Day 31 - Waltzing Matilda

Waltzing Matilda

Today’s blog was to be dubbed “Tropic of Capricorn” because a drive by that name (looping through the outback) is what I started on. But I only got half way (the northern half) with the Tropic of Capricorn portion of the drive occuring tomorrow. So “Waltzing Matilda” it is. While reading about Australia from home, this poem, and its historical significance, came up several times:

Once jolly swagman camp’d by a billabong

Under the shade of a coolibah tree

And he sang as he watch’d and waited till his billy boil’d

You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me

Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong

Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee

And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tucker bag

You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me.

Waltzing Matilda is by the iconic Australian AB (Banjo) Paterson who was born here in Winton, Queensland. Winton is also famous for opals, dinosaurs, tropical outback, and QANTAS (who got their company beginnings here in 1921). I never knew this, but QANTAS stands for Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service.

A Very Green Outback North of Winton

It’s flooding here in Queensland. It’s been doing that for a few weeks now, and I’ve been hearing about it on the radio. When I flew through Alice Springs (Day 23), I noticed everything was green. It’s called the “red center”, not the “green center” for a reason – just not a very good reason at the moment. Andrew (my Australian acquaintance next to me on the plane) confirmed unusual amounts of rain over the past year. As I drive through bush and outback Queensland, I can tell this now lush landscape is usually a desert. Last year around this time, Australians were talking about record droughts, terrible bush fires, and global warming issues.

Emu Family near Townsville

I finally found some emus who were kind enough to let me take their photo. Emus are cool.

Camels near Charters Towers

Remember mention of the camels from Day 16? I had forgotten all about them, until I noticed them today. They seemed content, each swishing its tail and loping along.

I was wading through the waist-deep grass in my shorts and flip flops and found a new butterfly. I also realized how vulnerable I was to snakes and spiders. A sharp stick pricked my ankle, and I jumped.

The Earth is Orange

The highway crossed a train track trenched below. The scene showed just how orange the earth is here.

Upon entering the town of Charters Towers

Charters Towers had a monument as you enter, declaring itself “Country Music City”. It seemed like an authentic Australian cowboy town, with most of the men wearing cowboy hats. I almost bought cowboy boots.

Butterfly

Beautiful Windmill of Hughenden

I probably wouldn’t have taken anymore windmill photos on this trip, but I found one of epically beautiful proportions in the sleepy little hamlet of Hughenden.

Orange Pavement through Green Bush

Some of the pavement is as orange as the natural earth and rock. It’s beautiful that way, painted with white lines and meandering through the lush green grass and gum trees – all of it accented with the brilliant blue sky dotted with billowy cumulous clouds.

I stopped for a moment in Prairie (there could possibly be four buildings in Prairie, if you counted the public restroom) where I noticed the roar of cicada again. I sometimes look for a single cicada, when they let out these orchestrated roars. I think, ‘I should to be able to find at least one’. So I looked for a while, finding nothing while being right in the middle of a chorus of what seemed by millions. Then something flew into my face and was gone. I was sure it was a cicada, but I didn’t even see that one and gave up.

Return to Oz

Day 31 – Waltzing Matilda

< Previous Post         Next Post >