Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
I let the crackle take over for a few moments. Then I sat up, coughing and splut-
tering in the smoke. 'Chris, mate … did you really … you really discussed getting
engaged?'
'Yep, sure did,' he replied. As the fire painted his cheeks and broad jaw in a
golden orange, the vague hint of a smile crept over his face.
'Jeez that sounds bloody serious!' I said, laughing. 'But how do you know to
make such a big decision?'
'Trust me, Tim, you just know. When I was waiting in Bucharest with Nat, I just
knew. There are probably a handful of people in the world that I could build a fant-
astic life with and she is one of them.'
He went on to describe the life that he and Nat would have together in Australia.
She would continue to study while Chris found a way to earn money to travel. Later
on they would start a family. He even had an idea of the kind of place they would
settle down in!
It struck me that I didn't have a clue about my future. Beyond this journey was
just a big unknown blank. I did not have the slightest idea what I would do when I
returned to Australia. I wasn't going to study and I would probably have a big debt.
What did Australia mean? Surely I would feel like a fish out of water back there. It
was here in the northern forest that I felt most alive.
That Chris and I were embarking on the journey with a similar mindset had al-
ways been reassuring. We had abandoned our university degrees to pursue a com-
mon goal. In doing so, we cast our futures into uncertainty. Even if the trip ended
in disaster, at least we were in it together, and could find comfort in knowing we
shared the same fears, trials and tribulations. Now it was clear that we were living
two very different realities. And, although we were on this journey together, it was
going to be a solitary challenge, like living parallel lives.
I was sure of only one thing: this trip was what I wanted to do.
The next morning I awoke to the patter of rain on my face. I forced open my
eyes to see the dark skeletal trees spiralling out of sight into a heavy mist. I had
rolled clear of the shelter during the night. Rather than lie awake, I decided to get
up and prepare the fire. In any case, I was on breakfast duty.
After porridge, I carried the dirty dishes to the frozen puddles by the roadside
ditch. There I broke the ice and with numb fingers scraped at the burnt porridge
on the bottom of the pot. Afterwards, I packed slowly and stretched before putting
feet to pedals.
