Tête en bas

Statement number 1 : improvisation is always better with constraints
Statement number 2 : what you give will come back to you

Mara had decided to leave earlier. She has two friends driving to Darwin on saturday night, planing to stop in Douglas Hot Springs on there way, in order to be on time at the airport on monday. Perfect for her. There might be a room for me if I want to come. I’m not sure. I prefer to tell her goodbye now. I know she’s already gone. And it’s hard to be with someone who’s not here…

She realized that she won’t be able to take her bag that we left with Alex and Petrina. She needs a solution. She’s not sure. I propose to be the solution. I just have to take her bag to the airport on monday evening. Hitch hiking with my bag and hers might be a little bit difficult. But she really wants to stop at the Hot Springs. And I’m more than happy to give that to her. I’ll find a solution. Everything will be alright.

On sunday morning, Bec give me a ride back to Katherine, in the car Toni -one of the festival organizer- lent her. As we’re driving back, my brain just had the good idea to have a great idea, connecting everything together… what if I rent a car for three days when I arrive in Katherine. I’ll have the time to discover the gorges, spend some time in Kakadu, and drop Mara’s bag at the airport. Definitely easier. Or… even better. I just have to go to the hot spring, find her there, and won’t even have to go to Darwin. I juggling with distances, times, dates… I can rent the car in Katherine and drop it in Katherine. Don’t need to go up to Darwin to take the train. Everything is just perfect! We meet Toni, in order to give her the car back. You won’t have anything if you don’t try anything. I ask Toni if I can lend the car for a few days. Paying her art company instead of a rental company. She’s okay, but I’ll have to wait until the end of the day. Perfect for me. Just have a quiet day in Katherine. I like this option.

I like the way everything just fit together. Adding a constraint that create a great solution. Helping at the festival, and being help back after that.

I jump into the car, heading to Douglas Hot Springs. Arrive there a few hours later, by night. I was thinking to arrive there, in a little quiet place. Finding ten peoples around a bone fire, and just say “hi Mara”. It’s a 3 days long week end. There’s more than a hundred cars in the camping. People and tents everywhere. I have no idea what I’m supposed to look for. I drive slowly, but it won’t work this way. Park the car, and start walking. Will be easier. Luck is on my side, one more time. I find Mara in less than 5 minutes.

I like to appear at the light of a campfire, playing to flute to introduce quietly myself. I don’t have this opportunity so often… I heard Mara saying “that’s beautiful”. She has not realize yet. But then, she recognize the sounds, and turn back, surprise. I’m happy to create those kind of surprise. To do some magic. I’m happy to see her again.

Statement number 1 : improvisation is always better with constraints
Statement number 2 : what you give will come back to you

Mara had decided to leave earlier. She has two friends driving to Darwin on saturday night, planing to stop in Douglas Hot Springs on there way, in order to be on time at the airport on monday. Perfect for her. There might be a room for me if I want to come. I’m not sure. I prefer to tell her goodbye now. I know she’s already gone. And it’s hard to be with someone who’s not here…

She realized that she won’t be able to take her bag that we left with Alex and Petrina. She needs a solution. She’s not sure. I propose to be the solution. I just have to take her bag to the airport on monday evening. Hitch hiking with my bag and hers might be a little bit difficult. But she really wants to stop at the Hot Springs. And I’m more than happy to give that to her. I’ll find a solution. Everything will be alright.

On sunday morning, Bec give me a ride back to Katherine, in the car Toni -one of the festival organizer- lent her. As we’re driving back, my brain just had the good idea to have a great idea, connecting everything together… what if I rent a car for three days when I arrive in Katherine. I’ll have the time to discover the gorges, spend some time in Kakadu, and drop Mara’s bag at the airport. Definitely easier. Or… even better. I just have to go to the hot spring, find her there, and won’t even have to go to Darwin. I juggling with distances, times, dates… I can rent the car in Katherine and drop it in Katherine. Don’t need to go up to Darwin to take the train. Everything is just perfect! We meet Toni, in order to give her the car back. You won’t have anything if you don’t try anything. I ask Toni if I can lend the car for a few days. Paying her art company instead of a rental company. She’s okay, but I’ll have to wait until the end of the day. Perfect for me. Just have a quiet day in Katherine. I like this option.

