People are the Most Colourful Thing on the Road

Dear Adventurous Reader,

We met The Germans again. As I write they are playing a board game with the older boys, in a camp kitchen, during some downtime in Cairns. The last time the boys hung out the The Germans was in Coober Pedy, playing Uno with the Miller boys.

It is funny the people you meet on the road. There is always a story to tell to someone who passes by. An introduction is an opportunity to tell your experience and to hear theirs.

"We come from the south. We have driven a long way. Yes that is our car. It overheated in the outback." I say, explaining our trip. We all have stories to share of the adventures we've had. We talk for a while, sharing places to stay or things that we've done.

I have spoken to many Germans in the northern parts of Australia.

We met Dmitiji and a few of his traveling companions in Mission Beach. He said Australia is "happy making". The sun, the beach and the friendly Australians make for an enjoyable experience. They are all looking for work so they can extend their visas. I have emailed with him since to see how he is going: they are changing their plans, as often happens on the road.

I chatted to three Germans down at Josephine Falls about the fear of traveling Australia, where every animal wants to kill you.

We met a nice Chezc couple in Townsville. He suggested a few spots to stay at as we head south. They are well travelled and look like they could go deep into the outback with their setup. We complained about how expensive Australia is, actually that is a great topic with all travellers and we talked of the wonderful places they had seen.

There was a couple from Bundaberg whom we met at Coober Pedy. They wrote a poem about Hannah's knee injury. We met them again in Alice Spring and shared a meal and they told stories with the Millers until the stars were out.

While we were waiting for the Millers in Babinda a bus arrived. The couple got out and slowly managed to park their bus amongst the trees. The kids from the bus popped their heads out and our boys disappeared and played Uno in the bus. We missed saying goodbye because of the rain, but we met them again just out of Townsville and we stopped another night there because they arrived.

We watched a fire burn across the Bruce Highway while near Townsville with a couple who have been on the road since the start of the year. Their three kids in a caravan had seen most of Australia's coast inside 12 month and they were wondering how much time they would need to see it all. Their kids had a ball with our boys, playing many games of tag on the playground. We even had them helping with our dishes so our boys could go play tag faster.

Simon, Daniel and Andrè whom we met in Coober Pedy, have become known as "The Germans". They started talking to the boys in the camp kitchen, and then along with the Miller Lads played a few games of Uno.

The following day we left and didn't make it to Uluru, we stopped in Marla instead. They went onwards to Darwin while we were tracking back down to Uluru. They met us again while we were unwinding in Cairns, stopping by to wait for friends who were traveling.

They boys played Spy Alley with them. I am unsure if it was the rules in English, or the rules spoken by three very excited Aussie lads that confused the German guys, but they managed to suffer the confusion and play a full game. I think Andrè came out the winner. I found out via email later that they enjoyed the game.

A Long Way

We have traveled a long way and it is the people with shared experience that really bring travel alive. Everyone we have met have their stories to tell, everyone we have met have shaped our travel in some way, a kind direction, time with the boys, playing or a lengthy chat. Ron assembled a set of leads to charge my laptop from the car battery, which was fantastic. The people we met have been so kind to us.

I am glad to have them in our tale because they have helped us in some way. The road seems to come alive if you take the time to have a chat with strangers, there is no guessing what will happen in the future, or if you will meet again in some strange or quiet place.