Image by Domenic Perre on Google Maps: Loxton
‘Ain’t no sea inland, big nor small. I told him, but he didn’t listen to me.’
No, he’d seen the way the rivers ran westward. But why westward when the sea lay to east? To Captain Charles Sturt the answer was simple. The rivers must disgorge in a Great Inland Sea. And so, equipped for an expedition through hostile country, supplies all carried in a double-prowed boat, he made his journey, summer of 29-30, westward, ever westward.
‘But he didn’t find no sea?’
‘Nah. But he might’ve done if there’d not been a drought that season. Bogs up, up there; floods and does. But he did discover where all those westward rivers run. Into the Murray and out to sea.’
Wordcount 120
Written for What Pegman Saw: Loxton, Australia
crispina kemp 
Ooh, this was very tasty. Loved the voices, those casual chatters that happen between folk, just ‘chopsing’ as we used to say. Felt true and right. love the idea of an inland sea (is that a real thing there? Feels like it) almost a mirage environment that comes and goes with the seasons. Great stuff
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Yep, it’s for real. I don’t know if the rivers still flood, but in Sturt’s day they did. Except the year of his exploration. That was a dry year. And he want in search of this Great Inland Sea.
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Fantastic. You’ve taught me something new 🙂
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I just do the research, is all. 🙂
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Your story is so poetical. I could see it as a poem. You covered so much in so few words. NICE!
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I thank you. Once you get the gist of the story it’s quite easy to clip back the words.
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Well you did a great job of “Clipping” 🙂 While keeping the poetic content and style.
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I thank you, Jen
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You’re welcome, Crispina 🙂
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🙂
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I have an eye doctor appointment at 3:30 (Have to go downtown) Boo Hoo I’m not sure how long it will take but just in case, thought I’d say Good Night. LOL
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Thoughtful. Thank you. And may the rest of the day go bright with yoi 🙂
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Thank you I needed that, you’re so thoughtful.
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Ditto
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🙂
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It was really a nice tale to read. This has a rhythm to it, amazing!😊
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I guess that’s the way my brain works. I have music playing all day long; it’s bound to effect me. 🙂
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Like always, you have captured their lives so well! It feels as if they are going to pop out this instant and start walking beside me… I loved your story a lot. Hoping to read more! 👏😃
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I thank you.
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👏😃
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I’m reminded a bit of Yeats talking about Irish folk beliefs. (Yes, that’s a compliment. I do get to them, from time to time.)
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In which case, I do thank ye most humbly, Brian Bixby! 🙂
No, seriously, I thank you.
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Excellent dialogue. A gruff crowd!
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Reckon it sounds realistic? I guess it. I wasn’t there in 1830 to know. 🙂
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Misfortune! Still, interesting topic. I definitely don’t know enough about Australia.
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I did some speedy research 🙂
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Superb story-telling and great voice. Dang, I want more of this one!
PS That photo you found is a slice of heaven.
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I thank you. I did have more I could include, but … there’s a word limit! And I agree regards the photo. As soon as I saw it, I knew this was the one. I don’t know whether it’s sunrise or sunset, but to me it said *westward*
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Great voices in this one. You really capture that classic character, the explorer driven to go off in search of the magical unknown even though everyone else says he’s crazy (and he might well be). And what a gorgeous image you found, very dramatic!
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I guess that’s what drives me. Though the magical unknown is contained within my mind. And yes, a great image; it was love at first sight.
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this was succinct and flavorful – loved the dialect and the idea of the rivers all running into the westward area had a unifying vibe – really could feel the setting here
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I thank you. With a maximum of 150 words to use … it’s succinct or fly 🙂
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😉
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Great towing and froing between these characters, like the sea, and the way it dried up at the end was great. Love it when prose and story and character intertwine.
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I thank you. I am pleased with the way it came together. Let’s see what we can do with Bhutan.
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Hmmm, yes, Bhutan. Some heady research done, and I think I am just about ready to post.
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Mine’s to wait till Monday. I try not to post more than one per day.
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I cannot wait, but I will.
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🙂 Well, despite a byte or two of research with breakfast, as yet I’m undecided which way I’ll go. Though I do know the gist.
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My deed is done. Hope you like.And if not, hope you can say so. 😎
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Despite the chores that call me (indeed, I can hear them foot-tapping in annoyance at me) I shall go look see.
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