Day 94: Boomerang lessons then Trailer and error.

Tuesday 8th March

Aboriginal cultural centre 

Learning to throw a boomerang 

Trailer terror

Helpful mechanic

Hamilton botanical gardens 

Distance:

Total Distance:

We stopped off at another cultural centre today. We stopped in one near Uluru but the aboriginal are in fact many different tribes of many different nations. They have different culturalstories and have had slightly different experiences since the coming of the Western world. We watched a couple of videos about the origins of both the world and the local lands. 

Afterwards two of us got lessons on how to throw a boomerang properly! The general stance is like throwing a spear but with the hand movement of a dart- and I've done both, which helps. Using the appropriate returni boomerang (not hunting) one turns to face the oncoming breeze. This is twelve o'clock. If right handed turn to 2, lefties turn to 10 o'clock. The boomerang is held vertically and thrown . The breeze then catches it and, due to the way a real boomerang is carved, spins it in the air, turning it back. I sort of got it, I think. Certainly better than surfing. I'll have to practice and try it again some time. Good fun. Feels like playing one-man frisbee. Which also sounds kind of sad. Maybe I should get a hunting one!

We were minding our own businesses the bus drove along. Reading. Sleeping. Our driver was steadily slowing down to take the next corner. Thank goodness he was.

BANG!

BANG!

BOOM!

The trailer bounced then flipped, skidding along the road still attached to our minibus. 

The right rear wheel of the trailer had come lose for its bearings. It had then coasted alongside us before sliding in under the trailer. Catching under the wheel it jostled it causing it to flip onto its side. 

Thankfully the guy in the ute behind us was a mechanic! He even had a mate in the next township who built and repaired trailers. After a call he announced his friend had the parts necessary. As a team we push the trailer back onto its remaining wheels and carefully followed him to his mate's workshop.

And that's how we ended up spending an hour in Hamilton, primarily at the botanic gardens. Having a quiet walk around, a chat, and a little sleep.