#australian lichen

[drhoz]

#2064 - Cladia muelleri

Formerly Heterodea muelleri, until 2012. Growing on clay soil, under Leptospermum.

A foliose lichen widespread in Australia but also in New Zealand and New Caledonia, usually growing on clay soils but it is found occasionally amongst organic litter, and often under trees or shrubs to take advantage of the shade. When wet it is a vivid green, sometimes yellow-green, mass of tightly-clumped lobes. When dry it curls up into yellow-brown to dark brown lumps. The species can be distinguished by a dense brown (occasionally black) mat of rhizines (felt-like hairs) on the lobes.

Most species in the genus are found in the Southern Hemisphere, and can vary very widely in form.

[firelightfoxes]

i have been extremely inactive lately and haven't picked up my camera a single time, but please enjoy these random pics of my little creatures over the past couple months

[rattyexplores]

20/09/23 - Photo 1 - juvenile camouflaged against the bark

We've had lichen spiders on this tree for years. Recently I saw an adult guarding an egg sac, and I was excited for them to hatch. Sadly I was away when the hatch occurred. But! I still managed to find a juvenile on the tree.

24/08/23 - Photos 2-3 - adult guarding the egg sac by sitting on top of it

The adult lichen spiders are already well-hidden, but trying to find juveniles is almost impossible. I may have missed this hatching, but I have recorded a previous hatch:

(link)

24/08-20/09/23 - Pandercetes gracilis

QLD:WET

[monsterbroth]

wish I understood music

[birdstudies]

August 17, 2024 - Shining Flycatcher (Myiagra alecto) Found in parts of northern Australia, eastern Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, these monarchs live in forests, shrublands, mangroves, and wetlands. They mostly eat insects, as well as some fruit, mollusks, and crustaceans, foraging in dense vegetation and around water. Breeding from August to April in their Australian range, they weave deep cup-shaped nests from bark, fibers, moss, rootlets, twigs, spiderwebs, and lichen, often over water. Both parents incubate the clutches of two or three eggs and care for the chicks.

[fatehbaz]

yea “desertification” not a great term, obscuring the biodiversity of deserts.

related note: “desertification” term reminds me of how “tree planting” is not necessarily a great thing. (more precisely: “just plant trees” is not good advice universally in every context.)

sounds nice on the surface? but industrial-scale resource extraction companies can build monoculture tree plantations and get away with duplicitously calling it “a forest” or a “reforestation project.” like pine plantations in Chile, where single-species plantations replace extremely unique globally-rare biodiverse Valdivian temperate rainforest.

it’s kinda like seeing a bunch of nondescript greenery in the form of, like, non-native grass lawns or non-native kudzu and saying “oh, well, the landscape is green, and the plants are so thick and full of biomass, therefore it must be healthy!”

and if “desertification” is meant to imply “degraded soils” then it is a misnomer. for example, the Mojave Desert is famous for its crust lichens (”soil lichen”; “biological soil crust”).

and yea, i know that there has fortunately been more criticism applied recently to solar farm projects in California-administered Mojave Desert, since the farms can/do/might necessitate destruction of, say, Joshua trees.

“but it’s all wide-open space!” like how British imperialists/industrialists moved into Australian landscapes, took a look at “the Outback” and thought “look at all of this wasted space.” then cattle rangeland was implanted across the landmass. and dromedaries, rabbits, feral cats, etc. were not initially taken seriously as threats to land, until they threaten resource extraction profit.

ironically(?), the US land-use project and expansion in the Great Basin and Southwest had a lot to do with transforming desert and semi-arid shrubland landscapes into "wastelands” (see Traci Voyles’ writing about Navajo Country and the process of “wastelanding”).

also obscures the existence of very many unique endemic species and lineages which live nowhere else. though this is true of many planet-wide desert regions, it’s especially noticeable in the “Southwest” (including sidewinders, Gila monster, Joshua tree, saguaro, etc.). especially when there’s altitudinal zonation like in the Sky Islands, hosting arid flats, oak woodlands, high-elevation conifer, etc. such that there’s actually more ecological diversity in a few acres of parts of the Sonoran Desert region than in a lot of the rest of the continent. or how the Cuatro Cienegas oasis of the Chihuahuan Desert hosts an endemic slider turtle, endemic softshell turtle, endemic box turtle, endemic alligator lizard, and the planet’s only non-marine stromatolite bacterial communities. you also end up with some microhabitat types which, though maybe not spatially widespread or have relatively low biomass, are staggeringly unique, like fog oases of the Atacama, where moisture is extracted from fog blankets moving in from the sea.

doesn’t even begin to address the people who have lived in -- thrived in -- deserts for millennia. like pre-contact and/or Indigenous maize/corn planting techniques in the Southwest, like Zuni waffle gardens or planting of maize along slopes to take advantage of runoff. such that so many mountainsides across contemporary so-called Mexico essentially host unique varieties/lineages of maize adapted to microclimates, soil types, high-elevation habitat, etc.

is that desert soil “sterile”?

