I’m sure there’s more to life than the Hokey Pokey…isn’t there?

Sometimes, things do seem as simple as putting your right foot in and out and shaking it all about. Other times, I think I’d like to have a frank conversation with Mr Hokey Pokey, because really, when I looked down into the grave of John Reid on the 17^th of October I thought,  there must be more to it all than ‘doing the Hokey Pokey and turning around?’

It’s true.

We abandoned Pearl in Cairns airport. It was October 4^th. It was stinking hot. It was nothing less and nothing more than a frenetic scene of flying clothes, sobbing women, and a large back-pack half filled with toiletries and thermals. Then came the scene now known as the moment that finally sank my boat. It wasn’t the mouse; it was; 500ml milk, 6 free range eggs and accompanying egg holder, bocconcini, 3 tomatoes, Greek yoghurt, and a tub of hommus.

At the time it felt devastatingly important to ensure the newly purchased food stuff stored in our Engel 48L fridge was passed on to a grateful recipient. However, turns out grateful recipients were in sort supply at the Cairns international airport, and I did approach a number of people ranging from frightened families, freaked out foreign travellers, and random airport staff.  Eventually the Qantas check-in lady took the bloody bag of cold goods. Possibly because she could see my full boat bobbing precariously in my heart, possibly because both Carole and I were sobbing, or,  possibly because she really did want the 500ml of milk and yellow egg holder containing 6 free range eggs.

And no, I didn’t break out into a verse of the Hokey Pokey.  

Off we set on the worst 27 hour journey north we will hopefully ever do. Satisfied that nothing perishable remained in Pearl and secure in the knowledge that at $50 a week, she would be ok at the airport. I think it was somewhere between Singapore and Heathrow that we remembered the bag of potatoes in the back, but that’s a story for Andrew and Cathy to tell.

Pearl remained in Cairns for 2 weeks until Andrew and Cathy drove up from Townsville to collect her, she is now keeping Andrew’s array of Gemini’s and other assorted vehicles company in his front yard, which we’re sure Cathy is thrilled about!  So, two dislocating months later we find ourselves un-expectantly back in Perth and feeling as though the Hokey Pokey might be onto it. The Emily part of this blogg, was living in a slightly fractured reality and was mentally holding…gripping…clinging to the idea that we could just shake it all about, turn around, do a Hokey Pokey and pick up where we left off, and that would be what it’s all about. 

The other Emily, the one that considerers her love with Carole to be more important than schedules, plans and deadlines, finally showed up at the ninth hour and realised that things were as they were, and grief doesn’t fit into a 10 day plan, and perhaps the unpredictable road and life of rambling pearls was not right for now.
I can almost hear the sighs of relief… ok, I get it now… Sydney is off, Perth is on, if you don’t know what I’m talking about its a good thing.

So the semi-permanent pause to our adventures means we will be in Perth for Christmas and most of January. We will both attempt to collect our scattered synapses and consider our future moves with care and caution. Currently we have been gratefully hovering in North Perth with the Karra/ Parker family who have been patient, kind, considerate and most importantly tolerant. Next stop is a house-sit in Fremantle from late Dec through to late Jan. After that, we’ll have to ask the Hokey.

The Pearl…what to do about Pearl? I think that translates to WTDAP…  Griff?

It’s a conundrum worthy of a full length Hokey Pokey. We’ve been pondering the dilemma of how to bring the Pearl home for a few days and have decided to offer anyone willing to sing the Hokey Pokey (of course), whilst driving her back to Perth from Townsville any route they wish.  

Points to note
Absolute top speed is 100kms/phr, happiest at 90kms/phr, excess on the car is $700 (over 21 year olds…as if we know anyone under 21!) , she has all you need for a comfortable journey including a/c, fridge, and excess water and petrol storage containers, and we’d like her back by the end of January. Willing to negotiate on the Hokey Pokey and on the January deadline, but only a little bit…

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11.23pm, 2nd October 2009

Up a mountain (Bartle Frere), Far North Queensland

Camping by a spring under the canopy of  rainforest

Hop hop comes Mr toad, right next to the tent

stare stare stare

Hop hop away

Screeching chorus of painfully loud inscets at sunset

Quite full moon rises

Phone rings once, twice, three times

Hello?

Carole you need to phone your mum

beat breath teeth

John’s passed away in New Zealand

Thump, throat, stomach, heart, all things in between

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Pain

Silence

Pain

Breath

wfopsjdflkjsdaoifera …

drowned in a spa bath

wake-up, wake-up. wake up

Just FUCKIN wake up!

Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,

6am, 3rd October 2009

Back down the mountain

Cairns

Airport, Darwin, airport,Singapore,airport,London,airport,Belfast

No mobile, no internet, no connection

Home

Relief. Pain. Hope. Anger.Empty.Disbelief. Numb

Wake, people, scones, tea, Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, Wake, people, scones, tea,Wake, people, scones, tea,Wake, people, scones, tea,Wake, people, scones, tea,Wake, people, scones, tea,Wake, people, scones, tea, Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob, Talk, sobWake, people, scones, tea, Wake, people, scones, tea,Wake, people, scones, tea, Wake, people, scones, tea, Wake, people, scones, tea,Wake, people, scones, tea, Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob, talk, sob,Talk, sob

Comfort

Breath breath breath

John’s body yet to return

wait

wait

wait

Confusion, Where is home?

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Pain, empty heavy pain

Connect?

0044 28 40622991

21/12/ 1970 to 02/10/2009

Answers answers answers

We all want answers, well I do, and usually all the time.
If I don’t get the one I want, I’ll just ask again or make up my own answer.

4 months and 9 days of travelling, and these are the Top 10 answers to a rather random Top 10 most frequently asked questions

10. Where the bloody hell are you?

In the Pearl in Australia

9. Is cleanliness godliness?

No idea, but wow it feel good to skinny dip in rivers, lakes, gorges and oceans. Slightly less good when an army helicopter rounds the corner and hovers above your head, or you spy a freshwater crocadile cruising pass. The top end phrase of ” It’s only a freshie” just doesn’t wash well with me. 

8. What’s been the ‘don’t leave home without item’?

Duct tape, and my wiffee of course!

Not in that order.

And , a stubby holder for the top end, we’ve even resorted to using a pair of socks on occasion

7. What happened to Basil?

He had to go. He was becoming a quarantine hazard.

6. Where are you going next?

This is a direct quote from Carole “There’s always an answer to this question, which never eventuates, however the reality is far more exciting than the initial prospect could have been”.

Apparently if you say this three times without taking a breath a pot of gold will appear.

5. Who farts most?
(We have a strong small boy following)
It all comes down to the infamous McCracken digestive system, let’s just say that Carole doesn’t have any McCracken’s in her family even though McCracken is an UlsterScot (North Irish) name.

Might also be worth noting that we’ve just spent the best part of the last 4 weeks with my brother and the merry crew, when departing, Andrew and Cathy appeared clutching a huge basket of goodies, one being a fan for Carole. I blame genetics.

4. What are you most afraid of?

Generators

3. What’s the best place you’ve been to?

Time to introduce the ECAP Awards (Emily Carole And Pearl Awards)

For all those librarians out there (Jo) resist the urge to arrange the below list, there is no order! There’ s a kayos theroy out there somewhere…If I only I could find it.

Katherine, NT Bucking Bull Café and the Katherine Gorge walk

Cook Town, Willi Gordon tour, Cemetary, Milkwood accommodation

Adelaide River Markets- The BESt ever ANZAC Cookies and Banana Loaf

Mareeba Coffee Works, FNQ

Top end Gulf Region Boorolooa  Museum, National Trust

Dimbula Atherton Tablelands, FNQ,

Purnalooloo (Bungle Bungles), WA

Exmouth WA Swimming with the whale shark ,

Que, Big Bell and secret camping location…WA

Upper Merchasion River landscape, and region, Central WA- this is the real outback. No crowds, no crappy souvenirs, no big butt caravans, no trucks, and no coffee. Just amazing landscapes, colonial cemeteries that tell the story of European settlements past and present, dusty streets and incredible incredible camping opportunities- at risk of sounding super duper corny with melted butter and cracked pepper on top-  the real 5 million star hotel kind of camping… and the best part is….

Francois Perin National Park, WA

Abroholis Islands, WA

Gidgegannup, WA

Wallaman and Juarrana Falls, FNQ

Gregory’s National Park, NT – Bullita Stock Route- Really really really fun 4wding. Proved we could do it and we really really really enjoyed it. We passed a Landcruiser 100 series en route who had sheared off two ballbearing bolts, having refused help from a ‘Lady’ we powered on and enjoyed the rest of the trip with new friends Barbara and Brian- the most inspiration people we have meet yet.

