So - today was our O'Reileys Roo Hunt tour. We get up super duper early (Ryan especially loved this part), head out to a rain forest going off roading in Gary's cute Rav4. The reasoning is if we get into the wilderness soon enough, the roos - which are supposed to be active at dusk and dawn - will be out and we will be able to photograph roos in the wild.
We did this same 'tour' with my parents (and on to some waterfalls, but since we are ridiculously sunburned - being stupid yesterday - we skip that part on today's tour). With my parents - we saw two roos in the meadows below the mountain and three roos up in the mountain. We. Were. ESTATIC.
Yes, 5 roos and we were thrilled. Today, in pain from the sunburn and grumpy, I decided we were not going to see any roos - but decided to look anyway. We are toodling along and Ryan says - 'roo' - we back up and sure enough - we spot a lone, solitary roo:
He hopped away and Gary saw he was with two other roos, so we drove slowly till we saw them again, and hit pay dirt: a mamma roo and her joey!
Then it just got ridiculous. Roos were EVERYWHERE. I am embarrassed we were such TOURISTS last time (five roos - embarrassing).
The place was rank with roos:
Riddled with roos:
And another momma and her joey - because things were just not surreal enough:
Then it just got weirder and we saw HERDS of roo (is that right? flocks? gaggles?):
And more herds:
The solitary roo became mundane:
Mountain red roos:
And then we were at O'Reileys. Gary got out of the car in the parking lot and said is that a roo? Just eating leaves off the side of the parking lot. He just let me walk right up to him and take a picture:
Just. Nuts.
But oh, so much fun!
9 comments:
That is so amazing! You will have to hire yourself out as tour guides.
Reminds me of the time in Costa Rica when I was so impressed by seeing an armadillo - come to find out they were as commmon as seeing squirrels in Rexburg. But to me, it was cool!
If not a herd of Roos.
How about;
A parcel of pouches?
Maybe a Heap of Hoopers?
Or a Gang-a-Kanga?
Great shots, it's like looking at stand-up deer!
Sounds like a lot of fun.
Later.
So many roos! I love it! Your pictures are great, but I would sure love to see a Momma and Joey in person.
Awwww..... Now I don't mind my nickname from Landon so much. What!? No guess? --Rhonda ROO!
What a lucky break or did Gary smear some roo scent on the car to attact them. Maybe they were just coming out of hibernation when we were there. Or maybe Ryan's eyes are much sharper than the old folks eyes. Whatever. Glad you're having a good time.
Dad
OK, Dad, I thought you might be a wee bit miffed at this post - missing the opportunity to photograph more roos. Gary said to tell you that we didn't smear the car with roo scent, but we ran over tons of cow manure - maybe that did it? Actually most of the roos we saw were out on the flat lands with the houses and not on the off road track - weird.
But fun! Sorry we didn't see more when you were here. Our theory is that it was overcast and the ground was still moist (plants) and it was cooler so they were still out and not just laying down in the shade somewhere.
We consider ourselves very lucky! Even Ryan got excited and that is saying ALOT on this 'vacation'!
A.J. - I want to go with a Gang-a-Kanga! Perfect and rolls off your tounge like the aboriginal names around here: Toowoomba, Mooloolaba, Mooloola, Thooloora, oh, and lest we forget my favorite town: Burpengary (not aboriginal I'm thinking).
Gang-a-kanga beats troop. Because it is actually a troop. Incidentally, a large group of locusts is actually called a plague. Troop of kangas, litter of kittens, plague of locusts.
I am so nerdy.
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