In-car-cerated
Trip Start
Nov 28, 2004
1
56
57
Trip End
Jun 11, 2005
Sydney,
New South Wales,
Australia
Thursday, February 17, 2005
I spend the day with the car and get to know some of my new neighbours. Many have been down here for several days now and their ears prick up automatically at the bell when the elevator doors opens. More potential customers saunter in. Being close to the elevator door is the best pitch but the day managers have the last say on who moves where. A continuous shuffling of cars and vans to try to accommodate everybody. Those who have been here the longest, those who complain the loudest. Those with cheaper cars and those panicking about flights home tomorrow. There also exists some sectioning of vehicles by type - so that cars, vans and 4x4s are grouped together and the owners display all manner of expedition equipment that's included in the price. There's about one sale per day and the lucky individual(s) who are finally free to leave this filthy dungeon are sworn into a gentleman's agreement. To spend the first fifty bucks on a crate of beer for everybody else who stays behind, waiting hopefully. At least we can be grateful those rulebook waving day managers have not banned drinking beer or smoking.
The next day is much the same and I bring one of Martin's chairs and my cooking stove with some Cole's sausages. I must wait until the screw has made his rounds, suspecting that propane gas cookers might be considered a fire hazard. Cans of spray paint definitely are. As I find out when masking over some small patches of rust near my car's door hinges and sills. Another finger-wagging comes my way placing me back in the dog house. And away from the elevator, one level further down. In an even darker cave. Like a rat, my eyes take time to adjust to daylight now when leaving this place.
Evenings at Martin's place are spent in comfort watching TV and eating the food I buy at the supermarket down the road. He's away on holiday. Compared to life on the road it's a period of reasonably indulgent luxury. The apartment is nicely appointed with a black tile bathroom and lots of glass and stainless steel. It gives me space to stretch out and slowly readjust to a more normal life - but I'm not sure what's normal any more. I wish I could swap these four walls for the open road. Among life's rebels in their caravans and wacky trucks.
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