Rescued by the State Emergency Service (SES)
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325758)
Rockingham, Australia
May 23, 2018 2:26am CST
I’m beginning to think I’m too old for adventures. Tonight we’re in a very nice caravan park with power, water and on-site amenities – a far cry from last night when we found ourselves stranded on a very muddy, very narrow dirt track. We’d followed the GPS trying to get to a free camping spot – and yes, I know some of you will be saying ‘I could have told you that would happen’.
However without going into all the details we were following a very narrow dirt track when suddenly there was a tree across our pathway. A very flash house nearby proved to be deserted and the tree, although not big, was too big for us to shift without help. You can see from the photo there is no way we could have gone around the tree.
So we slept the night there. We had cutlets and wine for tea and I consoled myself with some chocolate. I also won the game of Ticket to Ride so really it wasn’t too bad although we did wonder who we could get to come to our rescue. We also learnt that gravity can pull all night long at you and your blankets and you end up nearly out of the bottom of the bed.
Next morning we rang the State Emergency Service (SES) and eventually they managed to find us. Ten minutes with a chain-saw and we were on our way again. Tonight we'll catch up with our son who we haven't seen for about 15 months. At 46, I don't suppose he has changed much.
As regards travelling, I wonder what the future has in store for us?
27 people like this
29 responses
It's important to get your priorities right - and we had a toilet in the caravan which was also a blessing! 
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
23 May 18
More fun and adventures, Judy. There will be fortuitous events along the way but I know you will be able to get it thru. Take care always.
3 people like this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
24 May 18
Glad you made the most of your predicament and were able to solve the problem and be on your way. Hopefully your trip will be smoother in the days ahead.
2 people like this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
25 May 18
@JudyEv Yes, it's my real name. Good that your feeling much better.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 May 18
@1hopefulman I'll be embellishing the whole thing and making a big joke of it next. 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 May 18
We were only a few kilometres some quite a large town. It was just that we couldn't move the tree on our own. If we couldn't have raised the SES, we would have unhitched the car next morning and gone off to hire a chain-saw to get ourselves 'unstuck'.
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
24 May 18
Oh my! I would be anxious to spend the night out there in the outback .. Glad you were able to get some help..
2 people like this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
26 May 18
@JudyEv oh okay .. it's good that it happened closer to town ..
1 person likes this
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
26 May 18
What a scary time you had stuck in the middle of nowhere due to a fallen tree. I would have felt scared sleeping there in the night. I am glad that you had some food on you to eat. It is so lovely to find a free camping ground. I am pleased you got rescued in the morning.
In 2003 when I was in Croatia I went to a long thin woody island. My guide book told me the beautiful national park was 1 kilometre was from the camp ground. Yes, I was the only person camping there! In the morning I tried walking to the national park. I walked for ages and got nowhere. A person stopped and asked if I needed a lift. I know about the possible dangers of hitch hiking however I was desperate to reach the national park. I arrived there safely and looked at pretty lake and a lovely island. I was worried how I would get back to the lonely campsite. I got talking to a small group of people from Hungary and they offered me a lift. It was so wonderful of them and I felt very grateful.
1 person likes this
@maximax8 (31053)
• United Kingdom
27 May 18
Judy Evans I must have more than one map and guide book to know if what is said is true. Thinking back to Fes in Morocco we walked out of the old town and saw a castle on a hillside. I said to my children that it would be lovely to go over to that castle. Another European overheard us and told us it is dangerous over there. I am so glad because our travel guide that we were using didn't say anything about that. Sadly my disabled son's wheelchair fell from a taxi roof in Fes going to the train station.
@allknowing (130066)
• India
24 May 18
You must be an expert by now to face the rigors or travel.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 May 18
We will question the decisions of our GPS much more closely in future.
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 May 18
Yes, there is often something unexpected that pops up in our travels.
@WorDazza (15833)
• Manchester, England
23 May 18
Having seen the film Wolf Creek I think any incident that left me stranded in a remote part of Australia would seriously panic me.
And if you haven't seen Wolf Creek I would advise you not to as you travel through such remoteness!!!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 May 18
This place was only a few kilometres from quite a large town. We even thought the train was coming right through our caravan at on point through the night. An English friend who lived in Australia saw Wolf Creek and was sorry she did as it really frightened her and made her fearful of the bush and being stranded. I won't be seeing it although it must have been really well done to have made such an impact.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129470)
• Israel
7 Jun 18
@JudyEv
I am glad you could call someone for help. Being somewhere that no one knows where you are is no fun. I am glad you are at a better place. I have heard bad stories here about GPS. I do not trust it and would not use it so I do the old fashioned way and ask people and still get lost because everyone has their own directions and not always the right ones.
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
24 May 18
glad it all ended well... at least you had chocolate...lol...
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
26 May 18
Ohhh...the old GPS conspiracy snared another driver. I am glad you managed to overcome this adversity and continue on your way.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325758)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 May 18
Yes thanks. The story has now been polished and embellished and trotted out a few times.
@JESSY3236 (18923)
• United States
25 May 18
At least you had somewhere to sleep.
1 person likes this
