And so it is all over..... the travelling, the conferencing and the adventure.It has been a wonderful experience and one that has facillitated much learning. The conference is on its last day after a most excellent banquet last night.
I am heading off shortly.. catch the plane and home to Hobart.
Thanks to you all for keeping up with me on the blog .... at least youa ll knew where I was and most of what I was doing!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
From Lyndhurst to Adelaide ... with stops!
It was a long day yesterday! We finally left Lyndhurst at around 10 a.m. or so after much consultation! We were headed back to Adelaide but had several detours to make. The most important one was to Brachina Gorge through the Flinders Ranges. This was spectatcular country. The geology of the whole area is so clear - a very visual experience. It is worth checking out the map for the Flinders Ranges and finding Brachina Gorge. The folded mountains lurch over the top of each other and in one place it is actually totally inverted. The sedimentary layers are vibrant clours and very very clear. The force that has come from the south east and pushed these hills over as they butt up against the ancient continent of the original Australian line, is beyond comprehension but that is what the Flinders are.
The geologist who accompanied us was the man who actually discovered the meteriorite that landed 300km towards West Australia. he found the remnants of the volcano it landed in in an area of the Flinders that is totally sedimentary. By a wonderful forensic process he established that the foreign rock belonged 300 km away and that the meteorite that had landed haad caused such an event that it would have wiped out most known life at that stage... phew! What a discovery! This is the calibre of people who have accompanied us...
Now....that I have imparted all that information.. you wonderful people in Years 7,8, and 9 at Campania need to research a problem for me and have the answer when I come back next week.
What is Rodinia?
Explain it... using the knowledge of tectonic plates.
Chocolates for the best explaination!!!! You old folk can have a go too!
Anway, after the odd stop for food food and more food, and such we finally crawled into Adelaide very late last night. We had a great convoy going - all 6 NASA cars in line. Many locals seemed rather concerned when we first came out of the desert then each time we stopped we received curious stares!!! Never mind.... we loved it!
Have some pics of the line ... and we stuck an Australian flag on our car - just fun!
Conference from today onwards... might get in some shopping if i am lucky - pressies all round!!!( well maybe not).
The geologist who accompanied us was the man who actually discovered the meteriorite that landed 300km towards West Australia. he found the remnants of the volcano it landed in in an area of the Flinders that is totally sedimentary. By a wonderful forensic process he established that the foreign rock belonged 300 km away and that the meteorite that had landed haad caused such an event that it would have wiped out most known life at that stage... phew! What a discovery! This is the calibre of people who have accompanied us...
Now....that I have imparted all that information.. you wonderful people in Years 7,8, and 9 at Campania need to research a problem for me and have the answer when I come back next week.
What is Rodinia?
Explain it... using the knowledge of tectonic plates.
Chocolates for the best explaination!!!! You old folk can have a go too!
Anway, after the odd stop for food food and more food, and such we finally crawled into Adelaide very late last night. We had a great convoy going - all 6 NASA cars in line. Many locals seemed rather concerned when we first came out of the desert then each time we stopped we received curious stares!!! Never mind.... we loved it!
Have some pics of the line ... and we stuck an Australian flag on our car - just fun!
Conference from today onwards... might get in some shopping if i am lucky - pressies all round!!!( well maybe not).
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Desert Crust and Mars!
The rain did nothing.... just spat at us then went away! It was easy heading off this morning. Off to Reedy Springs... Reedy what? Who? mmnnnnnn..... noone actually knew where it was as the coordinates appeared to be elsewhere! It was about 120km out along the Strzlecki Track... a pretty good road. There weren't too many people travelling either.
What is happening with the springs is that there are several scientists who are looking at features of the desert( desert crust- a bacterial growth that appears in a range of environments and is characterised by upward growth but have no other information on the environmental conditions that encourage or inhibit growth.
A day in the wind is not my idea of a great way to spend the day.... 13C today too.... cold. Anyway... hit the springs then we exploring souls headed off to Mt Freeling which is close to where there is a talc mine... in fact there are many abandoned talc mines..... found many quartz outcrops and maybe just maybe a nice load of petrified wood.... but we are not too sure about this... that said it looks good!
