hi guys and gals just thought I would tell you about an iteresting interlude that happened to us last weekend 

I had a minor vehicular inconvienience just up the road from a place called port Pirie in south australia at the foot of the magnificent flinders ranges (cracked subframe on the van)

after a few enquiries as to where I could get repairs undertaken on a saturday afternoon an old feller said "take it up to Dave's, he'll fix anything" so address duly written down we found the place

a knock on the door was answered by a plumpish italian woman who stated that everybody was "out back" and that we should come through, we did so reluctantly

we were greeted by roughly 30 people who appeared to be sitting down to a lavish luncheon, we felt out of place

a big feller on a large barbeque at the end of the outdoor settings simply stated "I'm Dave, and that gal over there is the dragon, pleased to meet you, sit down and put the nose bag on" so reluctantly we did, feeling very out of place in such freindly and family orientated surroundings, we obviously had barged in on a celebration of some sort

it turned out that this was normal on any given weekend (for everybody to gather at "Daves") and that the people were simply freinds and neighbors just having a meal together

within ten minutes we were "at home" and knew everybodys names and everybody knew us, we just "slotted in" laughter flowed easier than it ever had before in my life and it was just so "easy" to just talk, we talked about so much and so many things that it was soon too late to "fix" the van, we "electrified" the van and set up in Daves yard, we then went back to some of the best conversations that I or my wife has ever known

the freindliness and the love was just so omnipotent it was everywhere

the dragon (god I hate calling a lovely outgoing gracious lady that but I'm not allowed to reveal her true name on the forum) told me that Dave had been gravely ill through work and overcommitment but with the help of a few days hospitalisation and medication and a hell of a lot of freinds that he was well on the road to recovery but still refuses to "slow down"

a quick glance around assured me that he is very much loved and admired by all
simply by all the attention lavished toward him

she also said that this forum was once a part of his life and that we should look into it, as a great many of his freinds reside in these analds,

Dave told me to tell you all that he's not crazy and he has the paperwork from the phsyc's to say so, which apparently a hell of a lot of you buggers dont have (his words not mine dont shoot the messenger) he had a huge grin on his face when he said that

we arose sunday morning to a sumptious breakfast of bacon, eggs and snags cooked on the barbie by good freinds after which the repairs were quickly and expertly dealt with by Dave, there is no end to this mans knowledge or abilitys I watched in awe as welders and chop saws were expertly wielded, braced and repaired it is now better than new, payment was duly refused

when this was carried out we had no excuse to stay at Dave and the dragons home but found ourselves not wanting to leave such magnificent people but alas we had to as there was no longer an excuse to stay, we were invited to "stay" but we had overdue commitments elsewhere but by hell it was tempting

weird thing was that we knew Daves little world for less than two days but we are now an intrinsic part of it and all of their wonderfull freinds, we are rearranging our travel itinerary to include port pirie  and its wonderfull people as much as we can

we were given "contacts" of Dave and the dragons other freinds all over australia and we will certainly be calling in on them as we go around I dont think there is a part of australia that Dave has not got freinds, they would be in the hundreds, I'm proud to say that my wife and I are amongst them

we are forever gratefull for the words of advice from an original "font of knowledge" even though he is the most humble and gracious of men that I have ever met his words of wisdom will forever ring in my ears

I know Dave is not a part of the forum anymore but I thought I would pass on my magnificent little interlude with truly terrific people with the rest of you wanderers

he sends his best wishes to you all and hopes that everybody is in good nick and traveling easily

we probably wont be writing in here much if at all as we are normally on the road more often than not and cannot be bothered with the internet, but I just thought a quick look around wouldnt hurt

I read a few of Daves posts and said to myself "yep thats him to a tee" except for his last few, believe me when I say, thats not the Dave that I had the enormous pleasure to spend time with, far from it

we have only been away from Daves world for a few days but we are absolutely aching to return to it and all the fantastic people

I must simply state that Dave and the dragon are the original "salt of the earth" and I am honored and very proud to know them and count myself as amongst their huge circle of freinds

just thought I would let you know!! but I guess you probably already knew that

Thank you so much womble for letting us know how Dave & the Dragon are. He is missed by a great many here and I for 1 am glad to hear he is doing ok. While reading your post I couldn't help but nodding my head and saying to myself " Yep I can imagine Dave bieng exactly like that" Love to you Dave, and thanks once again Woble for showing us all a glimpse the Gentleman Dave's world. Happy and safe travelling Cheers Ellen

Thanks womble, i've never been a conversationalist, or good at putting things into words, but i can say this. Your post has 'made my day' Johnw

