Back to Cooper Creek

We woke early the next day and retraced our way back to Cooper Creek. I was hoping that on the other side of the creek, we would find our blue box nestled in the grass, just waiting to come home. The trip to the creek was uneventful, and when we arrived there, we found ourselves behind a car towing a small camper trailer debating whether to cross or not. Even though we had crossed the afternoon before, for our sakes and our fellow travelers, both Peter & I walked across before we took Bigears and Chunky Bum back over the creek.

If you haven’t already guessed, our blue box was gone. I wonder how long it will be until Peter lets me forget it?

We decided to spend a couple of nights on the banks of Cooper Creek, and my oh my, it was wonderful. We Kayaked up and down the creek, we swam in the creek, we lazed by the creek and I spent hours photographing the area and the birds.

One afternoon I left Peter asleep in the hammock while I took the kayak out. I paddled up stream, out of sight of the camp, and other than the sound of the running water and the birdcalls, there was no other sign of life.  

When I stopped paddling the clay-suspended water took control of the kayak and slowly pulled me back down stream. I breathed in the hot air as I looked around at this amazing landscape. Clear blue sky, Coolabah, and gum trees hugging the banks of the creek and the scent of…I don’t know…life, I felt a sense of peace and awe fill my being, and I thought, Oh my God. This right here, this is Australia.  

Now if you believe that Australia has a spirit, then I’m pretty sure you’ll find it here, and now that I’ve experienced it, I’m going to keep looking for it across this vast land.