Coupled with previous musings on the Nullarbor, the hour I spent looking and listening as the wildlife around me went about their business with the roar of traffic on the Brand Highway behind them wasn't exactly a life-changing experience, but it did reinforce some long held beliefs and add weight to some lurking suspicions.
Having mused on those matters for about an hour, I returned to the chalet, brewed a cup of coffee and waited till Madam returned, full of excitement having found all manner of small wonders on her walk. After showers, with the bags packed and stowed in the car it was checkout time, after which the general plan was to wander in the grounds a bit more, then continue to Dongara for lunch, after which we'd move on to the evening's accommodation at Geraldton.
There were, however, a couple of little extras and one big plus in store before we departed.
The first started simply enough. Pulling up outside the shop, we spotted a small member of the kangaroo family sniffing around outside the Tinkers’ quarters, and while we watched and snapped away at a distance that wouldn't alarm the subject, Alan emerged, invited us closer. Madam was able to pat the euro, which, though effectively wild, was used to humans, and, like the subjects of earlier meditations, went about her business largely unconcerned by their activities.
That led into a conversation about matters relating to the Park, wildlife conservation and wildflowers, which, in turn, delivered the news that five kilometres north of the park just before a Don't Drive Tired sign, a turnoff onto a dirt road would lead us to an area where there were abundant orchids. That's the way you find these things, it seems. Word of mouth, and the odd distinguishing landmark.
A couple of days later we heard about a display of orchids in the back-blocks that could be identified by the presence of a blue sock.