an out of control bushfire or more
likely a controlled burn by the Aborig-
inal rangers. We were in their coun-
try now and as custodians of the land
the Aboriginal people were often set-
ting fire to scrub as part of controlled
burns known as mosaic burning. It’s
a contentious issue in Western Austra-
lia, many landholders and none indig-
enous people see it as nothing more
than vandalism. Whatever your per-
sonal thoughts, it made for a spectac-
ular scene as the smoke rose into the
setting sun.
Our camp for the second night had
been a small clearing set between
two small hills alongside the road.
We’d setup camp as a few roadtrain’s
passed in the early evening. These be-
hemoths no doubt taking the shortcut
between Halls Creek and Alice Springs
or perhaps delivering supplies to the
few small Aboriginal communities
that call the Tanami Desert home.
Over a rehydrated, freeze dried din-
ner and a few beers, we’d joked that
we’d wake in the morning to find the
TRAVERSE 74