Golly, that was a fortunate bit of ill-luck with your breakdown!!  Since joining this forum have always wondered what people who write on here are really like - your description of time spent with Dave and "The Dragon" was beautifully written. It was so good I could just picture the scene, bbq, people etc. Good on you for sharing it with us.
We are heading to WA again late Dec/early Jan, tho I dont want a breakdown of vehicle or van, hope we get the opportunity to need Dave to rescue us!!
Thanks again, and safe journeys
Colleen

Great story Womble, and for those of us who did not know Dave well or did not join the forum until later, it gives us a good insight into the man himself and his "dragon". I have a feeling it will not be too long before Dave is back here again once he feels up to it, obviously he puts his heart and soul into everything he does. Thanks for sharing the story. Nice place Pt Pirie, I have some ancestors there, all in the cemetery now though. Vic

Thanks womble its great to hear dave is on the mend he helped me out and put a smile on my face in amongst the tears one day and I will never forget that. chezgo

Womble,mate I thank you for your post.I think that everyone on the Forum would have loved to have had the honour and favour to be a guest of Dave06.Cheers.Ibbo.

Womble, Thanks for the update on Dave he was so good on the forum he is sadly missed and we are all waiting for him to return in his own good time and when he knows he can. Helena.

When we roll into Pt. Pirie next year, where's the best place to ask for Dave.  That's one bloke I am really looking forward to meeting and the Dragon of course.  Wouldn't miss it for the world.

See there's no hiding out there someone will always find you . Nice to hear all's going well

Thanks for the sit rep Womble. As long as Dave is going ok we can relax a little.

Ditto to all the remarks by members of the forum. Glad that Dave is doing well and that his life has returned to some normality. Thanks for the update on Dave. Have a good one out there

What they've all said before me. It really is good of you to have posted such a detailed and joyful report on your encounter with D and the D. Thank you.

I see that they were very much admired in here as well, shouldnt be surprised, we are sitting in magnificent Wilpena pound at the kiosk sipping a coffee and feeding the birds Dave said we should go this way, fantastic, wouldnt have missed it for the world, after this we must go back to Cairns for a funeral, then suffer the hardship of another qld winter When the weather improves down in mexico then we will hook up the caboose and circle this great country again what a life from what I could observe Dave seemed to be in good health and going along just fine, they had just come back from a week at Echuca (I think) on a houseboat, they are talking about taking a group up to Uluru in august, shouldnt be surprised, I think they would do anything anytime for anyone got to go, moneys running out in my internet station and I have no more coins, Cairns here we come

What a great read there is still great people in this wonderful country that we call home. Kind regards and safe travels Hotrodbus

we met this pair up in the kimberleys one trip, I reckon from memory he drove a blue hi-ace towing a fully decked out camping trailer along the gibb river road as I recall they had names for everything, funnily enough between my wife and I we can still come up with a hell of a lot of them, let me see there was little blue (the much loved van), squeeky (trailer), sparky ( generator), slurpy (portaloo), blinky (torch), drippy (shower), muscles (5 ton jack) there were more but age has got me he said a strange thing which later came to make a lot of sense, if everything has a name then it becomes a freind and who would leave a freind behind little gems like that saying have never left me and has made our travels a lot easier, we named a lot of our gear (dont laugh) and have not since forgotten anything, we spent a week with them and enjoyed the company greatly he taught me a lot about life and people and travel, I remember he pointed out a scruffy looking fellow camped just up from us and said to me what do you think his life story is, I was way off, Dave said never judge a book until you've read it, get to know people before you pass judgement, dont let color, creed, clothing or ethnicity predispose your thinking, say g'day with an open mind, he has a totally different outlook on life, things as well as people he is so easy to talk to, nothing is too much trouble or a bother, I remember also that kiddies and animals were instantly attracted to him, just thought I would throw my bit in here when I seen this post womble, I agree 100% with your thoughts on this couple even though it must be close to 20 years since we spent time with them, we have never forgotten them this post prompted me to join and to list my opinion on here, I have been watching for a little while though, I intend to read Daves posts and just revisit my memories a little, I do not normally write this much about anything but I too am proud to say that we have met them, and sorry to hear that he has been crook but glad that he is on the mend, thanks for the post womble

G'day Humpy,

Welcome to the forum.

John

Maybe if Dave is feeling up to it he might just pop in for a sec and say "Hi".  We all miss him.

first time I came here...it was Dave that welcomed me.......like Old Grizzly....I too look for His tojo.....one day I'll head north.......he'll be the first one to visit.....I miss Him greatly on here..... Dave

well talk about a kick in the bighead department hell I didnt do anything to deserve that but thanks all the same michael you and sandy are welcome back anytime you are the one's that "slotted" in to our little world simply because you are fantastic people and of course every one knows good things happen to good people thanks for the overly kind words but of course I dont deserve any of the acolades whacked on me, you fitted in amongst other great people