Victoria River Road House – bubble and squuek burgers and a home made chocolate chip cookie that we’d drive all the way back for…moist, warm, big and doughy…OMG…

Darwin- family, friendships and philosophising under the stars

Townsville- Re-connecting with family and being spoilt rotten by Caathy and Andrew

Maggie Island- Again, re-connecting with Auntie Georgina and Uncle Larry (:  and  again, being spoilt rotten, having yarns, and feeling like there are places we can call home all around Australia

Riverfire festival, Brisbane – we will never be able to see another fireworks again. Except of course Sydney for new years.

The cream de la cream…. Sydney, because it’s Sydney and we got to spend time with the crazy crew. Nothing beats two small boys trundling down the footpath with open arms yelling Emmmeee,  Cawoole or The Aunties!! and I mean nothing.

2. Do you get bored in the car? Closely followed by … the ever tactful non question of … . How on earth does Carole manage?!?!?

I answer;

I love the power nap. In essence this journey is really just one big power napping opportunity. It’s the megga nanna nap.

So yes, I often sleep in the car, sometimes to the annoyance of my co-pilot, but as I explained today  I sleep after I’ve exhausted all other options for entertainment which include; snacking; navigating; writing on postcards and the blogg;  texting; trying to identify the remaining 542 unnammed i-tune tracks; admiring scenery; planning future meals; and plotting my early retirement.

Carole has declined to respond.

1. Do you argue often?

No but yeah, but no but yeah…

Yeah… If I’ve asked the same question a few times in a row. The answer to why I ask the same question repeatedly is 20% of the time I wasn’t listening to Carole’s answer, 70% of the time I didn’t like the answer, 10% I can’t remember what the answer was so need to ask it again.

oh, and there is the issue of my complete lack of directional sense, recently I heard the phrase….EMILY !!!!…..You’re like a shopping trolley with a Bunkie wheel…the car is this way.
and,
perhaps  my limpet qualities are starting to be somewhat annoying for Carole in the cossie spaces we inhabit
and,

Dangly Discoveries

For all those people out there who thought..

a)      No idea, but tape it to something that doesn’t move, get hot, or something metal because its associated with the alternator

b)      Leave it be, its done no harm thus far

c)      that would be the capacitor and it should be sitting above the alternator and not dangling down below

d)      what a boring blog and who cares

but failed to blog us your thoughts, I am sending you scowling Emily face and a Belfast kiss to you right now.

Because all of these thoughts only occurred to us AFTER we’d taped it to the main body of the car, which would be AFTER the alternator and a few other fuses blew, which would also be AFTER the main battery drained because the starter moter was still trying to start.

Bush Mechanics 101…out comes the trusty Gregory’s Patrol Maverick manual #512. Having read the line “…….” If a) b) and c) are faulty rectify the problem and renew the fusable links as required”, P207.   Sure thing Mr Gregory I’ll just waltz over to the sandstone columns and ask for a new alternator fuse. Twitch. Twitch.

Time to crack open the jar of nuttella.

Down came the trusty electrical box and out came the even trustier blue craft kit which contains useful items such as super small plyers for super small fuses and a great thick needle which proved extra handy when releasing the fuse link from its casing.

The highly talented Ms Reid swung into action and managed to strip the copper wire from an old cable wire and refuse the fuse the fuse link.  A quick jump start from a fellow 4bier and we were off on another adventure!

Lesson learnt, don’t fiddle with the car in the middle of nowhere and the old adage that many a government departments have tattooed above their doors “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it”

And… for those who don’t care about dangly bits… one small jar of nutella was purchased in the interests of Carole finances and sainity.

What is that dangling from under Pearl?

 Whilst going through the pre-departure routine in preparation for our next big adventure into the NT gulf region, I noticed an unusual object dangling to the right of the air-conditioner motor/pump/compressor thing. 

The good news is, I gave it a bit of a twiddle and it’s still attached.

Bad news is, I have no idea what it does, what its meant to be attached to, or where it should be attached. I can see the remnants of some mummified masking tape and a bracket that broke well before we arrived on the scene. The current plan is to whip out the trusty roll of duct tape and tape it to something that doesn’t look like it will get hot, wet or moves.

Where do you live mystery item? hmmm... good news or bad news?

So, my question to you all those motor enthusiasts out there…what the fridge magnets is it?

To all the non-motor head magnets out there, my question is, should we get one big jar or two smaller jars of nutella ?

