Travelling to Mount Gambier and on to Adelaide

I had a wonderful stay in the camping ground near Lorne with Eliza and her friend Jono. Her friend is a sound engineer and musician. Lovely guy very friendly and peaceful. He told me he loved his work but has to learn to get out in the great outdoors and enjoy life more.

They offered for me to stay on their site and sleep in Jono’s tent and they stayed in the car. They had a nice little set up with a kitchen tent covering the stove. They also dragged out a metal fire place and burned some logs. We spent the night drinking chai tea and talking about life and sharing stories. It was a cold night and lovely to have the fire blaring and a carpet of stars above our heads.

We had talked about her decision to go and work with youth at a place called Mittagundi, here is some information:

About Mittagundi

Mittagundi is an outdoor education centre established with the belief that young people, mountains, hard work and challenges are natural partners. Mittagundi is situated on a 400 acre property near the old gold mining town of Glen Valley, on the Upper Mitta Mitta River, north of Omeo, VIC. The main purpose of Mittagundi is to provide programs for young people (14 to 18) to explore Victoria’s high country and themselves. They spend time bush walking, camping, abseiling from nearby cliffs, rafting the Mitta Mitta river and helping to run a pioneer style farm. The atmosphere at Mittagundi is simple, honest and happy. There are no watches, no timetables and no money. Instead there is an opportunity for young people to live and work together in an environment where people matter more than anything else. http://mittagundi.org.au/About.htm

My friend is an evolved person and she is working on inner peace, health and living a natural harmonious life. She is very articulate and unafraid of the future. I like her courage and ability to take on new ideas. She is particularly interested in biodynamic farming. I think this will be the farming of the future.

Eventually we had showers and off to bed. I found my sleep quite restless and it was cold. The next morning I was feeling a bit flat, probably overtired. I was thinking about where I was going to next.

I chatted and helped my friends pack up. We then headed for the gate and had a big hug to say goodbye. My friend Eliza was so happy that I came and I was too, I don’t know when we see each other again. I am not sure. I took a photo as I have with all my friends. Really feel the desire to do that.

I took off along the Great Ocean Road. It was an emotional trip for me as I am letting go of a past issue that has been with me a long time. However, I just allow emotions to happen, don’t block them and keep on keeping on as they say. I went through some of the most spectacular country. The Great Ocean Road hugs the coastline and you see spectacular waves hitting the rocks, the beach and the sea stacks. The ocean is particularly turbulent as it runs between Tasmania and the Victorian coast. Bass Strait is well known for rough seas. They run the Sydney to Hobart yatch race and some people die as the waves are huge and rough. The roaring 40′s go through there, large gusts of winds.

Along the coast further up are the 12 apostles and very famous for tourists and very spectacular sea stacks. I stopped and watched the ocean crashing against the coastline. Sheer cliffs carved out by wave motion. I sat in the sunlight, snuck over the safety rail and was close to the edge of the cliff. It was spectacular watching the power of the sea.

I then went into Port Campbell and had a cup of coffee. This was a nice spot to have a break and reflect. Lovely little touristy town with lots of cafe’s and basic shops for the locals. I found the energy of the sea slowly helping me. I love water and feel the energy.

I headed further west and in the general direction of Portland then swung north to Heywood and then North West to Mount Gambier. I laugh at myself as it seemed familiar. I realised when I got there I had done research there a few years before into emergency response if an epidemic broke out. It was interesting research testing emergency services and support services and brainstorming what they would do in certain scenarios of epidemics, how to isolate people, how to communicate, how to coordinate, what emergency channels and so forth. Research in the style of focus groups can be very illuminating. Anyway, I remembered the Blue Lake there. It is a spectacular lake with a vibrant blue colour which changes colour they say. It is within a volcanic crater.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Lake_%28South_Australia%29

Some information refer The Blue Lake in Mount Gambier, South Australia is a large monomictic lake located in an extinct volcanic maar associated with the Mount Gambier maar complex. It is one of four crater lakes on Mount Gambier. Of the four lakes, only two remain, as the other two (Leg of Mutton and Brown) have dried up over the past 30 to 40 years as the water table has dropped.

Conflicting dates have been estimated for its last eruption, of 28,000 years ago[1] and 4300 years ago.[2] If the more recent date is correct, this could be the most recent volcanic eruption on the Australian mainland.

Blue Lake is thought to be of an average depth 72 metres, but in places reaches 75 metres deep (250 feet). The crater rim measures 1,200 metres (3,937 feet) by 824 metres (2,703 feet), however, the lake itself measures 1,087 metres (3,566 feet) by 657 metres (2,155 feet). The bottom of the lake is 30 metres (100 feet) below the level of the main street of the nearby town. The Blue Lake supplies the town with drinking water, providing approximately 3,500 megalitres (2,800 acre·ft) per year from its 36,000 ML (29,000 acre·ft) store.

