Day 1: the Devils Marble
One of the reason I like having people with me for relocation is that the way they react remind me how I was the first time I got into a campervan and discovered the comfort into it. It’s almost always the same kind of reaction, and I really like it.
We left Alice later that I was planning, but I’ll be waiting quietly that Mara and Gabrielle finished doing all they have to do. For what I know, there’s nothing between here and the Devils Marbles anyway. But I heard a lot of thing about those rocks, and we all agreed about the idea of sleeping there tonight.
The road is definitely quiet. We crossed the Capricorn tropic not long after leaving Alice Springs. A little voice in my head remind me that it’s not my first time in tropical region. Bali is not so far in my memories after all… but still, it’s an interesting process to cross it in a car.
Tropic aside, the UFO gas station is the only other attraction on the road.
That’s not a real problem. There’s a nice and warm feeling in the van. Way more quiet with three people instead than six. Nice chat interrupted by interesting silences and smiles. Amazing moment, simple as I love them.
We finally arrive at the Devils Marbles. Just after sunset. The place just look amazing, and completely desert. We’re happy as we take the little path that goes to the campground away from the road. There, well hidden by the road, we discover 30 or 40 other camper van, all park together. Here for the quietness. We’re not sure. We have hesitation… but we don’t really have the choice as we really want to spend the night here. The day was long, and it’s nice to arrive. If it’s the end of driving, it’s definitely not the end of the day. A few minutes after, we are sitting on a rock, mixing all the different instrument we brought with us. Flutes, didgeridoos, ukulele… in a perfect communion with the stars. We spend a long time, just playing and enjoying the magic of this moment, before we go for a little walk in the rocks, finding a nice Tasmanian families, that thanks us for the music.
The place is inspiring me in an other way. I bought kerosene earlier in the afternoon. I want to do some experiment. Unfortunately, my remote is not working anymore. I hope that it’s just because of the battery. Because of that, I have no choice except cheating to take the pictures. The result is not as good as it could have been, the rocks doesn’t show as much as I would have like. But I still have a nice time, and think that Mara and Gabrielle also enjoy.
We finally say good night to Mara, who’s feeling really inspired by the place, and decide to sleep under the star. I have some hesitation, before I decide to take to comfy option. Back in the van with Gabrielle, we talk about the world, small and big things, for a very very long time…