We like to think we're brave, but we don't want to be foolish.
We got on a Qantas aeroplane and flew 12,000 kilometers over
water. It was fraught with danger. Of course, we didn't know anything about the
pilot, the last mechanic who worked on the plane, who was on air traffic control,
the effectiveness of airport security, and much, much more. But, we got on the
plane with blind faith, based on the airline's catch-line "Spirit of
Australia", and somehow got here safely. On a personal level, I think the
outcome boiled down to luck.
Walking and driving around Australia with a reversed
transportation system than we're used to, has risks too. Just stepping off the
curb and simultaneously checking in the wrong direction for oncoming traffic
can bring disaster. While driving on the left side
of the road, I find keeping my mind focused, is a challenge. After a lifetime of driving, my attention is normally
somewhere below the conscious level, until alerted to a situation. I think for me to drive safely here, it boils down to my ability to keep processing the unfamiliar and changing situations. If I was 30 again, I'd be better off. So far, we seem to have
mastered the single lane round-abouts, and had a stroke of good luck. Our
rental car turned out to be brilliant yellow. If we end up in the wrong place
at the wrong time, the other driver won't be able to say he didn't see us.
On a different adventure yesterday, we were beachcombing on
4 Mile beach, and a swim would have been nice. No one was swimming though
because there were warnings of Stingers. We noted the size of the Stinger
depicted on the sign, and hoped it wasn't to scale.
In fact, we wouldn't recognize a Stinger, until it stung.
The sign warned of needing medical attention, but we didn't know exactly what
that meant, other than it wasn't good. There just wasn't enough information for
a risk-benefit analysis and decision. In the frothing surf, we couldn't see
clearly enough to avoid anything unrecognizable, so we satisfied ourselves with
just beachcombing.
It's hard to say, was that a case of not being brave, or maybe we just didn't want to be foolish.
Click here for the next story in this series:
http://travellingwithsteveandmarlene.blogspot.ca/2015/03/trekking-mossman-gorge.html
It's hard to say, was that a case of not being brave, or maybe we just didn't want to be foolish.
Click here for the next story in this series:
http://travellingwithsteveandmarlene.blogspot.ca/2015/03/trekking-mossman-gorge.html
