The pool is closed on Mondays, so my friend Doris suggested that she would show me the lakes. Of course, I thought a walk would be a healthy alternative to swimming laps, but Doris assured me it was too far and that she would secure a 4WD vehicle for our little jaunt. Since Doris is German, I knew we would leave promptly at 8 AM, as planned. It was a breezy, cool morning and in no time we were out of town, heading towards Broome. At the 20 K marker we turned towards the marshes on a barely distinguishable track. After slowly bumping over the hard-packed pindan, we suddenly came to a large expanse of water out in the middle of the bush.

The water was colored by the large purple water lilies and miniature white “frenzies.” Hundreds of ducks glided over the water, while off in the distance a pair of brolgas raucously engaged in what appeared to be a mating ritual, wings wildly flapping as they hopped about each other. White cranes perched in the eucalypts; ibis and egrets delicately picked their way through the water. The cacophony of birdsong was overwhelming. It was too much to absorb all at once; focusing the camera helped to focus my mind, even though I detest taking pictures. Doris, behind her camera on a tripod, told me to “just shoot; something will come out.” As I clicked away and listened to the birds I suddenly heard the distant drumbeat of hooves. We both looked across the lake but couldn’t see anything. Suddenly, a herd of brumbies galloped from the tall, brown grass and headed straight towards us. We remained still and let them come. They were clearly curious and totally unafraid of people. They stopped abruptly within a few meters of us. They were fat and sleek; as beautiful a bunch of horses as I have ever seen. The Uruguayan gauchos of my childhood would have been ever so eager to catch them. Suddenly, a loud neigh came from across the water. In unison, the horses lifted their heads, listened intently, and then, as one, galloped back to join the loner.

With Doris at the Lakes

Click picture above to see the brumbies!

Labels: Brumbies, lakes