Outback Day 3: Ellery Creek Big Hole

Ellery Creek Big Hole

I slept well but I expect to be enjoying my nights more and more as the week progresses. We had a nice breakfast of cereal, tea and an orange. We also each got a museli bar, an apple and an orange for the day. Afer breakfast we packed up our stuff and chucked it on top of the troopies. I expect that we will get very efficient at this because we will be doing it every day.

All this happened before 8:30am. Then we met Doreen. She lives in the community and was our tour guide on a hike to see some Aboriginal cave paintings. We took the troopies to the start of our hike. We met at the water pump that supplies the water to the community. We walked into a Chasm to see rock paintings and ultimately the Wallace Rockhole that the community was named after. Doreen was very nice and very informative about her people, her culture and their land. We learned about different tools, plants, and bush tucker. As we walked along she pointed out different tools or bushes the Aboriginies would use and why or how they would use them. We ended up in a very sacred area where we could see paintings and drawings in the rocks that were over 8,000 years old. To make the paintings they would grind up red ochre, put it in their mouths, put their hand on the rock and then spit the “paint” out. Doreen said they used to do this to claim the land for their tribe. Some of the rock carvings were grooves from making tools and sharpening spears. Some were circles which could mean the circle of life etc. Doreen said that because there was a hole (dot) in the middle of the circles we know there was water there before.

Then we turned around to a small rock pool, Wallace Rockhole, that the community was named after. It was a source of never ending water and life for the people. You could tell that this was a very special place. When we went back to the community we got to see their art shop and maybe buy some of their handmade artwork. I didn’t but I admired it.

The Thrifty guy came to tell us that they can’t fix our trailer or find us a new one right now so we’ll just have to squeeze for now. Oh well. Wile they were talking it out, some tried their hand at throwing the “returning” boomerang. Some were good but no one has caught it yet.

We loaded into the troopies again for an hour drive to Ellery Creek Big Hole, where we had another sandwich lunch. I decided I definitely like beetroot on my sandwiches and I tried a little fruit chutney. I couldn’t really taste it so the verdict isn’t in yet. Then we went for a swim in the natural waterhole here. It was chilly but we swam into a gorge and got to see two rock wallabys in one of the cracks in the wall of the chasm. It was cute and fury. I wish I had a waterproof camera like some of the people on the trip so I could take a picture of it.

After the swim we unloaded our bags and set up camp. Luckily tonight our tent is a little further from the others so maybe I won’t feel as claustrophobic tonight. After unpacking we got ready for dinner.

For dinner we got in small groups with a campstove called a Trangia. We were given a caroot a zuchine, an onion, garlic, and a smoked chicken to stir fry over our stove. I was in a group with Jimmie and Julia. Two people that I hadn’t gotten a chance to know so far so it was nice to work with them. Cam, Mazz and Lyndon cooked noodles (kinda like Ramen) for us to put our stir frys over. The flies were all over us while we were cooking. It was delicious though.

For clean up I was one of the last people over there and the water was insanely dirty. I scrubbed our blackened pot clean and then got to drain the dishwater through my fingers to prevent us from dumping large chunks of food. Yummy! Then I waited for more water to finish washing the dishes. All the while some people got to make the dessert. They were lemon balls wrapped in coconut. I couldn’t tell you how to make them because I was still cleaning when they were made. I don’t think people are shying away from their responsibilities but it would be nice if we had kind of a chore wheel so everyone would fairly take turns and know what they could do to be helpful.

After dinner we walked down to the beach area of the water hole to have a chat about the day. Lyndon tried to give us a lesson in patience and being quiet to be able to observe your surroundings. I got upset when people made noises as we listened to Australia but I tried to calm myself. I think I’m getting better at being able to move past my annoyance of people and be able to just enjoy it for myself. It didn’t always work but I’m trying.

Lyndon’s question for us tonight was, “I will remember from Wallace Rockhole today…….”

I said “…Doreen and her stories and her willingness to share with us about her people and their history.”

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