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“Motor bikes can be dangerous”, mum said.
“Maybe so, but I just loved it. And he knew how to handle the bike and he told me how to lean the right way as we went around the corners. I was not a bit scared. It was so good! And then we came on to this timber track where the big trucks used to bring the logs out. I have never seen a track like it. There were wattles hanging low by the edge of the track and in a couple of spots a creek went under the track.”
“Sounds pretty dangerous to me”, said Mum.
“And then we came to this campsite place, I think it was called a saddle. He lit a small fire and he had a billy in the pouch of the motor bike. So we just sat there watching this billy coming to the boil and I don’t think I have ever known such peace. I could see this huge rock face up above the saddle. He told me about rock climbing and how he often climbed there at the weekends. The cliffs rose up as if they could touch the sky. The sun was shining and I could see them clearly rising up above the gum trees. We just sat there talking. Nothing else happened that day, as you might think”
“Then what?” said mum.
“Well, we just sat there for quite a while, just sort of talking about this and that and watching the smoke from the fire going up through the trees. He asked me would I like to go on an easy rock climb one weekend and I said I would like that”
“Be parachute jumping next”, said mum.
“And then it was time to go. We were about to hop on the bike to go home when he put his arms around me. He hugged me tight. There and then, that’s all that happened. I was so happy. I hugged him back. We were nearly home when we passed the local motor bike shop. Father O’Connor was looking in the window of the shop”.
