Community
17 May, 2022
Wayne's World
G’DAY, TROPICAIRNSIANS, Due to surprising demand from many great FNQ dwellers about my retirement from writing, I have been dragged back to this blasted keyboard to spin some more yarn for you.
But mind you, I will be writing only on the second Friday every month and not weekly like previously.
After over two years of lockdowns, isolations, mandatory personal solitary confinement, or whatever other names you, governments, or medical officials want to call it, freedom has finally come to Australia; well, let us hope someone has told WA.
And I am gathering that this means we can safely travel around this great island without fear of being trapped in any one of our states for any form of unknown duration, which has been a constant fear amongst many long-term nomads.
I am hoping for many, this is the open pass to get active again, as I have met many grounded nomads who have sitting in theirs or someone else’s yard, a bloody large retirement investment on wheels that do not fare well sitting idle.
Just like those big planes, will need more money spent on them before hitting the bitumen again.
One bloke I first met over three years ago started building his ultimate brand-new retirement dream: hit the dirt road in a 4WD truck and camper trailer with the huge cost associated with such a custom build, forecasted at a touch under 200K.
However, the pandemic has dramatically increased the final build cost to a well over budget, eye-watering and still growing tally.
What does the future hold for the rest of us? All I know is that due to the unreliable travel scenarios around the world, such as getting trapped in a country without exit plans and at the age where I am too old to get work overseas, I have decided to let my passport expire and stay that way.
Well, then what about holidays? I hear many exclaim, this is bloody simple...Staycations!
Yes, you heard right; why risk going to other countries with probably less than acceptable contained health systems when right here in Australia we have so bloody much to see and feel and explore.
We have seven states and territories filled to the brim with safe and beautiful things to see and do. We even have a place called Tassie where there are said to be two-headed creatures vertically walking around, but do not be scared mainlanders, as we have securely placed them all on this small island.
And if that very thought gives you the shivers, then how about a Staycation in the most beautiful spot in Australia... here in Northern Queensland.
Too bloody right and bloody crikey, where the hell will you find such a climate as ours? If I remember correctly, we had winter on a Wednesday last year, and it was not as cold as the previous year’s Tuesday winter.
Yes, right here in TNQ, we have the world’s best rainforest with waterfalls and bushwalks down to fantastic coral reef swims with some of the best aquatic species in the world.
I think about all my travels around this, the most beautiful place on Earth, and the things I have seen and great people that I have met, but I fully realise that there are heaps more to see and characters to have a cuppa with, and to do that I better get active soon and so should you.
Stuff the world, here is safe. Wayne.
