Pitching Tents in the Rain (Part 3)

Arriving in Kangaroo Valley

For the next twenty minutes we delved further through the narrow roads of the countryside until we finally came to a sign that read ‘Kangaroo Valley’. Following that path all the way down we came into the main entrance to Kangaroo Valley where it was planned that we would stay there overnight. The plan to head out camping was in the air for a week now but to tell you the truth, no one is sure who came up with the idea and who followed through.

Toss a coin between Keith or Binh suggesting it as neither of them know and then toss another coin to find out who was actually doing the preparation and planning because from what I could see, it wasn’t very well planned. On the way to Kangaroo Valley our stay was looking glum as we passed through thick fog on the mountain top roads. To add to this turmoil, the road was saturated and it wasn’t looking to evaporate quickly because there was nothing but rain clouds in the air and it was slightly sprinkling from the misty blue. We fared no better at Kangaroo Valley as you shall now grasp.

Kangaroo Valley is a large place but it wasn’t quite what I expected. Basically, it had a lot of open luscious green to camp on and a river but it didn’t look too interesting a destination. Add to this the soaking wet ground which would make it impossible for us to roam around being mischievous as well as the on and off showers and you have a potential disaster of a night on your hands. The roads became immensely unstable as we headed into Kangaroo Valley with great potholes in every which way you traveled.

Keith tried as best to cope with his decelerated pace as we looked around for a perfect spot to set camp. Traveling a fair way down the bumpy road we headed to where Keith noted they camped before. As I heard the tales of their playing spotlight and Ralf stepping backwards and falling into the water at night we all decided that it was too damp an area to set up. Being close to the water we feared that parts of the ground would flood and we would be literally left out in the cold.

My Medieval Garrison

Heading up the hard packed dirt road some more we came across an area of grass that was isolated from mostly everything else. Looking like the green of a golfing range in the respect that it is usually concealed by surrounding trees and has only one small entrance, I liked it favorably. As we drove up the grass and into the area that was half a football field big we parked the car near an old burnt-out campfire and decided to jump out for a stretch. Being our first time to set foot on the wet ground I headed straight for the bushes to relieve myself.

The air wasn’t too cold but I did see some frosty fog come from my own fluids in which was the area where I did aim. Taking a glance around the area in this little break I did appreciate how it felt like I was back in the Medieval days, standing ground on a won settlement. Being on slightly higher ground than all else, my little garrison lacked only fortification but I did envision wooden poles stemming some meters into the air and a small drawbridge to where the entry was. This little daydream permitted me to admire the surrounding landscape just that little bit more.

Stretching our legs in what seemed to be where we would think of camping out Shawn and Ned went for a brisk walk to see if they could find any other suitable place for us to set camp. The elevated area that we had parked was wet from continuous rain but you weren’t going to find much better. Taking out my camera from Keith’s car I flashed a photo of the landscape and Keith’s car amongst it so that we can start with the memories.

Second Thoughts on the Spot

Taking a stroll around Keith and I decided to jump in the car and jump in the car ourselves to look for another location. Glad to get my saturated feet out of the sodden marsh we started the car up and began our little trek back towards the area in which we came from. Keith beeped the horn to notify the others that we had set off but we found it funny as we continued a fair way down the track and there was no sign of Shawn or Ned.

The both of them probably thought we were being idiots by our deceptive departure but as we made our way back after two hundred meters we noticed their heads pop up out of the thicket. Heading back to where they were slowly walking on the road we mentioned a new place that we drove past and Keith thought would be a great place to set camp. However, his idea was quickly extinguished as there wasn’t much place to set up the three tents, it was right near a cliff slope and there were too much amenities like a barbecue and tables right next to us.

Noticing a group already with their tents set out Ned thought it would be good if we set camp in the same green patch of land where they were but on the opposite side, some fifty meters away. “I just don’t want them to complain at night because we’re probably going to be noisy” Keith explained but despite our having founded the other settlement we decided to give this new area a probe.

Tents in the Rain

Touching down at our newly sought location we started unpacking the tents and trying to figure out how to set them up. Myself, I was standing there with my hands in my pockets as Shawn, Keith and Ned each took a different tent to set up. Being cold and with my hands in my pockets I wasn’t too sure what to do in order to help so I just myself out of their way until I was needed.

