My Photo Journal of Random Aussie-ness

misshestermoffitt said:

So are the creeks crocodile free?

I like that dog picture, it looks like he's having the best day !!!

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No way... most definitely not. There are crocs around. But if you keep a good look out you can see them coming.

The dog loves the water. He's after a stick in this pic. He had a ball, let me tell you.

I'm just not used to things in the water that can kill/eat me. I don't know if I could ever handle that.

Well, there are a few rules. Generally crocs live in salty water. The fresh creeks around here are croc free, but any tidal streams are a no-go zone. But then, in the creeks we have a fish called a Bullrout... it's like a stone fish and it's extremely poisonous. To top it off, it's a lot smaller and harder to see than a croc. We Aussies just tend to forget that they're there.

We always swam with shoes on as kids, those sunken beer cans/bottles can do some real damage. That was the thing we feared.

between the worlds most poisonous snakes spiders, and jelly fish not to mention croks ,how do y'all make it on a daily basis?

Nice pics Pho3nix! Love them!

My Aussie sister n law fears the water because of living over there. The first time I took her to a beach here in the US, she was having nothing to do with it. She would tell me stories of the crocs in the waves. She would shake when down by the beach at my house, it really showed me that there is some real mean crocs in Australia. She has never been in the water here and I doubt she ever will because of her fear. She grew up in the sticks in a tent....I have heard many of her stories that just leave me speechless.

mckinney madness said:

creepy crawlys creep the crap outa me . . . . i liked the gater

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I think you might mean the goanna... this is a lizard, not an alligator or crocodile... a bloody big lizard, grant you, but just a lizard.

We don't have alligators in Aus, we have 2 types of crocodiles. Freshwater crocs (freshies) are smaller, have a thinner snout and are generally a bit more quiet and shy. The scary ones are the Saltwater crocs (salties). They're nasty little buggers who seem to like the taste of human flesh. They can grow up to 20 feet or more long and weigh a couple of tons. They're clever and will use a behaviour pattern (such as going to the creek for water at the same time each day) to lay an ambush. They don't need to eat every day and they can go without food for months in the right conditions. For this reason you should keep in mind that just because you don't see a croc right away doesn't mean that they're not there... they're just not hungry.... ... yet.

Here's a little freshie that is kept in a fishtank at our local zoo. He's only a baby, and getting a little too big for the tank. He'll be replaced by one of his little brothers soon and let go in the enclosure with all his bigger relatives.

misshestermoffitt said:

We always swam with shoes on as kids, those sunken beer cans/bottles can do some real damage. That was the thing we feared.

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Funnily enough, for all the poisonous things and other various bities that we have in our waters, I know many more people who've been hurt by glass in the water. Damned beer bottles... bloody drunks could at least keep their broken stubbies out of the water!!

robert 14617 said:

between the worlds most poisonous snakes spiders, and jelly fish not to mention croks ,how do y'all make it on a daily basis?

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Oh, it's a hard job robert, let me tell you... but someone's got to do it...

Waking up in the morning and seeing things like this make it a bit easier though...

Sunnysideup said:

Nice pics Pho3nix! Love them!

My Aussie sister n law fears the water because of living over there. The first time I took her to a beach here in the US, she was having nothing to do with it. She would tell me stories of the crocs in the waves. She would shake when down by the beach at my house, it really showed me that there is some real mean crocs in Australia. She has never been in the water here and I doubt she ever will because of her fear. She grew up in the sticks in a tent....I have heard many of her stories that just leave me speechless.

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Sunny, you're so lucky to have someone who can relate these stories to you. These peoples are a wonderful mob... wise, moral, noble and amazingly good friends to have. Their stories and their mother (the earth) are their riches... kind of like a religion but much much more. As I said, you're very lucky.

Many locals have the same fear of the water Sunny... and rightly so. It seems to be mostly the non-indiginous aussies (read: white fellas) who do really well at water sports. But then, that fear is based on observations that have been passed down through the generations for the last 50 000 or so years. The aboriginals in Far North Queensland know that you don't go swimming in the sea in the summer months because you will get sick and die... these are the months that the irukandji jellyfish arrive around our shores. Some tribal people won't go in any water at all... presumably unless it's in a bath tub. When you get water this brown (which is normal), it's no surprise.

that morning shot is beautiful if you could just get to the porch for you coffee without having to kill two funnel web spiders a tie pan and half a dozen bulldog ants life would be sweet

robert 14617 said:

that morning shot is beautiful if you could just get to the porch for you coffee without having to kill two funnel web spiders a tie pan and half a dozen bulldog ants life would be sweet

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But there are a lot of non-venomous things out there too. I don't have a shot of a funnel-web because they're only found further south than here... but this little water spider is cool. I'm not sure what kind of spider it is, but I think it's a nice one... bit ugly though.



... and even though taipans are angry little fuckers, there are some pretty cool snakes around too. This one is a carpet python... non-venomous... in fact, often used in roofs of houses or hay sheds, etc, to keep vermin under control...



... and these little bastards are surely annoying... but not lethal. They do hurt when they bite though, and some people are allergic. They're bull ants, they watch and size you up, and if you come too close they jump at you and bite any tender bits they can find....

Look in that ants eyes, you can see him thinking about the best way to kick your ass.

That python has the prettiest colors on his head.


Great pics, as always.....

Pho3nix, beautiful pics!! And, wow, you hit the nail on the head with my sister n law!! Described her spot on! She is an Aborigine, and all the things you speak of sounds just like her! I enjoy BOTH of your stories, and, you are right....I am very lucky to have her in my life and you too!

great attitude we do have our nasty snakes copper heads and water moccasins the rattlers are not highly aggressive , and stinging biting bugs are abundant here in texas ,just like you said there is still beauty in them to be beheld

Hey all... I just thought I might show you some Aussie spiders... arachnaphobes beware!!

A huntsman...


Spiny wheel weaver...


Master Wheel Weaver...


St Andrew's cross...


Trapdoor (northern variety)...

we have the two varieties in the center here in the southern us or close cousins

Sorry guys, I'm out of here...

It's bad enough that RIU turned into a nursery school... not really my kind of place... that's why I haven't been here for a while...

But then I was banned for 'disrespecting RIU'. I never bagged this place, only said that I was sick of all the childish displays that have permeated this place of late. I have better things to do than read some rant that is only designed to inflame and annoy. I am mature enough to seek pleasant adult conversation from my friends, smart enough to just leave the places I no longer feel comfortable, and free enough to chose exactly where I go to converse with them. But it wasn't good enough to let sleeping dogs lie.

Now, I'm re-instated for some reason... but the funny thing is, I didn't really care. I doubt I'll be back. Shame, there are some here that I'll miss...

One for the road...

Mods, you can close my account again, if you like...