To Nebo

  Nebo, Australia
Monday, July 1, 1985

About 07.30h or so, we pulled anchor and headed for Shute Harbour. The ride over was extremely rough. We were on a reach but still piled over eight foot swells. Several times, waves came up over the bow and drenched us. By the time we arrived Shute Harbour, my hair and face were encrusted with salt. You can certainly guess that the first thing we did upon arrival after unloading the boat was shower. Such ecstasy. Soon after, our Avis car arrived: another Ford Falcon. Pas and Dick has a very difficult time stuffing everything in the trunk, but eventually managed it, to the amazement of the Avis lady.

We trundled into town so everyone who could drive could get signed up. After, we had fish and chips takeaway, which we ate on the grass by the beach. Sally discovered a great opal store, and everyone else bought something. We received a brief though informative lecture on triplets. Eventually, we left Arlie Beach for Mackay. We did laundry there, in a run-down but expensive laundry, plus a little shopping, and switched to a station wagon.

Shortly after dark, we found a road going to a relay station, and so we pulled off and settled down for the night. I slept in the back of the wagon, which was fine except that half was uninsulated metal. Eerie cry in the night ... what was that?

Fairbairn Dam, Queensland

Postcard to Paul: I chose this postcard because it is one of the more remarkably ugly one's I've seen. We all need a little variety, what. Right now, I am in one of the world's largest gem fields. Finds have been mace by schoolboys (one large one in 1979). The road here was found to be built on gems - so now it's about to be torn up and fossicked. The outback (hinterlands, bush) of Australia can be rather dull. I would hate to travel from one side of the continent to the other. Lots of kangaroos! A very interesting country. I hope we have good photos. Cockatoos are all over the place - and gorgeous hawks!