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Nourlangie Safari Camp, Episode 33

22 May 2017

Nourlangie Safari Camp, here is 9SLK Is anybody listening? (My radio code) From the Diaries of Flemming Jensen 1968-1969 

 

Saturday, 18 April 1969

I enjoyed as never before sleeping in my bed tonight. Free of mosquitoes and two blankets to keep me warm. I awoke however a few times during the night as my mosquito bites itched. Luckily I was too tired to scratch too much and I soon fell asleep again. Allan did not turn up today but it did not really matter because I got the opportunity to rest another day.

This afternoon I loaded our two water drums. I had to row out where the water was clear so it could also be used for drinking water. Afterwards I drove it up to the house. A little tricky but it's necessary as long as the water pump is not working. Tonight, I again hear Bill Cosby's LP two hundred miles and more. It is the funniest record I have ever heard.

Sunday, 19 April 1969

Have I gone crazy? Have I really been here for so long? I heard an engine noise and it was not from an airplane. However the girls who were about to get their rations also heard something. We were listening. Suddenly they came out of the woods. It was three Land-Rovers with six men and Toby.

They had been on there way from Jim Jim that morning and had met Toby on the road.

I was completely surprised and a bit confused. They had come to pick up some spare parts from Allan's old Land Rover and had really expected that he would be here. I knew none of them but they seem to be all good friends with Allan. We had some enjoyable hours before they went back to Jim Jim.

Before they left they had given me a portion of their supplies of canned food and bread which of course I was very grateful for.

Tomorrow they would return to Darwin and they promised to post my letters. Now it looks a lot better now that Toby is here. Now I can leave whether it is by road or by plane. However I hope that Allan and my planned trip to Alice Springs becomes a thing. At least it has been a different and interesting day. By the way I forgot to say that Allan over the radio last night announced that his arrival was postponed until Tuesday. Now we will see!

Monday, 20 April 1969

Toby and I went on a hunt and it was much easier now when the roads were passable. We spotted two buffaloes that we sneaked up. I had Allan's 44 Magnum. At an appropriate distance I shot, all together three times. It was hit twice in the lungs and once in the leg. I approached it and shot it once in the head and it went down. When I was really close it came up on its feet. It is astonishing how they can continue despite being severely wounded and again I shot and this time in the front of the head. Again it went down and once again it attempted to get up but now I was so close that I could give it the decisive shot in the back of the head.

We drove the Nissan right up to it and then stuffed the meat into it. I got a good chance to see Toby using the knife. He was working very quickly and professional. It was obvious that he had tried it many times before. I enjoyed the trip home without having to carry the meat on my back. The old pensioner’s camp was now filled with fresh meat and we were very popular.

Later in the day I shaved my beard. I needed to see a new face. The large temperature differences from day to night around 35-40 ℃ in the day time down to about 5 ℃ at night time has given me a cold. Thursday's night journey has of course also had its influence. Tomorrow will be the day for Allan to turn up, if he does not have other plans! We will have to wait and see.