The Wind Howls
Dear Adventurous Reader,
Tonight we are camped on the edge of Australia's eastern coast and the wind is blowing very strongly from the east. Our tent is close to trees that provide some shelter from the wind that is trying to push our tent over. We have anchored the tent with some of the cliff's rocks to keep the pegs in the ground.
It is our first night of camping in wind. We have had crushing rain at Babinda and dusty air at Coober Pedy, but most other places we have camped have been without too many issues. Tonight however, we fight the wind.
It is a wonderful place. We drove down a sealed road off the main highway, passing through a small town. The boys watched for kangaroos along the roadside as the road got narrower, before we turned off onto a short unsealed road. The trees are not as tall by the beach, more bushes between grass and sand.
The campsites are sectioned off with big logs and long, thin grass. A wind break of bushes is alongside the red cliffs that stretch down to the deserted beach below. The sand is soft and yellow, running to the horizon up north with unseen towns along the coast. Southwards, however, you can see the lights of a small coastal town twinkling in the weathered dusk.
We found our campsite along the cliffs, behind the wind-break-bushes. The wind pushed the tent to a lean. We had to be quick to get the fly over and anchor in the ropes, using the cliff rocks which we brought up from the beach, as added weight. Still, the strength of the wind pushes everything about, shaking the tent.
During the night the waves crash against the cliffs, like a rolling thunder that never ceases. And drifting off to sleep, with the sound of the waves breaking, safe inside our tent, is relaxing.
The wind has stopped when we wake in the morning. The sound of crashing waves continues, yet now it is more peaceful. Zeke and Levi watch some kangaroos boxing, as the sun is still close to the horizon, choosing to wake at an early hour. The boys explore, climbing trees and finding shallow caves carved into the red rocks on the beach below. They continue to collect bottle caps and smooth rocks.
The sun is bright after breakfast. Encouraged by a good night sleep Jacqui takes the boys who are game enough to the beach for a swim. Strong waves knock them under the sea water and they rise with grins of their faces and start body surfing towards the shore.
Adeline runs into the water grabbing great handfuls of sand and carrying them back onto the shore. She too, is knocked over by a sudden, small wave and after a cuddle is happy to play again.
Camping has encouraged us to find hidden places, instead of taking two days to drive 1,600kms we are stopping and seeing more of Australia. Redcliff is one place we regret not staying at longer, though we will stop here next time with enough provisions to be there for a few days. I will hope that we are set up before the wind begins.