The future of our camels is once again written in the stars

Day: 240 Stage three / total expedition days 631

Sunrise:
05:28

Sunset:
18:56

Temperature - Day (maximum):
40° degrees, sun approx. 60°

Temperature - Night:
25° degrees

Latitude:
23°19'43.3"

Longitude:
148°47'06.9"

Cooroorah Camp – 11.01.2003

Tanja and I have decided in the last few days not to sell our boys to Paul the Camel Man, but to Margaret and Greg. We are of the opinion that we can sell our animals to whomever we want. It doesn’t matter who contacted us first, but where our boys get a safe, good home. Yesterday I spoke to Greg on the phone and explained our position to him. “If we don’t sell Paul the camels, he can’t be angry with you. It’s our decision to sell them to you. I will tell him that. So think about whether you don’t want all six camels,” I said. “I’ll talk to Margaret about it and call you tomorrow,” he replied.

Since this afternoon we have been waiting a little nervously for the said call. “Do you think the two of them will buy the caravan?” Tanja asks as we sit on the terrace of the homestead drinking coffee. “I hope so. I think they would make a good decision and we could finally relax and look forward to the end of the expedition,” I say, looking into my cup and enjoying the fresh smell of coffee.

In the evening, I’m on the shore of the lagoon taking a few shots of the beautiful pelicans when I’m startled by Ian’s call. “Telephone! Hurry up! It’s Greg!” he shouts. I quickly rush up the embankment, run into the office and grab the phone. “Margaret and I have decided to take just two camels. I think Sebastian and Hardie would be the best choice for us. We would like to have all of them but it will be some time before we start our camel journeys. Until then I will try to train our own camels. Of course, we’re still interested in your equipment,’ he explains, to which I have great difficulty not letting my disappointment show. “That’s your decision Greg. I have to accept it, of course,” I reply and agree to contact him again in a week to arrange another meeting point.

Dejected, I call Paul to ask him if he still wants to buy all the camels. He is not our first choice, but as far as we can tell our animals will have a good time with him. “I’m in a state of war,” he greets me after a brief introduction to the conversation. “What do you mean?” “We’ve just had a terrible argument here. My wife doesn’t like camels. She threatened to leave me if I bought your camels. Don’t get me wrong, but I can’t buy them at the moment,” he says, at which point I think I’ve just been struck by lightning. “Paul, you promised us with one hundred percent certainty that you would buy all six animals. You didn’t even want to give Sebastian and Hardie to your friends. You gave me your word and now you’re just going back on it?” I say, quivering inside. “Don’t get me wrong mate. My hands are tied.” “You knew how your wife felt about camels before you said yes. How could you give us your word under these circumstances?” I reply without letting my emotions run free. “I haven’t given up. I still want to buy them all. If I say I don’t want them anymore, you might sell them to someone else. But I want them. It’s just… My wife… Do you understand?” “It’s better if you go to your friends Margaret and Greg and tell them about your wife. Then their hands won’t be tied. I think that would be fair.” “Denis, I still want the camels.” “However you want to handle the rest of the situation, we won’t be calling you again. When you’ve come to an agreement with your wife, you can get in touch with Jo & Tom. They always know when and where we can be reached,” I say and end the call.

Devastated, I tell Tanja about the two conversations. She also feels instantly exhausted. “Just a few moments ago we thought we had the choice of where our animals go and now we are almost back to square one,” says Tanja sadly. “If Margaret and Greg really are buying Sebastian and Hardie, at least we’re not at the very beginning,” I try to comfort us. “Who knows, they might change their minds in the end?” “Who knows, we’ll see.”