I think this might be a windy place
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340511)
Rockingham, Australia
October 22, 2020 5:49pm CST
Yesterday, we passed through Geraldton and Greenough before camping at Dongara. These places are renowned for being very windy. Almost all the trees in the area have a distinct lean, some more than others.
There is one near the road where provision has been made for people to pull over and take photos. However, in the middle of Geraldton, at some traffic lights, I snapped another. The trees are a West Australian species, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, or River Gum. The strong southerly winds burn off growth on the windward side. This is called ‘flagging’. The river gums are very hardy but has weak branches.
If you read Randolph Stow at all, he mentions the Greenough tree in the book ‘The Merry-Go-Round in the Sea.
17 people like this
18 responses
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Oct 20
Those are some cool looking trees! That must be some wind to cause them to grow like that!
And I think it's funny that I am looking at a picture from a place on the other side of the Earth, and staring back at me of all things is a Subway sign. I guess they literally are all over the world.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Nov 20
@JudyEv One would expect to see unique or different businesses when visiting other countries, not all the same chains that they have in their own country! lol
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@moffittjc (121621)
• Gainesville, Florida
5 Nov 20
@JudyEv It just shows how similar we all really are around the world.
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@JudyEv (340511)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Nov 20
@moffittjc Some chains are certainly universal. We were in the backblocks of Thailand back in the 1990s. Towards the end of our trip, we got to Bangkok and there was a McDonalds!!! The school-boys in the group were ecstatic. lol
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@wolfgirl569 (106649)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Oct 20
Those are neat. It is very windy there to bend them that much.
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@Chellezhere (5739)
• United States
22 Oct 20
Aside from the tree, you'd never know you weren't in America. I used to work at Subway Sandwiches.
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@Chellezhere (5739)
• United States
23 Oct 20
@JudyEv That, I knew, because my late aunt's husband was born and raised in Christchurch, New Zealand, and worked in Australia. Aunt Patti has been deceased since 1989, and I haven't heard from her widow since. So, I forget which city in Australia it was.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
23 Oct 20
oh my! i'd definitely not wish to park my auto near that'un there't the shoppin' center. 'tis fascinatin' how thingies 'dapt to their 'nvironment. one can tell here what e'ergreens were planted prior to the dust bowl era. the tops 're all 't 'bout the same angle 's these river gums.
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@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
25 Oct 20
@JudyEv i'd fear the branches breakin', lol. from the pic, purty certain my truck'd not fit 't all, lol.
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@JudyEv (340511)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Oct 20
@crazyhorseladycx That's true. The branches are very low to the ground.
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@LindaOHio (179153)
• United States
23 Oct 20
Poor trees. I'd hate to live there!
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@jvicentevalera (13671)
• Santiago, Chile
23 Oct 20
Impressive! Thanks for posting such interesting post Judy!
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@snowy22315 (180980)
• United States
23 Oct 20
I guess that tree provides a lot of shade! Here is the US, someone would decide it is a hazard and would take it down...you can be sure!
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@FourWalls (68248)
• United States
23 Oct 20
What are the average wind speeds there? Do you know? “Pretty high,” if they do that to the trees!
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@JudyEv (340511)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Oct 20
Just for you, a direct quote from weatherspark.com, Australia:
The windier part of the year lasts for 5.1 months, from October 18 to March 23, with average wind speeds of more than 13.1 miles per hour. The windiest day of the year is January 11, with an average hourly wind speed of 15.0 miles per hour. The calmer time of year lasts for 6.9 months, from March 23 to October 18.
However, when we were at Dongara, the wind speed was 65 kmh and they said they'd had a few days with similar conditions.
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@JudyEv (340511)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Oct 20
I didn't really notice the fast food outlets until someone mentioned them. 
