Courage and time to wait for echidnas

The final day of driving had me in better spirits and when I spied a sign on the Bunya Highway for the Dingo Fence I took the turn off. I have of course heard of the Rabbit Proof Fence but wondered if this was a fence keeping dingos in or out. I was hoping to see a few dingos.

When I finally found a road that might lead to the Dingo Fence (signage was poor) I hesitated. It was a dirt road, there was no mobile coverage and it was the middle of nowhere. This is the part of flying solo that I dislike. Fear that prevents me from discovering the wonderful world. So I thought of advise from my friend Ruth (quoting John Wayne that "Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.") I saddled up and drove down the dirt road for a couple kms and then parked and walked for a few kms.

The Dingo Fence is in place to keep dingos out of southern Queensland. I am not sure about the effectiveness because I suspect Chloe could get over that fence! The stop was well worth the effort. The birds were cheering me on, a little exercise was welcome after 4 days of driving and a I got a close up look at an echidna. I appreciate the privilege of time that I have right now. So much of my life I have been time poor and now I have hours, even days to kill. I stopped to watch the echidna who hunkered down when s/he heard me. Seems the echidna had even more time than I did. Note to self, you're in Queensland now, no walking without a hat.

Purchasing local mandarins and peanuts from a roadside stand was a treat. Reached Hervey Bay as it started to rain but once again with time on my side I am not worried about missing the sunshine. The Ramada is a treat where I will be very comfortable until I leave for Lady Elliot on 4 July.

This sign may be the best indicator for me of my journey

Day 3 - My Love of Whales

Travelling from Coonabarabran to Dalby did not have many points of interest but I was grateful for the sunshine and clear road. Listening to the news of Aus tralia in the Intl Court of Justice made me think about whales and my hopes that I will see some humpbacks while I am up North. 

I still remember my excitement at the prospect of seeing whales on a trip to Cape Cod in my early 20s. I had never had the opportunity to see a whale before this and I don’t remember if one was spotted on that trip but I was forever drawn to learning about and loving whales. I like dolphins but I love whales.

Over the years I have whale watched numerous times in waters off California, Washington state, Queensland, Western Australia, and Victoria.  Sightings have mainly been from boats but also from land. My favourite whales are orcas but Australia is a better place to see humpbacks.

One whale sighting was from the glass bottom boat on Lady Elliot Island when I visited 10 years ago. Hervey Bay is a popular whale watching spot because Humpback whales migrate annually between June and August from polar feeding grounds to tropical calving and mating areas at the Great Barrier Reef. Then from August to the end of October, the whales begin returning to the Antarctic and stopping over in Hervey Bay for a long rest before their big journey.

My love of whales is the reason I oppose whaling and am interested in the news this week. Australia and Japan are trying to settle their differences over whaling in the Southern Ocean in the International Court of Justice. Australia has argued that there is no meaningful scientific information being gained from the data collected and whaling should stop. Japan will respond next week. Stay tuned.

 

Day 2 - 27 June

Driving from Narrandera to Coonabarabran was easier than yesterday's trip and very green for the first few hours. The Australian landscape was beautiful and a white horse led the way. I passed the truck pulling the horse float 4 times but each time I stopped for rest I would end up behind the white horse again. Glad to have a mascot. 

It was interesting to see the number of fox that are dying on the roadside indicating the number of fox that must be living. Wikipedia says there are 7.2 million red foxes in Australia!!

The weather did not encourage a stop in Parkes to visit The Big Dish but I was able to see it from the main road. Maybe on the return trip.

I read an account of a woman that lost her baby. Certainly more sadness than I have ever had to bear. She wrote 
How do you survive the reality of it?
You rest, you grieve, you reach out, you recover, you trust, you remember, you hope and you accept. You gravitate to kindness, to help and you relinquish control over the things you can't govern. You assume that life is not out there to get you - it's there to teach you and to introduce you to yourself. You love because it's sweeter than bitterness. And you realise that people are incredible, resilient, willing and capable, and that you are one of them


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/the-children-ive-never-known-20130617-2ocz6.html#ixzz2XQFa5IgSRead more: http://www.theage.com.au/national/the-children-ive-never-known-20130617-2ocz6.html#ixzz2XQEvhStI  

Day 1 - 26 June

26 June

Trying to finish up packing my things in the house and getting the car packed with what needed to go north was helpful in that I could not get too emotional. Having to say goodbye to Chloe was dangerous to my calm and made easier by giving her a marrow bone as she could not have cared less that I was leaving.

 

All of my plans for a neat, organised car packed with minimal belongings were laughable as in the end I threw boxes, suitcases and wet clothes in the car to be sorted at a later time on the trip. This brought to mind my dad's ability to pack and organise and that he might be turning in his grave. Following that thought I realised my mom was also agitating the grave as I had chosen pillowcases for the trip that I just took from her home after her death last month. They are engraved with MEK, her initials and ironed as she did with good pillowcases. Clearly not what she would have sent on a road trip.

 

Stopping for an errand presented the opportunity to pick up a pink iced donut which seemed appropriate. My fearless riding/sailing friend Sue used to eat a pink donut when we stopped in Frankston on rides to propel her home. I needed the pink donut to propel me north and to think that Sue was riding along with me. Singing "Be Not Afraid" a hymn that helps me to do just that was also helpful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9zAhe5Y4wE Note, I do not think it is Jesus on the assist but there is comfort when I know that I am not as alone as it seems.

 

The road was easy, the sun welcoming and a book on my iPhone (Mao's Last Dancer) with a connection to the speakers kept me from overthinking and being consumed by grief. Narrandera seems quaint and abandoned but colourful Christmas lights on the town strip makes it cheerful. Ready to get on the road and see what Day 2 holds.