western australia

I'm on my own for a couple of days

@JudyEv (382658)

Rockingham, Australia

June 27, 2022 8:28pm CST

I am on my own for two nights. Vince left early this morning to meet up with his brother. They’ll be heading for Norseman which is seven to eight hours driving without stops. His brother’s grandson is riding a pushbike from Perth to Melbourne (3,500 kms/2,100 miles). The men will meet him with supplies. The young man lost a brother to a brain tumour about twenty years ago. He was only about 3 when his big brother passed away at 7 years of age so doesn’t remember a lot about that time. However, he is raising funds for Canteen Australia, an organisation that supports 12-25 year-olds dealing with their own diagnosis, a close family member's cancer or the death of a loved one. I don’t know if it is an international charity. Vince and his brother get on well together. The brother lost his wife just over twelve months ago, about the time we moved here so we’ve seen more of him than we might otherwise have done, simply because we're a lot closer now. I’m sure they’ll have a lot of fun. The photo is of a native plant. The red bits are actually flowers. It is more attractive in real life.

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31 responses

@flapiz (23530)

• United Kingdom

28 Jun 22

Your husband is a lovely man. I hope you can manage without him for a bit. Or is it like your day off when he is away?

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@flapiz (23530)

• United Kingdom

28 Jun 22

@JudyEv Well time for a nice relaxing bath and a lot of naps!

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

It's like my day off! I quite like my own company occasionally.

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

@flapiz True - and I can eat exactly what I want too without having someone say 'Is that all you're having for lunch? Banana and ice-cream?'

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@rebelann (117281)

• El Paso, Texas

28 Jun 22

Wow, what a wonderful thing to do for someone you never actually got to know. It sounds like a very worthy charity How big does that plant grow? Is it a bush or something like it.

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@rebelann (117281)

• El Paso, Texas

28 Jun 22

Oh wow, those are beautiful, I wonder if I could get them to grow here. Do those 2 require a lot of water or shade?

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

The bush would be about twice my height. You can see it here along the top of the photo and a bit to the left. Behind it is a Silver Princess eucalyptus which has lovely red flowers too.

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

@rebelann They are Australian natives so they should be fine with hot, dry conditions. They would need a certain amount of water probably until they got established.

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@allen0187 (59827)

• Philippines

28 Jun 22

Good luck to your husband, his brother, and his brother's grandson. This is one long trip.

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@allen0187 (59827)

• Philippines

28 Jun 22

@JudyEv true!

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

It is a very long trip, particularly for the one on the bike!!

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@Nawsheen (28761)

• Mauritius

28 Jun 22

Your nephew is doing an amazing job and Vince and his brother are being very supportive. That's awesome

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

Thanks. The brother has already made one trip about half that distance when the bike-rider damaged his back wheel.

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@DaddyEvil (174749)

• United States

28 Jun 22

I inquired into Canteen Australia... It is a national not-for-profit organization only... but will accept donations from anywhere. (I sent a small donation.

) It seems like a very worthy endeavor. You've told us about Vince's brother when you and Vince stayed with him. Interesting picture.

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@DaddyEvil (174749)

• United States

28 Jun 22

@JudyEv I hope it helps... I'm sure Vince's photos will generate some good donations.

I'm looking forward to seeing them.

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

Thanks very much for the donation. That's really kind of you. Vince is going to put up some photos on his FB when he gets back and that might generate a few donations too. I'm sure he'll let me use the photos on here too.

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

@DaddyEvil Every bit helps with these smaller charities - and with big ones too, I'm sure.

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@Kandae11 (57231)

•

28 Jun 22

That's a good charity to support. I hope it gets all the funds it needs.

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

There are so many good charities, aren't there? He will raise at least several thousand dollars.

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@FourWalls (86910)

• United States

28 Jun 22

Oh, dear me. I hope you can suffer through this! We’re here for you.

Seriously, I hope Vince has a good and safe time.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

Thanks. I think the time might go quite quickly!

2 people like this

@jstory07 (148777)

• Roseburg, Oregon

28 Jun 22

That native plant is beautiful. I hope Vince has a good time with his brother.

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

I'm sure they will enjoy their time together. Of the seven siblings, they are the closest in age.

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@wolfgirl569 (136057)

• Marion, Ohio

28 Jun 22

Thats a long ride. Wish him luck

3 people like this

@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

I think they will quite enjoy their time together.

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@RasmaSandra (98158)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

29 Jun 22

Very nice plant, That is good that they get along and so wonderful that the grandson is doing this to raise funds,

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@RasmaSandra (98158)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

30 Jun 22

@JudyEv I hope his knee will be all right

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Jun 22

@RasmaSandra It's nothing serious.