During December to March, the lake turns to a vibrant cobalt blue colour, returning to a colder steel grey colour for April to November. The exact cause of this phenomenon is still a matter of conjecture, but it is generally considered likely that it revolves around the warming of the surface layers of the lake during the summer months to around 20 degrees Celsius (70 °F), causing calcium carbonate to precipitate out of solution and enabling micro-crystallites of calcium carbonate to form. This results in scatter of the blue wavelengths of sunlight. During winter the lake becomes well mixed, and recent research indicates that during this phase of the colour cycle the lake is somewhat murkier due to the redistribution of tannins and calcium carbonate particles throughout the lake. Solar elevation has also been found to influence the perceived colour of the lake. The movement of planktonic life-forms within the lake during the seasons and during the day may additionally play a part in the colour change.

I stopped at a carvan park and decided to take a cabin. I wasn’t feeling that happy, yes sad clown this day. I thought to myself not to worry about the money. They charged $65 for me that is a lot as my income is so low, I have to find places for free to make it up. Anyway, I got the cabin and thought don’t worry about it live in the moment. I liked the cabin nice double bed, bathroom, heating and microwave with tea and coffee. I am not into microwaves so much, but could cook up some noodles and have a cuppa.

What was interesting about this little stop over with a t.v. was that a program on SBS was investigating Einstein’s theory and quantum theory. I found that very interesting. Einstein was looking for stability. Lately I am thinking about this word as it keeps coming up, predictability, repeating patterns, constancy. That is what stability evokes for me. I also see it in atomic structures where there is balance between positive, negative and neutrals. The universe seems to find balance, maybe that is a better word than stability. I just recalled that Einstein was seeking a theory to explain the universe, they spoke of unity, that always pricks my ears. For me I seek harmony in human affairs which I see as nature, he was seeking unity. I guess Einstein is thinking the structure is stable, hence predictable. I am brave to try and think about what Einstein is thinking (haha). Anyway, I am having musings now just playing with ideas as I write this. I found that fascinating.

The other part of the program was investigating the quantum world, the uncertainty, parallel universes. To some extent I feel more at home in the quantum world, as my life is so unpredictable and I believe in the law of attraction ‘like attracts like’. Years ago I had a small debate with Edward de Bono where he told me roughly that there were 10 doors and 1 goat behind a door, he said what was the probability – I said 50:50, he would say 1 in 10. Today I would frame my answer and say 1:0 (binary code), or, it either is or it isn’t. I don’t believe in probability or increasing your chances, I believe that through the law of attraction we choose a possibility, rather than being the victim of reality and subject to chance. I believe we create our reality consciously and sub-consciously. So for me the quantum field resonates more.

What was interesting was Einstein’s statement that ‘god does not play dice with the universe’, yet the Quantum theorists saw chance at the quantum level. I don’t believe in chance either, I feel we choose. However, that is not to say at the Quantum level there is not the possibility of chance as a context and we choose through intent thus selecting a possible outcome.

In my view I perceive collectively we are choosing the times we are moving through – there is a radical idea for you. We, through the thoughts we put out electromagnetically create the events and times of the world. Can you see how fear has changed the world through earning income, through militarisation, drugs, violence etc. Just imagine if the people make new choices, new thoughts, in positive ways, perhaps we can move mountains. Was it not said the faith of a mustard seed can move mountains, do you believe that? I would see this as the overlap of faith and science. Funny how they always see themselves opposed. I also believe in evolution and creation. So for me the quantum field through the law of attraction renders that statement truer in reality. I will post some information on my Peace is Our True Nature blog on the debates of Einstein and Bohr examining these two approaches of explaining unity.

I realised after watching the program to just trust my life as it unfolds. I would say that I was meant to be in that cabin in order to watch this program. Interesting thought. Many would say no chance, coincidence, I don’t think in that way anymore, I am becoming more observant. So even my sorrow over the day lead me to making that choice. Was it chance or is it a blueprint of my life? Both positive and negative lead us somewhere. Interesting thoughts hey.

I slept better overnight and got up the next morning ready to make the drive to Adelaide. I was thinking if I can’t find a place to stay I will go an extra 3.5 hours to Port Augusta. I just don’t feel I have the energy to put up the tent. That was my feeling.

I rang my friend Bronwen on route to see if I could stay with her brother. No go, they had guests. I left a message with Rita a teacher I met last time, she didn’t respond. The couch surfing requests said no. I was thinking I wonder if I am not meant to go to Adelaide? I was feeling I wanted to go there. I definitely wanted to rest there as I was pretty drained after my emotional day the day before.

Anyway, I stopped at Mount Barker at MacDonalds. I thought I might just stop and check the internet and try and create something.