As the three tents began to unfold Shawn called me over so I could help him attach the holding bars that run diagonally over the top of the tent, the things that bend and attach in parts. As the four of us now began setting up the tents with accuracy it started to rain slightly. Picking up the pace somewhat so we could get the waterproof covers on top all you could hear was our distaste of what would become of our weekend.

Especially myself, I didn’t end up going anywhere on Friday and I wanted to do something special on Saturday but standing around in the rain watching wildlife roam around you just didn’t cut it for me. While I was setting up that tent my desires of thought were inclined to think of my being at a City nightclub, trying on my new and tantalizing clothes. However, as that rain started to sprinkle down I don’t think there was much appreciation for our being the pioneers that had to set up the tents or be there altogether.

Keith and I showed our verbal reluctance and at one stage Keith and I singled out to speak candidly about heading back home because of the bad weather but it never eventuated.

The Suggestion Box Letter

The tents took us half an hour to set up and in that time we enjoyed an interesting conversation in which I found out a new ambitious piece of information for these pages of incriminating gossip. To set the scene, when Noah came down last to visit and they all headed to the Catholic Club (Where I was left out in the cold) there was a woman that noticed and fancied Keith.

Seating themselves in the food area where I last bought a thickshake Keith told me that the waitress there looked like she either fancied Keith or Noah and I do remember snippets of that night’s detail. Time passes and when Keith last went to the Catholic Club on Friday or even last week he wrote a letter in the suggestion box just for a joke.

Within the letter he wrote that they should have more A-Class meals for distinguished people like himself and noting that he also came from the richer part of Glenfield he wrote down his phone number in the desired spot and placed it in the suggestion box. Amazingly and also on the weird side, this waitress took out the suggestion and then decided to call Keith up on the phone number listed.

Throwing herself at Keith’s beck and call she informed him how she’s liked him for about a year now but because he’s always been with Tamsen she’s never had the courage to approach him. Beats me how one day she figures he’s not with Tamsen anymore but she decided to advise him of her interest for him.

Soraya Enters the Picture

I’m not sure if she just thought he was rich by what he wrote on the card or if she was being genuine but I guess that her age has something to do with it and to give you a clue, Keith can finally be called the toy boy. Keith I think is 22 years old but compared to her being 30, I just don’t know how to react.

From Keith’s perception and Ralf’s, they feel that she doesn’t look any older than 25 and she has a youthful exuberance about her blonde haired figure. Keith only mentioned that she was good looking so to his scale of going over the roof to what I think is ordinary, I shouldn’t get too envious if ever I would.

Keith actually was expecting a call from this woman called Soraya but because we were out of range he diverted his phone to Binh’s so he could advise her as to where Keith was. Keith asked me what I thought he should do with this woman but I wouldn’t be able to give him a layman’s opinion properly as I resent his being able to jump from his cheating ways into another relationship and then I figure that he’ll go out with her regardless.

Jealous of Keith’s Luck

Therefore, I just told Keith to do what he wanted to do and as I haven’t even seen her yet, I can’t make a proper judgment. I must admit, my envy of not having found someone to love, to lie beside me at night, to diminish that passionate void or just to have someone to take advantage of with lust permits me to despise Keith’s fortunate boon. Therefore, I sit here as I did when Keith asked my opinion, loathing his turnaround and characteristic disregard to any conscience he should have.

Adding salt to the wound, as always, Keith only cares about himself and if a situation arises in which he will benefit, he will always take the easy way out. In addition, Keith sees this as a great way to get back at Tamsen in respect to hurting her and I do believe that he’ll stoop as low as finally revealing he slept with Phoenix once he starts going out with Soraya.

I have no doubt that if Soraya keeps pursuing Keith like she has been doing, he’ll fall for her snatch and be entwined in a lust-hate relationship like Imad has been with Pippa. I placed Rena on the same podium as Soraya in regards to age and how Shawn noted that she wears black lipstick. Keith tried to comment that Rena wasn’t good looking but I know he won’t knock her back if she was standing in front of him, waving around her loose lips saying “Come here baby”.