I'd originally intended to take a holiday on my own. I craved peace and quiet and have been homesick for the outback since our last trip four years ago, so a visit to see my sister in her newly established home in Alice Springs seemed just the thing.
"Can I come too?" asked my husband, Nevil, who needed to get away just as desperately as me. How could I say no? Besides, I love travelling with him. When it comes to travel, our interests are mostly very similar.
That, however, meant we had to face a problem in the form of our 12 year old intellectually disabled, ADHD-laden 12 year old, Hayden. We were only just getting used to the idea of having to use regular respite, for the sake of the family's sanity. The thought of leaving him in respite for a whole month was too much. He loves and misses his family terribly when he's not at home and acts up on his return. While we may have needed the rest, we reasoned that after a month away from us, his behaviour would be unbearable to come home to. Besides, he loves travelling. We decided we had no choice but to take him. It wouldn't be so bad...
Next problem. Hayden is full on. He never stops (except to sleep). He is self-centred, impulsive, inflexible, loud and loses his temper very easily. He would wear us out. So, how to get around that? The obvious solution, take Keygan, our 14 year old son, to keep him company and spread the load. They would both like that.
So we're set. Let's get packing.... Therein lies our next dilemma. I have a middle-aged bachelor brother, who loves travelling but has no family of his own to share the experience. We wrestle with this for a long time and finally conclude that, despite having vowed and declared from last time that we will never travel with him again, he actually loved our last trip. Besides, maybe it wasn't as difficult as we remember. And since it's no longer just Nevil and me (and Mark will take his own vehicle), one more won't make much difference. So, inevitably, we invite him along - but on the understanding that this is my trip and we will go where I decide, no rush, no plans, no pressure. Okay?
Okay.
So we think we're ready? Think again.
We have a good family friend from a Queensland property, who is not well. Scott is in his mid-twenties, give or take. Nevil and I have known him since he was a little boy. A quiet, gentle, methodical thinker, but bright and full of ideas. Scott has seen a lot of heartache in his young life. He left school at 14 to help run the family property when his Dad was sick, he grew up fast, battling drought, flood and fire, not to mention never-ending personal and family pressures.
We could see the signs of potential breakdown 4 years ago. It was clear that if he didn't get a good rest, something would have to give. Instead, the pressure mounted. In just one year he was personally affected by three serious accidents that left one friend dead, another permanently in pain and another a complete paraplegic. A good friend committed suicide and Scott's father developed cancer. As if the stress was not enough on the family, they were soon to go through serious drought. Day in, day out, Scott fell into a monotonous, lifedraining routine of moving cattle from one bare paddock to another, pumping water, bringing in feed, feeding out dunda (a molasses mix) to starving cattle, and finally and far too frequently, shooting the ones that didn't make it. We could hear over the phone the toll that it was taking, not just on Scott but on the whole family.
"You need a break, Scotty," we'd say. Come down here, even for a few days."
"Yeah, I will, soon..."
Of course he never could. Then came the rains, and boy oh boy, did they come! Before they knew it they were facing the worst floods in tens of years.
With the floodwaters subsiding, at least the pressure to find water was relieved. Soon the grasses returned and feed was abundant. That was about the time that Scott went into meltdown.
"Come down here and have a break. You need to get away."
"Yeah, I will soon..." But by now he couldn't shift himself to do anything.
Scott had promised to come a month before our planned trip. Now ill-health and incredible fatigue saw that time came and go but Scott stayed put. We knew things were bad. His mother was at her wit's end, going crazy herself with worry and frustration. Scott wasn't the only one who needed a break.
"Hey Scotty, I've got a plan," I said to him one night on the phone. "Why don't you come down here the week before we leave, then I'll book you on the boat with us. Come travelling with us, we're just roughing it, just the swags, the ute and a tent in case it rains. We're camping out. Very basic. What do you say?"
"Mmm, sounds good." (Not convinced)
"You could do the whole month with us or we could take you home in the middle. It would be up to you. It'd be a good chance to see a bit of country you haven't seen."
Finally, he is convinced. I'll book his tickets. All he has to do is pack a bag and his swag and catch that plane. We wouldn't hold our breath....
I know his Mum told me how bad things were, but hearing and seeing are two different things. Within ten minutes of picking him up, it was clear that this would not be easy. Within a few days I was seriously wondering what we'd got ourselves into.

So, here we were, one Wintery Saturday evening, heading for the boat, due to set sail at 7.30pm. The boys are excited, I'm exhausted. After much pushing and coaxing, we finally got Scott into the car on time. All is well. Then, twenty minutes from the boat we run out of diesel....