First, a little background of my travelling style.  I landed for the first time in Australia, March 21, 2001, the best birthday and the best day of my life.  Every time I land in Oz, I get concerned that I will tear up and get overwhelmed with emotion as I cannot explain my passion and draw to the Land Down Under.

 

Within the first 5 minutes of sitting on the plane in LAX bound for Sydney, Australia, in 2001, an Aussie bloke offered that I could stay with him and his family.  Little did I know, but surprising me at the arrival gate, was the gentleman with whom I was going to fly to the Red Center for the Mooney Pilot’s Association Easter Fly In.  I got on the plane with no place to go and I got off with two blokes arguing about who was going to get to take me around Australia.

 

That is why I wasn’t too concerned about boarding a plane three weeks ago with no place to lay my head upon arrival.  To my astonishment, nothing manifested on the flights for a place for me to stay.  I did, however, meet Peter who gave me a rundown of the Yacht Clubs in Perth.  He suggested that the East Freemantle Yacht Club was a little more down to earth and may be a good place to start in getting assistance in finding lodging.  So I got off the plane, got on the internet, found the contact information for the East Freemantle Yacht Club, and called them up.

 

Eamon was a delightful young man and as it was very slow in the bar we spoke for quite a while.  I asked if there may be any reciprocal privileges with any USA Yacht Clubs or if there might be a place in the grass I might set up a tent.  He didn’t think the Club would be too keen on the tent idea and was unaware of any reciprocal privileges.  He didn’t directly ask me if I was a member of any Yacht Club, as I’m sure the Elkhorn Yacht Club folks are chuckling to themselves right now.  Remember I did inquire into EYC membership, but I wasn’t going to be around for the two month probation period.  FYI to the EYC members, there doesn’t seem to be too many reciprocal privileges for you over here.

 

Anyhow, back to the story.  Eamon pauses and says, “I know this is a little unusual, but if you can’t find any place to stay, my roommate is away for the Australia Day holiday weekend and you could probably crash at my place for the night.”  We chatted a little longer and arranged that I would take my stuff to his house, stop by the Club to meet him and get a key, return to the house, and he would be home after his shift ended at 1 am. 

 

I gather my overabundance of stuff and get to the bus stop.  I hail the bus and this driver with a scruffy beard tells me to get on and sit down as I attempt to show him my ticket.  So I stumble to my seat as the bus takes off, glance around and see the eyes rolling from the other passengers so I figure I better just be quiet.  A minute later the driver raises his voice and says, “Uh, you need to get your stuff out of the aisleway.”

“Sorry,” I reply, “I thought you wanted me to sit down.”

“You’re stuff can’t be in the aisleway.”

I quickly shove everything under the seats.

“Hey, why don’t you sit up here so I can talk to you.”

Oh, great I think, what else have I done wrong?  I get sympathetic glances from the other passengers as I move forward.

“Where are you from and what are you doing here?” Phill, the bus driver asks me.

I launch into my Australia circumnavigation and being a new permanent resident and before you know it, Phill is smiling.

“I’d like a card so I can follow your trip and I’d like to make a contribution.”

“Pardon me?”

“This trip has got to cost money.  You said you were going to get sponsors.  I would like to make a contribution.”

I’m thinking, this guy is biting my head off when I get on his bus and now he wants to make a contribution, hm, okay, I’ll go with it.  “Alright Phill, here’s my card.  Email me and when I am set up to take contributions, I will let you know.”

“Great,” he says.

 

Phill’s happy.  I’m happy.  I get off the bus.  I meet Eamon and he lets me know, the house is open, just go on in.

 

I’m beat, so I quickly shower, and fall asleep.

 

The next day we’re having breakfast on the veranda and I can tell something is up.  “Teresa,” Eamon uneasily says, “uh, my roommate is actually my Mum and she is due back at noon.  Is there any way you could be gone by then?”

 

“No worries, Mate, I’ll be gone.  Thanks for letting me stay.  You really helped me out.”  Just then, Eamon’s girlfriend, Harriet, comes out and says, “Hmm, Eamon, your Mum just got home.”

 

Video and photos next time…