outback survival

I've been reading about whiteangel's trip as she and her husband drive across Australia and remembered a survival tip I saw on TV a long, long time ago. 

If you've been following whiteangel on her journey, you'll have seen that most of Australia outside of the cities and away from the coastline is very empty, very isolated and very dry.
We don't have a lot of water here.

Many years ago, sometime in the eighties I believe, I saw a TV show hosted by Jack somebody about surviving in the outback, which is what we call the great empty interior of our continent.
We watched the show for several weeks and I don't remember anything except this one tip.

Carry with you a few large clear plastic bags. 
Heavy duty plastic that doesn't tear easily,  a couple of balls of strong string and some tin cups, or enamel, anything that won't break.
And something to cut the string with.
 
 If you should find yourself stranded for any reason, perhaps your car has broken down, look for leafy green growth that can be easily reached on nearby trees. Or shrubs. Give the branch a shake to dislodge any unwanted bugs etc, then tie the neck of the open bag to the branch. Over 24 hours, moisture from those leaves will collect in the bag.
Condensation, similar to the way dew forms.  

The moisture collected is drinkable water. 
 
The longer you leave it, the more moisture will collect. Can't leave it there too long of course, eventually those leaves will dry up, (don't let that happen), so switch bags and branches as time goes on. You won't collect a large amount of water, but possibly enough to at least swallow, a couple of mouthfuls, half a cup. 


These days most people carry extra cans, bottles etc of drinking water with them, but if you are truly stranded, waiting for help with little or no water, this could help you.