From last night’s campsite towards the Jardine river ferry (by my map ~145 km to go at start of day)
On to the road at ~6am, after some kilometres at 7 a.m. i found a little creek going across the road
and wash my clothes and myself in it feeling much better i'm back on the road at 8 a.m.
The name of the creek looks familiar
I don't secure my tent door mat ( a DMR transport flag found in the grass on the side of the road) & lose it along the way. I have to decide whether to retrace my steps about one or two km to get it. I decide against it, though it was very helpful. I have had for breaky one of the frozen sausage rolls I bought yesterday lunch for the trip, the other one must wait till I have some sauce or something. I know I'll ask Dick and Ruth when they come by, if they stop.
A few km on and Dick and Ruth, instead of coming up from behind me, from Bramwell, meet me coming from in front. They stop and ask why i'm going the wrong way? What a very disappointing thing to realise and what a very beautiful gift to receive. I realized they are not joking.
They offer me some watermelon (which Ruth shares a bit of with me), which was growing wild have the back of the Bramwell Roadhouse in the bush and give me an apple and a couple of cold drinks to keeping me going, as well and laugh with me in my unstable feelings: disappointment but also great gladness that they stopped me before I got further. With the overcast sky i didn't really notice where the sun was.
We wave, and look forward to any more chance meetings… Thanks for your blessing to me.
So i get to pick up my dropped doormat on the way back, traceing the maybe 17-10km i had walked yesterday afternoon and then again this morning and have to process the disappointment as well as gladness. i remember creative love & am glad. It is beginning to rain / spit lightly again. I sing.
7 things to learn for me in response to this.
Four regarding keeping on the right direction
on map app, wipe off any old way points I may have passed in the dark,
Check I have the right destination on my map app
Draw an arrow in the dirt with my stick before making camp the night before ( on the road?)
Check the sun when it comes up where it is… compared to which way I go
And three more general…
Ask for wisdom before I set my direction, not after
Trust HESED (creative love) to even use my mistakes to connect me as I’ve asked in the past, with those creative love would like to connect me with people to whom I can be a blessing, as well as be blessed by .
being a blessing (which will involve actions, and can involve words that are just thought of, and words that are spoken, and both) is more important than what I get out of something, since that’s why I’ve made!
Then, a convoy of two vehicles stops to say G’day, the daughter and her boyfriend greet first, and ask if they can give me some water or watermellon, they were told about me by Karsten & Maxine too… & the Dad ( the driver of the second vehicle, the bus) gives me a $10 donation to give for him to my choice of the two causes I am speaking positively about, Movember or the Bible Society.
Thanks… ( I heard their names but neglected to write them down immediately, and with the line up of people I have forgotten your names by lunch time when I am writing this up. Sorry. So I’ll just have to make your gift anonymous. Thanks heaps though for the offers of water Mellon, water, and money for a good cause.
My last donation like that, I gave the donation to Movember, so I think this one I’ll give to the Bible Society, though many people haven’t even heard of them….
Paul, Javier, Noakai, Keisha, (left to right) from the Tweed coast, heading to a secret location for a family fishing adventure, stop, give me an apple and hear a bit of each other’s stories:
Thanks for stopping to connect. I tell them the blessing I am giving every car I pass and that passes me… Learn to Love and keep their word (personal truth) with Family and friends ..
They drive off, and Ron & Grace Hurst, stop going South:
They are (voluntary) Environment Beach Cleaners, they pick up ghost nets, bottles, plastic, most things that wash up, & they have 1& ½ ton on their trailor, where they recycle or get rid of them. Been married over 40 yrs.
John from Cairns just bought this boat and is delivering it to Bamagar near the tip, just checking I'm ok.
Thanks mate.
~10:30am I get to where I camped last night, & Karsten & Maxine etc in the OKA and The Combi, stop to say G’day again and drop 2 cold drinks off too.
Here is Zuri & his Dad, Karsten, who are in the Combi.. (that made Gunshot yesterday).
Thanks for connecting in the adventure…
Shortly after, a car slowed and asked if I needed water. Two authors (Anne & Graeme, a couple) who were travelling to Billy’s landing for a few days,
and had written two books based on the France, Spain, & Portugal, the Comina de campostella ( extended versions of which they had twice walked).
We talked for a while and they left me with some sliced beautiful thick brown bread, a big block of cheese and an apple. Thanks you two for bringing that spirit of family hospitality from the Camino pilgrimage in Europe, back to Australia. Thanks for the time talking, the food, and the advice from your research too.
Yesterday I walked about (10km + about 15km =) 25km, today if I make it to 33km out from Bramwell, with my walking the 7½ km of walking the wrong way this morning, I will have walked 33km.
A lunch break from 2pm-3:15Pm.
Then…
Simon and Maureen from Adelaide stop to connect a bit, been at the tip for three days, heading back down to Adelaide, to wash the car, see the grandkids, go to the footy, & get ready to head over to Perth later this year. They give Fruit-bat falls a plug - worth a look and a swim there, & only 2.5km in.
They give me three home baked Anzac bickies. Arvo tea! Thanks you two. And for your time connecting. May all your relationships benefit from thoughtfulness and honesty.
A couple travelling from Denmark in W.A. travelling around for 15 months so far, have some wisdom to pass on: “Be in nature to spark joy.” Here is Dane,
and then he gave me a cold can of refreshing drink. Thanks to both of you, and all the best on your travels and letting the spirit of the big eco-system seep further into you sincerity and both tender & clockwork commitment to your word. Thanks for slowing down to connect.
