The Great River Red Gum:
We just loved camping at Carawine Gorge on the Oakover river.
The river is lined with some very ancient River Red Gum trees (Eucalyptus camaldulensis ).
Unfortunately there are signs that many of these trees were felled in 2005 when Cyclone Faye devastated the area, but where the large trees once stood, many more saplings are taking their place.
It's the cycle of regeneration that we seem to see everywhere we travel this time.
Now this particular variety of Eucalyptus is an interesting tree and after seeing their wonderful white trunks and crushing the leaves I am of a mind to introduce the essential oil to Moon Haven.
When you crush the leaves of these incredible trees you get a wonderful aroma of eucalypt tinged with a little pepper and even a hint of peppermint. It is uplifting and invigorating at the same time.
I was taught by Dr Daniel Penoel - an esteemed French aromatherapist and leading authority on medical aromatherapy, that when away from your texts and references, by smelling and then analyzing the scent of an essential oil you can decipher its aromatherapeutic values.
As I am far from all my references and library of texts I have to rely on my senses to tell me what the oil of the River Red Gum could be used for.
So using Dr Penoel's methods I can see how the oil of this particular eucalypt would be useful for warming and soothing painful muscles, helpful as a decongestant and in the treatment of sinus infections and I also feel that it would have fairly significant antiseptic and antifungal properties.
I can't wait to get back home to check out if I am correct and of course source some good quality Eucalyptus camaldulensis oil to 'play' with at Moon Haven!
(Postscript:
Since my return to Moon Haven have since found out that aboriginal people used the bark to make dishes and carrying provisions, as material to make shelters , canoes and of course for firewood. They used the leaves on a fire to help smoke out fever and to help with colds and congestion as well as rubbing the leaves over sore muscles to help relieve pain.)
Birds:
We have been surprised by the wide and varied number of birds out here in the outback.
Wedge Tail Eagles
On the way up to Newman along the Great Northern Highway we would see Wedge Tail Eagles soaring the skies and then settling along the roadside to feast on the latest roadkill.
Unfortunately i was not able to take a good photo of these majestic birds so have included a picture courtesy of Trevorsbirding.com
I didn't realize the size of these birds of prey until we came upon a group of 4 eagles on the side the track on the way to Nullagine. Each bird was at least a metre high and had a wing span of around 2 metres. They were gigantic!
What is interesting is that while these eagles are birds of prey, those living close to highways and major roads have taken to feeding off carrion and road kill rather than finding their own supper.
It wasn't until we came to the gorge and were able to sit and watch the eagles at length that we were able to marvel at these magnificent creatures soaring among the thermals alongside the cliffs. They are truly a magnificent bird and can stay many minutes in the air without flapping a wing - just adjust a feather here or change and angle of the wing there and they catch the next warm upward current and soar high into the sky.
Black Swans
This morning I was surprised to see a pair of Black Swans gliding down the river past our campsite. They were on the opposite bank checking out the bullrushes.
I found it amusing when one of the swans decided that they had glided far enough and turned around. Her partner then gave a few plaintive honks - calling her back- which she promptly ignored. Her partner then gave a final honk and started to follow. It was only then that the lead swan turned her head, gave an encouraging honk and waited for her partner to catch up. It's obvious that the lady was in charge in that relationship!
Budgies
Now while it is well known that Budgerigars are native to Australia, I didn't realize that they came from the outback. Yesterday, just after a flock of white, Long Billed Correllas flew through the gorge a number of chattering birds came and roosted in the trees. Because it was late afternoon I was unable to make out the birds but from the sheer noise and squabbles that were breaking out I strongly suspected they were budgies.
When I woke this morning, sure enough a small flock of green, with a side serve of yellow, budgies came and frolicked in the trees around our campsite. I know they are only living their own lives in their own Peyton Place kind of way, but their carryings on certainly entertained us for the morning.