I like the way everything just fit together. Adding a constraint that create a great solution. Helping at the festival, and being help back after that.

I jump into the car, heading to Douglas Hot Springs. Arrive there a few hours later, by night. I was thinking to arrive there, in a little quiet place. Finding ten peoples around a bone fire, and just say “hi Mara”. It’s a 3 days long week end. There’s more than a hundred cars in the camping. People and tents everywhere. I have no idea what I’m supposed to look for. I drive slowly, but it won’t work this way. Park the car, and start walking. Will be easier. Luck is on my side, one more time. I find Mara in less than 5 minutes.

I like to appear at the light of a campfire, playing to flute to introduce quietly myself. I don’t have this opportunity so often… I heard Mara saying “that’s beautiful”. She has not realize yet. But then, she recognize the sounds, and turn back, surprise. I’m happy to create those kind of surprise. To do some magic. I’m happy to see her again.

What should I say, where should I start… I recognize I don’t really know. The week that’s just ending has kind of change my life. On the more positive way. I realize that since I’ve left Melbourne, a big part of my travel has become a personal journey. Meetings after meetings, amazing experiences ate amazing experiences… at such a hight speed! All that make me think, and think, and think. I’m becoming an endless stream of idea, inspirations and thoughts. My brain is just bubbling every where. I just regret I didn’t have the time to write all that goes through my mind on the last few days.

Mara has been the perfect conclusion of this interior journey. Mara who lives in a world that fascinated me. A world of energy, love, spirit, sharing… always connected to earth and air. Mara and her wandering flute… yes, I’ve find in her a spiritual guide. During one week, I’ve been a continuous stream of questions. I felt so many time as a child, eager to learn everything. « why… ? ». Mara give me back a lot of question too. Trying to know my own opinion, my own way of seeing things. Our two worlds have been facing each other. I recognize that mine is more rational, more reel. But is becoming more and more a non material one. This energy, that comes from people, from places, I’ve been feeling it for a long time now. I’ve always doubt of it. Always trying to find a explanation that would please my ex scientific brain. I’ve stop doubting. I’ve stop trying to find an explanation. I’ve just accept the way it is. Everything is energy. Any scientist will confirm that. You just need to find how sensitive you are to those energies. I’m sur that Mara, and the red heart of Australia, have both been a catalyzer on me. I’m feeling more. I’m more aware. I’m more open. And I’m really interest to see how I’m going to use all that. I’m finally awake.

There are lots of truth in this world. Everyone has its own, and I thing that lots of those truth are real and accurate. I’ve been wandering around the world for quiet a while know, looking for my own truth. I don’t agree with Mara on everything. My own truth is taking its own shape slowly. Yes, I’m still a learning kid. I don’t want to be put in a box. I don’t want to become the perfect hippie. Mara is no caricature. Mara is an archetype. I take in the hippie move what I like, what I’m interested in. Specially if I discover it by myself. And I leave what I don’t like. I’m still enjoying burgers. I don’t eat any seeds, or vitamins complement. I still enjoy gluten. And the word “mushroom” still make me think of “salad”. I don’t believe in spiritual elevation using drugs. I want to be awake, but by myself, with no drug involved. I’ll go at my own speed. But I often forget my shoes when I go for a walk. Walking barefoot remind me nice childhood memories. I’ve never stopped to love sunrise and sunset, and when the moon rise, I’m often watching the horizon line.

At Wide Open Space festival, a perfect morning music (understand “dubstep”) made me practice the staff just as I woke up, just for the pleasure of doing it. I’ve started doing it again. For one week now, my day starts with half an hour of staff practicing. Some didge too, i I have the time. This morning, after a little while, I even stop using the staff, to be more free to dance. With a perfect argument: “I dancing give me so much energy, why am I only dancing from 11 PM to 2 AM ?”. I don’t do any tai chi, or morning yoga. I’ve find my own receipt. My own truth. By myself, just randomly. And I love going this way.

