It’s quite easy to daydream about exploring exotic locations or navigating to foreign lands.
Yet, we all know that many of those daydreams, unfortunately, remain just that – dreams.
For this edition of Otter Escape, we have a way you can take an adventure to Australia’s Outback without leaving your fresh brew of coffee that we are certain you are savoring right now.
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The foundation for this 2,700 km (roughly 1,700 mi) and nine-month journey will be the book, “Inside Tracks: Robyn Davidson’s Solo Journey Across the Outback” by Rick Smolan.
To get you into the mindset, here’s the book synopsis from Amazon.
“Through stunning images, acclaimed photographer Rick Smolan tells the astounding story of Robyn Davidson, who crossed the desolate Australian outback accompanied only by four camels and a dog.”
Robyn published an account of her 1977 trek in 1995, with, “Tracks: A Woman’s Solo Trek Across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback.”
Make sure you fill up your water bottle and let’s head out…
“May 1978 – When NatGeo’s cover story about Robyn Davidson’s camel trek was published, it became one of the most popular in the magazine’s history.”
“The story was subsequently featured on the covers of more than 100 other magazines in 35 countries, reaching an estimated 50 million readers.” – Rick Smolan
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“Each morning, she loaded 230 kg of gear onto three camels, including handmade water drums, tin trunks of food, clothes, tools and dog biscuits for [her dog] Diggity.” – Rick Smolan
Robyn and Diggity…
“After nine months and 2,700 arduous kilometers, it was late afternoon on a perfect day when Robyn Davidson and the camels had their first glimpse of the Indian Ocean.”
“The camels had never seen any body of water bigger than a puddle and their eyes bulged at the infinite expanse in front of them.”
“Their arrival marked the end of an extraordinary odyssey.” – Rick Smolan
Rick in action and keeping up with the pace of Robyn for his book, “Inside Tracks”…
For more about this adventure, you can find Robyn’s book here – “Tracks: A Woman’s Solo Trek Across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback.”
As for Rick’s latest book, you can find it here – “Inside Tracks: Robyn Davidson’s Solo Journey Across the Outback.”
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Although we are hoping we kept you glued to your screen as you read through this, we also hope you have been inspired to try something new today, this week or this year.
Maybe it’s not a 1,700-mile trek across the Australian Outback but maybe it’s camping in a National Park or heading out to a nearby site you have yet to explore.
We do know that Robyn has certainly inspired us with her journey and Rick with his photography…
P.S. In case you are in the mood for the movie version of Robyn’s journey, you can check out “Tracks,” featuring Mia Wasikowska and Adam Driver.
