in transit

Today I found out from Under Mouse Arrest that Perth is to be the first Australian city to be included in Google Transit, a trip planning service offered by Google.

Recently, I used the Transperth website to plan trips to Perth International Arts Festival events. It mostly worked. I knew at what time to catch the bus and where, and even found out that if I got off on St Georges Tce a few stops early the fare was $1.50 (2 Sections) instead of $2.20 (1 Zone).

Trip planning was always done ahead of time as the Transperth web site is slow, and it does take a while to navigate around the maps and suggested routes.

I have previously used Google Maps to find routes from Perth, for example, to Koorda or Bremer Bay. But being able to do this around the city would be terrific, particularly if the Google service speeded the task up and included the public transport data.

Somewhat related, Uncle C started to send coordinates via SailMail. Then stopped due to technical difficulties. But hopefully when he starts again I will be able to use Google Maps to chart his progress across the Pacific.

not parking

I very rarely use the car to get to uni, and today I was reminded why. It’s because you can’t get $^%&* parked.

Yes, it is only the second week of first semester, but I don’t feel that parking on Tuesdays is going to become any less congested. Tuesdays means lots happening in the Guild Courtyard, on the Oak Lawn, and with DJs in the Tav why would anyone leave campus for the day once you were there?

Similarly, when I then drove to the local post office as I was already in the car - I could not get parked. Well, I could, in the Coles Supermarket car park. There were a lot of spaces.

I peeked into Coles on the way past to the post office and there were queues at each checkout. I just wish those that shopped at Coles parked at Coles, so the rest of us can get on with enjoying the local shopping precinct while continuing to ignore them.

The problem that I have with parking at Coles is that the supermarket will be able to claim that they are providing the required car parking, when their shoppers are not actually parking in the car park that they have provided. I wonder if anyone has done any research into the number of Coles shoppers that have 4WDs and or cannot successfully park in the tight parking spaces provided by Coles.

Hint for South Perth shoppers: There is always car parking at the Coles Supermarket. If you are not shopping at Coles, then the only drawback is having to hold your nose while you go down the stairs (or in the lift) until you get past the ‘roast chickens’. Ugh!

WA on Show

Lots to see and not see at WA on Show.

There were a lot of displays suggesting that regions of Western Australia are places to go with things to do. For example, the Mandurah Crabfest is on next weekend. I thought it may be a good idea if you were looking for a reason to try out the new bit of train track. The reason I noticed the display is because they had a light blue/beige scooter which is a prize for a competition during the Crabfest. I thought it would be just right for popping to the shops when I couldn’t be bothered getting into clothes suitable for riding my bicycle.

I thought that the Main Roads Department’s static display of historical posters was the most interesting. For example, there was a great photo of a Volkswagen Beetle going through a very rocky river bed. Made me wonder why we needed all these slick bitumen roads for the increasing number of 4WDs.

Although I was resisting collecting pamphlets and show give-aways, when we stopped to ask questions or fill in a competition entry (bikes and weekends away being the most popular), we were plied with the ’stuff’.

Some of the stuff was quite useful, such as the sachets of sunscreen, pens, and travel tags. But we were on our way to the Music Box with plans to dance and didn’t want to be carting stuff around. So I found a phone booth on the walk up St Georges Tce, and left the show bag there thinking that anyone that went to use the phone would have more time to fossick through the bag and take anything they found useful.

second best

1.1 billion dollars is the projected cost of a 60,000 seat sports stadium to be developed at Kitchener Park, Subiaco that will enable Perth, Western Australia to bid for the 2018 Soccer World Cup.

“The Government says it will seek funding from the Commonwealth, business and the sporting codes to help build the stadium.” — Subiaco wins race for new 60,000 seat stadium, ABC News

The Hon Alan Carpenter is the Western Australian Premier; and Minister for Federal-State Relations; Trade; Innovation; Public Sector Management; and Science announced today.

I say, always read the last paragraph of news stories. In closing, the ABC article about the sports stadium also mentions a new museum.

