South of Alice, a parking bay became my new camp. A few trailers at the edge of a stream looked as if they had been entrenched for weeks. I set about my own routine for making camp.

First I stocked up on firewood. A pit had been dug by a previous camper, leaving me only to round up a half-dozen fair sized rocks. The rocks would contain the fire, provide a shelf for the kettle, and retain heat long after the embers died down.

Aborigines traditionally used rocks extensively for cooking. They often placing heated stones inside carcasses to cook the meat inside. Embers piled on top cooked the meat from the outside.  

Laying out my swag was the most demanding task. The cold desert nights required several blankets, two sleeping bags, a tarp beneath the tent and a foil blanket inside. Even with all these layers, I swaddled myself with thermal underwear and sweats.

After all my fidgeting it was simple enough to unfold a lawn chair and sink into a long communion with the landscape. With the manual typewriter perched on the cooler, I updated my journal. Just another quiet day in the outback.