What would 'Dieback Area' mean to you?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326093)
Rockingham, Australia
June 29, 2022 8:33am CST
I put up a photo of a Californian couple who stayed with us as couch-surfers. I explained that they unloaded their bikes from the plane when they landed in Sydney, assembled them in the airport then took off west towards Perth. At the border into Western Australia, travellers have to leave behind all fresh fruit and vegetables. If you are riding bikes this means you could be without these foods for some days as it’s a long bike ride between shops.
Each night, they would go a little way off the road and camp in the bush. In the forest areas south of our place, they came across signs saying ‘Warning. Dieback Area.’ They didn’t know what this meant but to them, the wording seemed quite sinister. However, they couldn’t go any further so camped anyway but spent a restless night. We were able to reassure them that dieback is a disease that affects our forests, causing the peripheral parts to die. It can be spread on the soles of shoes, on tyres or on the paws/hooves of animals.
They did a lot of cycling trips and almost perished on the Sahara Desert when they camped off the road and a sandstorm blew up. The sand jammed the zipper of the tent and they were unable to get out. I don’t think they did any more big journeys after they got home from Australia.
I’ve used the same photo of them.
9 people like this
9 responses
@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Jun 22
Our campers aren't either, if they only knew it. Are there steps in place to try to protect the trees?
@LindaOHio (157044)
• United States
30 Jun 22
I give them a lot of credit. Camping in the bush would not be for me. Give me a lodge or motel!
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45579)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
29 Jun 22
Nice that they could do all that. To some of us, just getting out of bed is an adventure.
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@wolfgirl569 (95648)
• Marion, Ohio
29 Jun 22
Not knowing what it meant it would be scary.
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@wolfgirl569 (95648)
• Marion, Ohio
30 Jun 22
@JudyEv That is natural that you dont think about it.
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@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Jun 22
They are trying to keep certain pests out of our crops. Livestock coming in have to have various tests before they arrive, trucks have to be washed out. They went through our caravan very carefully when we came home from the east.
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@snowy22315 (170412)
• United States
29 Jun 22
Well they were certainly adventurous weren't they? That trip sounds exhausting to me.
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@JudyEv (326093)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Jun 22
Me too. It's no mean feat coming across the Nullarbor - a long way between stops.
@Aiana18 (698)
• Belo Horizonte, Brazil
29 Jun 22
It must be really amazing to venture to various places in the world. Things to see, do, learn. There is no shortage of stories to tell. But dangerous situations are very common depending on the region. I wouldn't take that much risk. I am a person who likes the comfort and security of a home.
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