At the springs there was an amazing array of artefacts - the colours and variety was wonderful and it was very easy to spend a long time crawling across the sand to find the varied colours and shapes......
Got back late.
Apparently we are leaving early tomorrow .........
Hope to catch up with you all tomorrow. Good to see that many are checking out the blog........... won't be long now and you will be delighted to know that I will be back with you at Campania High!
What is happening with the springs is that there are several scientists who are looking at features of the desert( desert crust- a bacterial growth that appears in a range of environments and is characterised by upward growth but have no other information on the environmental conditions that encourage or inhibit growth.
A day in the wind is not my idea of a great way to spend the day.... 13C today too.... cold. Anyway... hit the springs then we exploring souls headed off to Mt Freeling which is close to where there is a talc mine... in fact there are many abandoned talc mines..... found many quartz outcrops and maybe just maybe a nice load of petrified wood.... but we are not too sure about this... that said it looks good!
At the springs there was an amazing array of artefacts - the colours and variety was wonderful and it was very easy to spend a long time crawling across the sand to find the varied colours and shapes......
Got back late.
Apparently we are leaving early tomorrow .........
Hope to catch up with you all tomorrow. Good to see that many are checking out the blog........... won't be long now and you will be delighted to know that I will be back with you at Campania High!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Lyndhurst Luxury
Here we are... In the middle of nothing but a flat plain. Single clumps of greenery adorn the red dirt. The sky is grey and it loks like it could be a repeat of yesterday. The wind, yesterday, felt as if had blown straight from the Antarctic. It sliced through any body standing on the ground and it was soo cold! Is this what the Gobi Desert is like? I think I might need more thermals!
It rained yesterday and last night. When it rains up here, it turns the bulldust to soup or sludge and makes travelling dangerous. Bull Dust is so called as it covers potholes in the road and drivers, unaware of what lies beneath the dirt, can end up with a very damaged vehicle.
If the road is too bad - the Strzlecki Track - it will be closed and anyone travelling on it will incur an enormolus fine. We have to wait until 9 a.m. to see if th eroad report is all clear. If all is good , we will be headed up the track to Reedy Dprings. If it is negative we will need to work around this area or where anything is accessible by clean road.
Our lodgings are basic but warm and comfortable.
The cabins are retired railway carriages - probably left ovewrs from the old Ghan Railway.
For those of you reading this, make sure you check out the Spaceward Bound website. Guy has uploaded photos taken at various plaves. check them out and if you have messages or comments please make them!!!!!!!!
It rained yesterday and last night. When it rains up here, it turns the bulldust to soup or sludge and makes travelling dangerous. Bull Dust is so called as it covers potholes in the road and drivers, unaware of what lies beneath the dirt, can end up with a very damaged vehicle.
If the road is too bad - the Strzlecki Track - it will be closed and anyone travelling on it will incur an enormolus fine. We have to wait until 9 a.m. to see if th eroad report is all clear. If all is good , we will be headed up the track to Reedy Dprings. If it is negative we will need to work around this area or where anything is accessible by clean road.
Our lodgings are basic but warm and comfortable.
The cabins are retired railway carriages - probably left ovewrs from the old Ghan Railway.
For those of you reading this, make sure you check out the Spaceward Bound website. Guy has uploaded photos taken at various plaves. check them out and if you have messages or comments please make them!!!!!!!!
Monday, July 13, 2009
I take to the air!
yes I did!..... This morning three of us took the most amazing flight over the whole area around Marree. We went out to Cooper Springs and did the area a bit south of Marree. The purpose in this was to get data regarding infra red images of the water courses, photographic and video images and relate them to the ground team's work on underground water, flow of water and evidence regarding underground water. These images will be available to us .
Luther ( trusty USA teacher), Keith ( teacher Brisbane) and MOI!!!!!!!
I have never travelled in a helicopter and never thought I woudl but I did and had someone come up with more money i would have done it again. This was excellent.
This was today's highlight and will submit some pics soon. In fact , I think if you check out the Mars Sopciety website( the web site I gave you at the beginning) you will find images that Guy has just uploaded. I havent got my computer with me at the moment and dont know if I can use it to date... will upload pics onto it tonite and the video I took.
