How about sitting down for tea… with nothing but the expanse of the desert around you? That’s what I did with a couple named Pam and Cole.
It started one morning as I was leaving a dispersed camp (wild campsite) by an abandoned railway bridge . By chance, Pam and Cole were camped nearby in their camper and saw me ride by.
Cole called out, “Where are you headed today?”
“I’m heading to Maree,” I replied.
“We’re headed that way too. Maybe we’ll see you on the way and have some tea.”
I thought he was jesting as a way of making polite conversation.
I replied casually, thinking nothing of it. “Sure, that would be nice.”
I biked off toward Maree. After I had biked ten miles, they pulled up by me on the road. “Still want some tea?”
” Sure.”
“Okay,” they said. “We’ll drive up a few kilometers, pull over the side of the road, and have it ready when you come by.” After some more casual conversation, they took off. Hmm, it looked like they were serious about having tea.
A few kilometers down the road, I saw them off the side of the Oodnadatta Track, camp chairs pulled out to form a semblance of a living room, and a pot of water brewing on their camp stove.
And the expanse of the desert surrounding us.
What a superb tea room!
I pulled up, and ended having a good conversation with Pam and Cole for about half an hour, over tea and ginger snaps (alas, we’ll have to do without crumpets). Cole was going to lead a month-long camel tour into the outback. Pam was also an experienced bush-walker. (In the U.S., we have through-hikers and backpackers; in Australia, it’s bush-walking.) Most of our conversation was about our desert travels. They know how daunting the desert can be, but are happy to see people enjoying it– in a wise way.
They were impressed with my bike and my gear. “We’ve seen a number of cyclists ride the tracks here,” they said, “but you’re the first we’ve met who seem to know what you’re doing.” They were talking in terms of being prepared for the desert.
After enjoying tea, we said our goodbyes and I left behind two good people who love the desert– and the best tea room I’ve ever been in.
