The Travels of Mouse: “Outrageous Fortune”*

It really IS an Outrage.

Having put up graciously with the upheavals of packing once again, I had expected to be lounging about in Cairns by now, by way of some top-level scrounging in Cardwell for lunch.

I dunno, you just can’t get the help. 75km/46 miles from Townsville, the car made a quiet but strange noise and… turned itself off. Consternation from the humans, but we coasted safely to the side of the luckily newly-widened road. Dad disappeared under the bonnet, but it seems the Big Four-Ss were missing: no Sights, Sounds, Smells or Smoke. It all looked very normal and tidy, just… dead. We called RACQ Recovery, as Dad has had the foresight to get top cover. Mum and I retired to the shade of a nearby tree to wait. An hour later, we were on our way. The car was on the back of the low loader, which also towed the caravan, and I and the Staff were in the back seat of the truck. I did NOT approve of this, as there was no floof available, it was very high and Dad had to boost me, and the seat was too small for me to lie down properly. So I left the truck man a generous donation of drool back there to explain my feelings.

We are now Stuck in a caravan park 111km/69 miles from Townsville, 3km outside Ingham, where we will have to wait until Monday to find out if the car can be fixed quickly or if it will take days. Cairns is off, it appears, and I am Not Happy. Nor are the Staff, naturally, but they are doing everything they can to ensure My comfort. It seems they have always though it would be fun to explore Ingham when passing through on previous occasions, but never had the time to stop. Now they have the time, but sadly, not the car. “I have a bone to pick with Fate”*

So, I must just make the best of it. There is a swimming pool for the humans, Dad is going to put up my private enclosure soon, there’s a bit of a breeze blowing and the site has some shade. The caravan park is a bit far to walk into town in full sun and temperatures over 30°C/86°F, especially carrying groceries on the way back, although it might be OK in the cool of the evening… Maybe. Luckily we can have food and groceries delivered, so at least none of us will starve.

It doesn’t appear I will have any fascinating travels to share with you this time, but as Mum has pointed out, a bit of enforced rest will hurt none of us.

I’ll keep you posted if there are any exciting developments. Yeah, right. The only Interesting Thing that happened today that was not also a Bad Thing was passing a blue tree on the highway. As Mum so succinctly put it after she managed to grab this photo: “Just… why?”.

Mouse out.

 

*These quotes have been brought to you courtesy of that Shakespeare bloke. I feel like he really understands Me, especially the bone picking bit…