“The other site considered for the project, the old East Perth power station, was deemed unsuitable because of transport difficulties.

That site will be used to build the new WA Museum.”

The current museum in Perth could do with a revamp, more space and resources. But to send it out to East Perth appears a bit odd.

The WA Museum is right next to the State Library and Art Gallery, and on the Perth CAT route. What about the visitor numbers for the museum? Why does it cost only half-a-billion dollars for a museum infrastructure project compared to that of a $1.1 billion new outdoor stadium?

peninunsula lights

The forecast for Boxing Day was 40 deg C, but reached 43.3 deg C at 1230, and was 38.7 deg C when we set out for the Somerville. It was a warm ride, but easier than the previous week due to not having to ride directly into the wind.

After the film, the ride home alongside the Swan River was lovely. The wind had dropped as had the temperature, and we just about had the bicycle path to ourselves.

The full moon was a couple of nights ago, but the moon still looked impressive above the South Perth peninunsula and the lights on the tree near the Old Mill.

talking about the weather

The weather is usually a stand-by topic for those awkward moments or small talk, but this Christmas the weather really is news.

Before I turn my computer off for the holidays, I just checked the weather forecast, and the news is that 39 deg C is forecast for Christmas Day, and 40 deg C for Boxing Day. Together with Christmas Eve, if these maximums are reached, then “it will be the hottest three day period since 1915″ for Perth, Western Australia.

In the state of NSW, the town of Coonamble is preparing for worsening floods with the expectation that the town will be cut off. And in the US and Canada snowstorms are causing chaos.

The weather is usually such a ’safe’ topic.

something about a bear

Paddington Bear, a jigsaw puzzle and a stamp album, is how I found out where Peru is long before I knew the location of London, England.

Thinking about it now, it’s funny how you accumulate facts that one day may be grouped with other facts at another time and in some other sort of context.

I was fascinated by the adventures of Paddington Bear [1] from darkest Peru. My vision of Peru was based on a jigsaw of a woman in a small boat amongst water and reeds, whereas my stamp album (which I still have) includes a potted description including the Inca civilisation, Spanish conquerers and rich in minerals. Reading that Peru was in South America I was able to find it on the map in the front of the stamp album. London, England came later, by way of a holiday just before we left Great Britain altogether, on our own journey across the sea to Fremantle, Western Australia.

Author Michael Bond is writing Paddington Here and Now to be published June next year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the debut of Paddington Bear. The stowaway from Peru will be questioned about his immigration status and his right to remain in England. The original illustrator, Peggy Fortnum will provide the cover art.

While an unsettling contemporary setting, knowing Paddington Bear, it will all work out in the end.

[1] When I read about Paddington Bear, he did not have a web site

and there’s more

Dryandra Woodland not only has Numbats and Barnia Mia, but walks from 1km to 25km.

I did not do any of the official walks, only walking between tracking stations, and back from the field to base.

But on the way I saw lots of goannas (reminded me of racehorse goannas in the North-West), bobtail skinks (on the way to the bathroom), echnidas, and more birds and flowers than I can possibly name.

The echnidas always curled up into a ball or stuck their head in the hole they were digging as if to say if I can’t see you, you’re not there.

The trigger plants were cool. I’m not sure if this is the book trigger plant (Stylidium calcaratum) or pincushion trigger plant (Stylidium uniflorum).

As were these flowers that I was able to identify later as native hyacinth or white candles (Stackhousia monogyna) from the books that people brought on the trip.

We were put up in the Nissen huts in the Currawong complex, but there are some very nice cottages that couples and smaller groups can stay in that form part of the Lions Dryandra Village.

The best time to see wildflowers in the South-West of Western Australia is early September.

in the night time

While staying at Dryandra Woodland we went on a nocturnal tour of the nearby Barna Mia and saw all the animals in the sanctuary except for the western barred bandicoot.

