Spinifex, Sand and Mt Sondor

A few years ago we walked along parts of the Larapinta Trail in the West MacDonnell Ranges in the Northern Territory. It was a great group, organised by Into the Blue, whose tours are always rich and fulfilling. This is my post for tagged S by Frizz this week.

sunrise, Mount Sondor

One day we were camped very close to Mt Sondor, so we rose early and photographed it as the dawning sunlight first touched the red bluffs. Later we walked ever closer, through prickly spinifex country.

These tough tussock grasses cover about 22% of Australia, surviving in low nutrient soil and harsh conditions. It was hard going, but Raymond led us into a cool oasis for morning tea, where we relaxed on the soft sand of a dry creek bed, sheltered by graceful white ghost gums.

morning tea in the creek bed

Our walk continued as we climbed an escarpment to gaze out at the famous mountain once again, Mt Sondor in the raw heat of day.

Mount Sondor in full sun

I wrote a little poem as we sat in the cool shade of the ghost gums (it was a writing and meditation walk):

dry creek bed
arching silken gums
strung with leafy bunting

rounded boulders
fringed by nodding grasses,
dappled sandy river flows between

gum tang, wind song
voices murmur, tea tastes,
in this cathedral we rest

chequerboard of red, white, grey
clean air scent of purity,
footprint patterns mark the way

I also wrote a short story about characters based on spinifex and ghost gum … after a few enthusiastic comments I have uploaded it to the site …. you can find it by clicking the link above.