The week end up on a fireworks, at Barunga festival. An aboriginal culture and sport festival. Mara really wanted to come, and I liked the program. There was no reason not to come! Alex and Petrina (with whom we really had an awesome but short week) put us in contact with one of the organizer of the festival. They were looking for 2 volunteers, starting friday morning. Just perfect! And that’s how we ended up in an aboriginal community, lost in the middle of nowhere. That’s where in met Byron, from California, and Beck, from Victoria Australia. Both living in the same universe than Mara. I’ve been only the watching. But they took me under there protection, and warmly bring me in there own world. We all met each other. We are all happy. The perfect happiness that come with those magical meeting. I’ll probably meet again Beck and Byron. I really hope so. And Mara? Mara is gone. Taking a huge part of me with her. And showing me my own daemon. Funny how subconsciousness works. The daemon I though mine was gone a long ago. I had confirmation at COmest. But a new one took its place. And that will be my next goal. Get rid of this unwanted guest. I’m feeling that Australia red heart will be perfect to help me in that.

Today is going to be a strange day… I have to drive up to Darwin, but then hitch hike my way back. Strange idea might say some. I guess I agree. I guess I like to do strange things. We agree with Mara that it doesn’t really make sense that she comes with me just for the pleasure of hitch hiking back. Mara’s and Gabrielle’s roads split here.

Just after Katherine, we stop to pick up a hitch hiker. She’s going to Darwin. I always stop for hitch hiker, but knowing that I’ll be doing exactly the same thing tonight… some call it “karma”. We have lots of thing to talk about with Gabrielle, and we were planning to do it on the road. After a little chat with the girl, she goes to sleep, giving us all the time we were hoping to have. The landscape is amazing, but I’m not checking it. I’ll see it on the way back. And I’ll probably come back to Darwin one day. We just stop for a quick lunch break, and start driving soon after. A little bit in a hurry. We’re a little bit late when we arrive in Darwin. I still take the time to drive up to the end of the road. In front of me is the ocean. That’s over. After crossing north america from east to west and west to east a couple of time, I’ve no drive across Australia from south to north. One more road on my list. And what an amazing road!

I promise. I’ll tell you more about the Stuart Highway at some time. But for now, I just say good bye to Gabrielle. She might comeback to Katherine in a few days. Also say good bye to our passenger, and drive the van back to his home. I recognize one of the giro. She was working in Melbourne, a few months ago. Seems that they relocate there employer the same way they relocate there van. The girl who take care of me is a really friendly one (big change from usual). Her colleague, on the other way, is as antipathic as they use to be. When she heard that I was doing a relocation, she comments by saying “he’s lucky we didn’t keep the bond from him”. Yes, I was 30 minutes late… but anyway… everything went well. I drop the van, and walk back to the Stuart Highway, rising my thumb, heading south this time.

It tools me a little while before the first car stop and drop me 30 km further. The second car took 45 minutes to stop, for a 100 km drive. Problem: when the guy drops me, the sun has set a little while ago. Not the best time to hitch hike. I do have my tent, but was hoping to be back tonight. I still give it a try. Talk to a guy at the gas station. Tell him that it’s important. He agrees to take me to Katherine. Doesn’t seem really motivate. We would definitely not have stop if I hadn’t talk to him. I’m definitely really thankful. Two hours later, I’m back in Katherine, where Terry pick me, avoiding me a 7 km walk. Mara is already asleep.

I left Katherine at 10 AM. Back 10 hours later, after driving 330 km and hitch hike the same road back. Strange feeling of a totally useless day. But sometime, I guess, you have to!

The rain stopped during the night. Good news. I saw to much sign “flood way” and I don’t really want to find a blocked road. I’m wondering how the relocation company would react if we’re late because of the weather. I don’t really want to check.

The good thing, when you drive a lot for the first two days, is that you can take it easy for the next two one. We’re planning to sleep in Katherine tonight. Nice opportunity to Mara and I to meet our next host. We only have 300 km to drive, and we’re looking forward our next stop: Hot Springs! Mara knows the amazing Umquat Hot Springs in Oregon, but we have no idea what to expect from this one. One thing is sure: expectations are hight!

We arrive on a big resort parking. The place seems really touristic, and we are a little bit worried about the price we’ll have to pay. We decide to have a look, just in case. To discover a very nice place, really quiet, and absolutely free! We can also swim in the river, a little bit further. A river at the perfect temperature for me.

