A couple of beers later, some serious planning, namely - He brings the food, I bring bait and refreshments, the organising is complete.
Next Day Tayden and I rock up next door, and load our gear on Pauls cruiser. He looks with distaste at the pillow I throw in (Its supposed to be overnighter roughing it), and off we go.
Its a carload, Paul, his three boys, a couple of their mates, and me and Tay. We leave the main road, Paul looks at me asking "Thirsty?" I nod, we screech to a halt and dive into a tidily packed boot, foraging in the eski for a few dew cold beers. Boot now in disarray, we continue offroad, over the Jump up to our private beach.
Camp set up, refreshments in hand, we sit down and begin an intellectual conversation, as the boys forage for fire wood.
A bonfire ready for later, the boys disappear fishing, hut building, swimming, having a great time.
As the afternoon progresses, if at all possible, our conversation has become more intelligent, and with reluctance, we take a break, cook a feed for the hungry lads who devour the hamburgers as fast as they can be made.
The boys are off again, so we relax over a few more ales, as the sun sinks into a spectacular setting.
Bonfire time, and desert is served on the end of a stick, marshmallows, our cases thru the neck of a bottle, going down in vast quantities.
Boys tucked up in their swags, I look sadly into an eski empty of beer, just coke left and suggest a cuppa. Paul, bless him, has other ideas, and like a great magician, produces a large flask of his own special brew of Bourbon. Once I get over the initial eye watering, cough and splutter stage, the bourbon and cola begins tasting like the finest drop ever poured, the telling of tales has begun...
Bed for the oldies now, the tough Aussie bushman refuses the offer of my spare duvet and curls up in a canvass swag, lined only with a thin inside felt layer.
I settle down on my large comfortable air bed, feather down sleeping bag, pillow and drift off. Waking to loud talking, I blearily try wedging my eyes open, and see some of the lads have decided its morning, time to get up, and have stoaked the fire up again. I look at my watch, groan its only 3am.
Suddenly out of no where, a voice roars out "Shaddup and get back to bed". It seems to originate from the cruiser. I drift off slightly puzzled, whats Paul doing in the vehicle?
Swags. Thats me bed in the foreground, the big soft air bed and pillow "Still Hard as Nails"
Over breakfast, fresh and perky, I ask the question, and Paul the hardened outback adventurer, looking just a bit worse for wear, admits reluctantly that he had got cold and tried to get a bit of kip in the truck. He follow my gaze to the unused duvet, and suddenly finds something of importance to go and do.
Paul Da Chef
The Lads tucking in to brekkie
The boys run rampant for a few hours, fishing, dam building, rock climbing etc whilst Paul and I pack up and have a few cuppas.
All aboard and we are off. NOT! We drive about 10m and bog up to the rear axles in sand. Tyres deflated, 7 of us shoving we unstick climb aboard for a tiki tour out to Sea Ripple passage, the end of the Burrup. Sightseeing complete, A happy but tired bunch of lads head back for the huge metropolis and hub of W.A., Karratha.
Sea Ripple Passage
A great time had by all!
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