Our camels find new parents
N 23°22'32.9" E 150°24'01.3"
Day: 270-277 Stage Three expedition days total 661-667
Sunrise:
05:41-05:45
Sunset:
18:40-18-35
Total kilometers:
6980 km
Temperature - Day (maximum):
22°-28 degrees, sun 40°-48°
Temperature - Night:
20°-25°
Latitude:
23°22'32.9"
Longitude:
150°24'01.3"
Paradise Lgoons-Camp – 10.02.2003 – 16.02.2003
The days are getting nicer again. The floodwater is slowly receding. Damaged roads, fences and other repairs are carried out. The camel enclosure is getting drier and our boys are feeling well.
In addition to some interviews, we are still trying to find good buyers for our camels. Rokhampton’s daily newspaper, The Morning Bulletin, helped us a lot. We get calls all the time. “If you can’t find a buyer, your boys are welcome to come to us,” offers a friendly voice on the phone. Or: “What, a camel is supposed to cost 3500 dollars? I can get well-trained animals for 200 dollars,” says one man. Apparently he doesn’t know that the veterinary costs for nose-piercing and neutering are already around 500 dollars. Or: “I’m going on a trip like you. I’ll buy all the camels and equipment.” “Have you ever done anything with camels before?” I ask. “No, but I can manage that. How much should the animals cost?” After I mention the price, interest in an expedition dwindles to zero. “I’ll get back to you when I’ve got the money together,” says the man and hangs up. Another male voice asks: “Do you still have your dog?” “Yes.” “I’d like to have your dog. He cuts a fine figure on the camel. I’m sure he’s a good pig hunter. I lost my dog recently while hunting pigs. A boar slashed him open.” “Sorry, but Rufus will accompany us to Germany,” Tanja replies. A child’s voice asks: “We’d like a camel. I love camels and I’m really nice to him too.” “You can’t have just one camel. Camels are herd animals. That’s why we only sell them in pairs,” Tanja replies. “Oh, cool. Then we have two!” “Well, we’d like to give you two camels but we can’t give them away. If we can’t find a buyer, we’ll get back to you,” Tanja explains and gets the girl’s phone number.
That’s how the days pass. We are invited to Graem Acton for dinner again. One of his influential guests has friends in animal research. “They will only have blood drawn every few days, otherwise they have a wonderful life,” he says with a friendly laugh. Tanja and my eyes meet. Again, we realize that we are both thinking the same thing.
“I have a friend in Sydney who trains animals for TV commercials. Your camels would do very well there. I’ll talk to her on the phone. I’m sure she’s interested in your boys,” says the caller.
Tanja does not rely on the many interested parties. She is very active and contacts camel people all over Australia. She finally succeeds in addition to the existing offers and gets in touch with Andrew Haper. Andrew is one of Australia’s best known adventurers. Two years ago, he became the first person to cross the continent from west to east single-handedly and has successfully completed many other expeditions. Even our first phone call with him is very pleasant. In a few days it is clear that Andrew will be the new owner of Istan, Jafar, Edgar, Jasper and their matching saddles. We are satisfied with this choice. Andrew knows what he’s doing. He is an absolute specialist and also leads expeditions for tourists. So our four boys will be out and about in the outback again in the future and won’t have to be bored to death in an enclosure, or have their blood drawn or deal with people who have no idea what a camel likes.
Margaret and Greg have also transferred a deposit for Sebastian and Hardie to our account. It is planned that they will visit us on 07.03.03. We will explain a few things about the Afghan pack saddles. We will also teach them a few tricks for camel training.
The days here at Paradise Lagoons fly by. We are always busy from morning to night. Once I was in the studio of Channel Nine and Win – TV editing a piece that was to be broadcast on the Today Show. Tanja and I are giving an interview which can be seen live throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Afterwards, we seek out Steve Martin, the ABC Radio presenter, to have coffee with him. We get on very well and agree to have dinner together.
Even though we are busy copying and labeling films, writing updates, repairing the saddles and spending time with our camels every day, it is a pleasant stay. Nevertheless, we hope to complete this expedition soon so that we can start our 20,000-kilometer round trip around Australia. We are looking forward to a time without pressure, without responsibility and without obligations. Of course it will be incredibly difficult to have to leave our camel companions behind, but somehow we have to carry on without them.
