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After having driven over 2,500 km in Australia’s barren bush land for the past 10 days, we finally made it out alive and found some trace of civilization, about 300 km away from Melbourne. There, we expected to see many familiar things. Shopping centres with trendy boutiques, restaurants that serve other things than sausage sizzle, traffic lights… One thing I was NOT expecting though, was to get hit in the face with a stick, swung by a crazy teen in a fit of rage.
It seemed like an ordinary Sunday afternoon at the park: families were having a picnic, some youth we’re practicing new moves in the skatepark, the sun was shining and everyone was having a splendid time; the kind of moment that would have made the perfect picture postcard if you only added the words “Shepparton, Milk Capital of Victoria” on the bottom. At least, it would have, until this group of punk-ass teens came rolling in on their little scooters.
For what we’ve heard from the other kids afterwards, these guys are always there, terrorizing anyone and everyone at any given time. On that day, it seemed it was just a “wrong place, wrong time” kind of deal. Insult were thrown, then rocks, and the split second I looked away to see if Steph was OK, a 2 foot long, 3 inch wide stick was swung and broken on my face.
It was a sunny day though, and Shepparton is a really nice looking city. There are dozens of painted cows everywhere, made by talented local artists. Many friendly people stroll about or ride their bikes. Two of them (who happened to both be named Matt – which helps to be remembered while your head is throbbing and your vision is still blurry) stopped by to give us a hand.
(One of the) Matt had a cell phone and kindly called the police while the other gave me some water from his bottle, which was nice of him, seeing how he was in the middle of some bicycle training exercise and would surely need it.
Victoria Police officers were quick to arrive and seemed excited as they drove their cars on the lawns of the park giving chase to the thugs on their mini scooters. Arrests were made and testimonies were taken and Stephanie jokingly took pictures of my swollen face while I ate a complimentary donut.
These things happen I guess… We meet hundreds of people every day on this cross-country journey, almost all of them are really nice, and most of them won’t even think about smashing sticks on your face. Take Peter and Diane, for example, who we met in Kumbia. They are contented on riding their motor home across Australia, in search of freshwater fish and taking blurry pictures of them through the water. There’s also Bruce, Paul and Eric, an old group of friends who every year, travel 1,500 km in an old campervan that Bruce made, pulled by a 1949 Chevy pickup truck just to go see an old car show and get away from their wives for a week in South Queensland.
Travels are adventures. Most are good, some are bad and a few are... Meh.. I think Shepparton gets filed in the “Meh” pile.
See HER view
See His and Hers Pictures
After having driven over 2,500 km in Australia’s barren bush land for the past 10 days, we finally made it out alive and found some trace of civilization, about 300 km away from Melbourne. There, we expected to see many familiar things. Shopping centres with trendy boutiques, restaurants that serve other things than sausage sizzle, traffic lights… One thing I was NOT expecting though, was to get hit in the face with a stick, swung by a crazy teen in a fit of rage.
It seemed like an ordinary Sunday afternoon at the park: families were having a picnic, some youth we’re practicing new moves in the skatepark, the sun was shining and everyone was having a splendid time; the kind of moment that would have made the perfect picture postcard if you only added the words “Shepparton, Milk Capital of Victoria” on the bottom. At least, it would have, until this group of punk-ass teens came rolling in on their little scooters.
For what we’ve heard from the other kids afterwards, these guys are always there, terrorizing anyone and everyone at any given time. On that day, it seemed it was just a “wrong place, wrong time” kind of deal. Insult were thrown, then rocks, and the split second I looked away to see if Steph was OK, a 2 foot long, 3 inch wide stick was swung and broken on my face.
It was a sunny day though, and Shepparton is a really nice looking city. There are dozens of painted cows everywhere, made by talented local artists. Many friendly people stroll about or ride their bikes. Two of them (who happened to both be named Matt – which helps to be remembered while your head is throbbing and your vision is still blurry) stopped by to give us a hand.
(One of the) Matt had a cell phone and kindly called the police while the other gave me some water from his bottle, which was nice of him, seeing how he was in the middle of some bicycle training exercise and would surely need it.
Victoria Police officers were quick to arrive and seemed excited as they drove their cars on the lawns of the park giving chase to the thugs on their mini scooters. Arrests were made and testimonies were taken and Stephanie jokingly took pictures of my swollen face while I ate a complimentary donut.
These things happen I guess… We meet hundreds of people every day on this cross-country journey, almost all of them are really nice, and most of them won’t even think about smashing sticks on your face. Take Peter and Diane, for example, who we met in Kumbia. They are contented on riding their motor home across Australia, in search of freshwater fish and taking blurry pictures of them through the water. There’s also Bruce, Paul and Eric, an old group of friends who every year, travel 1,500 km in an old campervan that Bruce made, pulled by a 1949 Chevy pickup truck just to go see an old car show and get away from their wives for a week in South Queensland.
Travels are adventures. Most are good, some are bad and a few are... Meh.. I think Shepparton gets filed in the “Meh” pile.
See HER view
See His and Hers Pictures
Posts
que d'annecdotes bizzares. La bêtise humaine est universlle!
ReplyDeleteReally most dangerous moments given in your blog and i feel glad to see your will power.Likewise egyptian make up every kind of makeup is wellknown in its own identity.
ReplyDeleteHuh ordinaire mettons.
ReplyDelete"most of them won’t even think about smashing sticks on your face" - Geez j'espère ben!!
Take care xxx
Mef
ca me rapelle une vielle chanson sydicale sur l'air de un mile a pied ca use...
ReplyDeleteUn 2x4 , ca frappe , ca frappe,
un 2x4, ca frappe en tabarnac
from sherby bob