The Outback... It's a dangerous place. The largest,
most arid desert in the world, the Australian central region is
quite inhospitable to travellers and explorers. Still, I ventured
out there and found some remarkable people, places, and experiences...
Scenes from the Outback
Some kids in the small town of Marree playing on a camel made
from old railroad ties, The Oonandata Track at sunset, and the
remnants of the old Ghan Railroad.
William Creek. Population 5.
I rolled into William Creek late on a Friday afternoon. Little
did I know, but the PREMIER outback festival takes place every
year right in William Creek -- that weekend! Of course, my friend
Myrna and I decided to stay and participate. We quickly made friends
with an entire cast of characters you really have to meet to believe...
Rugged. Friendly. Thick Australian Accents.
When I found out there was a wet T-Shirt competition, I did everything
I could do to become the official MC and judge. A $50 donation
to the Royal Flying Doctors was all it took. I would have paid
$500. I'll have to write a complete essay on it soon, but until
I have the time and energy, I'll just leave the pictures to do
the talking. Brief synopsis: 6 contestants, multiple threats on
my life if Shiela didn't win, finding myself completely naked
on stage in front of 300 people, pouring ice cold water over six
darlings, a tie (and Shiela wasn't one of em), all the air let
out of two of the tires on my truck...
Coober Pedy, the World's Opal Capital The gravestone on the upper right is a KEG
that was completely full at burial time... The inscription: "Have
A Drink On Me"... The fence on the lower right is the world's
largest manmade structure -- a fence 6000km long used to keep
dingos out of sheep territory.
Crocodile Harry's House Harry is the real-life Crocodile Dundee. I
visited his house but unfortunately didn't have a chance to meet
the old man because he was passed out cold in his bed after a
week of drinking to celebrate his 76th birthday. Cheers, Harry!
The "Breakaways" Just outside of Coober Pedy, these mountains
offer incredible landscapes. The tracks in the picture on the
right are made by red kangaroos that come to rest in the mountainside
caves during the 120 degree summer days.
