 Rolling, Rolling, Rolling down a Mountain
I went walking the other day. I was hiking the fire trails up in the hinterland behind the coastal stretch. I had my two faithful Rottweiler companions with me, George and Zac. George is in good shape with a tail, Zac is a little overweight with no tail.
We had been trekking this muddy track for a few hours when we came to a cleared area where the loggers had hauled logs up from the valley. Below us, through the trees, I could see a river. I was just about to turn away when Zac who had been bringing up the rear bounded up behind me.
“Oh, No!” I yelled as Zac bumped into me, my legs flew out from under and I was rolling down this very steep slippery slope. I tried to grab some small bushes but I was going too fast. I heard a bark and was just able to glance back in time to see the two dogs leaping excitedly into the air and sliding down behind me thinking this was all a new game.
Ahead I could see there was a large hump, while the dogs had caught up with me. So here I was reaching terminal velocity in the company of two huge excited mud balls. I grabbed George’s tail, and with Zac hard up against me, whoosh, we became airborne. Was this the end? We flew through the air, then with a crash we hit the ground bouncing through and over bushes which slowed us down before we hit this huge stump.
I lay there winded thinking I’m too old for this when both excited dogs jumped on me. I could almost hear them asking if they could do that again. I dragged myself shakily to my feet and saw it was only a short walk to the river. Calling the dogs I headed down through the trees to get myself and the dogs into the water. We emerged with less mud but not clean. Standing there looking up the hill we had come down I realised I wasn’t going to be able to climb back – I had lost my pink Crocs on the way down and would have to walk back along the river.
“Ahoy there!” I heard a call. Coming towards us was a cabin cruiser with a man and woman waving to me .
I waded out to meet them.
“G’day, my name’s Chaos.”
“I’m Brian and this is my wife Jean.
After what we saw you certainly live up to your name!”
“I was just saying to Brian, I bet those two dogs love going out with you, there must be an adventure in every walk.”
“Well, yes,” I answered thinking I couldn’t tell her the truth, not after that rap.
“We’re headed for town. If you can get the dogs onboard we can give you a lift.” It only took me a few minutes, then we started down the river.
“Would you like a drink? We only have rum or wine.”
This was now starting to be a great afternoon. I discovered they had borrowed the boat for the day. Their yacht was moored up the coast at Coffs Harbour. They were looking forward to seeing their friends who were in the Pittwater to Coffs race.
I looked up and saw we were passing where I had parked my car, so to keep the image Jean had of me, I quickly said thanks for the drink and lift. Then calling the dogs I jumped over the side yelling like Tarzan only to belly flop on to a few inches of water covering a sand bar. As I waded ashore, I watched them motor into the distance still waving.
I hobbled up the bank and fell in a heap. Playing the great white hunter was a wearing business. Arriving home a lot later I sat down to a great meal of lobster I had prepared earlier.
Merry Christmas and a great New Year.
Lobster in green butter sauce (four servings)
Ingredients
2 medium size lobsters cooked cut in halves
2 tablespoon fresh tarragon finely chopped
2 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
½ teaspoon of crushed ginger
½ crushed garlic
250g butter
½ cup of bread crumbs
Cooking
Mix all ingredients together except the bread crumbs and let stand for an hour or so. Remove the lobster meat and cut into bite size chunks. Place some of the sauce into the shells then put the lobster pieces in; smear the rest of the sauce over them. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over, place under griller for a few seconds then serve with a green salad
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