A Typical Day in the Desert
Gerhard on a swag, a canvas bag with a thin mattrass and a sleeping bag inside, with a
wing on one side to put baggage on. To his left we have Sabine's swag. Sleeping on a swag
is more comfortable than you believe (as long as it is not raining)! In the background, you
can see the bus and the trailer, centre and "kitchen" of every camp. The swags of the other
group members are scattered in about 10 to 40 metres distance of the bus, within our "sleeping
room" area.
Next to bus and trailer, we have the campfire, our living room (and second kitchen if
a "bush oven" is needed). Here we prepare and eat our dinner and breakfast, and here we sit
together and chat about the day. As it can get quite cool during the night in the desert, it
is nice to sit near the fire.
Good morning, desert! Brushing the teeth is possible right next to the swags - there are
bushes or "grass" everywhere. Making pee-pee is only allowed beyond a banmile of 50 metres from
the bus (you wouldn't pee in your sleeping room either, would you?). Puu-puus are allowed
only beyond a banmile of 100 metres from the bus, and don't forget the shovel to bury it
(out here in this dry climate, things don't really rot)!!!
After a hearty breakfast, washing up, packing together kitchen equipment and personal
belongings, rolling up the swags and loading the bus, we hit the road for another day and more
adventures in the desert. The morning is the best time for walks and "sightseeing", as after
about 10 am it simply gets too hot to enjoy the beauties of the desert. Therefore, we most
often get up at sunrise or even before!
After an active morning, we have a lunch at a beautiful spot in the middle of the desert.
On the menu: sandwiches and sallads, hot toasts, burgers or Tacos... enjoy!
During midday and afternoon it gets really hot, so this time is the best to hit the road
and get some hundreds of kilometres behind us in the airconditioned OKA. It is important
to drink a lot of water, especially when being outside, in order to avoid a heat stroke.
When walking, your body needs minimum 1 litre per hour. Don't forget to wear a hat and
sunscreen, as the sun is burning.
About every other day, we will stop at a roadhouse near an Aboriginal community (which
we are not allowed to enter) to fill up our supplies and to take a shower. It is interesting
and sometimes sad to meet the Australian natives, which are trapped between traditional life
(which they have left behind) and western lifestyle (which they have not yet arrived at and which
does not really suit them). It is not allowed to take photographs, therefore we cannot share
this experience with you.
At sunset, it is time to look for the next suitable camp spot.
When the spot is found, one part of the group must look for firewood and get a fire going,
the others unload the bus. Then it is time for dinner, and we take turns in helping Glen
preparing food for the group (and also washing dishes). On the menu: pizza, stew, turkey sweet and sour, spaghetti
bolognese, barbecue, sallad, deserts, even a cake! Not bad for the most isolated tour group
in Australia, and maybe in the world!?
