“It is not down on any map…
true places never are”
Herman Melville
Life is a journey.
It takes us places we never thought we’d ever go.
Then… having gone there… we are changed forever.
The Wearyan is such a place.
It dragged me kicking and screaming out of my sleeping bag… chewed me up and spat me out on the other side… and I will never ever be the same again [grin]
The Wearyan is a slow creeping river.
It flows lazily over the Roper… a rough gravel and bull dust thoroughfare carved haphazardly across the Gulf of Carpentaria in Australia’s Northern Territory in [arguably] one of the most ruggedly beautiful raw places on earth.
Pulling up at the waters edge the red dirt of the road disappears beneath the water and emerges again from the rocky riverbed on the other side. Across the causeway the river flows [wearily] north towards the Gulf.
Late that afternoon the river’s sandy banks were lined with crocs lurking stealthily beneath the river’s mystic surface.
[okay... my story… and I’m sticking to it LOL]
Climbing out of the vehicle the hair on the back of my neck stood on end as steely eyes watched and waited.
It was decided to set up the tent on the outer bank just footsteps from the edge. I might have gone for higher ground. But… hey… where would have been the fun in that? [grin]
Later that night… zipped tightly into my sleeping bag listening… the Wearyan came to life in my imagination.
Terrified? Yes.
Brave? Um… trying.
Prepared for any eventuation?
Nope. Not really!
Just a rather small axe…[which I’m pretty sure any croc worth its salt would have gone "pfffft" at and swallowed... right before dragging me under]
Nevertheless it was tucked away under the swag just in case.
As the night wore on bats swooped low over the camp and things outside went bump in the night.
Then… as the last remnants of the campfire flickered… taking with them the last line of defence between the flimsy tent and the fathomless horrors that lay beneath… those useless embers died altogether in the few remaining hours before first light.
All was not what it seemed on the Wearyan that night.
[I really can’t explain why]
But something was definitely amuck with the place.
Or was it just me?
Curled up dreaming out there in the dirt.
Out there on the edge of nowhere… not lost… but passing through… this desolate place where only two vehicles went by in the space of a day on their way to “somewhere else”.
Deep
Foreboding
Mysterious
Incredibly Beautiful
That night the river wound its way into my heart… as with one eye open by the light of the fire… I waited for the worst to happen.
But it didn’t.
And I should have known!
Because everyone knows 99 percent of what you worry about doesn’t happen…
and how it’s only that sneaky 1 percent [you didn't see coming] you’ve really got to watch out for [grin]
In so many ways I’m glad I got to experience the Wearyan
And I’m glad she got to know me as well…
even if it was only for just a short while.
For I may never pass this way again
But I will be changed by that river forever.
Here’s the video. I had difficulty editing it down to just 5 minutes 50 seconds. I mean… how do you compress 16 incredible days in the Australian outback down to a 5 minute sequence of flashbacks? If anyone knows…
LEAVE ME A NOTE [grin]
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my goodness what an adventure ! You had me hooked and the singing with that video (haven’t a clue re the techs) was mesmerising
(sp)? My lifechanger was in the Cairngorm mountains where a spark lit in my life that stayed and still burns 58 yrs later so hope yours lasts as long as it certainly is a humdinger and you are so brave
not o try for a handbag sized croc or even shoes grin
Thanks Elinor
so glad you enjoyed it and stopped by to say. Can’t imagine what I’d do if I ever got to Scotland… now there’s a country with some awesome landscapes. Have only been to Edinburgh but Scotland the brave is on my imminent bucket list of wild places to go [and capture if I can] Re the handbag sized croc… if only they were… most of the big fellas up in the Gulf are 4 metres plus… way beyond the scope of an axe (((LOL)))
Jean, this is wonderful. I love your painting of the river. Thanks so much for the video. You have given me a small trip to your country which is something I may never experience in real life although that has been a dream of mine.
You’re welcome Vernita
I am so happy to share it. These are some of the most remote and inaccessible places in our country. In fact the Limmen Bight National Park has only recently been opened up to the public so it was an incredibly privilege to wake up at the base of the Southern Lost City to see it emerging magestically from the mist. These are incredible places. I hope you do get the chance to come over here sometime. I’ve lived here all my life yet still I am awestruck and humbled by Australia’s beauty.
Strange that I somehow added possessive to my name on that last comment.
Nita I do that all the time… if we don’t own it… someone else will and that won’t do at all (((LOL)))
Hmmm could that hve been a reli of mine who quoted the above.?
I forgot last night to mention how I am so enthrolled with your fluid brush strokes and the flip of the wrist adding the rest of the landscape . Maaagic
Thanks Elinor
I couldn’t resist using my new big brush I found in a little shop in Roussillon in France [you know the little village where the world's supply of red ochre comes from?] I think it was 6 Euros LOL but it works great!
Re our common ancestor [grin] it was the anniversary of Moby Dick a couple of days ago … that’s what inspired the quote from Uncle Herman. We share more in common than a name Elinor xxx
Nice work Jean…
be good to yourself
David
Thanks David
‘preciate that.
I am in awe of your work. Your videography is amazing. Must speak with you one of these days. A cuppa would be even greater.
You know where to find me. Cheers Ingrid.
ps….. Oh and your artistic painting talent, of course, never goes unnoticed. You are the watercolour queen!