SEEKING SUNSET, SOUGHT BY SOUNDS

Peering through the long grass at The Organ Pipes National Park

Walking through curling grasses at The Organ Pipes National Park

Bush walk in the Organ Pipes National Park

Blackwood leaves, the organ pipes national park

Picnic at The Organ Pipes National Park
 
On whim we packed a picnic and hit the highway to get to the Organ Pipes National Park before the sunset. Once we had descended down to the valley floor, we were careful not to walk too far in any direction lest the fantasy of being miles away from the city be broken.

Our study of the curious hexagonal basalt columns was interrupted by a rumble, first one low flying plane and then another and another, oh well we could incorporate that into the daydream, planes searching for lost adventurers, or perhaps something more sinister…then there was a faint whine, we looked around, it was getting louder and more insistent. Hmmm…when it comes to dreams of isolation the Calder Park Motorway is a bit harder to dismiss, but the ants seemed nonplused gathering crumbs we had carelessly shed from our veggie burgers. A kangaroo chomping on grass nearby shrugged his nonchalance at his neighbours over the road. The lovers by the river seemed more concerned by our sudden appearance than any flight path, we left them to it.

Shadows began sliding into the valley, over the cliff as we wondered when the frozen rock worm within would awaken and complete its churning motion exploding out of the cliff face all teeth and malice. I packed my overactive imagination back in its case as orange sunlight licked our backs goodbye and then was gone. We made our way up and out, through the deserted car park and back towards the city lights.
 

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AN OBSESSION IS AWAKENED

Descending down to Kennett River, the Otways

Descending down to Kennett River, the Otways

Watching the ripples for trout, Kennett River, the Otways

Wading in Kennett River, the Otways

Fungi on branch, Kennett River, the Otways
 
As I sat daydreaming on a fallen log, dangling legs over rushing water, hours passed and the warm light faded and cooled. Little did I know that somewhere upstream those same rippling waters were casting a spell on my boyfriend and from that day onwards he would be a fly fisherman.
 

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THREE MIDDLE AGED MEN IN A PINK DINGHY

Beach party, New Year's Eve, Wongarra Beach

Shells underwater, the Otways

Drinks on the beach, New Year's Eve, Wongarra Beach

Beach party, New Year's Eve, Wongarra Beach

White seabird taking flight off rocks, the Otways

We didn’t expect to ring in the New Year wondering whether three men in a pink dinghy were going to drown in a spontaneous burst of drunken cray-fishing. Luckily they didn’t, their children’s toy boat good humoured enough to keep afloat it heavy load, a held breath away from being inundated by each tiny wave.

Picnics on the beach next to strangers in fading light soon lead to lively conversations with a beer in the hand. Full bellied contentment, squint eyed games of beach cricket and frisbee lit by fireworks with Gracie dogs collar held tight.

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THE OCEAN CRASHES ONTO THE ADVENTUROUS

Crashing waves, the Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell National Park


Windswept by the Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell National Park

The Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell National Park

Tourists on the beach near the Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell National Park

Thunder Cave, the Twelve Apostles, Port Campbell National Park

 

Tourists tend to stick together, sometimes it’s hard to appreciate something when there are so many people trying so hard to do the same on all sides. We made a plan to return to the Twelve Apostles on a day that was not sun drenched Summer.

If you just venture a little to the west and down there are wilder adventures for those who leave the guide rail behind, past the Thunder Cave and onto the rocks. As we approached our fellow wanders they were frozen on the horizon in the act of a guilty holiday pleasure. They counted down the seconds until the wave crashed onto the rocks as he stood posed on an imaginary surfboard, the ocean had other things in mind, drenching them, squeals and all, washing away their hopes for a novelty holiday photo. Tourists can be determined though and we all rushed onto the cliff edge with renewed vigor to stand in various bizarre poses, playing chicken with the surf.

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