July 13: Better Than Bungle Bungles?
As I jostled back and forth in my padded blue seat six feet off the ground, watching Enoch’s furry ears flickering in the twilight and his wide round feet plodding through the damp sand while the sun drew closer to the ocean beside me, my breath caught in my throat and my heart soared. I had no idea that the sunset camel ride I arranged during my stay in Broome would be such a visually stunning experience.
I planned a short ride today to allow time for a helicopter flight in Warmun to view the Bungle Bungles, unique beehive-shaped sandstone formations with orange and black stripes rising up to 300 meters tall. However, the price at almost $1,000 (given I had to buy the minimum two tickets) was simply cost prohibitive. Fortunately, my sunset ride in Broome just two nights ago at less than a tenth of that price was filled with more than enough color for me.
As we set off from our meeting point on the beach, the sand was almost pinkish white in hue, its warm tone mimicking the muted light blues and orange shades of the late afternoon sun. Tied together in groups of four, our camels meandered north on the long flat stretch of coastline, creating oval footprints in the sand with each heavy step.
As time passed, the orange layer of clouds floating in the sky deepened in color and the setting sun created a bright yellow orb behind them, reflecting its rays in a shimmering column on both the gentle ocean surface and the watery beach.
The enormous creatures created striking black silhouettes against the layers of orange and yellow behind them and the rays of the sun formed mirror images of the beasts in the wet sand at their feet. The beach took on almost a blue color, reflecting the light still in the sky above as we now turned and headed south back down the beach.
Trying to take in each moment, I gazed at the spot in the horizon where the sky and Indian Ocean met, watching the round orange light descending until it melded into the water. The sky deepened in color, now providing a red, purple, and orange backdrop for the lumbering dromedaries.
What an amazing memory to carry with me as I continue my journey around the Australian continent. Today’s ride from Fitzroy Crossing was like yesterdays with a mostly flat landscape and more muted colors but plenty of fascinating termite mounds! As I make my way further north, temperatures are rising daily. But with all the vents open on my jacket and pants and all of my extra layers stashed away, the riding is still quite pleasant. What a great day on the bike!
