and more fun.

 Nikon D300, Nikkor 50mm f1.4D @ ISO 200, 50mm f1.4, 1/15 sec

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 Nikon D300, Nikkor 50mm f1.4D @ ISO 200, 50mm f1.4, 1/30 sec

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Maker Faire (DIY)

Maker Faire is an event created by Make magazine (USA) to "celebrate arts, crafts, engineering, science projects and the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset" I wanted to have a backup power source for my iPhone and iPad that was independent of other power sources and sustainable and renewable. The reason being that when I'm in a remote area I have an unlimited and renewable power from something that packs away small and is easily transportable.

So off to the local Jaycar I went with my design and collected the parts I would need.

1 x 5 Watt solar panel is about 10 inches or about 25 centimetres square.

1 x solar power regulator

1 x 12v rechargeable sealed battery (as small as capacity required will allow)

1 x 12 v power socket

So with soldering iron, wire and a hot glue gun I set about this little DIY project. I lay out the parts inside the back cavity of the solar panel, hot glue them in, wire it together. The battery forms a great stand and balances the panel nicely. The guy in the store, more familiar with Ohm's Law and voltage calculations than me did the maths for me and I believe:

The solar panel will charge the battery from flat in about 8 hours (if sunny).

The battery must put out at least 10 Watts to charge the iPad (iPhone needs 5 Watts)

The battery is more than sufficient to charge a flat iPad x 3 times.

Topping up the battery each day with the solar panel will keep the battery at full capacity and keep me with ample power.

Test one insert a volt meter to see if there is power? yes.

Test two connect the iPad with 12 v car connection plug and USB cable? yes

All works fine and for less than a $100 and fits in a laptop bag or similar. Hmmm maybe I could use a fuse in there somewhere???

iPhone 4

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 iPhone 4

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iPhone 4

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 iPhone 4

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 iPhone 4

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 iPhone 4

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Start Of Spring 2012

Peach Blossom

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f5.6, 1/400 sec

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Tulip

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f5.6, 1/400 sec

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Tulips (RED)

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f5.6, 1/100 sec

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Camelias

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f5.6, 1/500 sec

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Cactus thing with flower Head

Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f2.8, 1/500 sec

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Nikon D300, Nikkor 105mm Macro f2.8 @ ISO 200, 105mm f3, 1/500 sec

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