A Day In The Desert

A Day in the Desert.



Not so long ago in a far away state a young girl took a holiday to the open plains and deserts.

As her family drove down the long straight roads, she watched the rusty red earth and spindly Spinifex rush past.

Iron-ore trains filled to their brim stretched as far as her eyes could see. They idled on the track patiently waiting their turn to unload at the port.



The car crossed creek beds where the summer rains had suddenly sprung life anew. All shades of green and blue reflected in the coolness of the shaded waters.

The road eventually wound around hilly outcrops and past termite mounds that scattered the horizon until the view opened onto a majestic scene that appeared to have been from a long forgotten Jurassic dinosaur era.



In the distance stood two hills, one perfectly pointed like a pyramid, the other much wider appeared to have a third shaved straight off flat across its top. The heat of the sun beat down so harsh she could not bare to stay out in it for too long.



Finally they reached their destination, the water hole. The walk in from the car park was difficult. The rocks were sharp and ragged underfoot and gnarled and crooked tree stumps blocked their way. Oh but it was all so worth it when they reached the pool.



The magnificent gorge suddenly opened up before them.  The waterfall was spectacular as it plunged from on high down into the deep blue/green water below. The rocks either side were that deep rusty red of the earth with sprigs of green breaking out wherever it could. The cliff face stretched up so high she had to shield her eyes from the sun as she raised her head to find the top. After peeling off her clothes to reveal her swimmers, the young girl carefully stepped into the water.  It was so inviting, so cool and luxurious after the heat of the day.



Daddy put her hands on his back to piggyback her and swam towards the waterfall. The water was so deep she could not have touched the bottom even if she had wanted to. The spray from the waterfall tickled her face as they swam closer, then daddy reached up and lifted her onto a rock ledge where she could sit safely and watch him swim under the mighty falls. Their strength as they hit the water was so powerful it pushed him away with the current. She laughed and splashed as more families joined them, some with airbeds to help them keep afloat.



Eventually it was time to begin the long trek back to the coast but not before a quick trip to an outback loo. It stood in isolation a single corrugated iron shed, small, simple but big enough for its needs. A single bolt on the outside to keep it closed from the desert winds.  A smelly tin can sat inside, no running water to flush anything away or wash your hands.



Daddy went in first and closed the door. She heard him lift the lid and laugh. When he finished he replaced the lid and came outside smiling. He looked at mummy, then at his daughter, grinned, wiped his hands on his handkerchief and walked away without saying a word. 



Mummy and the little girl peered into the loo. Mummy carefully lifted the lid. A gecko stared back at them from underneath the seat, quite happy and oblivious to their concerns. Neither mummy nor the little girl wanted to go to the toilet any more. They both decided they could wait for civilisation.