Johnny and Joe Go Green

[Johnny Longprong]

Both Joe Kerr and I are committed environmentalists, not actual greenies yet but approaching lime green. We have been exploring alternative energy systems for the farm, and have concluded that wind generators would play a large role in our future power generation. However, we have been hearing lots of negative comments about how these systems are noisy and downright ugly. We thought we would see for ourselves how the big boys do it, and combine a spot of camping in the process.

[Johnny Longprong]

Destination - Carcoar Lake in the Blayney Shire of NSW, Australia of course, where they have 15 wind turbines. We picked a few days with an approaching frontal system so that we could see the things in full flight.
Carcoar is about 3-4 hours west of Sydney, and once you are there you have quite a few alternative ways back. We decided to head south on the way home, and then back to the coast via Mittagong.

[Johnny Longprong]

There is this nice viewing area with lots of technical info. How considerate.

[Johnny Longprong]

I thought they said 15 turbines?

[Johnny Longprong]

It looks like there has been some rain here. The dam is at about 12% full. Poor bastrads out here have been in drought for years, so 12% is a lot. Nice and green too.

[Johnny Longprong]

Joe Kerr relaxes after dinner with a camp dog.

[Johnny Longprong]

Next morning the expected front came through. Blew it’s tits off actually. Joe was sorry he didn’t sleep in the big house with me last night. I just heard on the radio it is snowing near us.

[Johnny Longprong]

We walked over the dam wall and up to the turbines. We could hear them from where we were camped, a sort of voooomp, voooomp sound, not too offensive really, and we were downwind of them. They seem to turning at about 50 cycles per minute, almost like a classical beat.

[Johnny Longprong]

This is looking back down at the campsite. This campsite is what is known as a “free” camp. That is you don’t have to pay. The local council maintains it along with toilets and showers. It is very nice indeed, and was home that night to a few “grey nomads” in their caravans and motorhomes along with two very nice Skando girls in a beat up old Landcruiser, who are all obviously seen as potential consumers of district goods and services. For you potential travellers, there are lots of these sites now to cater for budget travellers. There is a good book they call the traveller’s bible. Free and Budget Top Camp Sites, Best Camping Grounds and Caravan Tourist Holiday Parks Australia

[Johnny Longprong]

This looks like the Ponderosa of the now rich bastrad who leased the land to the power company. Nice spread Hoss.

[Johnny Longprong]

These are Short Billed Corellas, a parrot, a little bit smaller than a Cockatoo but twice as raucous.

[Johnny Longprong]

Getting up close and personal now. No real noise, although it was still blowing a gale and I had two beanies on. They blend relatively well into the landscape and sort of look like big dead trees.

[Johnny Longprong]

“What are you looking at dopey?” From L to R - Chuck, Rib, Sirloin, Short loin, Round, Brisket and Flank. No noise complaints from these fellas.

[cimboc]

Nice work Johnny, I've been to 4 different winds farms during my travels around WA. 2 of them you could actually walk right up to a couple the turbines - bloody impressive thats for sure! and yet the woosh is pretty awesome

That camping ground looks great - its amazing what a bit of green can do to a place!

[Johnny Longprong]

Some more turbines over the next hill. They really aren’t that offensive to the view, particularly placed in the country area high on a hill. I can fully understand objections to them in a built up area, but out in places like this they make more sense than offence.

[Johnny Longprong]

Part of the dam catchment area.

[Johnny Longprong]

This was probably the old corner store in the nearby township of Carcoar. It is now an antique shop for trendy city visitors. Nice Wisteria.

[Johnny Longprong]

CBD Carcoar. We didn’t see any stressed people in this town. In fact we didn’t see anybody.

[Johnny Longprong]

Royal Hotel Carcoar. We went in to see mine host, Ross who was busy renovating the bar area, and the pub was closed. He seems a nice bloke who bungs on home cooked meals with some very cheap traditional pub accommodation. Has nice log fires in the bar areas.

[Johnny Longprong]

The obsolete Carcoar Railway Station is now a tea shop. How embarrassing for it.

[Johnny Longprong]

The township of Carcoar. It was obviously once a prosperous place. Lots of gold still in them hills according to the locals.

[Johnny Longprong]

Ewe paddock. Lots of spring action going on.

[Johnny Longprong]

Nice creek near town

[Johnny Longprong]

Along the way we happened upon this rainbow. We were tempted to get the shovel into that dirt bank.

[Johnny Longprong]

We pushed on into the dark, down into the Wombeyan Caves. This is a very well setup campsite administered by the National Parks of NSW and well worth a visit. The road in is very steep and windy, so best done in the daylight. Lots of wildlife wandering about and it is very noisy at night with various copulating and fighting creatures carrying on.