5/1/2014 Real Rural People
The highlight of our stay on anchor in John Cove Bremer Bay, was
brought to us by facebook. No sooner had Leanne announced on her page that we
had relocated from Dillon bay to Bremer Bay, than she got a reply to go to the
third caravan from the end of the grass, to find Heather. Heather has been a
lifelong friend of Leanne’s. In fact, they were in the Narrogin labour ward
together as new borns, started Primary School together, shared a unit in Como
for a few years and were each other’s bridesmaids.
Employment and other factors has lead them off into different
geographical locations making catching up with each other more difficult and
seldom.
Heather and her husband Peter have a permanent caravan and annexe
set up on the edge of the caravan park.
This proved not only a very convenient meeting point, but also granted us
access to the washing machine and clothes lines. That was very handy after
three weeks at sea.
While visiting Heather and Peter, I kept wondering why they kept
waving at the flies. I hadn’t seen or felt any flies near us. Then I
remembered. We are back in real rural country now. They were actually waving at
other people going by.
It wasn’t long before Heather’s sister Jill and her husband Bill
joined us for a chat. They were on their way to the hardware shop. I don’t
think they made it but in true holiday style it didn’t matter. They could do it
tomorrow or not.
It was decided that we would all go to the local pub for tea. This
is an uncommon thing to do while on holidays in Bremer. That is because it
involves moving away from the camp fire, and having to wear something other
than boardshorts, thongs and a t shirt. But it was a chance for the Dad’s to
wear the shirt they had been so lovingly given for Christmas.
Heather and Peter’s friends
Peter and Chris joined us at the Pub for dinner. Peter or “Repeat” as they call
him may well be a handy contact later on in our trip as he originates from Arno
Bay north of Port Lincoln and will have some knowledge of places to visit in
the Spencer’s Gulf.
The Bremer Bay pub put on a good meal. It was a very busy place,
with lots of “How ya going…, what are you doing here” type greetings being
shouted out across the bar as real rural people recognised others (often their neighbours) across the room. It
was also where I was once again glad to be now tea total. Bill bought the first
jug and thought that all the taps across the bar contained beer. He liked the
sound of Dirty Grannys. No one will know why. Unfortunately much to the 2
Pete’s disgust and distaste Bill soon discovered that Dirty Granny’s is
actually apple cider. They manly carried
on though and nearly finished the jug. The pain on their faces every sip was
enough to make me glad I wasn’t in on the round.
Brain (B2) and Eva also had a happy encounter with some Bremer
holiday makers. In fact pretty much as
soon as they got out of their dinghy on the beach. As terrific rural people do,
these holidaymakers offered for all of us to refill all our water containers
from the rainwater tank at the couples holiday shack.
Bill and Jill, as well as
Heather and Peter offered us the use of their vehicles. In fact Bill said if it
is parked up there you can take it, the keys will be in it. Oh yes that’s right
real rural people can leave their keys in their vehicles. That’s because they
all know each another and live in a world of trusting each other. Anyone
stealing a car would be quickly found out, especially if they didn’t wave at
the vehicles going in the opposite direction.
So Day 2 Bremer Bay was top up the water supply and ferry a dozen
jerry cans to the beach in dinghys (doubling now as landing barges).
As we accumulated them and carefully stacked the Jerry’s into
Heathers car we were discussing where the street was. A young girl about 16 was
walking by. She stopped and excused herself for interrupting and then gave
faultless instructions on how to find the street. Then with a “no worries”
carried on her way. That’s just what real rural people do.
After gathering water, we headed in search of the pies that Bill and
Jill had told us were well worth it. By now I am starting to realize that with
B2 it is not a circumnavigation of Australia at all. It is as tour of local
bakeries that we are on. I think he is doing another PHD on Sausage rolls,
pasties and the like.
We invited the gang on to
Easy Tiger in the afternoon. B2 kindly offered his landing barge (now reverted
back to Dinghy status) to ferry our guests out. B1 and Marie joined in a really
nice afternoon of happy chatter, exchange of tall stories and few laughs. B1’s
eyes certainly lit up when he realised that these property owners may provide
him with the means to a gun license.
I couldn’t say that our friends enjoyed the trip to shore as much as
the wind had whipped up and apparently made it pretty cold and wet in the front
seat of our dinghy. I made sure I had 2 people windward of me at all times. Skippers
can do that.
This morning, we reluctantly departed John Cove to cross the bay and
re anchor in Peppermint Beach. This is to be ready for some strong winds from a
different direction forecast for tomorrow. After that we will possibly venture
to our friends suggestion of Point Ann, but it would not take much for Leanne
to turn back to the friendly people at Bremer Bay. Leanne said that she felt
that she had been reunited with part of her family.
I think that the other five of our sailing family also very much
enjoyed the instant familiarity that you get with real rural people.
 |
| The dinghy was converted to a landing barge to load water , washing and wallet . |
No comments:
Post a Comment