Before I continue a bit about the group and travel in general.
As I said, 20 on the tour on a truck/bus that can seat 23. Ages ranged from one 40 something to 79, with only four under 60. Four of us working, the rest retired.
One retired couple, early 70s, from London on a long NZ AUS holiday that this trip was bringing to an end. He, an autocrat if ever there was one, had been in a senior position in the civil service. Agnes his wife was such a gentle soul with a scientific background. He carried a camera around his neck with a huge tele lens on it. On a couple of occasions rudely told people to move out of his way so he could get a photo. Did not really do much to help until late in the trip. I was sat with them one evening and one said to the other "I was going to offer to help do x but it was already done". I said you'll just need to offer sooner.
A retired couple from the NSW central coast, early 60s. Lovely people who worked liked troopers at every campsite.
Two friends, early 60s, who first met in the NZ Navy and had reconnected through social media. Ally had until recently owned a place in Katherine that KWE had used as an overnight stop. Her friend Anne was over from NZ and was sadly suffering from early and worrying signs of dementia. You could not get Ally away from the washing up!
Three related ‘Finnish’ ladies, two sisters and a second cousin. Second cousin from Brisbane, a nurse, was the youngest, sisters 60s, one also in Brisbane and one on holiday from Finland. The two sisters were like Ally, nearly impossible to wrench away from washing up.
Our oldest had driven up to Broome from the Adelaide Hills on his own. Runs three walking groups. You could blow him over but he could walk for days. Graeme became responsible for the unloading and loading of the kitchen tables, crockery and cooking gear.
One single of an indeterminate age, maybe late 50s. Lives in Canberra, originally from Poland, our early moring hater. Bea did as little as possible.
Our group of six - five from the Kangaroo Valley and a friend from Berry who was a ring in so they could get a group discount! One still working (owns a local supply business), one the pyschologist. All very intelligent, conversational, and passionate about the referendum. Hugh, larger than life, hilarious, a wanderer who was usually last on the bus after a stop, had driven up from the Valley. A terrific guy. Our Berry traveller is an ex-lawyer running the yes campaign in her area. They provided differing levels of help, but apart from Hugh, looking back, not a huge amount apart from getting lunch ready. The pysch and his partner very, very little. The lawyer a similar level of not much apart from getting the urns ready so she could have a cup of tea.
Finally us. My sister is 69 and a retired teacher who really does still like to organise things. I had the job of loading and unloading the 20 camp chairs and food prep most nights. My sister also helped in the kitchen and with loading and unloading. bAlt was Mr Everything and Everywhere. Up in the roof of the truck amongst the tents and swags. Last pair of arms in the chain of bag loaders. Lifting the big eskies out. Helping everyone with any and every problem. We joke that we travel with a pharmac_ and he was handing out cold and flu tablets, cough lozenges and panadol, mainly to the Valley gang who brought a cold onboard. He even provided an ankle support (we had two, plus two knee supports) for one of the group who tripped and hurt her ankle. He was called out at the end of the trip as the kindest and most helpful person on the trip. I have no idea how he's put up with me for as long as he has.
The bus seating actually worked out well. Apart from the London couple who flatly refused to sit in the back seat, or even sit apart, everyone rotated around the bus, sitting with each other and chatting. The seats were roomy, well padded and reclined enough to make them even a bit more comfortable but not enough to encroach on the space behind. Apart from the back seats, each pair had four USB-A points. The one thing that was needed was a small net pocket on the back of the seat in front. When you had your phone charging you had to hold it, or sit in your lap or under your leg. Not ideal. There was also no overhead storage, I guess due to the risk of stuff falling out if it was there.
Along with a day pack, we were limited to a bag of no heavier than 15kg and no larger than 30x80cm. Our bags were exactly those dimensions and weight. Ours were also the equal biggest and heaviest. Oops.
All meals were included apart from one lunch and two dinners. Breakfast was cereals, yoghurt, toast, spreads, coffee and tea. Lunch wraps with cold meats, salads, hummus, falafels, any leftovers. Dinners were varied - curry, pasta, bbq, sausages, roast, salads or cooked veg. Always lots, always delicious. It was amazing how much a couple of the men ate. As mentioned previously, even this want unusual. Snacks of fruit and muesli bars. We apparently didn't eat as much as expected. The second food shop in Kunanurra was much smaller than originally planned. We had plentiful water onboard both in the truck tank and a large 80 litre cooler. The food was stored in a large fridge and two huge eskies. We brought gin on board at Broome plus some g&t and beers in cans. We stocked up again in Kununurra. There was no shortage of space in the eskies to keep the drinks off the group, plus Pat, cold.
That's about it. Back to the trip.
