Nine Days Across the Outback: Day Nine

I was ready for my trip to end. The lack of internet access gnawed at me. I kept running into Australians who asked for my opinion on McCain's VP pick on various US states ("Sure, I don't think she's qualified. But don't you think she'll win Florida?"). I missed not being dusty. Most of all, I missed being something other than melting in that damned 4WD.

Speaking of scorching, we did the smart thing on our tour that day, and visited Litchfield Park, and hit some waterfalls. Cool, soothing waterfalls, a gentle hike through semi-tropical woods, and then a plunge pool. Encouraged, I took off my boots, and walked down the stairs to the pool...

and nearly blistered my feet on scorching sandstone.

Really, I was tired of the Outback by that point. Even the 6 meter tall giant termite mounds barely lifted my spirits, and when we rolled back into Darwin, I booked another room at the Holiday Inn on my phone as I sat on the steps. My flight out was that night, but I had just enough time to catch one last sunset, and I headed back to Mindil beach to catch the very last dregs of it.

"Sunset at Mindil Beach"

This shot was a classic 'sunset and silhouette' shot. They're simple as pie to take. Get the subject in between you and the sun, then meter on the sky. Adjust your exposure to get the colors to pop to taste.

As the sun slipped below the waves, I walked down into the water, and felt the Pacific on my toes.

Hours later, I was on a plane back to Sydney, and then on to home.