Today has been a slower pace. Had extended coffee and breakkie with Joey, who I met a few months back incidentally through work (Oho). As always, talked much about a wide range of things, which was a great way to add some “personal” to the trip. Joey was kind enough to drop me back to the camp site, as a walk at 8:30am to the cafe is a different Darwin proposition to a walk back in the near-midday sun!
It was too hot to do much. So i didn’t do much. That works, yeah? Just sat out the hottest of the day in the shade, and then started work on THE question of the week. Can I get to Timor Leste?
A quick tour riding through the city CBD (doesn’t take long) was followed with a direct attack on the docks. The first few drive-bys found nothing but tourist locations, or closed gates. Hmmm. Keep riding. More factories barred and gated. Not looking any better. Still drip, drip, dripping sweat (a common theme). At this point i was still quite nervous about actually making the first (local) inroads on the question of passage to Timor. I’ve found, slightly to my embarrassment, that I’m overly concerned about the possibility of failing at this first real test. Oh well. I know how to “make friends with fear”, and just need to put my big boy (bike) pants on and dive in.
I come across SeaSwift, wth a banner that looks promising – shipping freight. Daniel (aka “Mini”) was in charge, and I tensed as I approached – all this trip hinges on this conversation (or ones like it). If this was Melbourne, Mini would have been curt, blunt, short and perfunctory. But this is Darwin. While Mini clearly had work to do, he engaged interestedly with my story, and pondered my punchline genuinely “Mini I know you can’t help… but do you know anyone who can?” All roads lead to Rome – or all waters lead to ANL. But I’ve tried the major shipping lines and they just don’t talk to individuals. So Mini then suggested that his boss James – who worked at SeaSwift for 20 years – knows everyone and would surely have an answer. James was said to be busy, but try anyway.
James was indeed busy when I rang, based on message bank. But he called back within minuets, engaged warmly and at length, and provided another link back into ANL – but this time with a specific mobile number for James. James at ANL, as it turns out, is also really warm and helpful. But, while James used to work for a smaller company who did do what I need until ANL bought them out and stopped that service, James does indeed know people who can help.
So James put me in touch with Toni at “PJ’s”. Toni seems confident they can get the bike to Timor Leste, for much less than the previous $4k+ estimate I’d been given. Of course they won’t take “the boy” with “the bike”, so I’d have to fly – first to Singapore and then back to Timor Leste. That comes with its own dramas, but I’m pursuing this option regardless.
While all of that was playing out, i continued simply riding through the docks. A fella nodded as i rode slowly past, and i lifted my left hand from the bars in polite response, and slowed to a stop. He warned over, and we got talking. Usual story-swapping. Usual interest in what i’m up to. I shot him the standard question “know anyone who might be able to help?” His reply? “That guy!” and he pointed to the Ute driving up. Said random Ute driver poked his head out the window, and usual story swapping ensued after which i got around to removing my helmet. Probably should have had the courtesy to do that before. Anyway random Ute driver – Mitch – is just as warm and relaxed and lovely as everyone else I’d met. He took my phone number and said he’d get back to me with ideas, affirming it will be possible, and also encouraged me to check out “Raptis” tomorrow morning. Apparently Jase runs the show and will be (surprise surprise) warm, friendly and helpful – probably with serious options up his sleeve.
I also said to Mitch I intend to buy a few drinks at the most apt pub to meet the locals, and he confidently pointed me to “Dinah Beach Yacht Association”. So I’m here now, and have just had a drink while writing today’s diary note and surveying the local scene. I think I’ve found the clutch of “old salts” to whom I need to say g’day and… swap stories. There’ll be a question shortly “know anyone who can…”” I’ll let you know tomorrow.
Ha! Whaddayaknow. Literally after writing that last sentence, I was just interrupted by one of the old salts who came over to introduce himself. Turns out Richard likes bikes too, and we’ve just chatted for 5 minutes about his history of different machines. This bodes well for what comes next. I’ll sign off here for tonight, change tables, buy the gents a drink, and see how the respond to the question. I can see how this is going…
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Just don’t whistle ‘sittin on the dock of the bay’ because you are not ‘wastin time’. It even sounds like you are slowing down a little as you engage with the pace of the locals. I look forward to what came swapping stories with the old salts…