A Mixed Bag

Today has been a mixed bag of emotions.  Will and I set off to drive along the old Ghan Railway line but first he suggested a little detour out the back to find a Chinaman's loader.  This is a hole dug into a lump of dirt so trucks can back up to it and unload it's cargo.  We may have located it but we're not sure.  However we did find the 4WD track that goes over the hills we see from our van, the same ones we watch the sun set behind each evening.

So off we went.  The track brought great joy to Will, some REAL 4WD-ing.  I knew when he asked if I'd like to get out and walk that it was getting serious.  When I asked why he thought I might like to do that he explained that due to lots of loose rocks there was every chance we would just slip backwards rather than go up the hill. By the time I made up my mind we'd already tried and slipped back and the decision was made to reverse out a little way and go a different track that we'd spied.  I was grateful that Will had explained the situation prior to commencing the climb.

I'm still not sure which brought Will more joy, the 4WD-ing or the white knuckles he chuckled about that were holding firmly onto the bar in front of my seat.  I can hear him and Geoff chuckling about it as we speak right now!!  Will did say he thought I'd coped well, no screaming, crying or shouting "Stop!!", so I guess I passed the test.

As we left that area we came across many car wheels and tyres and other rubbish.  But high in spirits having successfully managed my first real 4WD expedition we carried on to our next location. The Old Ghan Track.  It wasn't far before we found not only old wheels but whole wrecks, the likely work of a group who have taken them just out of town to strip. I've seen the wrecks on the side of the road on Outback
Truckers and the like but it was sad to see them and you just got the feeling that it's just part of the way of life for some up here.  Perhaps not so much the stealing but certainly the dumping of rubbish and whatever you need to get rid of.  No doubt there are places around home we could find similar, but not to the same extent and it's more usually the work of 'tourists' dropping off unwanted household rubbish.  As Will wandered around the wrecks I wandered the dry but far from barren desert.  In the most unlikely spots were signs of life and hope.  Be it a bee on a flower, an ant nest of intricate patterning or a subtle little flower saying 'It's okay, we keep on keeping on,' it made me hope that those who'd been nearby, not noticing, would also one day find the hope we all need.