 Em (covered in dirt, oil and remnants of nuttella) ily

 

Dreaming in the land of the dreamtime

Having camped in Cassie and Lou’s front yard for a week with our new neighbours and adopted family… Glen, Julie Arora and LeLarnie, Charlie, Lou , Jack, and our not so new family Cassie and Marie, we were a bit sad to be saying goodbye. It had been a week full of adventure and serious celebrations, including the nightly nightcaps of wine, chocolate and banter about Roosters, hens and the bloody saucepan (ask John or Vicky). However, we were both ready to hit the road again and left in search of isolation, adventure starting with…trying to find somewhere to re-fill our gas bottle.

6 stops later we found our friendly gas re-fillers and set our sights for the place we’ve been dreaming of … Kakadu the king of National Parks. Australia’s largest National Park, with over 20, 000 square km’s of parklanit seemed like the perfect place to explore, experience and practice our being at one with nature** However, Kakado had other plans.

**This excludes mosquitos, flies and other unidentified bitting insects

Our dreams of a wilderness experience began fading faster than you could say “Watchout for that tour bus!”  …followed by “I’m tired and not feeling too good”…which was then followed by an unplanned horizontal moment at the visitor centre, which was then not so closely followed by a trip to the dr’s and a diagnosis of flu.

Just as the flu was surfacing about 11am Tuesday, Carole and I had gone to participate in cultural activities, which were nothing short of amazing. However, all I could do was sit at the picnic table, slump and watch as a frustrated Carole attempted to strip the pandanus plant of its hard outer fibre and “Lizzy” our weaving expert mixed the billy pot with dye from the tree. It was shortly after this brief, but interesting experience that I had my unplanned horitontal moment.

 Not quiet the adventure we were expecting (dam those unexpectations again). We decided to pack in the camping and head for the nearest accommodation that would fit our meagre budget. 

I’m going to divert from this rather long rambling story while I do a wee plug for Lakeview Lodge. Owing to the minor but seemingly important fact that we hadn’t booked and it was peak season in a town smaller than a Mac’s small fries, the staff bent over backwards to find us a room to rest our flu ridden bodies. Where possible we got double beds (no pause) and they tried to limit the number of times we had to move over the week and a half we took up residence. Plus, they phoned as soon as the room was ready as they knew we were sick.  

There is a point to this story…

It was on about day 3 that I had the dream which Lizzy revisited me.
The dream.

I was nowhere but somewhere familiar, alone but somehow not alone. Then appeared Lizzy who was standing by the fire mixing the pot with a huge stick. She looked up at me and said “you didn’t ask if you could come, that’s why your sick” I felt confused but seriously unwell in the dream. I couldn’t move or talk. Then she bent down and picked up two river stones from within the fire with her bare hands and put them both in the nape of my neck. I felt a hot hot rush run down my spine and as I began to awake, she said “you’ll be ok” and turned back to the fire.

I open my eyes to find the last half of Piourt on the ABC and Carole massaging my neck. From that moment on I began slowly felling better.

Odder than finding a hot spring at 60C in the middle of River? Absolutly!
Although, not odder than discovering that Butterfly Gorge (Daley River) doesn’t actually have butterflies anymore, further still, no one seemed to find this disturbing. I was searching the sky for an alien ship with the tune  ”goodbye and thanks for all the fish…” running through my mind.

Was it a drug hazed flu induced dream? Not entirely sure, but I now make a point of asking permission before we swim, camp, walk or even piss anywhere in the NT

Em (off the nurophen plus now and onto chocolate rumballs for breakfast…but that’s another story) ily

On your marks, get set, go…or not

Morning departures, actually any departure is fraught with danger for a number of our beloved possessions. The question shouldn’t be what was left behind at campsites, hotels and friends houses, more how far did we get before we realised…

1. Dishcloth still attached to the front bumper- 20kms down a dirt road, with big bumps
2. Water bladders happily hanging onto the side of the car by their wee string -5kms into the 4wd drive trip through to Exmouth from Coral Bay (don’t bother doing this unless your camping at the station, its very average, very bumpy and with very few rewards)
   -15km through Darwin suburbia

   Yep, this has happened on more than one occasion

3. Did you know that you can drive with a quickstep attached to the wheel?  It doesn’t stay on long, and inevitably gets run over but is still usable afterwards – we love the quickstep… run over twice and still going strong…Three cheers for the quickstep!

   This is our favourite…

4. 5L of Diff oil sitting on the back of the roof as we drive from Cassies house waving goodbye to Marie all the way to the bottle shop. About 15k and down the road and then some.
5. Most recently, the beloved writing box, cunningly disguised as an old shoe box, was left drying in the middle of the path. We returned an hour later to find her crisping up nicely waiting patiently to be collected.
6. And sadly…the sunnies, the beautiful Bolle sunnies which were last seen on the bench at the Jim Jim falls boat crossing. Carole is hopeful they make a miraculous resurfacing, just like her last Bolles, which spent a whole year hiding under the seat of the SAAB.

