Dubbo

 My last stop on the silo art tour was the city of Dubbo, the city where my Dad grew up (though it was a town then) and I wanted to see Western Plains Zoo.

There is no silo art in Dubbo but it was a great place to end a good trip.

There were issues with my hotel booking, which I guess is what you get when you book the cheapest place during school holidays. I'm trying to get a refund because I ended up paying for 3 nights instead of 2. If I lose the money it's not the end of the world but if I'd known I could have gone somewhere a tiny bit ritzier.

Dubbo is a big regional centre but when I went to get myself dinner I was a little intimidated by the people I saw on the street because there seemed to be some addicts around, or maybe it wasn't the addicts but the fact that I didnt see many other people at all.

The car park of my hotel was locked at night, which I thought was just a standard precautionary thing but I later learned there is quite a bit of theft from the car park. 

Anyways, that's all just to say I was a bit surprised.

These sculptures are wildebeest, right? I didn't see signage to confirm that but they were all through the "African Savannah" display at the zoo. I really loved the way they were placed, it felt real.

 

Przewalski's Horse. I thought they were the fore runner to the moden horse but no, they have a completely different number of chromosomes. They are also from Asia, not Europe as I assumed from the name. And the guy who named them wasn't Polish but Russian. 
I made a lot of bad assumptions but what I got right was enjoying them.

This is the view from my car window. Just fabulous. If zoos can inspire people to care just a little more, I think there's a place for them. If they are done right.

Blackbuck Antelope.

Banteng

Outside the Afican Wild Dogs

More Wildebeest

I love elephants. They were good to watch soon after the zoo opened but as the day went on, they stood at the gate, waiting to go back to their private space. I wonder if they have an indoor space and wanted to get in where it was warm or if there's something else more attractive about being back there. This is when it would be good to ask a keeper.

I took this photo for Dad. It would have been the only bridge over the river when he was a boy. Now there's a four lane concrete bridge. It's a gorgeous bit of parkland but theres a whole lot of construction and road work going on just out of shot so not really an enjoyable place to be at the moment.

Zoo tickets allow entry on two consecutive days, which I thought was a great deal. I went expecting to spend one whole day but it was very cold and I decided to make it a half day and come again if I felt like it. In the end, I did just that. The two half days also meant I got to see the animals on two mornings around feeding time. I don't know for sure but I suspect you get a better view that way. 

It was too cold for the meerkats to be out but the sentry was taking the job seriously.

There was a whole garden bed full of this fungi. It looked fabulous.

The Great Silo Art Tour

I decided a little while back that I would like to see the silo art of New South Wales. It's taken a while but this last week I embarked on my own little Silo Art Tour. The link will give you a map because despite many tries, I didn't succeed at making a graphic.

I haven't been to every painted silo, I had thought I would but after a week on the road in the coldest cold snap of the winter, I decided to come home and take another trip to see the rest.

I also went to Western Plains Zoo and thought it was fabulous. I'll show you the photos from the zoo another time.

So I learned that I get sick of driving after a few days.

I learned that I don't much care what kind of room I have so long as it's got a powerpoint for my cpap and no steps.

I learnt that we have some great silo art.

Merriwa

Quirindi

Quirindi

Quirindi

Quirindi

Barraba

 

Gunnedah

Dunedoo

Dunedoo

Dunedoo

Dunedoo

The Way, My Way

 

Briony and I went to see "The Way, My Way" yesterday. We headed off from here at 2.15 for a 3pm session. We took the toll roads so the drive was hassle free and managed to get a park in the parking under the building. 

A coffee and a shared slice of ricotta cheesecake were a treat before we made our way to the cinema. 

This is odd, the place is packed but the seating plan looked like it would be half empty.

Hmm.

And somebody is in our seats! The hide of them!

What's on screen looks like a movie rather than a preview.....

Let me see the ticket, says Briony. "The ticket time is 3.30! We are crashing another film!

We hastily retreated and while waiting in the foyer we tried to look inconspicuous :)

The film was the story of an older Australian man, Bill, walking the Camino de Santiago. His pilgrimmage wasn't motivated by religion but by curiosity. Or maybe some part of him recognised the value of walking as therapy. When asked why he was walking the Camino, he said he was waiting for the Camino to show him.

His wife said she hoped it would mean she didn't need to apologise for him any more.

Bill's conversations featured and there was enough scenery to inspire a person to travel.

Reviews have called it a story of forgiveness, or a celebration of simple pleasures. Some say it was slow.

I would call it a study of the value in surrender and the pace was just right. After all, the journey of personal growth is long and rambling.

In the lift