Off to Lyndhurst this afternoon..... tomorrow we do Reedy Springs on the Strzlecki(?????) track. We travelled over the Oodnadatta one this morn.
Don't know if I will get on tomorrow but am hopeful.
Luther ( trusty USA teacher), Keith ( teacher Brisbane) and MOI!!!!!!!
I have never travelled in a helicopter and never thought I woudl but I did and had someone come up with more money i would have done it again. This was excellent.
This was today's highlight and will submit some pics soon. In fact , I think if you check out the Mars Sopciety website( the web site I gave you at the beginning) you will find images that Guy has just uploaded. I havent got my computer with me at the moment and dont know if I can use it to date... will upload pics onto it tonite and the video I took.
Off to Lyndhurst this afternoon..... tomorrow we do Reedy Springs on the Strzlecki(?????) track. We travelled over the Oodnadatta one this morn.
Don't know if I will get on tomorrow but am hopeful.
Xtreme 4WD and Echo Creek Waterhole...........
OMG! Yes , bravery is not my forte but love a good risk! Monday was a great day. We disappeared early in the morning off to take water samples at different water sources around Arkaroola... went with Shannon ( biologist USA), Jane ( teacher Tas) Luther(teacher USA) and moi!
The waterholes have been tested regarding life , situation , levels and various qualities of the water therein. First part of the adventure was fairly tame but decidedly beautiful..... found a few kangaroos and a yellow legged rock wallaby. Got some great pics of this.... 4WD was minimal!
Back to base at Arkaroola at around 9.30. The others were heading off to Lyndhurst and Marree but we decided to stay and do Echo Camp and maybe a couple of others .... we were told that should we stay and go to Echo Camp there would some serious roads to contend with.............
All of us are seriously committed!
The road is kept locked as it is classified as the highest level of 4WD road..... Level 4. It is sooooooooooo steep and the road is easily washed away. Recent rain has caused some damage. It is a total distance of around 10 km( at most) and we are allowed 4-6 hours!!! The travel through the deep gullies through gums and towering red cliffs was phenomenal.... our goal at Echo Camp was to collect two small samples of water that would be later tested at the lab. Took images all the way. Luther is a great photographer and ended up relying on him.
Then came the real stuff..............
We came to a screeching halt at Bananina... actually just before. The road suddenly disappeared in to a cliff...... hello????? a cliff????? Yes it did but it was an enormous rock. We had no back up vehicles as the others had gone and only knew that we would be a few hours behind. They were expecting us! Unfortunately the halt was halfway down the hill...............
The heroine was Shannon .. who leant heavily on the accelorator... revved it... and the smoke blew!!!!! Forgot the handbrake! We did it.... that was interesting. After that life beacme a little tame and our return to the last three waterholes and onto the road to Arkaroola was without problems.
Then off to Marree..... 2ookm or so away... left Arkaroola at about 4 or 5.... and we finally got to Marree at 7.30............ all food had been eaten( second time this had happened to us cos it was the second night we were late) Damn! We , in true stalwart spirit, coped admirably and after a few beers didnt really notice the hunger! No , what happened was that I had an urgent thought.... I need to have a look at the area from the air and there were helicopter rides from the hotel............
The waterholes have been tested regarding life , situation , levels and various qualities of the water therein. First part of the adventure was fairly tame but decidedly beautiful..... found a few kangaroos and a yellow legged rock wallaby. Got some great pics of this.... 4WD was minimal!
Back to base at Arkaroola at around 9.30. The others were heading off to Lyndhurst and Marree but we decided to stay and do Echo Camp and maybe a couple of others .... we were told that should we stay and go to Echo Camp there would some serious roads to contend with.............
All of us are seriously committed!
The road is kept locked as it is classified as the highest level of 4WD road..... Level 4. It is sooooooooooo steep and the road is easily washed away. Recent rain has caused some damage. It is a total distance of around 10 km( at most) and we are allowed 4-6 hours!!! The travel through the deep gullies through gums and towering red cliffs was phenomenal.... our goal at Echo Camp was to collect two small samples of water that would be later tested at the lab. Took images all the way. Luther is a great photographer and ended up relying on him.
Then came the real stuff..............
