MY world walk Blog Australia 72 - Oasis at Avon Dale Station
Oasis at Avon Downs Station.
Eventually,
at mid-morning I got back onto the road and out of Camooweal. That
morning I rose early but as I had many interesting conversations with
other travellers I took my time.
Before
I left the campsite I decided to prepare my lunch for the road and took
a pack of noodles out of a five-pack and boiled up water in the camp
kitchen. I normally transport the noodles in my thermos mug and just add
a can of sardines. That makes for a handy roadside meal. When I
returned to my tent a cheeky crow had ripped through the other four
packs of noodles which I had carelessly left on the grass!
Just
as I was leaving a friendly police officer arrived. Not to interrogate
the crow and his crownies but to see if I needed any help on the road
and offered to drop some water for me along my route. From there it was
260 kilometres to Barkly roadhouse which I want to cover in a week.
When
I was in the School of the Air in Mount Isa the previous week a woman
called Tina kindly offered to host me for the night at her Avon Downs
'station' as the Aussies call their huge ranches. She kindly brought
one of my five food supply boxes on from Mount Isa for me and arranged
the delivery of the second one with her friend called Amanda for the
Barkly supply box. This is how I will keep myself stocked up with food
for the next few weeks in this remote area which has no reasonably
priced shops.
As Avon
Dale was only 70 kilometres and I planned to make it the following day I
thanked the police officer for his kind offer as I figured I would be
okay for drinks. An hour up the road I met Trevor and his wife
Elizabeth. I mentioned last week that he and his wife are from New
Zealand and are cruising around this area for a month.
They
were in great form. Both aged around 76 Trevor said he misses his dog
which is back home in Dunedin and talks to it more than he does to his
wife! He said they were partially deaf and he sometimes pretends he
doesn't hear her. She remarked that he hears everything that I said and
accused him of selective hearing!
Before
they left they gave me a half-dozen Pepsis and some fruit. Then I
crossed into a new state, the Northern Territory! What new adventures
await me?
On, I walked
and stopped to talk to so many people that day that progress was so
slow. I didn't care as I enjoy talking to everyone I meet. I hand out my
cancer awareness my world walk cards to everyone I talk to. These days I
seem to be handing out more cards than a Las Vegas blackjack dealer.
Additionally, I tape them to wheelie bins in rest areas and at the state
line to the welcome signpost.
Because
I wanted to reach Avon Downs Station the next day at a socialble hour I
decided that I would walk the bulk of the distance that day and
effectively have a half day the following day. Because of my late start
to the day I walked until 11 pm and camped at the side of the road. It had been a Heavenly evening, no flies as thankfully they desert me at sundown.
That was a 47 kilometre day and the following day, Monday
I covered the remaining 23 kilometres in under five hours. On the way I
was surprised when a road train, a tripple pulled up onto the shoulder
to see if I was okay and needed any water. This act of kindness I
appreciated so much as its so difficult for them to stop. Without
exception all through Australia they have been so courteous and always
give me room. I always check behind and if things are tight I step off
the road as there is always plenty of shoulder in the bush!
Like
an air traffic controller I am aware of the location and am calculating
the speeds of every vehicle around me. I use my senses and listen for
their downshift gear. As best as I can I make eye contact and watch the
trajectory of every single vehicle as my survival is at stake. I haven't
survived 72,000 km on some of the most dangerous roads around the world
by luck. There is no place on the road for careless pedestrians and
besides it is not fair to the drivers. Australian road train drivers are
to my mind amongst the best truck drivers in the world. If they weren't
they would soon be caught out.
We always wave a sign of acknoledgement to each other.
The
driver that stopped is called Ken and he had seen me a few weeks ago
just outside of Emerald. It seemed that curiosity had gotten the better
of him!
The wind was at
my back and blew me along the prairie-like highway. My Irish and
Australian flags even acted like a sail. I made good progress and
enjoyed that walk immensely.
When
I arrived at the Avon Dale Station and picked up my supply box (see
pictures for typical contents) from Tina she gave me an interesting tour
of the station. Well, only a little tour as the station consists of
about a million acres. Please see the photo of the map. It is perhaps
about 140 km by 120! This one is considered a small one. Aparently,
Amanda who dropped off my second supply box at the Barkly roadhouse
manages a much larger station, the second largest in Australia. One
woman who worked on another station mentioned that she had to deliver a
part for a piece of machinery and it was 350 kilometres each way. A
total journey which is longer than from Mizen Head to Malin Head,
Irelands two most extreme locations.
After
the tour I was introduced to Glen and his wife April. He is the local
police officer at the two-man police station post which is just down the
road. He offered to look after me for the next week on the road and as
April will be driving to Darwin on Friday
she will also drop some water off at locations I suggested. As always
these locations will have a plastic bag tied to a signpost. I always ask
for bottles to be put in the shade nut please don't make a game of hide
and seek out of it as has happened in the past. What a country!
Back
at the Avon Dale Station I chatted to some of the workers at the
station bar! Yes this place turned out to be an unexpected oasis. Bar
hours were only from 6-7pm
and drinks are sold at cost price. It's more of a service to the
workers, and not a business and is probably Australias cheapest bar!
After that it was dinner. A delicious sausage curry in the staff
canteen. Before I left I missed breakfast with the workers. Well, they
get up at 4.30 am. That was easy for me to miss, as I turned over in my warm, soft comfortable bed!
Sorry for any typos, it's two in the morning... Yawn!
