Attrition strikes
again. True to the culture of Queenslanders, Boonie leaves in
time to attend a Rugby
International game in Brisbane. After travelling
thousands of kilometres together, the final division of food and other stuff is a
bit like a funeral wake. He’s keen to get back for a rest (and to avoid my cooking, I suspect), and plans to leave from Brisbane a few days later on a trip to Lake Eyre! Marco
Polo, eat your heart out. Boonie says he’s had enough of dirt roads so I’m unsure why he’s heading out to Lake
Eyre, where I understand that dirt is
endemic.
We started in Kununurra,WA, with 15 people, now there are two. Next morning Harry and I find the van park has emptied
by around 60%. It’s a shock, as if the place has been swept by a plague. I
guess this is the last weekend of the
tourist season. Out on the road, 4WDs and their vans swarm out of Karumba
and onto the highway and head south and
east. It’s an exodus, but is it an exodus of
lemmings? Lucky there are no cliffs
within a thousand kilometres or they
might drive off. At the Tavern the echoes are eerie, emphasised by the
empty sweep of the empty view over the empty Gulf. Two days ago the
bar was packed; at lunchtime today Harry and I are the only
customers. The barmaid is bored. I guess this means it’s over.
Our return to the East Coast will be nothing new ; lots of déjà vu and not nearly as much bulldust. If there are doubters among my readers
I invite them to
visit me for an interminable show of photographs which substantiate most of
what I’ve written. Oh wait – I’m busy that night. My final message to you is: should you
ever come across a gentleman in a dirty grey-and-pink striped shirt, do not
automatically push him aside
or into the
gutter – it may be
MrJW*, who I believe is saving up for a new shirt. * This unsolicited compliment is expected to
generate another tax-deductable donation to the writer from MrJW, who is
advised to make contact to discuss further opportunities for positive press
coverage. NEXT : Bermuda becomes delirious when crown jewels threatened - saved by miracle drug.