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Jun 22

It was a great thing to be doing but now he's had to pull out as he has hurt his knee.

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@MarshaMusselman (38865)

• Midland, Michigan

28 Jun 22

I really like that tree even though I didn't realize the red was flowers How old is the grandson now? That's quite a ride on a bike but for a good cause. He's riding with a group I'm guessing?

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@MarshaMusselman (38865)

• Midland, Michigan

28 Jun 22

@JudyEv oh my gosh. That will be some to then. Does he have plans for farther in the trip to get replenished?

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

@MarshaMusselman I think they are going to send food and water parcels to each of the road houses with some of the interstate truck drivers.

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

I think he is 22 or 23. He is riding on his own and doesn't have a support vehicle with him which is why his grandfather and Vince are doing what they can for the first week or so.

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

28 Jun 22

That is one heck of an endurance ride. Gonna need supplies for sure. Good job it is winter or almost so, I guess

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

It's a good time of year to do it but I'm not sure he is quite as organised as he should be. Carrying enough water is the main problem.

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

30 Jun 22

@Ronrybs I think generally your hot days are more humid than ours. I was surprised how hot it got when we were there.

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@Ronrybs (21492)

• London, England

29 Jun 22

@JudyEv While our summers aren't quite as hot as yours, on my cycle rides I carry three or four litres of water. I can get through it quickly!

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@RubyHawk (99367)

• Atlanta, Georgia

28 Jun 22

The nephew is a thoughtful young man. More luck to him.

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

Across the Nullarbor Desert, the service stations are a long way apart so anyone doing this has to take quite a lot of gear with them.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

28 Jun 22

I wondered what your photo was. Reminds me of our blue pines in the backyard. So pretty with the red flowers. So sorry to hear of his loss. So young. Glad they have each other to spend time with.

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Jun 22

They are heading home already as the young man has hurt his knee.

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Jun 22

@CarolDM You've probably read that it's a minor injury - a sprain or something probably.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

29 Jun 22

@JudyEv Oh I hope his knee is not hurt too bad.

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@m_audrey6788 (58468)

• Germany

28 Jun 22

Glad to know that there are good people who organize raising funds to help out others

Enjoy your me time

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@m_audrey6788 (58468)

• Germany

28 Jun 22

@JudyEv That`s good.

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

Thanks. Mostly I'm just catching up on a few things.

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changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (17245)

• China

28 Jun 22

Is the plant in the photo Australian beefwood (horsetail beefwood)? Riding a pushbike for 2,100 miles is a challenging task !

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changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (17245)

• China

29 Jun 22

@JudyEv Thanks for the photos !

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

It could be although when I brought up photos, it looks a bit different. I'll try to remember to ask my brother-in-law. Here are the two plants - Horsetail beefwood on the left. (Photo courtesy Ping an Chang)

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@RebeccasFarm (91297)

• United States

28 Jun 22

A noble charity that. Sorry to hear of losing his brother so young. A lovely flower now Judy. I hope they have a nice time. You rest and relax now.

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@RebeccasFarm (91297)

• United States

28 Jun 22

@JudyEv Oh no ..how terrible

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@thelme55 (79368)

• Germany

28 Jun 22

Enjoy your Me time alone at home. Do you like it or not?

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

I like it as I've always enjoyed having a few hours to myself here and there. Now that we're in this new smaller house it doesn't seem to happen as often. But Vince is making plans to go golfing with some men from here so that would be good for us both.

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@thelme55 (79368)

• Germany

3 Jul 22

@JudyEv I have read from your post that he is back home. That is good.

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@LindaOHio (222898)

• United States

28 Jun 22

That was nice of Vince to meet up with his brother and his brother's grandson. Enjoy your "me" time. Love the plant.

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

Vince doesn't like camping much but he has a stretcher to sleep on and a very warm sleeping bag so he'll be fine. I had a good day today thanks not that I really did anything special. I went for two walks and caught up on some correspondence I needed to take care of.

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

@LindaOHio That's what Vince says. The caravan is as basic as he wants to get.

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@LindaOHio (222898)

• United States

28 Jun 22

@JudyEv I don't like camping at all! Give me a lodge or motel, please!

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@porwest (112933)

• United States

28 Jun 22

I am sure he and his brother will indeed have a good time. Meanwhile, enjoy your bachelorette time.

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@JudyEv (382658)

• Rockingham, Australia

28 Jun 22

I haven't really done anything special but it's just nice to be on my own occasionally.

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@porwest (112933)

• United States

28 Jun 22

@JudyEv Me time. It's bliss. Let me tell you. lol

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