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22-05-2019, 01:04 PM
1

Some signs of the times

I visited a small town called Windorah today, it has a solar farm but not acres of solar panels this one has mirrors which heat up salt (I think) to create power.



Also the town is one of the gateways to Birdsville and has a warning.



Driving from Windorah toward Quilpie came across this road sign which is not uncommon in the outback away from towns (most settlements have an airstrip)



Here you can just see the markings for the end of the runway



Just to give you an idea of what the road is like when it is not a runway.



If you are interested more pics here:

https://bcl.id.au/


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Bruce
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22-05-2019, 01:12 PM
2

Re: Some signs of the times

Amy Johnson landed in Quilpie in 1930 when she became the first femail to fly solo from London to Australia (she was actually trying to beat Bert Hinkler's record time)

The local airport commemorates it.






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22-05-2019, 01:20 PM
3

Re: Some signs of the times

That your outfit Bruce or did you rent it?


I think the concentrated solar power uses the suns energy to melt a salt which is used to power some sort of generator, the benefit being that even after the sun goes down there is still energy in the molten salt for quite some time.


Wish I was there.
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22-05-2019, 04:57 PM
4

Re: Some signs of the times

Fantastic, Bruce. You are ever finding yourself in some interesting locale. I think it would probably take a lifetime to see Australia properly.

Most interesting about the solar collectors and salt generators. Do you think that tower in the background is the salt tower?

One time I was traveling with my family and friends in a two RV setup. Just before sunset, we found a lovely spot that was wide open and level - perfect to form a circle around a campfire and break out the bikes for the kids. We had a grand time.

The next morning, as the maps were perused to make the day's plan, we realized that we had set up camp on an airstrip! We were darned lucky that there were no bush pilots out that night.

What made it worse/funnier was that the three men who were running our little caravan operation were all military and commercial pilots.
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22-05-2019, 10:23 PM
5

Re: Some signs of the times

Interesting photos Bruce, you have perfect weather for all this travelling
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23-05-2019, 01:48 PM
6

Re: Some signs of the times

Originally Posted by Ray Cathode ->
That your outfit Bruce or did you rent it?
You mean the car and trailer? They are both mine, I have had them for a few years now. I am writing this in the trailer Thursday night in Quilpie. I have reluctantly had to give up tent/swag camping but I am buggered if I am going to buy a caravan because for the cost of one of those I could stay at a motel for the rest of my life and they are such an encumbrance. My car doesn't even notice it is towing this thing.

Set off tomorrow for Cunnamulla with, I hope, just enough fuel to get there, locally diesel is $1.62 which is 10c a litre more than at less isolated places so I just bought as little as possible - I have a 20litre can in the back of the car so I am not going to actually run out.
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23-05-2019, 02:00 PM
7

Re: Some signs of the times

Originally Posted by Surfermom ->
Fantastic, Bruce. You are ever finding yourself in some interesting locale. I think it would probably take a lifetime to see Australia properly.

Most interesting about the solar collectors and salt generators. Do you think that tower in the background is the salt tower?

One time I was traveling with my family and friends in a two RV setup. Just before sunset, we found a lovely spot that was wide open and level - perfect to form a circle around a campfire and break out the bikes for the kids. We had a grand time.

The next morning, as the maps were perused to make the day's plan, we realized that we had set up camp on an airstrip! We were darned lucky that there were no bush pilots out that night.

What made it worse/funnier was that the three men who were running our little caravan operation were all military and commercial pilots.

You're right about seeing it properly it is just so big with a small population, I saw one sign in the NT "No fuel for 544km" that is extreme but "No fuel (or water) for 200+km" is not uncommon. I have only been to WA once though I am pretty familiar with a lot of NSW and Qld after living and working here for over 50 years.

I like your tale about camping on an airstrip.
 

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