Mozzies! Won’t Dampen This

On the way from Birdsville to Bedourie, around noon I decided to stop at a river crossing called Cuttaburra Crossing for lunch. Having crossed dry creek after dry creek through the whole ride, it was a refreshing surprise to see a wide, wet creek! The Eyre Creek crossing was a beautiful spot, a full stream flowing with water. Various birds were flying or doing sundry things on the shore and in the water.

I pulled up to the shaded picnic area close to the water and pulled out my cheese wrap which I always have prepared for my daily lunch. There were three campers vehicles there, with its owners enjoying the surroundings as well. As I was munching on my wrap, a man whom I would later know as Kev, came up and asked if I wanted to have a cup of hot tea. (Ah, the British way– to have a cup of tea!) If so, I was welcome to sit in their circle and enjoy their company. I gladly obliged.

The area was a beautiful spot to watch darters, eagles, egrets, ducks, Australian pelicans, and a host of other birds. It was an enjoyable time over a cup of hot tea (I never have hot tea for lunch, such is my biking routine!), a time of slowness, of beautiful natural surroundings, and good conversation.

What was to be a brief lunch stop turned into an all-night stay with a wonderful dinner to boot!

I had planned to cover at least 20 more miles that day. Kev knew of my plans, but also knew that this was a beautiful spot to linger in. He mentioned that, should I decide to stay, he and Deb, his partner, would cook dinner of kangaroo stew. In the end, I decided to stay instead of moving on as I had intended. Sometimes, beautiful circumstances crop up in which plans have to be altered.

Around the fire that evening, I enjoyed a nice bowl of kangaroo stew from Kev and Deb, curry rice from Gerry, and salad and “johnny cakes” from Jeff and Louise. Plus three cans of very cold beer from both Kev and Gerry. Around the wonderful food was wonderful company.

In the evening, though, I learned a new Australian word: mozzies. It’s slang for mosquitoes. I didn’t realize it, but I had over 30 bites all over my shoulder, back, and butt. What I learned was that, unlike other mosquitoes I have known, I didn’t feel any of these bites, so I never knew they were biting me. Not until the next day.

But the itchiness didn’t dampen the enjoyable and memorable “bush experience” I had with these hospitable and warm Australians.