Our Background
We thought it would be useful to visitors if we expanded some of the details in the About Us page. The intention is to provide more on our background and what you might expect from our Blog.
Our professional background was taxonomic entomology (insect classification). I was senior curator of entomology at the Queensland Museum for 30 years and Judy my technical assistant until we left to pursue other careers (Judy in 1980 and me in 1992). Part of our job entailed field work in habitats from semi arid communities to rainforest. This background provides us with skills in interpreting habitats and understanding relationships between the various elements adding considerably to our enjoyment of bush walking and travel.
Photo – Us near Tenterfield NSW
Geology
Geology is a foundational agent determining soils and topography.
Soils vary in chemical and physical characteristics that determine critical factors such as depth, fertility, nutrient availability, drainage and moisture holding capacity.
Climate (prevailing winds, temperature, rainfall and humidity) is never uniform across a given area but is modified by topography (height and aspect) to provide a varied series of microclimates.
Both soils and topography are the result of past geological history of the area: soils on the chemical composition of their parent rocks; and topography on major geological episodes such as mountain building, weathering and subsequent erosion (the rock cycle). Part of the information gathering we do before a trip is into the geology and land forms of the area we will be visiting. Google Earth is very useful for topography. Our blogs will contain notes on these aspects as appropriate and relevant publications.
Photo – Mt Solitary, Blue Montains NSW
Vegetation
The word vegetation covers a wide range of plant community categories from open grassland to tall, closed forests.
A classification system was developed by Botanists based around tree height, canopy cover, understory components and their relative heights, and finally no tree cover (grass lands).
Plant community diversity is mirrored by animal diversity and the interaction between animals, including man, also effects changes in plant communities. It is this diversity and the relationships between all of the associated organisms that make the natural world so dynamic and so interesting.
To assist readers when out and about our blogs include references to plant communities as necessary with discussions of their composition.
Photo – Eucalypt woodland Mt Tambourine
Clouds
The sky is a wonderful changing vista and we regularly pause to look up at cloud formations. Our recent discovery of a cloud classification book has increased our enjoyment of this pastime immensely. Our blogs will include interesting cloud formations as and when we come across them. The book details are on our reference page and Clounds365 has marvellous cloud photos and information. Take the opportunity to look up at the view daily.
www.clouds365.com
Photo – Cirrus Clouds
Historical
We like visiting town centres when travelling to examine the establishment buildings: town halls; court houses; port authorities etc, banks; churches; and any other historical buildings. Hotels are also great from both an historical and architectural view point. We find that local Information Centres and Historical Museums are useful sources of references and information.
Vintage and WWII aircraft are another of our historical interests that will appear in our blogs.
Photo – Historical Pub, Mt Morgan Qld
Driving
There are various road trips available for conventional and four wheel drive vehicles. Our blogs will include both. In most cases you don’t need a 4 wheel drive to enjoy the contents of our blogs but there are some trips suitable only for 4 wheel drives and these will be suitably noted.
So whether out walking or driving look for changes in vegetation communities using the broader characteristics outlined under Vegetation.
That’s it. Enjoy!
Photo – Barakula State Forest, Qld