[lichenaday]

Hi ! Do you know Marchantia polymorpha ? Apparently it grows along with lichens, I keep looking for informations about this plant like its geographical distribution but everything I find is too vague. Do you know about any resources for plants like these ?

Liverworts! I don't know jack about liverworts, except that yes, they do often grow alongside lichens, and they're bryophytes. I too would like to know more about them, but also don't know where to find good resources on them.for geographical distributions, I recommend iNaturalist or GBIF. I also trust the Australian National Botanic Gardens website for lichen info, so I assume their bryophyte info page is similarly reliable:

https://www.anbg.gov.au/bryophyte/classification-identification.html

If any of my followers have better resources, please let me know. Here's a picture I took of some liverworts for good measure

They are growing on a Medieval castle wall in the German Alps alongside some very good moss and fern.

[anonsally]

Day 9 of Australia vacation: driving north and then east; Day 10 (part 1): tasting bubblies

Day 9 was basically a day of scenic driving with a nice beach walk interlude and wildlife in the evening.

After eating breakfast at the restaurant (delicious, but small portions and not enough carbs) and then supplementing it with granola at the cottage, we gave carrots to the horses, checked out, and started driving north along the coast. It was beautiful! After a lunch stop in St. Helens (Wife got some really excellent, fresh fish & chips), we went to Humbug Point Nature Recreation Area, parked near Dora Point, and took a bit of a walk along the beach there--a few minutes in one direction alongside some weirdly dead-looking trees, and then we turned back and went the other way, clambering over rocks and admiring the views. There was colorful lichen on the boulders, and lots of people were fishing from the beach. We also saw some dead blue bottle jellyfish on the beach (small ones), and Wife managed to catch a little crab to say hello to before releasing it back into the sand. From the car I spotted hundreds of black swans and also an Australian pelican!

Then we drove inland through some rainy forests (which may have also been temperate rainforests!). We stopped at Pyengana Dairy, a farm that makes cheese, and eventually arrived in Launceston, where we ate at a Malaysian restaurant and picked up groceries. We then drove out to an exurb to the house we were renting for the night. The final part of the drive, which we did at sunset, was about a kilometer on an unpaved road surrounded by wallabies (and of course the raucous sounds of the laughing kookaburras!).

The house was spacious, oddly decorated (we spotted statues of Ganesha and Buddha, a prayer mat, and lots of breakable decorations), and inadequately supplied with linens. The beds were made with a bottom sheet but no top sheet; one also lacked a blanket. We eventually found more sheets and blankets--just about enough--but there were also insufficient towels. Luckily the hosts brought us additional towels when we complained (3 bath towels for 4 people is not enough! but at least there were hand towels). The house was also pretty recently built, but somehow a bit flimsy.

It was very dark there, and I was so tired that I went to bed rather earlier than usual. It was mostly quiet, though I could hear every step the others took inside the house. But in the middle of the night I was woken more than once by what sounded sort of like snarling, fighting cats. I have only just realised that they must have been Tasmanian devils! I wish we'd seen one.

Day 10

I did a little bit of birdwatching from the deck in the morning before we left, but didn't see anything new. We then drove to a winery that specialises in sparkling wines and did a tasting. We sat on a beautiful patio with a fantastic view, and it was a sunny day with fluffy white clouds, so it was very scenic. And we spotted a wedge-tailed eagle soaring overhead!

Then we drove to Scottsdale and checked into a heritage B&B before being picked up by our guide for a wildlife and scenery tour for the rest of the day; I'll write about that in the next installment.

[drhoz]

The Great ACT-NSW-NZ Trip, 2023-2024- Tumbarumba

Tumbarumba is another small town near the Snowy Montains, and like most of SE Australia was in mortal danger from the Black Summer bushfires - they had two different fronts converging on them, and the fires reached the edge of town before the wind changed direction. They had to put a temporary dam across the creek that runs through town so the firefighting teams could refill.

