So – because it wasn’t actually raining today, we drove up to Penguin to see if we could find another rock beach where we could look for more examples of jasper.
We didn’t quite find what we were looking for, but we stopped by this other little beach to see what we could fossick for.
Well, Jeff found this weird stuff
Well, I got thoroughly over-excited and thought it could possibly be ambergris! Have you ever heard of it? Basically its whale vomit or whale poo. Why exciting?? Well.. its worth about $20 per gram – the tip-top fancy perfume people use it in their processing! Not kidding.
Well… I had my collecting bags so I popped a couple in bags to bring home to research. And Holy Cats did it stink!!
The one major snag – besides the pong – is that ambergris is not allowed to be traded in Australia because we have a law that prohibits the sale of products from endangered species. And since ambergris is from sperm whales, well… its a blanket no-no. (But from what I have read, no-one has been willing to prosecute for someone picking up random whale sick)
Anyway, the trip home was epic. Jeff was all for taking a photo and leaving it at that, where as I had hatched 10 wild schemes for selling my ambergris all before we hit the front door. The car stank. It was cold, we had all windows down AND the heater going flat out! Jeff was grouchy and I was trying to explain about paying mortgages and clandestine meetings on beaches involving the swapping of whale vomit for a duffle bag stuffed with cash. (we are watching a kind of spy/espionage series at the moment and it may be rubbing off)
Sadly, even though what we found looked so much like a lot of images online, it didn’t pass the ‘hot needle’ test, and a nice fellow from New Zealand emailed me to tell me it was a kind of stinky (yeah I knew that bit) sponge. He also asked “Are you in Tasmania by any chance?” đ Clearly he has had people message him before all hopeful!!
Now I have to dispose of my ‘samples’ I thought it might make good compost, but the look on Jeff’s face when suggested means I will have to find a different place for it.
Far Far Away…
Cheers!
Hillarious!
So funny! You are a kick. It’s always fun to see what you’re up to. Thanks for the laugh.
đ Jeff is still rolling his eyes and I am ignoring the disposal issues of stinky sponge! Glad you got a giggle.
Haha! (Look I commented!!)
đ xxx
You’re a hoot! You have the greatest adventures. đ
Thanks for the chuckle. And the lesson in whale, uh, issues. :p
lol – see all the weird things you can learn?? đ
Great story Lisa. I know exactly what you are talking about – made the stinky sponge discovery in the 80’s. Unfortunately picked it up and had a big sniff. It stayed with me for days and I’ve never forgotten it! Words can’t describe how disgusting it is. I can’t believe you took it home in the car! LOL ???
Damn huh?? Should have called you first!! (Snicker) It is pretty insanely stinky!! đ đ