Springs are also a time for meeting people again. Gabrielle find some of her friend, while I bump into Anna and Florent, and in our little tasmanian family. We decide to start with the river. It’s the first time I’m swimming since I’m in Australia, and I discover I was really missing it. Sometime, water is really cold, some time really hot. The river is a mix of different temperatures zones. The idea is to find a warm one, and stay in. We’re in a crocodile area, but a sign tell us that there is only river crocodiles here, and those one doesn’t try to eat human. Sometime, salt crocodiles swim up to here, but there’s trap, and none as been seen for a little while. So we’re suppose to be safe. Good news! After a little bath in the river, we decide to move to the pool, where the water is constantly at the same temperature.

One hot spring leading to another, we go on to the next. Tens kilometers further. People say that it’s a wilder one, way more natural. We discover quickly that it’s not really a hot spring, but more a hot river. There’s a few tourists, who knew that, and have floating noodles, and just follow the stream. As sportive as we are, we just do some swimming, in the middle of a paradisiac landscape. After a few turn, a ladder take us out of the water, so that we can walk back, instead of swimming up stream.

Quick little lunch break, and we are back on the road. The day is behind us now, but it was for a good reason. It was definitely great to take the time to swim and relax. We arrive in Katherine an hour later, just on time to meet Alex as he’s closing the art gallery. We take some time to talk with him. The first contact is really nice. He gives us a quick look of the house, where we’ll be able to park the van for the night. Looks really comfy and quiet. We’re going to love this place, I think.

We drive back to town, 7 km from here, to cook some food, and to listen to some music. The evening is really quiet and amazing. Philosophical talk, personal thoughts and story telling… once again, the link between the three of us is really strong, and I’m really happy with that…

If we wanted to sleep at the Devils Marbles, it was also in order to catch the sunrise in an amazing landscape. Over the last few weeks, I’ve seen so many sunrise! And I think that I just love this feeling. I might almost even think that I like waking up early. My clock woke me softly from my sleep. Outside, the colors are already amazing. Gabrielle has a hard time to wake up. She seems to be more interested to enjoy the view from the van window. I quickly prepare three teas, grab my flute, and join Mara on her rock.

There’s magical moment in life. Moments you know you’ll never forget. You just have to close your eyes to remember it. Listening to Mara, singing and playing flute, while watching the sunrise, is definitely one of those moment. When everything just seems absolutely perfect, when you feel that you are at the perfect place, at the perfect time, with the perfect peoples. I tell her a story I had in my mind for quite a while, but that I didn’t have any opportunity to share yet. It’s a story about sun, sunrise, and solstice. One that just fits with this perfect moment. I discover that telling stories in english is a hard exercise, but that I can do. And that I like. I spend some more time with Mara, watching the landscape, and being thankful to the sun via our music.

Gabrielle is waiting for us in the van, still a little bit asleep. Quick breakfast, before we go exploring the neighborhood, under a daily light this time. We all go out our own pace, in our own direction. The other camper van are leaving, one after an other.

We are the last to leave. I feel that I left a peace of my soul behind me. I feel like, as in Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon, I connect with all the surroundings. I might come back. Or maybe not. It doesn’t matter anyway. I’m feeling so well. I’m happy.

As the day before, there’s no real interest on the road. We just go on. We have an other objective for tonight: the Daly Waters Pub, who’s actually the only next interesting point on the highway. If the landscape south of Alice Springs is inspiring, the north looks less interesting. Still a little bit of a desert, but not enough for me. Kilometers follow kilometer.

Once more, we reach our destination just after sunset. The Daly Waters Pub is famous all over Australia. A pause that people should not miss. I easily understand why.

We bump into the tasmanian family again, who invite us to there table. There’s a show every evening, and the place is full. A one man show from an humorist, who tells jokes, stories, sings some songs, and share some thoughts. There’s definitely a great atmospheres, and lots of laughs. For the part I can understand… Quite often, I share a look with Gabrielle, before laughing… because we don’t understand a word! Anyway… we really enjoy the evening!

We go back to the van, and drive a few kilometers back, to a rest area, where will spend a quiet evening. It’s raining outside. A lot. I haven’t seen rain since I left Melbourne. It was not so long ago… but I’m quite happy to hear this sound again!

