Finally saw some kangaroos yesterday morning. A whole herd of them just mooching in a field next to the road. Dime-a-dozen to your average Aussie, it was an astonishing sight, adults and young all grazing without a care in the world.
Saw this sight enroute to my next marathonier appointment. David Liddle was part of a three man crew in a Holden Monaro driven by one of the key Aussie personalities involved in the Marathon. The Sydney Daily Telegraph co-sponsored the event plus the Holden team, and David McKay was a Telegraph columnist, successful race car driver, entrepreneur, raconteur, bon vivant and all those other descriptive words used to suggest supreme confidence, capability, wealth and connection! Basically, McKay was at the heart of organising Holden (i.e. General Motors Australia) to put a three car team together. He also pretty much hand-picked the crews, undertook a recconeuter ('recce') of the European/Asian leg of the Marathon prior to 'kick off', and generally represented the 'face' of the event for the newspaper. David Liddle was a mechanic working for McKay, and was chosen to ensure the McKay Holden kept going in perfect order.
Living in rural tranquility outside Port Macquarie, David had an amusing and refreshing attitude towards his participation in 1968, basically viewing it as a 'job of work', even to this day. His stories of how he travelled over to London for the Marathon start were hilarious, and from what I can gather, the actual run in Car 36 was not exactly a happy one! We sat and chatted the morning away, at one point stepping outside where I was able to realise the size of his farming land (beef cattle). We got talking about how Aussie wildlife is like nothing we experience in Europe, and he told me how kangaroos basically hop up to the front door. With a chuckle he also described an encounter with a black snake in one of his out-houses. Originally from New Zealand, where there are no poisonous beasties to speak of, he isn't a fan of snakes, and explained that black snakes can be deadly but are extremely timid, so he did his best to make sure the thing could wriggle off. He also explained that black snakes are essential as they keep out the brown snakes. Brown snakes are deadly and have a tendancy to sneak up and bite you just for fun! At this point I decided it might be time to wander back to the house, furtively glancing at the ground around my feet as I went.
Fortified by lunch kindly prepared by his wife Christine, I then set off for Gosford, some 200 miles south. Something I am really enjoying is the constant sight of flowering trees in bloom, the vivid blossoms in scarlet, orange, vivid purple and bright blues and yellows. Blue and violet Morning Glories grow like the white 'bind weed' we see along railway lines in England, and Birds of Paradise dot the side walks of each small town I drive through. Also, I may be slightly more tolerant of British roadworks and speed limits in future - it feels like the entire Pacific Highway is being altered or re-laid with speed restrictions of 35 mph everywhere. In genera,l restrictions are more severe on Aussie roads - even on the motorways and main highways, the max is 68 mph, which is tricky to adhere to when you're trying to overtake a monster truck before the passing lane runs out!
Australian radio is frankly rubbish, and it's a good job I have a radio button on the steering wheel as I am constantly having to change stations. Good grief, bland music seems to infiltrate every station, even ABC, and as 'AM' is still widely in use, the reception is shocking. Have been following the floods situation however - all eyes were on Wogga Wogga yesterday as the flood waters were due to peak and were threatening the levies which stand to 36 feet. The flood waters were at about 33 feet yesterday afternoon. Looking out of motel window, the skies again look unhappy, so will pack my unbrella when I go off to explore Gosford later this morning.
Finally, as I hurtle along the Aussie highways, I keep noticing signs for 'Fredo Pies - Home Of The Famous Crocodile Pies'! Haven't been tempted yet, but you never know!
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