Across Continents

Ken's Blog

Rip-off

June 14th, 2011

Unreserved apology. I’d been unjustly grumpy the previous evening. Staggered to discover a pitch would cost me thirty two bucks – over twenty pounds. Soon dark. Moving on no option. Besides, the other two local sites belonged to the same owner. The State Government. Same prices.

Limp offerings doing little to lessen my frustrations. Cost based on two adults. And power was available at the pitch. Struggling to conceal my irritation at their absolute lack of flexibility. Eventually conceding I’d have to cough up. But I wanted a towel. WiFi. And if I’d had something hungry for electricity – a linear particle accelerator or similar – I’d have plugged it in.

Only consolation the generosity of other visitors. Two Lorraines, Reg and David inviting to join them for dinner in the camp kitchen. My offer to wash-up rejected lest it upset their system. Gary insisting I share a proper breakfast with him. Bacon, eggs and toast. Mug of tea.

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From the Valleys

June 1st, 2011

David was from the Welsh Valleys. Decades in Australia hadn’t diminished his distinct lilt. I’d learnt a little Welsh at school. Grew up in Pembrokeshire I explained. But hadn’t used it for over a quarter of a century. He laughed. Adding it’d been over half a century for him.

Night in the kitchen - pair

He’d greeted me as dusk fell. Some sharp pulls to reach his small camp site five miles or so south of Kenilworth. Seemed I was the solitary camper. Could make myself at home in the covered kitchen. Pitch indoors. Even a clean towel to be found in the laundry. Left behind in the Easter rush.

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Welcome to my world

May 30th, 2011

Welcome to my world from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Ken introduces you to his world. Started with a bit of a blank canvas…

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Solo camping

May 28th, 2011

Solo camping from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Join Ken camping alone in the Mary Valley, southern Queensland. No garlic to ward off evil. Relying instead on having consumed an entire packet of fig rolls. Enough to deter even the Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town. Unfair competition.

[With thanks to the "Two Ronnies"]

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Marlborough nights

May 9th, 2011

marltent

Irony no doubt lost. 5.45 am. He’d started up his truck. Realised the radio had been left on. Quickly killed it. A sentiment – the infliction of wanton bodily harm – shared by anyone camping along that side of the van park. Furthest from the Bruce Highway. Where we’d all been encouraged to pitch for a peaceful night.

Problem was, the truck had pulled up outside the boundary fence around eight the previous evening. Then, for fifteen minutes or so each hour, its refrigeration unit would run up. Not some humming domestic affair. Industrial unit. One you could hear, quite literally, a mile away.

Nobody slept. Not much anyway. Next morning. Mutterings in the wash room. Fairly certain the driver had stayed on the site. Probably far from his cab. And the rest of us. If he had half a brain. Which I doubted.

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Welcome refusal

April 8th, 2011

Turned away. From a backpackers hostel in Innisfail. "I wouldn’t want to errr… put you in with the rest of the clientele" explained the owner. Discreetly. Friendly chap. Early 50s. Trying to be helpful. Instead directing me towards a camp ground half a mile or so away. Best such site so far. Appreciative of the earlier refusal.

The earlier descent from Millaa Millaa back to the Queensland coast slowed considerably by the weather. Sustained tropical downpours so heavy as to render it difficult to see where the road went through my glasses. Peering over the top as best I could. Eyes stinging from the rain. Surface water inches deep in places. Beginning to wonder if a bicycle could aquaplane.

Crawlook - web

They’d been respites. Albeit brief. Crawford’s Lookout. A roadside water stop. Passing car tooting. Sue, Simon David and Heather I’d met back in Atherton.

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Hard bargaining

April 7th, 2011

Hard bargaining from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Camp ground waterlogged. The ground saturated. Realising that if he wants a dry night, best to sleep in a dingy. So, still the low season, visitors thin on the ground, time for some hard bargaining…

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Cyclone slip knot

April 1st, 2011

Knot - web

Dates from the days of Captain Cook. Cyclone slip knot. Devised to allow sailing ships to proceed from their moorings during tropical storms. Without the need for buoy jumpers. Rather, the ordinarily very secure knot slipping itself once winds reach something roughly equating to a Category One Cyclone. And just as effective for camping.

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Spot of drizzle

March 10th, 2011

Spot of drizzle from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Queensland. Wet season. Enjoy.

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Culinary delights

March 9th, 2011

Culinary delights from Ken Roberts on Vimeo.

Ken shares one of his camping culinary delights. Not a single Michelin Star in sight.

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