20 November 2024
After our trip to South Africa we took a break from travel for a little while. There are always lots of jobs around the house that are waiting for you after any absence.
We have however enjoyed a recent weekend camping trip to Honeysuckle Creek, a campground in the Brindabellas, just out of Canberra.
Honeysuckle Creek has a very special place in history. On 16 July 1969 Neil Armstrong planted his feet on the moon and the whole world got to view that event via a signal received by the Honeysuckle Creek space antenna.
It turns out that grainy TV picture of Neil stepping down the ladder uttering those famous words was received at the Honeysuckle Creek tracking station. The signal was then relayed out of the hills surrounding Canberra and on to Houston.
The antenna that was in place in 1969 is now located at the Tidbinbilla Space Tracking Station where they continue to track Voyager 1 and 2. The site of the tracking station is now an excellent camp ground. A great place for roasting marshmallows and cooking breakfast over an open fire.
There was a small contingent of boy scouts who were also camping at Honeysuckle Creek. We watched them cook their evening meal on the provided gas barbecues. I wonder when Baden Powell came up with the scouting motto ‘Be Prepared’ that he meant make sure you bring along a spare gas bottle. We stayed with the pioneer spirit and cooked over a fire. The marshmallows were excellent as were the eggs for breakfast.
We spent some time bush walking and scrambling over massive granite rock formations known as Lego Land along with some mountain bike riding.
Plans are in hand for more bike rides on rail trails that aren’t too far away and perfect for a three day get away.
A Traveller's Tale 
Very interesting that “the whole world got to view that event via a signal received by the Honeysuckle Creek space antenna.” I didn’t see it live – not that I know of – but appreciate the effort and thank Australia on behalf of the rest of the planet for that momentous and inspiring occasion. Well done. Really. Even though a little grainy. But that’s probably not your fault.
On behalf of Boy Scouts past and present, they may have decided to use the gas grills instead of altering the surrounding environment and potential local habitat of native creatures if using gathered wood. Leave No Trace is right up there in the scout tradition. (Or they were lazy…hard to know for sure.)
The rock formations look awesome! Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike
Very interesting that “the whole world got to view that event via a signal received by the Honeysuckle Creek space antenna.” I didn’t see it live – not that I know of – but appreciate the effort and thank Australia on behalf of the rest of the planet for that momentous and inspiring occasion. Well done. Really. Even though a bit grainy. But not your fault.
On behalf of Boy Scouts past and present, they may have decided to use the gas grills instead of altering the surrounding environment and potential local habitat of native creatures by using gathered wood. Leave No Trace is right up there in the scout tradition. (Or they were lazy…hard to know for sure.)
The rock formations look awesome! Thanks for sharing.
LikeLike