Farewell to our loyal companions
N 23°22'32.9" E 150°24'01.3"
Day: 292-296 Stage Three expedition days total 683-687
Sunrise:
05:54-05:55
Sunset:
18:27-18:26
Total kilometers:
6980 km
Temperature - Day (maximum):
22°-31° degrees, sun 40°-50°
Temperature - Night:
20°-25°
Latitude:
23°22'32.9"
Longitude:
150°24'01.3"
Paradise Lagoons-Camp – 04.03.2003 – 08.03.2003
In a few days we will be leaving Paradise Lagoons to start our big tour of Australia. While Tanja completes her extensive saddle repairs, I work on our 18-year-old Ford. The doors can no longer be closed or opened, the transmission, differential and engine oil needs to be changed and some of the brackets have given up the ghost. As a camel man, I now have to go to great lengths to prove myself as a mechanic. I remove the fragile headlights, dismantle them and glue silver foil into the yellowed, unusable reflectors. During a night-time test drive, I’m pleased to see that the old lights now illuminate the road again with a gloomy beam.
After the Ford is roadworthy again, I spend a few hours working on our trailer. I seal the rust holes with silicone to protect our equipment from splashing water. Then we fill the single-axle trailer up to the roof with the rest of the expedition equipment.
Andrew Haper comes to visit us to look at his camels. We are relieved, because he is not just a nice, friendly man on the phone. We like him from the very first moment. We introduce him to Jafar, Istan, Edgar and Jasper. When we are in the enclosure, they come running to us curiously. They welcome their new camel dad without hesitation. Jasper bends his big head down and sniffs Andrew’s face. Andrew purses his lips in a kiss. Jasper returns the greeting and presses his hairy snout against Andrew’s mouth. Andrew laughs and in a few seconds a connection is made. “What’s his name?” Andrew asks. “Jasper,” Tanja replies with tears in her eyes. Although we are delighted that we have probably found one of the best people for our boys, we are now overcome with deep sadness. The moment of separation has arrived. While Tanja explains the different character traits of our boys to Andrew, she strokes Edgar’s head. As if Edgar senses the imminent separation, he lays his massive head in Tanja’s arms. He moans softly and enjoys the closeness of his camel mom. “Just don’t stop,” he seems to growl. Hardie gets jealous as usual and pushes his big belly against Tanja. “Uh, don’t do that Hardie. I’m just a delicate person,” she says and pushes him a little to one side. Sebastian also comes to me to get a few cuddles. He now looks much better again and is undoubtedly over the hill. Only his sunken neck bears witness to the dangerous poisoning that almost took his life.
We spend another wonderful morning with Andrew until he says goodbye to us again. He is a very busy man. The season starts for him in a few weeks. Jafar, Istan, Jasper and Edgar must be transported to Alice Springs by then. From there, they will set off on further expeditions. Andrew Haper is one of Australia’s best, most experienced and most successful expeditionists and adventurers. He owns an expedition company called OUTBACK CAMEL COMPANY Desert Trecks & Expeditions. It takes tourists from all over the world to the desert for several weeks. Those who are interested in an expedition can book a camel trip into the outback at www.cameltrecks.com.au.
A few days later, Margaret & Greg Barrett visit us. They are also greeted warmly by Sebastian and Hardie. As I have already mentioned in previous updates, they already own five camels. They would like to take a few trips into the outback in the future. As their camels are not yet at a high level of training, they urgently need Sebastian’s leadership skills. Because Sebastian and Hardie are the best mates and are joining a new herd, they will hardly miss their expedition mates Jafar, Istan, Edgar and Jasper. Margaret and Greg are also very nice people who love camels more than anything. There is no better home for my expedition partner Sebastian, with whom I have walked 7000 kilometers head to head through thick and thin, through all imaginable and unimaginable dangers over the last three years. Tanja and I are extremely happy and satisfied to have found a dream home for Sebastian and Hardie after an endlessly long search and many offers. Even though we have now sold our six friends, we will stay in touch with their new parents. We will always know how they are doing and will always have the opportunity to ask how they are…
