Mango-mania

Feb 13
Rockhampton - Mackay
L’s home - thank you for your acceptance and peace.
And we very nearly lost the plot with each other. Credit to Luke for everything he brings and who he totally was on this late night for the next day.

We scored a couple of dozen, ripe, lush fallen mangoes from the side of a road, the front yard of a friendly old toothless gentleman, in Bororen, an hour and a half from Rocky.

Feb 14
Mackay - Gin Gin - Bowen
Well. From the night before, the almost certain probable future of the big V Day was only to be more of the same, alone and lonely, resentful for what could have, should have been…. However, with some deeply authentic, touching and moving words from L, the day turned out to create more than I had ever imagined - on to a new era!

Feb 15
Bowen - Townsville! Alligator Creek
Pasing through town - oh soo tired. Looking forward to our planned rest spot but what do you know - they’ve changed the rules and now we can’t stay, so… we stay the night in a truck stop behind the service station and sleep in shifts with the truckies. Hmm, something stinks - what’s that? Oh, that’s right, it’s Bowen! Bowen, the stinkiest town I’ve come across in a long time… Smells like rotting…what? The big mango perhaps? At least the BP offers us a shower in the disabled toilet cubicle, gee we must look like this place smells, or perhaps they’ve become accustomed to the stench here. Feeling better and drop into bed and dreamland… All night coming going coming going argh the frustration!

And we’ve been on travel for coconuts gazillion! The front passenger seat is fully stocked (nowhere for poor Sufiyo even) but do you think we can drink any of them?! They’re all for the fam in Townsville - and they’re all fermented and taste a little alcoholic anyway! But Luke likes then like this hehe….

I’ve never seen such fat mosquitoes as ever I have in Bowen - I cant wait to get outa here! On our way out of town now… finally… to see Luke’s maaarmy and brothers! Seems to be a recurring habit that we take so long to get moving out of town - mostly my doing I acknowledge. But hey what’s the rush anyway? We got as long as we want, I keep reminding myself 

Coconuts coconuts coconuts!! Depsite Ishi’s front foot space already being chockas with the husky, divine nuts, Luke just can’t help himself hehehe…. This morning as I had my first mouthful of fresh, raw, unadulterated, mature coconut flesh, I thought to myself… Sure, I could get used o a little of this on occasions… And now only several hours on, I am unstoppable with the fresh white nutmeat.

Mangoes mangoes mangoes, blessings upon you who inspired and requested I eat multiple mangoes for you! $5 a bag - and they’re huuuge! Keet variety. Now I get to dehydrate my own with all those we can’t keep up with 

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