Aussie Dust

That is how the past few days may be summed up, as the early part of the Nullarbor Plain passes, step by step, under Dave’s barrow.

Dave and Jo are still without internet and mobile phone access (regardless of what we in the cities might be hearing from our telecommunications carriers) so they are relying upon good old payphones to keep us informed of their health and progress. While the second of these is “fantastic”, the first is merely “quite good” as Dave continues to work on keeping his feet from falling apart. He is on to about his sixth pair of shoes now, and the people at Rema are keeping in good contact and well supplied. Jo reports that he has come to refer to his feet as his “chariots of fire”, which shows that his sense of humour is undiminished. But then, he would not be Dave without it.

But “extreme” is the word, and it can be applied to just about everything they are experiencing. There is the weather, which whipsaws from a scorching 45°C (or 113°F, for those so inclined) – and many degrees hotter on the black tarmac – to thunderstorms which darken the skies, send sheets of rain, threaten hailstones, and try to blow Dave all the way back to his starting point. They were prepared for the heat, of course, having timed the start of their venture carefully to ensure they would be past the Nullarbor before the very hottest time of the year, but the storms seem to be a shock to everyone. Especially when you are pushing what amounts to a small sail out in front of you as you go. Thank heavens the axle and running gear on Dave’s Kelso barrow are operating well.

On that point, “extreme” can also refer to the support Jo and Dave have been receiving along their way. In the last few days, passing through Caiguna and Cocklebiddy, what had just been small names on a large map have turned out to be populated by a tremendous group of people who have gone out of their way to help. Small towns, perhaps, but big hearts.

And I was told explicitly not to end this without a “shout out” to Daniel at Caravan Land in Cannington, who acted quickly when informed that part of Jo and Dave’s caravan had been damaged. Replacement parts were sent immediately, and, via Les “Gummy” Patterson (in the guise of a Toll delivery driver) the caravan was back to its original state within two days.

It seems one is not really isolated when surrounded by good people.

techsupport@aussiedust.com