Alice Springs – Bush Camp
On the road again!
After going out for a nice breakfast, taking Fiona to the airport, returning the hire car,
and loading up the bike again, the second half of ‘Cycling the Stuart end to end’ was about to begin.
Because he didn’t get on the road til lunchtime, and probably because of the indulgences of the last week,
Peter decided on a ‘short’ 73 km ride to get the legs working again.
Arriving at the site of the Bush Camp, (a mound of dirt approximately 30 metres off the side of the road)
Peter set up camp and collected the wood to light the fire to cook the evening meal. It was already dusk.
Suddenly, he felt severe pain, as something had bitten or stung his ankle. Looking at the wood he had collected,
he saw a large ant-like creature with nippers on its head. But as he hadn’t actually seen the bite happen, he was not sure.
His ankle immediately started to swell, reaching double the size in a very short time.
Worse though, was the fact that the toxin injected by the bite paralyzed his ankle.
Now on one leg, and in a lot of pain, he tried to pack up camp.
Worried about damaging the good leg, he hopped up to the highway to seek help.
The main worry was how far, and how quickly, the paralysis would spread.
Not surprisingly, several cars passed without stopping.
Peter decided to go back to the camp and get his bike, and then return to the highway again.
Now to his utter good luck, a ‘local’ property owner, Michael and his young daughter Teresa were on
their way to Alice Springs to do their weekly shopping.
Michael not only stopped to see if Peter needed help, but then offered him the most amazing assistance.
First, Michael packed up all Peter’s camp. Then loaded Peter, his bike and his camp into his 4WD
and took him back to the Comfort Inn in Alice Springs.
After dropping off all his gear, he then took Peter to the emergency department at the hospital.
Initially the doctor was worried it might have been a snake bite, but Peter was pretty sure it wasn’t.
After an injection and anti-inflammatory drugs he was sent home for the night.
Next morning, another trip to the hospital for a check up.
Although the ankle was still swollen, the paralysis had eased off,
and so with drugs to take with him, Peter returned to the Comfort Inn
where he was picked up by Michael and Teresa, and driven back to the 73km camp site.
Michael was very uneasy about dropping Peter off, and was keen to drive him the next 60 kms into Aileron.
Peter insisted he would be OK, and so they parted company,
and off he went on the next stage of the ride.
Michael we are very grateful for all your efforts.
You certainly demonstrated the true Spirit of the Outback.