The animal sanctuary is home to five threatened native animals; bilby or dalgyte (Macrotis lagotis), western barred bandicoot or marl (Perameles bougainville), burrowing bettong or boodie (Bettongia lesueur), banded hare-wallaby or mernine (Lagostrophus fasciatus), and rufous hare-wallaby or wurrup (Lagorchestes hirsutus).

We also saw a possum and was told that the fence surrounding the sanctuary to keep out predators (foxes and cats) was also supposed to keep out the possums as they are not considered a native animal facing extinction. I and others thought this odd, considering the surrounding area was their home too, but I suppose possums do tend to be opportunists, and when they know food is going to be available on certain nights of the week, how could they resist.

The tour starts in an attractive purpose built building that was designed to complement the surroundings in an environmental way. Unfortunately, they turn on a generator for the tour to power lights and such, which sometimes was louder than the silence of the bush, rustling of the animals as they came near, and their very noisy scoffing of the food provided.

The sanctuary is not large enough to sustain the population of animals so carefully selected and weighed food is put down for the animals. Uneaten food is removed and monitored. It was fun if not a little weird to see the different animals eating near each other. At one stage, a boodie put its front paws in the dish while it ate as if another animal was going to come along and claim it. In fact, a bilby did come and share the dish for a little while which was strange as it had its own spread nearby including mushrooms.

The paths and animals were lit with infrared lamps and torches so as not to disturb the animals. It was lovely to sit quietly and watch them, but it was frustrating not to be able to take photographs that capture the moment or the animals well. My picture of the bilby I’m happy with because I recognise it because of the long ears.

Years ago, I remember that chocolate in the shape of a bilby was promoted at Easter time instead of chocolate bunnies. The point being that rabbits are a pest and bilbies are native animals in need of protection. I’m not sure how well that message was communicated, but I do remember Mam explaining this to her pre-primary class at the time. Which is difficult, when it gets pointed out that it would be better to have chocolate rabbits as we should eat them instead of the bilbies. Can’t argue with that logic.

Before the walk, we listened to a presentation and learnt more about the area, and DEC’s Return to Dryandra, Western Shield, and revegetation programmes. Returning to the building, we were given the opportunity to purchase souvenirs and look at the building more closely.

Barna Mia is well worth the visit, and consider that DEC can be more confident about taking ownership of their work and knowledge of the area and sharing this more enthusiastically with visitors. Note: You need to book your visit with the Narrogin District Office.

Tours are after sunset. Unlike the animals in the sanctuary, I think Numbats have much more sensible waking hours

numbat spotting

In between Numbat radio-tracking, we had the opportunity to participate in driving surveys, captures, weighing and collaring.

Driving surveys involved being a passenger in a four-wheel drive vehicle that kept to the road, and looking out the window or observing the ground from the top of the vehicle.

Numbats are difficult to spot as their coats are well camouflaged with the landscape, they are small, and they can move very quickly. When they were spotted, many of the Numbats tended to run into a log.

Various attempts were made to persuade the Numbat to leave the log and be captured, but often a trap needed to be set for when they ventured from the log of their own accord. It is important not to destroy the habitat in which many animals use, including the Numbat.

Once they were captured in a cloth bag, they were brought back to the base. Numbats are weighed and measured, and their general condition checked.

They are then tagged with a microchip and fitted with a collar including a radio transmitter.

The Numbat is then replaced into the cloth bag and taken to the location where it was captured, to be released. Their movements may be followed for some months before they need to be captured again so that the battery in the collar can be changed.

Being able to survey and monitor vulnerable and endangered animals is important. Research organisations and scientists often need the assistance of volunteers in these projects.

If you are interested in conservation, environmental and science based volunteering, see what organisations are active in your area. Or if you are willing to travel, further afield. In Western Australia, the Department of Environment and Conservation, CSIRO (mostly geared towards school children), universities, and various non-government organisations (e.g. Project Numbat, Gilbert’s Potoroo Action Group) need the support of volunteers from the general public. One way to help is to create awareness of various conservation issues and what people can do about it.