I wrote this simple little poem sitting at the Lake Cowan free camp about 17kms out of Norseman before I started my journey east, across the Nullarbor. Last year, when I attempted the same journey, Brutus (my old campervan) played up about 160kms east of Norseman and I had to get towed back to the beginning, hence the reference in the poem.

The List

I think it’s time to make a list
Before I cross the Nullarbor
I’ll pop into Norseman’s IGA
And see what they have in store.

I need some drinking water
And I’d better get some ice
It makes my gin and tonics
Particularly nice!

Some fruit and veg go on the list
Though not too much I think
Because when I hit Ceduna
They’ll put it in the bin.

Salads will be the way to go
Then I won’t have to cook
And I can spend my daytime travelling
And have a real good look.

I’d better get some Bushmans,
The flies were bad last time,
And I must hunt out that fly net
To make my journey more sublime.

Brutus will have a service
And I’ll replace any worn part
I don’t want a repeat of last year
When I was towed back to the start!

Well, I think that’s it, I’m ready to go
Across that long, long track.
I’m so sad to be leaving WA
But I know that I’ll be back!

 

Rosemary Robinson

January 2016