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…

I woke up early. Very early. Not so long after I went to bed actually. Josephine was still awake, of course. He chatted a little, before she drove me to the place where the group was sleeping. I took a seat in the bus, and we left. In order to stop, less than an hour later, to catch an amazing sunrise on the Breakaway.

Dynamic in this bus is definitely different than with Cassie. More tranquil. More relax. That’s perfect for me, as I can take a nap. A long one… We arrive in Erldunda a few hours later. I leave the bus with all my stuff. They are turning left. I’m not. I have a little chat with a girl who works for the same company as Cassie. She confirms my thought. Perfect.

Ten minutes later, Cassie’s bus arrive. She’s quite surprise to see me. I can understand why I guess. She still has room in her bus, and she’s happy to take me with her. Specially because none of her passenger asked to seat in the front. She doesn’t have a copilot! What a strange feeling, two weeks later, to be back exactly at the same place… I’m finishing the tour I started with her.. like if Coober Pedy was just an amazing two weeks break… everything is exactly like before. We chat, make a few plan. She was thinking to go to Katherine in a few weeks. She tells me about a 5 days hike in this area. I note everything. Sounds really interesting. She finally drop me in Alice Springs. The circle is complete.

I meet Mara at her place. An other little moment of happiness. The pleasure of seeing people again is always great when you’re traveling! I’m going to stay at her place for the next three days before we leave to Darwin.

On the next day, she invites me to come with her for a small walk in town. She has to go to the other end of Alice Springs, at a friend place. I’m happy to go with her. When she tells me in which area we’re going, I’m almost certain about the exact place. We do a little detour to climb Anzac Hills who, in the middle of the town, give a very nice overview of Alice.

One hour later, I recognize without any hesitation the little path we’re following. To go to a house I recognize too. That’s the place where I dropped Ben a few weeks ago. That’s the place where Rachel stayed after the festival. When I tell my name to the guy who welcome me, he looks surprise. Yes, I’m this Sebastien. What a strange feeling, again, to feel that I know everybody here. I’m part of a family of people I haven’t meet yet. And there’s this comment that give me a giant inside smile. “Dynamic here completely change with Ben and Rachel, that’s great they came here”.

If I like seizing opportunity when they arise, I also like to see me as someone who creates opportunity. I like having people meeting other people thanks to me. I like to see things happening because of that… I definitely didn’t expect when I put my post on couchsurfing trying to find passengers, that all that was going to happen. I really feel that I created something. A micro change. Not so important, except for the people involved. And I really like it. Everything seems to happen the way it’s suppose to. Everybody seems to be at the good place. Probably a fatherly way of seeing all that, but I feel that everybody’s happy here, and that I can go on my on way, with a light heart. Life is just confirming that I’m doing right. And that’s an awesome feeling.

I’m leaving tomorrow, with Mara and Gabrielle. An other Maui campervan. There was no other solution, for a perfect circle.

When you read the comment about Jo and Terry, from helpers like me, or from travelers, there’s always the same thing pointing out: their love for kangaroos. Surprisingly, that’s not what I’ll remember most. Maybe because I’m always looking to human first… what I’ve noticed he’s the amazing love between them. The complicity they are sharing. Like a giant and warm blanket. So big that it cover them, but also everything surrounding them.

It was 10 years ago. They were traveling south, from Alice Springs. It was during the night. They saw a small little thing on the side of the road. They stopped and drove back to check. It was a young joey. Alone. They wait for a little while, hoping the mother would come back. She didn’t. They decided to take him with them, rolled in a towel, to bring him to a friend of them who was caring after kangaroos. Josephine was already charmed. They left him in careful hands, in Coober Pedy, and went back on the road to Adelaide, where they had planed to spend a few days. There friend told them that he’ll be able to take care of the joey for only a few days, but that they’ll need to find an other place after that. Terry warned Jo. Don’t think about that.

