Life was totally hunky-dory. Camping was better than ever and I was free again. Out of the mud (read about that here) that after a full week finally had let me go of its grip. The roads were more or less all dried up and the previously slow track now looked more like a highway that someone simply had forgotten to pave.

Easy breeezy!

On paper, at least. In practice – I was drained.

Drained as in that the only 2 photos I have from the last couple of days along the should be relaxed Oodnadatta Track is the one above, and the one below this sentence.

Low on everything from food to moral I finally rolled into the settlement of Marree and what had been my final outback destination ever since entering my first Aussie dirt track a couple of months earlier. Usually I reach these finish lines with a mix of celebratory joy, and an odd sensation of sadness to put another leg behind me. This time though, all I could feel was relief.

‘Done. Good job, girl. Now, where can one find chocolate over here?’

With heavy legs I parked my muddy ride against the rugged roadhouse that was obviously the social hub of town, and stepped inside. Only to have my hunt for a good old Snickers bar take an equally quick and unexpected turn. 10 minutes after later, I didn’t only exit with chocolate between my teet. I did so with a… job?

What the..?

Just now I’m simply too lazy to jot down what actually happened inside the Oasis roadhouse that afternoon. So for now, let’s just settle with repeating another one of those old clichés (we all know they’re true anyways).

Indeed, we should expect the unexpected.

Because you just never know which chocolate bar will be the one. The one getting you a weekend gig at what could be the most peculiar camel race the world has ever seen.

And those tired legs? Yes. I definitely forgot all about them.

Until next time,

Fredrika

Comments