29 April 2002

Carnarvon Gorge is located in a national park about 150 km north and west of Injune. When we arrived, we set up camp and went on an afternoon walk.  Susie and Ruby spotted a freshwater turtle, and Clare and I spotted several catfish grazing on the muddy creek bed.  We scoured the creek for platypuses but, unsurprisingly, we didn’t see any. The rangers presented an informative slide show at 7.30 p.m.

Today was a slack day. Ruby slept in, and Susie lay in and read Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey.  After a late breakfast, Susie began the complicated business of distance education.  Ruby and Clare have been looking forward to this for some time.

We had an improvised soup for lunch, and in the afternoon we went on a short easy walk to Balloon Cave, where we saw our first Aboriginal rock art.  We bought some ice at Oasis Lodge and returned home for dinner.

Ruby and I had our first music lesson while Susie cooked.  I discovered that we have left all of the music books at home.  This is a bit of a setback, but we’ll work with what we’ve got.  I’ll buy some manuscript paper at the next town that has a music shop. It looks like I have to write the music myself. I wish I could remember how the clarinet transposes.

After dinner I prepared the lunches for tomorrow when we go on a long walk to some more caves further into the park.  I expect we’ll be out walking the whole day.  I’m looking forward to it. It’s a bit boring kicking around the campsite, but I suppose we have to give this distance education thing a go.  Susie extended our stay here by a night.

The bush is very quiet tonight. There is not a whisper of wind. It’s a little chilly too.  There is the occasional possum scavenging about.  There’s a big waning moon, and many bright stars.  Sydney now seems a long way away.  That’s a feeling I’ve been looking forward to.