Unexpected reception
N 22°48'30.2" E 147°39'08.3"
Day: 221 Stage three / total expedition days 612
Sunrise:
05:22
Sunset:
18:54
As the crow flies:
20,8
Daily kilometers:
30
Total kilometers:
6402 km
Temperature - Day (maximum):
36° degrees, sun approx. 56°
Temperature - Night:
19.3° degrees
Latitude:
22°48'30.2"
Longitude:
147°39'08.3"
Clermont-Camp – 23.12.2002
Cars keep stopping on the outskirts of Clermont to ask us where we are going, where we are coming from and why we are traveling with camels? Many people wish us a Merry Christmas and many have already heard about our expedition on the radio. We are in high spirits when we reach the Gregory Highway Roadhouse. I lead the caravan past the petrol station, the road trains and the cars. People wave to us, congratulate us on our success so far and many quickly grab their cameras to take a few pictures. I scurry off our faithful animals right next to the roadhouse. A week ago we agreed with John Wilkinson that we should call him from here. “I’ll pick you up from there,” he promises. “I’ll try to get hold of him,” I say to Tanja and go into the petrol station. “We’ve been waiting a long time for your caravan to arrive,” the owner tells me. We exchange a few words, then I dial John’s number. “Wilkinson?” his friendly voice answers. “Ah hello John. Glad you’re home.” “Hello Denis! Where are you?” “We’re here. We’re at the Gregory Highway Roadhouse,” I reply happily. John tells me the way to the area where we can park our camels over the holidays. “I’ll pick you up from there,” he says with a laugh.
“I’ll show you a quiet path through the forest. Then you won’t have to walk through the city with your camels,’ Dale Roberts, the owner of the roadhouse, offers me. “Oh fantastic,” I say happily and get into his car.
Only a little later, we find ourselves at the small crossroads. Some passers-by are waiting for us there. We stop the camels and tell the interested people about our Australian expedition. “We’re from The Courier Mail, Queenland’s largest daily newspaper. Can we ask you a few questions?” asks journalist Michael Madigan and photographer Giulio Saggin. “But of course,” I reply and tell them both about our life project. John and Zoe Wilkinson arrive during the interview. It doesn’t take long for the small crowd to grow. We feel honored by the people and are happy about the unplanned reception.
An hour later, we walk on. A car stops next to us. A woman jumps out, hands us two large, cold bottles of water and wishes us a Merry Christmas. Before we know it, the nice lady has disappeared again. Then we reach John and Zoe’s enclosure where our boys are allowed to rest for the next few days. They really deserve it, because we have covered 198 kilometers in just six days since Cassiopeia Station.
“This is your room. Make yourselves at home,’ Zoe says with a lovely laugh when we reach the Wilkinson family home in the late afternoon. In the evening, we enjoy a wonderful meal with the family and some friendly neighbors. The atmosphere is fantastic. We have a lot of fun, talk about our travels and listen to funny stories.
