Roads and Bush Fires

January 4, 2010 · 10 comments

I awoke early and peaked out the window, a red dot rising above the sea was a nice sight to see, but I fell asleep too soon to take a picture of it.

5 bits of bird crap featured on the van in the morning, clearly the blue, green and orange machine was a morning target for the seagulls. Also a strange hybrid breed of wasp/fly decided I was a good target for morning stinging, repetitively.

We got on our way and stopped at a place 120 km away called Pemberton. During lunch we was asked to move the van due to the oncoming bush fire, as it turns out the fire department decided to set their own country alight, so we hung around to watch it.

Bush fire in Australia

Bush fire in Australia

Continuing down the southern route across the coast, we came across another bush fire, this time it wasn’t controlled by the fire department but a natural one that every Australian out of a city fears. Fortunately it didn’t get too big and we carried on through it after it was cleared.

Australian bush fire

Australian bush fire

A pair of Dutch girls were waiting in their Queen inspired camper van too who we talked too (although the went back for a late lunch rather than wait for the fire to go out).

God knows I want to break free

God knows I want to break free

Passing Denmark (yes really) we arrived at our destination for the day: Albany, where we settled in a caravan park opposite a Kangaroo farm, with another stunning view.

Sunset over Albany

Sunset over Albany

Kangaroo Tally:

Alive: 50+ (farmed, not wild) Dead: 1

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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

JoAnna January 4, 2010 at 2:18 AM

Wow! There always seem to be fires in Australia. Why is that?

By the way, I love the koala you’ve put in your header photo. :)
.-= JoAnna´s last blog – Best of Kaleidoscopic Wandering 2009 =-.

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AdventureRob January 4, 2010 at 3:30 AM

It is very hot and dry, things just set alight! The reason for the controlled fire is to light it and have it all under control before it happens naturally.

Australia suffers from a lack of O-zone layer over it too (especially Western Australia) which probably has something to do with it too, and the fact the ozzies have the highest rate of cancer worldwide.

Thanks about Koala :-) They come a little later on in the trip though.

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Adam January 4, 2010 at 3:39 AM

I don’t remember hearing about very many bush fires while I was in Australia in Jan-May 2006. I must not have paid much attention to the news because it seems all I am reading about Australia now is fire fire fire.

Strange how that happens! Oh, and nice photos!
.-= Adam´s last blog – Why This Year Will be Terrifying =-.

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AdventureRob January 4, 2010 at 4:09 AM

I consider myself lucky to come across one, let alone 2 in a day, they have the fire warning signs about and it was on extreme for those few days I remember.

Thanks for comment :-)
.-= AdventureRob´s last blog – Head out on the Highway =-.

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Abbie January 4, 2010 at 6:53 AM

I too, love the Koala picture, and your fire pictures remind me of California in the dry, windy season.

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AdventureRob January 4, 2010 at 7:17 AM

Thanks Abbie :-)

I’ve never been to California, it would be interested to see how the weather there compares to the South Coast of Australia.

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Candice January 4, 2010 at 2:40 PM

I freaking love these vans. We need to have a van parade.
.-= Candice´s last blog – Doing Canada: Where I’m Going and Where I’ve Been =-.

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AdventureRob January 5, 2010 at 6:00 AM

There is plenty around in Australia :-)

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Amiee January 6, 2010 at 2:34 AM

Fire pictures creep me out. Loving following your big adventure!
.-= Amiee´s last blog – Decorate Your Own Damn Cookie =-.

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AdventureRob January 7, 2010 at 4:48 AM

Thanks Amiee :-) Fires can get quickly out of control so I can see why they do the controlled fires. From what I saw they start slow, but once they start going in all directions the task to stop them gets a lot bigger.
.-= AdventureRob´s last blog – Head out on the Highway =-.

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