We stayed at a property with a paddock out the back, and a lovely little creek at the bottom. The owner is quite a famous photographer, and there was a lot of his work on the walls - including the aforementioned fires halfway down that mountain and less than a kilometer from the house.

As with the previous, here's a few species I've talked about before

[firelightfoxes]

my girls 💖🖤

[paitanthspot]

Am La and Paititi

In Peru a man wearing a strange outfit claimed to have found Paititi in the forest after following instructions that were written on a tablet that he "rescued" from a temple in Belize shortly before it was demolished.

The man, going by the name Am La, spoke the local language of the town well, though he did so in a very strange accent, one that didn't align with people from Peru, Belize or the developed world.

He claimed to be from east central Australia and had aboriginal routes to the islands north of the continent.

His clothes were black all over and completely covered ever patch of skin, along with a mask that covered their face making it impossible to identify their race.

However due to way that the mask fit to the face it was easy to guess that they had a flat nose.

Every item of clothing was not manufactured but was seemingly built out of handmade fabrics.

The mask however looked to be made of a single piece of sculpted wood.

they wore shoes with thick fabric soles trousers with wooden kneepads, a tunic-like long sleeve hooded shirt, with wooden elbow pads and a wooden collar, a thick fabric waistcoat, wooden vambraces, and gloves that had wooden armor on the back, not unlike a knight's gauntlets.

None of the clothes had any markings, except for possibly the palm of the gloves, where the lines of the palm of the hand were scorn into the glove fabric somewhat revealing a second golden colored glove beneath so that if he were to look at his palms it would form a number 7 on his right palm and a mirror of it on his left palm.

According to Am he entered the town a few days ago wearing his current outfit and paid some locals in legal tender to give him bed and board where he contacted his Australian friends about his current progress at the time via a phone call using a communication satellite though mysteriously nobody in town recalls this event.

The next day he set off into the forest and began tracking certain markers he believed to placed by the Paititi people as secret waypoint indicators that had been overlooked by others as simply natural formations of the forest.

On his journey he saw various species unknown to science including lichen, plants and small arthropods, which he made a mental note of their appearance before moving onto his main goal.

At one point he encountered a dark brown large cat which at first he kept his distance to but the cat approached him regardless.

At this point he acknowledged them and let them approach to which the cat rubbed it's cheeks on his neck and afterwards lost interest and left.

Further along he overheard animal calls though these noises were inaccurate so they were most likely made by people.

It didn't sound like they'd noticed him so he kept his distance from them and the trail and hid among the forest.

Later a small group of men wearing red and yellow ran past along the trail path with a fast pace but not haste.

Unfortunately from his position he didn't get the opportunity to get a better look.

Staying parallel to the path proved difficult since there were a lot of natural hazards but he continued on this path to avoid being noticed by those using the path.

At some point he needed to sleep so he took another path further from the trail running diagonal to the parallel path walking forward and back to confuse the tracks.

After walking a significant distance he walked in multiple circles around the area disturbing various sections of undergrowth to make it hard to tell where his path ends.

He then peeled back some undergrowth and dug a small space beneath to hide in in such a fashion that no soil would be seen above and the disturbed shape above ground would be minimal and resemble natural shifts in the environment.

Resting on and off throughout the night they were able to hear trackers scanning the area.

At multiple points they went quiet before attacking what they imagined to be his hiding spot and eventually gave up and left.

It was during these attacks, that he heard the sound of bullets being loaded into a firearm.

Note, these were not people from civilisation, but they had somehow acquired firearms.

After resting he left while the trackers were still wandering the area by using the trackers' own footprints and found a meandering path that he saw went back to an earlier part of the path he walked before around the point where he started walking parallel to the path.

Making a confusing path by doubling back many times he took some of his route from tree to tree as he'd noticed some of the trackers using then fashioning shoes from rocks that would make similar indents to the trackers walked back and forth to a further point of the path and took several routes off the path to multiple parallel paths making a confusing labyrinth.

At this point he noticed that he wasn't the only one who was employing these kinds of tactics as it appeared that the cat from earlier was also attempting to hide their tracks in much the same way.

By wiping the neck of his outfit with his wrist he left several false cat scent marks at certain points along the path to confused the trackers.