We came to a screeching halt at Bananina... actually just before. The road suddenly disappeared in to a cliff...... hello????? a cliff????? Yes it did but it was an enormous rock. We had no back up vehicles as the others had gone and only knew that we would be a few hours behind. They were expecting us! Unfortunately the halt was halfway down the hill...............
The heroine was Shannon .. who leant heavily on the accelorator... revved it... and the smoke blew!!!!! Forgot the handbrake! We did it.... that was interesting. After that life beacme a little tame and our return to the last three waterholes and onto the road to Arkaroola was without problems.
Then off to Marree..... 2ookm or so away... left Arkaroola at about 4 or 5.... and we finally got to Marree at 7.30............ all food had been eaten( second time this had happened to us cos it was the second night we were late) Damn! We , in true stalwart spirit, coped admirably and after a few beers didnt really notice the hunger! No , what happened was that I had an urgent thought.... I need to have a look at the area from the air and there were helicopter rides from the hotel............
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Ancient land..... and Mars
I can't believe it!!! Internet withdrawal... it is not easy getting internet access way oout here.... 129 km of dirt road to a place called Copely. Yes that is it and that part of the road is divine - easy riding!
Our convoy began the exploration of Arkaroola and its Mars Analog site on Saturday. We scoped the area with scientists, teachers etal......... it was a long day. By the time we had investigated the radioactive spring at ..... Parrena? Hot water of 48c rises from this spring. Not only is the water very hot, but it is as a result of uranium decay, causes heat release and rock heating - hot water! The geiger counter emasured reasonably high levels of radio activity on some close rocks.... interesting.
The landscape is phenomenal- red, grey, interspersed with stunted green vegetation. Rocks cover parts of the plains - gibber. The antiquity of this place is awesome and the fact that seismic activity is happening ( registered some movement this morning) is amazing. the folded ranges are remniscent of the Rockies but being older, they are more eroded.
Our scientists have a range of explorations relating to the possibility of life on Mars and their quest for information takes the form of investigating ancient rocks, examining the conditons that existed when stromatalites were formed . This allows them to seek similar conditions( if there) on Mars.
For the last two days we have been travelling many bouncing km. Is a long time since I have been thrown around the backseat! T;is trully rough but the sense of adventure when moving through this remote place is wonderful.
There are goignt o be updates on the Mars Society website and tthere will be some great pics as well....
We are off to Lyndhurst tomorrow for a couple of days - up to Maree.
Hopefully i will be able to get through tomorrow night.
Friday....... at last!
We made it! Such a long time since we left Adelaide this morning at 9.30a.m. It is now close on 8 and we have been driving all day. Oddly enough , we have only done 700 km. Six 4WD vehicles all following each other…..all sporting their NASA stickers and CSIRO(sponsors) and Mars Society of Australia. It was great!
A true convoy!
It was raining when we left Adelaide but , as we neared Wakefield , the rain slowed. I had been that way before when I drove to Port Augusta but I hadn’t seen it so green before- absolutely lush!
We headed away from the in road and caught the road to Quorn. This is a typical South Australia town - old stone buildings, wide verandahs and pepper trees….. Red dirt.
The roadsides have stunted vegetation - various really.
The road continued…… forever. I drove - tentatively. We all had a go cos it is a long way for one or two alone.
We were introduced to the ancient part of the old continent and the oceanic floor that had been laid down many years ago and became the Flinders Ranges. Its folded twisted sediments contort , manifesting the sheer power of the Earth as it pushes and pulls to mould the continents. The elements of wind, water and heat do their part by slowly eroding the rocks, flattening the curved peaks into smooth rounded prominences, and flaunting the strength of water with the carved gullies denying unblemished slopes. And the red dirt meshes with the desert vegetation and the light giving rise to the beauty claimed by the Australian outback - it is truly spectacular. I have not seen the same at another place or country.
We arrived at Arkaroola in the dark and it is time to eat - barbeque. I don’t mind at all!
It will be an early start tomorrow I am sure.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Friday morning and it is raining . Yesterday was hot - no frosts..... The expedition met up yesterday - a broad range of people from speliologists( spelling?) , geologists, astrobiologists , planetoloigist and so forth. Oh and the teachers! As I could forget us! Fascinating!
