Tick!

After taking a day off to laze around the multiple pools at the Cairns Colonial Club, we set off this morning to tick one major item off our list, purchasing a vehicle.

We met Beck, a fair dinkum, honest Joe (her terms) bush chick from the Far, Far, Really Way Far North. She sold us Mrs. Troopie (her name for the wagon), a sturdy diesel truck with an odometer that quit at 284,000 or more likely 1,284,000 kilometers. Just perfect for the family that already owns two other well-used vehicles named Boatie and Jeepie.

She’s a beaut.

We dropped Mrs. Troopie off with a highly recommended mechanic before heading up the coast to Port Douglas for a few days. On the way, she showed her displeasure at being left behind by blasting out one spectacular backfire.

Women upset everything. When you let them into your life, you find that the woman is driving at one thing and you’re driving at another.

-- George Bernard Shaw