A morning spent cleaning the house for when our friend Emma comes to housesit, a farewell to Marilyn’s parents (who live next door) and we were gone. We all remarked on how surreal it seemed, after so many years of planning and all that’s happened in that time, to be finally leaving Upper Ferntree Gully until October.
First stop was to fill our 180 litre fuel tank en route to pick up Marilyn from work. We then drove via Royal Park – passing the cairn that commemorates the place where the ill-fated Burke & Wills Expedition departed Melbourne in 1860. Their story has fascinated me since I was a child. We had visited their graves at Melbourne General Cemetery a few weeks ago. On our trip we will visited the places they perished, as well as a number of other significant landmarks on their journey. The first of these was our next destination – Queens Park in Moonee Ponds – where they established their first camp. In a few months we will visit Camp 119, their northernmost resting place near the Gulf of Carpentaria at Burketown.
Before leaving Melbourne we also called in on Marilyn’s brother and sister-in-law Chris & Gay who treated us to scones, jam and cream before sending us on our way with a significant supply of cakes, biscuits and other home-baked goodies that will keep the boys well satisfied for the next few days! The generosity and kindness of so many friends and family in the lead-up to our departure has been incredibly humbling.
The first day was not taking us too far. It felt very appropriate however to be spending the first night of our journey with our treasured friends Leigh & Jennie in Bendigo. I first met Leigh & Jennie when I moved to Mildura to commence my teaching career in 1989. They warmly welcomed me into their community and I began playing guitar in their band – Kairos. The band provided the music for an album I did a few years later of worship songs for churches (http://www.myspace.com/578505248/music). More significantly, it was Leigh (a school chaplain in Mildura at the time) who first planted the idea of entering chaplaincy in my thinking. It’s part of my agenda to use the time away as a chance to reflect on the question of “where to next?” in my career, so it seemed fitting to spend that first night with a dear friend who had provided the initial inspiration for the career that has provided so much fulfilment for the past 13 years.
After a generous meal, some fine wine, and a massage from Leigh & Jennie’s son, Cailin (who is in his 4th year of Osteopathy), we slept soundly in our last “bed” till Coober Pedy! I awoke early the next morning and went for a walk to buy the paper. It had been a clear, freezing night and despite the morning sun rising in a cloudless sky the frost was still thick on the grass. I enjoyed the crunch of my shoes on the grass as I sensed this may be the first of many cold but clear mornings. After weeks of Melbourne rain it was good to enjoy the sun – despite the coolness of the morning. We are leaving the clouds behind.
Whooppee... Of at last. Blessings throughout the journey. We will try to keep up with your Blog.
ReplyDeleteI thought some were the blog said that the boys were meant to be writing the blog? Well is it just me, or does it sound like they haven't been doing it
ReplyDelete(It was meant to be there homework/ holidaywork).
We hope you have a wonderful time. Mary's great great uncle witnessed B&W's departure from Melbourne. We leave on our odyssey on the 14 th. Brazil,USA,Europe,UK and Hong Kong. Spending quite a bit of time with my daughter in Brussels. We too will be back in October. Go well and productive reflecting.
ReplyDeleteMary and Moss
What a wonderful adventure ahead of you. I'll read with interest of your travellings. Safe journeying.
ReplyDeleteI don't normally do this but it is time for a top ten...
ReplyDelete1.Been through the desert on a horse with no name
2.Bow River
3 Deisel and Dust
4 A town called Malice
5 Cold as Ice
6 A Pub with no Beer
7 On the Road Again
8 Khe Sanh ( It HAS to be on any list
9 Great Southern Land
10 Ramblin Man
Yes, I agree with Anonymous, it seems to be that Ryan Mangold is being a bit lazy in not entering any blog entries! Only joking, enjoy your trip guys!!!
ReplyDeleteI think Nick is getting a bit lazy to
DeleteHave a nice journey together!
ReplyDeleteNice start guys...I went through the website and I found that you made decent point here. Keep up the topic that everyone can choose one of the best. Thanks.
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