We leave this morning at 9 and head for Arkaroola. It will be a long day - once we get there we begin the work and the thrill of being involved in this project....
I wonder if this is the expedition that will assist the defining of life on Mars? Who knows?
No more - it is too early in the morning and nothing much has actually happenend yet.
Except Myer had a sale yesterday- Country Road was looking good!
Hopefully tonight I will be able to get onto Tesltra's network and write the blog. Photos should be forthcoming as well - I remain hopeful! If I cannot get onto this , we have a techno whizz who is going to keep the Mars Society web page updated - so you can check it out there. Off now to pack!
We leave this morning at 9 and head for Arkaroola. It will be a long day - once we get there we begin the work and the thrill of being involved in this project....
I wonder if this is the expedition that will assist the defining of life on Mars? Who knows?
No more - it is too early in the morning and nothing much has actually happenend yet.
Except Myer had a sale yesterday- Country Road was looking good!
Hopefully tonight I will be able to get onto Tesltra's network and write the blog. Photos should be forthcoming as well - I remain hopeful! If I cannot get onto this , we have a techno whizz who is going to keep the Mars Society web page updated - so you can check it out there. Off now to pack!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
A Clever Start
Plane trip was good but Tiger only allows 15kg luggage.... I put the rest down my jumper! Can you believe that? OK
So much warmer in Adelaide.... in fact I almost felt warm! What a delightful feeling!
I kinda like Adelaide - it was a really pretty town- city.
I arrived at hotel ( qualified as smelly hotel) but they have charming guests- and in my worried state, I thought I had left all the computer cords and camera chargers in Tasmania. This gave me the once in a lifetime opportunity to explore Rundle Street Mall - I am grateful to my senior moments but have no wish to repeat said operation! Returned to Hotel - and there they were, lurking in the deep darkness of my case... sorry to those whom I frantically bothered!
Tomorrow we have meetings to sort out the happenings and get vehicles organised and this day is classified as Day One -
Will get some time here tomorrow but am using the public system as the beauty of being in a wirelss hotspot( as the hotel is) means that Telstra charges 50c per minute!!!!!!! while if I use a public computer it only means $2 per 20 min! We all love Telstra!!!!!
So much warmer in Adelaide.... in fact I almost felt warm! What a delightful feeling!
I kinda like Adelaide - it was a really pretty town- city.
I arrived at hotel ( qualified as smelly hotel) but they have charming guests- and in my worried state, I thought I had left all the computer cords and camera chargers in Tasmania. This gave me the once in a lifetime opportunity to explore Rundle Street Mall - I am grateful to my senior moments but have no wish to repeat said operation! Returned to Hotel - and there they were, lurking in the deep darkness of my case... sorry to those whom I frantically bothered!
Tomorrow we have meetings to sort out the happenings and get vehicles organised and this day is classified as Day One -
Will get some time here tomorrow but am using the public system as the beauty of being in a wirelss hotspot( as the hotel is) means that Telstra charges 50c per minute!!!!!!! while if I use a public computer it only means $2 per 20 min! We all love Telstra!!!!!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Tomorrow is when I leave for Adelaide. It is difficult reconciling desert travel and being here in the city. It is more the idea of the challenges of working with people who are so knowledgeable in their field and the huge opportunities for learning. Am armed with camera and mini PC( from Bill) and hopefully the thermals do their stuff!
Talk later.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Ten Days to go
The planning that goes into just a few days of one's life is unvbelievable! The preparedness to indertake that planning and preparation is easy - this is a once off opportunity to be involved in current research and data gathering - and to construct realistic resources for students.
This is amazing ! So ask me if I went running every morning for the last month so I could leap over tall mountains? I didn't but I would have if I had been here or if it hadn't been so cold! I guess I am going ot have to walk around those mountains and contemplate their rise from the desert!
For those of you who don 't know - in ten days time I am flying to Adelaide as part of the Spaceward Bound Expedition - a research based expedition into the Arkaroola area of South Australia - to investigate and gather data related to the recognition of this area as a Mars Analog site . This means it has a recognisable similarity to the Martian environment and data collected could assist in the knowledge building about Mars, the planet. We have people from America- teachers and scientists- as well as five educators from Australia and Australian scientists. What an opportunity!
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