Solarlly Eclipsing out man!

Tuesday 14th November 2012

At 5am on the day of the Solar eclipse we (Amelia, Eddy, Grace, Chancey, Bungy [the dog] and I) stumbled our way down to Holloways beach where, even in the soft slanting light of dawn, some eclipsoid viewers had yawned their way down to nab a good spot. It had been drizzling on and off for a few days and with the sky still so cloudy we prepared ourselves to experience naught but the darkness that comes with a total solar eclipse. Our doubts were thankfully cast to the wind as the sun slowly winched into view, ducking behind thick teasing clouds, only to peek out and disappear again.

 Then just as the eclipse started in earnest the sun and moon broke through to dazzle the expectant crowd with a perfect view. The light grew soft and fuzzy. It went completely quiet. Birds that had only recently left their roosts scattered themselves across the sky, wheeling and rolling like the bones of a medicine man and made to settle on their perches once again. Even the wind seemed to stop and take the chance to drink in the marvelous sight laid before us. At totality, stars sparkled into view, piercing through the darkness. It was one of the oddest sights I have ever seen; the intense darkness of the sky and moon contrasting with the halo of light bursting around the lunar body whilst the stars twinkled away. 

 

Those watching worried not over being seen scruffy and sleep mussed in their pyjama's, they cared not for how they expressed their wonder over such a fabulous sight. We watched without inhibition and gloried in the manifestation of our universe.

 

I feel that every person who opened themselves to experiencing such a phenomenon walked away refreshed and charged with the same energy my group did. As the moon meandered its way across the sky and the suns rays spiked through once more, we too made our own way home.

                  The day was full

                                         of dancing,

                                                     painting,

                                                             eating ,

                                                                 swimming

                                                                       and laughter. 

 

  

 

 

 

We grasped life that day and sucked the marrow out of it. I only hope that I never allow myself to become jaded or forget to rejoice in the wonder of life all around me, every day. The universe can be overwhelming in its displays of wonder ,such as the eclipse, but the same wonder and fantastic sights can be seen by merely turning over a leaf and watching a spider spin her web, by stopping to ask a child what is the meaning of life, by merely stopping. Stopping in our mad dash to live. As if life can only be experienced in speed and haste and by doing. Dolce far niente. Practise the sweetness of doing nothing. We do not have to have something to show for every moment of our life to prove it was well spent.

Time you have enjoyed wasting is not wasted time. 

Riniyurru National Park

So in my first week in Australia I was towed off to Riniyurru National Park, Cape York by my host here. Our aim was to find out whether this one species of orchid, Dendrobium johannis, was actually three (or maybe even more!).  This kind of stuff is really important for conservation work because it helps conservation authorities manage the populations and make sure they stick around in the years to come. For example, if  the rangers are planning to burn in an area with an endangered species present this information can help them manage the area and protect the species if need be by,say, clearing an area around it so it is more protected. It was gloriously hot (even though it was only spring!) and I learned a lot from both my host and the rangers on base.

Riniyurru a.k.a Lakefield National Park in relation to Cairns, Australia

Grassland of Riniyurru N.P. Common sized termite mound behind me. There was a rustling in the grass and I was inspecting it hoping for a snake.

Dendrobium canaliculatum

Dendrobium johannis

Common tree frog, Litoria

Blue tongued skink/Tiliqua scincoides.

Waiting for the tide to go down a bit before we can cross a river, watching out for crocs

Kangaroo's yet to be identified (not so good with my megafauna)

Fire!

Brolga/ Grus rubicunda in recently burnt Eucalypt woodland

Lizard yet to identified

Frill-necked lizard / Chlamydosaurus kingii

The research is thus far incomplete so, unfortunately, I shall have to leave you in suspense. I know you are all just dying to know ;). I spent three days here and was barely back in the Atherton office of Queensland Parks and Wildlife services before tracking my way to Undara National Park for some more  threatened plant research...to be continued (dun dun duuun)