He also identified a plant the trackers smelled of and rubbed this onto his other wrist so he could also leave false tracker scent marks.

Eventually he noticed signs of habitation in the form of former camp sights which of course he used as waypoints to spiderweb more false tracks around.

He'd left the trackers in his dust a day ago but noticed he was still being followed or at least his tracks were and so far the follower was still clueless and seemed to be wandering in circles.

Later using the same strategy to sleep he noticed the large cat searching around but just like with the trackers they were equally confused.

However as the trackers eventually drew close the cat let out an alarm call seemingly attempting to warn him even though they couldn't track him.

This time, while still distant from both followers he decided to move on and leave his confusing tracks and as he rested that night he made a call like that the cat made when he first saw them.

As before the cat turned up long before the trackers but this time they called the cat over and decided to work with them to leave a labyrinth behind moving in the middle of their resting time to throw the trackers off.

This time it seemed they left the trackers behind but they kept up the confusing path anyway.

Progress was faster this time now that they'd found their rhythm.

Noticing other waypoint trails were beginning to converge to a point ahead of him that lay over a ridge he decided to circle around the ridge to reduce the chances of being spotted.

This also meant he could work the other routes into his scheme and he came around the ridge he spotted Paititi.

He saw a way in which he could go almost completely around the complex but would have to stop short of being behind it because it would be too difficult to hide.

Unfortunately this route wasn't much of an option because it seemed there was quite a commotion and people were running in and out of various paths that lead away from the complex.

That might have even been his doing.

Taking a different route that lead away from the complex he planned to go to the nearest stopping point then cut across to another path and then later cut back to the original trail.

This worked for a bit but now the original trail had guards along it so a rather tiresome detour was needed that due to land formations took him on a wild detour back to town.

Still, this route provided sleeping spots that no trackers ever came anywhere near which the large cat decided to join him in occasionally patrolling the area while he rested.

It was at this point that he asked for a pen and paper and began sketching out various plants and bugs.

He then thanked the people and headed off in the direction of larger civilisation continuing to sketch as he walked.

For a few days since a large cat was seen in the area.

It never approached the town and eventually left of its own accord.

[rattyexplores]

Two Lichen Spider Specimens on this Walk

Pandercetes gracilis

19/07/22

[roofrestorationsyd]

Roof Restoration in Sydney: A Comprehensive Guide

Sydney, with its iconic skyline, beautiful beaches, and vibrant urban life, is a place of beauty and diversity. However, the city's coastal location also means that buildings here are exposed to harsh weather conditions, including heavy rains, strong winds, and the scorching Australian sun. These elements can take a toll on the roofs of Sydney homes, making roof restoration an essential consideration for maintaining the integrity and aesthetics of one’s property. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the nuances of roof restoration in Sydney, offering insights into its importance, the process involved, and tips to ensure a successful restoration project. For More Information https://roofrestoration-sydney.com/

The Importance of Roof Restoration

The roof is one of the most critical components of a house, providing protection against the elements and contributing to the overall structural integrity of the building. Over time, wear and tear can lead to issues such as leaks, tile damage, and deterioration of roofing materials. If left unaddressed, these problems can lead to more significant issues, including structural damage, mold growth, and reduced energy efficiency. A well-timed roof restoration can prevent these outcomes, extending the life of your roof and enhancing your home's value and curb appeal.

Signs Your Roof Needs Restoration

Identifying the need for roof restoration early can save homeowners from costly repairs down the line. Here are some signs that your roof may require professional attention:

Age: If your roof is over 20 years old, it may be time for a thorough inspection and possibly restoration.

Leaks: Any signs of water damage or leaks inside your home could indicate roof issues.

Damaged Tiles: Broken, cracked, or missing tiles are clear indicators that restoration is needed.

Sagging: A sagging roof is a serious issue, suggesting structural problems that need immediate attention.

Moss and Lichen Growth: These can cause tile damage and block gutters, leading to water damage.

The Roof Restoration Process

A typical roof restoration in Sydney involves several key steps, each crucial for ensuring the longevity and effectiveness of your roof. While specific processes may vary depending on the type of roof and the extent of damage, the general procedure includes:

1. Inspection and Assessment

The first step is a comprehensive roof inspection by a professional to assess the extent of damage and determine the necessary restoration work. This assessment will cover the roof's structure, surface condition, and any potential leak points.