Is there a subliminal message in all of this?

Perhaps, but strangely enough no toiletries have ever been left behind.

The Dreaded Re-Pack…

Our departure from Perth, now a mere 3 weeks ago, or is it 4? (caz confirmed; 26 days), was less than smooth. The scene was more like something out of Shitty shitty bang bang rather than the darling buds of may.  Consequently, things were where they were. No logic. No reason. Just squished in and strapped to something, sometimes. 

So, after 3 weeks of frantic early morning pack-ups battling sun, flies, centipedes, odd socks, wind and rain, we decided that it was time for the dreaded re-pack.

With a re-pack comes a de-clutter. Our semi, sort of not really planned stay at Brad and Damion’s place in Broome gave us 3 days of undercover parking, hot showers, seriously good food, tv, and the comfort of having family (newly adopted family!) and friends to cheer us on and give us someone else to talk to other than each other and Pearl, who had started talking back to us. Perfect, and yes, Brad and Damion didn’t escape being recipients of Em n Caz random crap gifts.

I’m sure they’ve always wanted a jigsaw mat, one cup and a tool bag which didn’t match the other 4 tool boxes that we now own… the toiletries have been downgraded to a mere 2.5 boxes.

In order to de-clutter we had to decide what just couldn’t do without.

Hold these thoughts…seriously sensational scenery….

Albino cow
Boab tree
Really big boab
Cow
Crazy big termite mound
Cow
Cow with cute ears and a funny bump
Flat and skinny termite mound
Boab with budding flowers
Termine mound with small tree growning out of it?!?!
Road
Road
More road… 

… lucky I’m not driving

So here’s the Top 10 ‘stuff we can’t do without’

1. Double 12volt adapter (thanks Outreach)
2. Fridge ahhh the fridge, cold beer, wine and cheese!
3. Sqirty bottle (little Gem all the way from Ireland)
4. Laptop and wireless
5. Coffee cup things, kindly donated by Joy and Mike in Karratha. These are uber kool, and are solving the problem of no drinkable coffee past the 26^th parallel
6. Indestructable quickstep… do you really want to know how many times we’ve driven off with it still attached to the wheel.
7. Merrino wool bed socks, which could really only be outdone by our non existent cashmere socks
8. Dual (almost but not divorce) battery system
9. Trangie, 15 years and still counting

 and,

10. Each other (that was Carole’s idea….)

Where did all this stuff come from!

 Jane…Ms Lesbos (real name Sapho) has survived de-clutter #1 and is still clinging to the backdoor window, we hope

Are we still here??

“Are you STILL here?” The final words from our nephew after seeing us YET again, two farewell dinners later. Nothing like a 5 year old giving you the cold hard truth.

Question
How many farewell hugs, dinners, last cups of coffee, vegetarian bbq can you have before things start getting awkward and you have to shop in neighbouring suburbs so nobody can see you still in Perth.

Answer: 3
We finally blew this popstand yesterday on the 21st May 6.00pm with 218 040kms on the odometer.

Yes, it was somewhat later than either of us had anticipated, 2 weeks and 4 hours after the new new new departure time according to me… or 2weeks and 6 hours if you asked Carole. Did somebody say communication?

Pause… navigation duties call. Navigation successful. Straight ahead.

Question
What do a; crippling flue, Rick Heart washing machine bolts, a minor concussion complete with compounded vertebrae (in the IGA car park… that’s Carole’s story), dual battery system, an air-conditioning pipe, Poisons Information line, suspended mobile phone, and a purple toilet have in common?

Answer
Two weeks and 4 (or 6 ) hours worth of delay

Now its time to play…’Emily’s list of random questions buzzing through the synapses’ game…
How do I tell the difference between the 204 track01’s on the iphone?
Why does it take around 15 minutes for someone to answer the poisons information line?
Why do we have a snorkel fitted to the Pearl?
How many things have I used ‘duct tape’ for?
Where is the duct tape?
Where are the scissors?
What’s the deal with all these Delicas’ on the road?
What is Carole doing?
Where are we?

An Answer…
Carole is admiring views and spurting random bits of useful information. Nope scrap that, Carole is such a dag…she’s calculating distance between one hill and the next, then using this data to estimate required speed and distance for overtaking road trains.
Oh I do love this dag!

Em (I bet she’s going to put it into a spreadsheet) ily