DEPLOYMENT SH002-C
Taking a Nature Bath
2hrs S of Sydney
Field Correspondent: Sammy Hawker
Equipment: Canon 1DX Mark ii + 24-70mm 2.8 canon lens & 35mm f.2 canon lens
+ DJI Phantom 4 Pro
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‘No-one who loves dawn, and is abroad to see it, could be a stranger to me.’ Mary Oliver.
There is a quietness between us this morning.
We had woken to a valley alive with rolling mist. The long wet grass stuck to our bare calves and has left them slightly sticky.
As we watch from the creek, the sun cuts its first rays over the eastern ridges. The rainforest begins to steam, vapour curling as ephemeral tendrils through the air.
We are on the traditional land of the Dhawaral people. Cambewarra Mountain was given the name meaning ‘mountain of fire’. Even on clear days cloud can be found smoking along the top. The area has one of the largest areas of subtropical rainforest remaining in the region.
The cabin is perched at the edge of thick forest. Long Eucalyptus loom above the thick undergrowth. Watch-towers growing towards the sun.
In the afternoon we string hammocks between two ferns and read books.
The lyrebirds are imitating the crack of the Eastern Whipbird. Or maybe that really is an Eastern Whipbird? It’s almost impossible to tell sometimes.
At another Unyoked hideout in this region there is a lyrebird who mimics a crying baby.
A haunted wailing echos through the valley at night.
In the evening Tom chops firewood and we cook dinner on the campfire.
The hum of the forest changes pace. There is a flurry of activity just before dusk but it fades with the falling darkness.
The mist once again creeps through the valley and as the dew begins to set we take ourselves to bed.
The end.
Photos & words by: Sammy Hawker @sammyhawker