2. Cleaning

Roof cleaning is performed to remove dirt, moss, and other debris. This step often involves high-pressure washing, which prepares the roof for further restoration work by providing a clean surface.

3. Repairs

This stage addresses any damage found during the inspection, such as replacing broken tiles, re-bedding ridge caps, and fixing leaks. Ensuring all necessary repairs are made is crucial for the longevity of the restoration.

4. Sealing and Coating

After repairs, a sealant is applied to protect the roof from weather elements and prevent leaks. The roof is then coated with a protective layer, often reflecting specific aesthetic preferences while also enhancing the roof’s resistance to UV rays and further weathering.

Choosing the Right Roof Restoration Service

Selecting a reliable roof restoration service is paramount. Here are some tips to help you make an informed decision:

Research: Look for well-established companies with good reputations in Sydney. Online reviews and recommendations from friends or family can be invaluable.

Licenses and Insurance: Ensure the service provider has the necessary licenses to operate in Sydney and carries insurance for their work.

Quotes: Obtain detailed quotes from several companies to compare prices and understand what’s included in their services.

Warranty: Ask about the warranty offered on the restoration work. A guarantee can provide peace of mind and protection for your investment.

DIY vs. Professional Roof Restoration

While some homeowners may consider a DIY approach to save costs, roof restoration typically requires professional skills, tools, and safety equipment. The risks involved in DIY roof work, combined with the potential for overlooking critical issues, make professional services the safer and more reliable choice.

Maintaining Your Restored Roof

After restoration, regular maintenance can keep your roof in top condition for longer. This includes cleaning gutters, inspecting the roof regularly for signs of damage, and addressing any issues promptly.

Conclusion

Roof restoration in Sydney is not just about fixing current problems; it's about investing in the future of your home. By understanding the importance of roof restoration, recognizing the signs that restoration is needed, and choosing the right professionals for the job, homeowners can ensure their roofs remain in excellent condition for years to come. Remember, a well-maintained roof not only protects your home from the elements but also enhances its aesthetic appeal and overall value.

[f4y3w00d5]

Super detailed character profile chart

Character Name:

First Name: Faye

Last Name: N/A

Nickname (if any): N/A

Basic Information:

Age: Appears as 19.

Gender: Shapeshifter. Not Applicable. Generally she/they

Date of Birth: 13th October

Place of Birth: Australia.

Nationality: Australian

Physical Appearance:

Height: 5'4

Weight: not sure, but shes pretty skinny (doesnt eat)

Build: Very thin. shortish. slim.

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Purple

Scars or distinguishing marks: she has a few scars over her body (loads, actually. all over her.)

Personality Traits:

Positive Traits: Flirty, somehow charming, honest

Negative Traits: Can be possessive, obsessive, manipulative, sadistic, masochistic, blunt

Background and History:

Family Background: ...oh gods i wrote a short story about this.

Parents: 2 unknown cult leaders.

Siblings (if any): N/A

Childhood: Horrible. Cult. Sold. Orphanage. Murdered.

Education: Not really tbh... she was 'homeschooled' (taught to do stereotypically 'feminine' things like drawing cooking and cleaning)

School/College/University: N/A

Major/Area of Study: N/A

Favorite Subjects: She likes drawing and writing

Least Favorite Subjects: Maths

Career/Profession: Contract killer

Current Occupation: Contract killer

Previous Jobs (if any): Slave

Career Goals: Nope

Hobbies and Interests:

Hobbies: Drawing, gardening

Interests: ...her partners. Sex. Murder. Torture. Flowers.

Relationships:

Marital Status: Married multiple times!!

Romantic Relationships (if any): Mon, Vivi, Hypar, guy-i-forgot-the-name-of-who-bought-her, chronos, drewp, thermia, gobbo, selma, ash, good wizard, moss, slyme, tomas, cal, eris, cy

Friendships: Drew, Robin, Crow, Lichen and Neo (they fucked? More friends with Benefits)

Closest Friends: Robin and Drew probably

Relationship dynamics: ....oh gods i dont even know. she flirts with most of them? switches around

Strengths and Weaknesses:

Strengths: Well magic, poisons... quite a bit

Weaknesses: her partners. claiming her partners dont love her. water

Goals and Ambitions:

Short-term Goals: making aileax love her. getting pets

Long-term Goals: having fun ig

Fears and Insecurities:

Common Fears: water. losing her partners

Insecurities: that people dont like her

Quirks and Habits:

