These pictures with the exception of the obvious few, were taken through the car windscreen and side window, on route to Canberra and the return journey. The pics showing the tree planting is some of the area where the Canberra bushfires of 2003 caused severe damage to the outskirts of Canberra, the Australian capital city. Almost 70% of the Australian Capital Territory’s pasture, forests (pine plantations) and nature parks were severely damaged, and most of the renowned Mount Stromlo Observatory was destroyed. After burning for a week around the edges of the ACT, the fires entered the suburbs of Canberra on 18 January 2003. Over the next ten hours, four people died and more than 500 homes were destroyed or severely damaged, requiring a significant relief and reconstruction effort.
The storm on our way home last weekend, blacked out most of the fastfood places with the service stations using generators. Stormy skies make great photos. It rained most of the way back to Newcastle.