They spent a few days in Adelaide, and went back north. They are both rally drivers. Both love driving and, usually, there’s always long argument when it’s time to choose who’s going to be in the driver seat. But when leaving Adelaide, Jo didn’t say anything. Just “you can drive”. A few hundred km later, they arrived in Coober Pedy. Taking the kangaroo back, to relocate him to Alice Springs. After such a long drive, they switch the drivers. Terry ended up holding they little passenger all the way to Alice. When they arrived, finding someone to take care of the joey was a no brainer. They keep him.

When Jo talk about that today, her eyes are still shining. She doesn’t understand how he survived, “beginner” as they were. With all the mistakes they did. But it was all the beginning, and they made a great job. So well that, just three months ago, when the little “Bronnie” was brought to them (a little pinky, pink with no fur), everybody told them there was no hope. She was way to young. No one ever manage to save such a young joey. When she arrived, she weighted a few tens of grams, and hold easily in Josephine’s hand. Today, a little bit more than 100 days after, Bronnie makes everybody fall in love. Yes, even I. She starts quickly to be my favorite. Easy going, she loves hugs and cuddles. And she likes taking her time when she’s fed. I spent long time on my computer, holding her with one arm, trying to write with my other hand, without disturbing her.

A few days ago, Jo and Terry celebrated there 22nd wedding birthday. They didn’t want to go to the restaurant. I offered to cook for them, but Jo declined, saying she was to difficult. We spent a quite evening, chatting and eating well. Between a lots of phone calls. Question about kangaroos. How to help a joey. What should I do with… I feel like they would not have wish something different. They were happy to share this moment with me and there children. Yes, the roos are definitely part of the family. Absolutely not a freaky way. They are not here to compensate anything. They are here because Terry and Jo love them. That’s so simple.

They do everything by themselves, receiving no government help. There’s a art gallery adjacent to the house, helping them to make some money. But they mainly survive thanks to donation. Twice a day, at 12 and 5:30PM, tourists stop to see the kangaroos being fed. Terry tell them there’s story. People take pictures, ask question, learn… and when they leave, they take with them a little bit of this unlimited love.

And there is people like me, who stays a few weeks, helping as they can, sharing magical moment and amazing simple evening.

I’m finish writing this post with only one hand. Terry asked me to hold Prue for a little while. With all those kangaroos, having two extra arms is not a luxury! And Prue is my other favorite. As much as Bronnie. Probably because I was with Terry when we rescued her. So small, so fragile, but already so lovely!

I’m leaving my kangaroos tomorrow.

After an amazing two weeks in great company, it’s time for me to follow the wind, one more time. I’m going back to Alice Springs tomorrow. 700 km north. I was planning to hitch hike, but today, a tour group stopped at the orphanage. I talked with the guide. They have a room for me in the bus, and they’re going to take me up to Erldunda (yes, the same place I get stuck for 7 hours on my way south). I’m definitely more optimistic for the ride north. I’ll have only 250 km to go, I don’t think it’s going to be too complicate. There’s an open-mic evening in Alice Springs tomorrow night. I don’t want to miss it, as it might be the very first time I’ll be telling a story in english! Definitely want to hear that! Might need a couple of beer thought…

Staying in Alice for a few days, and leaving next thursday. Heading north again. On a van relocation, as usual. I’ve find a way of traveling I’m really starting to like I think! Two passengers with me. No stranger this time. Mara, will be coming with her flute and her lovely voice, and Gabrielle, with her violin. It’s going to be a pretty interesting music experimental trip I think. Four days to drive north do Darwin. 1,500 km. Easy one! Arriving in Darwin on sunday afternoon. I have no idea if we can swim in the Timor Sea, somewhere in Darwin. Hope so… it will be my first time in the tropics, I’m expecting warm water (as well as crocodiles, for what I know). We’ll cross the tropic line a hundred km north of Alice Springs.

Just one night in Darwin (for the moment). On monday morning, I’ll be hitch hiking south with Mara. 300 km, to go back to Katherine. We’re gong to spend one or two weeks in an aboriginal Art Center. Yes, an other Helpx experience. When I told Terry and Jo where I was going, they told me “ah! They are on helpx because of us! Very friendly people”. I had exactly the same comment from Cassie. Good news!

Don’t really know how the internet connexion will be going. There will be a post, tomorrow during the day (ah, the magic of auto-posting!) but after that, as usual… who knows!