Quirks: purple eyes ig

Habits: flirting loads, giggling

Beliefs and Values:

Religious or Spiritual Beliefs: She doesnt

Moral Code: no rape, no child abuse, dont kill anyone not in double digits or more

Political Views: ANARCHYYY

Favorites:

Favorite Foods: blood, souls, pancakes, bananas

Favorite Books: Unknown books from hundreds of years back

Favorite Movies/TV Shows: The Outsiders, Nimona

Favorite Music: Punk rock/rock/alternative/fast paced sex shit

Favorite Color: purple/black

Dislikes:

Disliked Foods: watermelon

Disliked Activities: diplomacy shit

Pet Peeves: those annoying random sounds... flashing lights

Miscellaneous:

Talents or Skills: Murder? Making poisons

Secrets (if any): dunno...

[asin201hons]

https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/what-is-a-herbarium/#:~:text=Actually%2C%20it's%20a%20collection%20of,for%20both%20education%20and%20research.

Typically, the plants are flattened, dried and mounted on uniformly sized, archival paper, but some herbaria also include mosses, algae, fungi or lichens in archival paper packets, seeds, wood sections, pollen, microscope slides, DNA extractions or jars of plant parts preserved in alcohol or glycerin.

https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/tools-and-resources/collections/allan-herbarium/

Australian collection of species shows the first record of invasive species Gorse as on record in 1884!

What a great way to study species and proves that by drying securing no dampness interferes with my plant specimens they can last over hundreds of years in my processes.

Some of my dried and cured in air and sun plant species included in the photos above (species as pictured: unidentified holly-like species, pohutakawa leaves, hebe, ginko leaves) collected from late autumn to late winter/early spring 2023.

[aroundtheworldin214days]

April 1, 2023 - Day 95

Walvis Bay, Namibia, South West Africa

We arrived in Walvis Bay on May 31st and spent 2 days in this delightful place. It is so much different from the other places we visited in West Africa that it is difficult to explain. The place only has 85,000 inhabitants but it is modern and clean with no evidence of the extensive poverty observed in the other West Africa places we visited. Namibia was a German colony but everyone spoke English as well as a language they called Afrikaans which is a mixture of Germany and Dutch. Walvis Bay is situated on a huge bay that is apparently used as a storage yard for ships and drilling rigs not in use.

On the first day we just visited the town and a large brand new very modern shopping mall. The natives had set up a bazaar on the side walk outside the pier’s gates and I found some raw Lapis and turquoise that was being sold by a native 30 year old Ovahimba woman in her native dress. I bought the stones for ten dollars and she let me take a photo. It is a beautiful image but I don’t think I can post it because she is bare breasted. There is very little water in Namibia and she told me she has never taken a bath but rubs her body with sand to keep herself clean.

On the second day I took a 4 wheel drive tour out to a place called Moon Valley. On the drive out we passed through some of the most desolate countryside I have ever seen. Pure desert pavement with huge dunes. The driver told us the dunes move about three meters a year. The Japanese tried to build a rail line through the desert in 1927 and it was covered with sand in two years so was abandoned. There were two big water lines that were along the road that go out to two Uranium mines owned by the Chinese and Australians. After a drive of about 50 miles we got to Moon Valley which is part of two National Parks and it is a Geologist delight. Large fully exposed weathered granite peaks covered with lava intrusions with very little vegetation on them. Much like the badlands of South Dakota but made out of granite instead of sandstone. The only vegetation was lichens. Over 60 species of lichens have been identified living in the region. There was also a very rare plant called Welwitschia mirabilis that is only found in the wild in Namibia. I put a photo of both the male and female plant below.

We stopped and had lunch at a place called Goanikontes Oasis which was an old Germany plantation first settled in 1849. It is now a resort and camp on the Swakopmund River right in the middle of the Namib Naukluft and Dorob National Parks Moon Valley. It would be fun to go and stay at the camp for awhile. The land scape is amazing and apparently there is a lot of African wildlife early and late in the day. We then visited the town of Swakopmund which is a beach resort about 15 miles North if Walvis Bay. It is full of beautiful old German colonial architecture that has been well maintained and preserved. It was founded in 1892 as the main harbor for German South West Africa. Finally we visited a large sand dune called Dine 5 where you could ride a dune buggy.

The whole area around Walvis Bay is a desert but after being in other West Africa nations for the past two week this place was a real delight.