My computer didn’t have access to power, so I would have to be quick before the battery died. Anyway, I remembered I had friends here – Sue and Owen. They were with UNESCO and involved with values education. I met them in Melbourne years ago. I attended their workshops and they invited me to conduct one as a clown. They flashed into my mind. I remembered they wrote a reference and they had an address and email. I quickly wrote an email and with my new mobile. I thought let’s just see. Create a possibility.

I then had a flash about Rotary. Why not try the Rotary Club of Adelaide. I am a Rotary scholar they typically look after scholars. So I rang the number on the website and spoke with David. He kindly agreed for me to stay overnight. He and his wife did have plans for playing Bridge but invited me over.

I went to a North Adelaide suburb that was close to the city. They had a lovely home and were successful. I smiled at the idea of having nowhere to go to 5 star accommodation and I felt gratitude. I spoke with he and his lovely wife Diane about my work. Diane in particular was really surprised that – a woman was travelling alone, the only possessions owned in the car and living in a tent. She was surprised at my world trip, my dedication to peace and being a clown. I could see such a warmth in her face and felt she was a kind person. She was very colourful and I could see instantly the artist in her. I actually saw her paintings on the wall, very bright and beautiful I commented and she told me she had painted them. I was impressed.

I felt so happy being there, we had a chat and then Diane suggested I go for a walk as I was close to O’Connell Street, a famous restaurant street in Adelaide. So I went for a walk along the street and decided to ring my friend Jane. She automatically started talking about the Law of Attraction and the issue I had been grappling with. I thought her mentioning of the Law of Attraction was timely but no coincidence. I’d been upset with a person but I did manage to transform my feelings into gratitude. It is a gift I have. Yet the pain I felt was intense as well. I feel I am moving on from the issue. I was not lost on my friend bringing up the Law of Attraction. Essentially, you move to more positive feeling thoughts in order to attract good things into your life. Thankfully I am naturally positive and I do have a capacity to believe always, great things are happening and indeed for me, they are. I have a well spring of optimism. This is probably why I make a good clown, I am naturally inclined to laugh and look for the good. I enjoyed our conversation and said ‘i love you’ just as the phone cut out (out of battery). I then walked for a while enjoying the nice summer air and shops.

I came back and David noted I’d been gone a while. He introduced me to his Bridge buddies. We ended up talking about my clowning and my time clowning at Parliament. I told them I’d always fantisized about clowning in Federal Parliament at Question Time. When I did clown there they called me a P.O.I. (person of interest). I laugh at that, always I am a person of interest. I explained to them I clowned at a Civil Society Conference. The attendees were mostly lawyers. I found the men most confronted, but the women were pretty embracing. I did this as an experiment to see if they were inclusive in truth. Some were some weren’t. That is why working on ourselves is important, not just talking the talk but walking it. You have to be inclusive without fear of difference to create an inclusive society. So clowning is one test. I remember one guy a Greek Orthodox priest, he was so relaxed and funny. We swapped hats and I put a feather bower on him. He laughed and said in his spiritual Order they laughed all the time and joked around. It was a really interesting moment. I heard of his reputation later, he is well respected and progressive. With that description of one of my adventures I left the men and settled to watch television.

I then happened to flick to a documentary on the IMF. That made me consider the wheeling and dealing of financial banks manouvreing to make money in whatever way they can. I thought of how the IMF is used by these bankers to profit themselves. I think governments are used by business to make more money. They use government as agents to promote their business internationally, like we are all on the same team. In reality they are on a global stage and multinationals in particular have no allegience to national governments, they seek leverage to maximise profit and garner influence. Yet funnily enough if I approach the Department of Education here in Australia and ask them to circulate my peace education information they say they can’t promote me. Yet in the international arena they are happy if it increases GDP and jobs. Interesting hey. There is a fine line between business and government and vested interests become blurred. The documentary showed me how the IMF was used to advocate for loans to third world countries with strings attached. So many countries have had to adhere to rigid models or what was termed Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) which were considered austerity measures. This may have required countries to raise interest rates, cut welfare, plant commercial crops instead of food crops, pay back high repayment amounts etc. So the program looked at the mask of financiers behind this and the social consequences of these measures devoid of social costs and responsibility for social welfare. They utilised the Asian Financial Crisis as an example. There are of course clues in the current Global Financial Crisis inherent within models of profit maximisation, self interest, fear, lack of values and corruption. So it was interesting. Again, I would not have seen this program had I not been staying with these Rotarians and had they not been playing Bridge (both of them), I would have been chatting and not reflecting on some of the realities plaguing the world. The lack of values is the central issue in my view.

Anyway, I was tired and hit the sack as they say. I stayed in a lovely room overlooking the street, nice double bed and I just felt gratitude at my life. I never know what is going to manifest. Rotary just popped into my mind. I knew I was meant to be in Adelaide. That is what I call the flow of life, I am not in control.