Went Wandering in South Australia

[soulFLY]

Love the color rendition of #86...excellent execution...

 

[Zichar]

Thanks Thomas! I'm partial to this next one...

>>

<88>


we have so little time in the world by Zichar, on Flickr
​

 

[cg171s]

Love no #86. In a way it looks like Uluru..

 

[Zichar]

Thanks cg171s

>>

<89>


stop licking by Zichar, on Flickr
​

 

[Zichar]

<90>


a marginal note by Zichar, on Flickr
​

 

[Zichar]

<91>


leaders of the planet by Zichar, on Flickr
​

 

[Zichar]

<92>


lip the cup by Zichar, on Flickr
​

 

[Zichar]

<93>


competitive edge by Zichar, on Flickr
​

 

[Zichar]

An image more than 4 years in the making...

First encountered on a light plane buzz around Flinders Range
Where the shining plane of light blinded us for a moment
Over the crackling headset Rob replied
Lake Torrens probably, Eyre to the North, Gairdner to the West

A large flat salt lake, no inlet no outlet
Sometimes it's wet, at times dry
Don't venture out the lakes unprepared, his voice sombre
A couple got stuck, man wanders out for help, walked in circles
HIs body found barely a hundred metres away from the car
Stay out, lotsa water, fuel up, spare tyres

Fast forward ahead, I planned our detour all the way inland
Long drive be damned, those hours of seductive reading
The world's fastest land speed record attempts
Its solitude, vastness, 30 miles of straight salty nothing across

And at long last, yatta Lake Gairdner
I had hoped for dry crust, intricate criss-cross cuts
Like the bare earth in the Death Valley
But overheard in the campgrounds the night before,
Still water in it less than an inch
Could do nothing to dampen my spirits
I cupped my hands, hollered into the open
The wind snatching away my screams of adulation and joy

<94>


socks off by Zichar, on Flickr
​

 

[Zichar]

The man in the orange windbreaker is my dad
And his reflection, as the water reaches barely an inch high
Salt crusts form on the tops of our feet almost immediately

The sign said No Driving on the lake
Though I remember reading that back in the days
Dry lake races, attempts at the world land speed were held here
One didn't adhere to it though
Rutted tracks scar the surface of the lake
I know not how long it will take to recover.

Reverently, we took off our shoes and socks to head on out
The salt crystals, they hurt
Walking on millions of glass shards

Just when we were done, we spied arriving
A tour group in a single white SUV
Wherefrom? For the closest town was hundreds of miles away

The elderly trio (with cane and walkers no less!) noticed our naked toes
And proceeded sans footwear
As did their exuberantly-charged teenaged granddaughter
Though the pin pricks to her soles made her stop running
Almost immediately

The other couple unfortunately crunched up the crust in their rugged soled Timberlands
Sounds of popcorn or crisps, even brittle sheet sugar
From running all the way to the middle of the lake
Complete with the requisite tourist star jumps
Their guide, the devil take her soul, no less encouraging
I winced and grimaced every time they leapt up
Ah, mayhaps I'm just too sensitive

<95>


one kabaddi by Zichar, on Flickr
​

 

[zaren]

great series.

 

[richiemccaw1]

#89. wow. Very inspiring.

 

[Zichar]

Thanks zaren, richie

 

[Zichar]

Odd, can't see the water in this one

<96>


activated carbon by Zichar, on Flickr
​

 

[Zichar]

One of those rare times I'm in the photo
Did this for the laughs

<97>


find light in the sea by Zichar, on Flickr
​

 

[Zichar]

<98>


the radiant by Zichar, on Flickr
​

 

[Zichar]

My mind couldn&#8217;t stop the thoughts
He was remarkably subdued throughout
Slow in gait and response

I&#8217;ve caught him staring into space
Pensive on occasion blank
Then there&#8217;s the not-so-subtle slips and falls
Easing into and out of
Those cursed bucket seats and tall ride

We rushed to grab the heavy lifting
The result as should have expected
Annoyance for babying smothering
Patronizing
I&#8217;m all grown up now I reflected
Ouroboros

I watched as in semi-lucid moments
He came alive, walking forward
Forcefully with poise and purpose
You forgot your whip Indy
My mouth uttered in silence
As he left us all behind
trailing in his saline wake

<99>


en amour by Zichar, on Flickr
​

 

[Zichar]

I asked and the rest gamely replied
So we returned
After a short laze-about on the bed late evening
Always a dangerous proposition
Dusting off bits of crisps from our jacket fronts
Stifling yawns, batting away the creeping muscular fatigue
Dinner, she will be late

<100>

​

 

[Zichar]

<101>


without pepper now by Zichar, on Flickr
​

 

[shiosaki]

#97, such an amazing place
beautiful series