The Outback

We set up camp closer to Kings Canyon. It was 15 miles from the main house of a camel farm. We had a single toilet and a few feet from that was a shower with no door or roof. It was there where I took the most beautiful shower. The sun had just started to set and the sky was a bright pink. Then the sun hit the George Gill Range behind me and lit it up to bright burnt red. It was magical. And I was naked in the wilderness enjoying it all while a camel strolled by. Out here I have no recollection of worries or even the present condition of my life. It is hard to think of anything except what is right in front of you ~ nature. It is surreal.

The next day we packed up and headed to King’s Canyon (Watarrka). It begins with a six mile hike mostly at an incline. I lead the pack as I love seeing only the land in front of me. The formations were huge and round. The desert wind swirls in circles causing the large rock masses to take on a more rounded shape. Unlike Uluru and The Olga’s, there is life on this mountain. The rain water seeps through the first layer of sand until it hits the mud. Since it can't penetrate through the mud, the rain water waits to be absorbed by the eucalyptus tree or spinnifex. The most exotic tree to see in the outback is the MacDonald Palm Tree. It looks like a palm tree and has been around since the dinosaurs. We also found a fossil that we decided dated back to the ice age.

When we finally made it too the top the view was spectacular. I laid on the ground and stuck my head out over the canyon. The way it is cut away on the inside is exquisite, and at the bottom I saw a patch of green. It is the Garden of Eden. We spent a half hour resting and enjoying the view, then we headed down into the heart of the canyon. Tucked in the canyon, the Garden of Eden is the home to bush birds, trees, plants, and a large cools spring. It's an oasis in the middle of the rugged country. There was no hesitation... we all jumped in. It was, after all, the Garden of Eden, and when we finally dried off our guide handed us each an apple.

We were exhausted at the end of our hike. We spent the night at another camel farm. We had a big meal and Australian beer. Our group was quite diverse. France, England, New Zealand, Ireland, Australia, US and Holland were all represented. We took turns singing our National Anthems and trying to teach each other the words. Fortunately, our neighbors were miles away.

The final six hours back to Alice Springs was bumpy and hot. I watched the outback pass by; a free range cow as big as a buffalo, wild horses, an emu, and miles and miles of red dirt and bush life. I even saw a kangaroo with a joey peaking out of her pouch. It was like witnessing a little miracle.

This trip into the outback was an unexpected spiritual journey. I didn't want to leave. I had spent the last couple of days meditating surrounded by nature. Nothing else seemed to be important. I didn't need anything. My mind was clear and I didn't want to be disturbed. I felt distant from everyone and everything yet aware. I left the outback a different person than when I arrived. When a journey has this type of impact on you, you have to pass it on. The outback will stay with me for a long time.

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