Rain over the Ranges...

[Resident ducks in the Willochra]

[Rain at Partacoona]

[Dry creek beds and a kangaroo joey enjoying the rain - mama is under the large gum tree to the left: Look closely and you can just see her (she was well-camouflaged)]

[Parched ruins]

[Rain over the Flinders Ranges, north of Quorn]

Yesterday morning the rain started to fall, so SJ and I took Bailey-dog and went for a drive (4WD) through the Ranges to the north, away from the fire.

It took us two hours to slowly make our way through the riverbeds and over the mountains. We saw oodles of wildlife, out enjoying the cooler weather and water: Kangaroos, emus, birdlife galore, and even reptiles.

In the evening the rain became heavier and more steady, filling our water tanks nicely, refreshing the garden, and dousing that fire.

We are looking forward to a much cooler, less stressful week ahead.

Summer's True Nature.

[Smoke from the Woolundunga bushfire, between Quorn and Wilmington in the Flinders Ranges]

[Smoke from the Woolundunga bushfire over Quorn in the Flinders Ranges]

A busy couple days, some restless nights, and an even worse day expected tomorrow.

It probably comes as no surprise that we are keeping an eager eye on the weather.

The closest fire front is approximately 20km to the south at the moment, burning uncontrolled in harsh, inaccessible scrub of the Flinders. We have been lucky so far that it is keeping its distance.

The tiny town of Wilmington (40km south) is under the biggest threat from the fire.

(Photos taken by Shane Clifton Pest Control)