Unpleasant news
Temperature - Day (maximum):
Sunshine
80 Mile Beach Caravan Park – 25.04.2001
Blue skies and tropical temperatures promise a beautiful day. Without further incident, we reach the 80 Mile Beach Caravan Park where we spent a relaxing but busy three weeks with our camels in December. Collin & Jo Lewis, the owners of the beautiful site, greet us like old friends. We briefly exchange news from the last few months and quickly move on to the subject of the Red Earth Expedition. We talk animatedly about our huge plan to walk from here through the Great Sandy and Gibson Desert to Alice Springs. The Kidson Track starts right at the 80 Mile Beach Caravan Park, leading into the endless desert and promising us a good start. “What do you think the options are for getting food supplies into the outback?” I ask Collin impatiently, because although we have 7 camels, it is impossible for us to carry 400 liters of water and 560 kg. food plus a few hundred kilograms of equipment on their backs. “As far as I know, there’s an oil company out there looking for liquid gold. When they’ve resumed their work, maybe you could give a track driver something to take you to an agreed point.” “What do you mean, when they get back to work?” I want to know. “Well, according to my information, work is at a standstill because, due to the heavy rain this season, large sections of the Kidson Track are completely under water and won’t be passable for months. “That sounds less positive. Do you think we have a chance of getting through with our camels?” I don’t know, we’ll have to find out in the next few weeks. I know a driver from the transport company that prepares the desert tracks for the oil company. Maybe he can help you.” I look at Collin and think about how dangerous the floods could be for us. Collin seems to read my thoughts and reassures me: “Don’t worry Denis, who knows if the water won’t dry up again in a few months. I’m sure a solution will be found.”
In the evening I call David, the manager of Anna Plains Station, to inform him of our arrival tomorrow. I can’t believe it when the owner John Stoat tells me that David has left the farm completely unexpectedly. “Do you know what happened to our camels?” I ask John in horror, because as far as I know, David is the only one who was informed about the loss of the animals and has recaptured them. “I don’t know Denis, but I think David found them in an enclosure somewhere on Anna Plains.” Once again, I am speechless. Until a few seconds ago I was convinced that our boys were safe and now the house of cards seems to be collapsing again. “We’ll find them. Luke the Head Stockman will know where your animals are,” says John reassuringly.
Although Collin and Jo have provided us with a clean, nice room for the night, I have trouble sleeping. I’m constantly thinking about Sebastian, Hardie, Goola Badoola, Istan, Jafar and the two new ones. Will we really ever see them again? Are they unharmed? Did no one really shoot them down? In the meantime, have they escaped through a hole in the fence into the Great Sandy Desert? Is our Red Earth Expedition still at risk after all? My thoughts are racing through my brain and I’m not able to stop them. I lie there full of doubt and pray that everything will turn out well in the end.
