Greetings,
I was born with green genes - but what a bother they are! Always fighting dear old habits giving me a rotten conscience.
When fuel prices were at their worst I decided to kick those habits. Dog Rusty and I had to drive to the outback. To take the 4x4 felt like sin. Our little Daewoo had to do, using a third of fuel.
Those evening fires in my beloved outback - to
cook a meal on, to relax and give the stars a grin and dream of younger days long gone - they had to go. I know, my little fire won’t kill the planet. But that’s what everyone says, thousands of them.
An ancient cooker had to do, for methylated spirit, not even pressurised. The flame ambling sleepily under the pot, taking half an hour for a cuppa. But then if you are in a hurry, the outback is not for you.
That little car is very little, and most of the usual luggage had to stay behind, including tent. Instead, a
seat was replaced with a mattress. It became Rusty’s runway in the day and my bed at night. My head was under the window of the hatch and above the Nullarbor sky - so magnificent it made you cry with joy. As if the lid had been taken off and the wonder of space laid bare. The driver’s
seat, reclined, became Rusty’s bed. That’s where he stretched and smiled and thought of
heaven.
Of course, meat and dips and luxuries in jars all stayed at
home. The cuisine was strictly minimal: cheese sandwich main course, and one with jam for sweets.
Didn’t do me any harm. It was our best trip ever. All the stuff once dragged with me, and thought so important, commanded attention and diverted. Now free of it, the otherness of the outback came so much closer. Instead of spending time with gadgets we wandered around and talked to trees and clouds.
As often, less turned out to be so much more.
Greetings - Klaus and Rusty
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