Down But Not Out

We were in a peaceful campground in a remote area of Wian Wian National Reserve. We spent an uneventful night there while the rain fell, and in the morning we stopped at Minyon Falls on our way out of the forest. The falls are a local attraction, located just 50 meters off the narrow dirt road that leads up to the campground. We parked the car and casually jumped out to take a look.

As we were walking to the viewing platform, we noticed another car pull in. Pete was immediately suspicious but only his face showed it. They stopped behind our car and Pete headed back to get his camera. As he approached the parking lot he saw someone jump into the passenger's seat and then they sped off. There on the ground were the fragments of our small, triangular window. Immediately we noticed that Pete's iPod was missing, and then his wallet (with $100 and two bank cards), and then my purse, and later that night, my bag of toiletries. Included (stupidly, I'm ashamed to admit) within my purse were my iPod, $150, a credit card, 2 debit cards, a checkbook, my passport, social security card, insurance card, cell phone, and laptop charger. Included in my toiletries were my favorite necklaces, my migraine medicine, and all the other things you might imagine. Miraculously, our laptops were still there.

The worst part is that it was probably some stupid kid who rifled through everything looking for cash, and then he threw the passport and various other IDs into the bushes somewhere. And now, despite the fact that our doors were unlocked, we have a broken window.

It was a holiday in Sydney on Friday, so I have to wait until Monday to call the consulate and alert them to my stolen passport, but Pete and I went to the nearest town, Mullumbimby, and filed a police report. The police officer wasn't surprised and said that theft is common at Minyon Falls. No consolation to us.

Luckily, after waking my sister up at 3:00 a.m. (using our last dollar in change), one failed attempt at wiring money to us, and a night spent in a rest area off of the highway, my parents were able to wire us enough money so that we could hunker down in a motel for a few days and regroup. And my new bank cards should be here in plenty of time. On Monday we're going to drive to the nearest HSBC (my bank), which is 70 km north, and using my old passport (which I kept) and my birth certificate as identification, they can give me cash in person. Also, in the category of "good news," in case you thought there was none, two farms that we wrote to have asked us to stay with them beginning early next week. I'm leaning toward the one with the private cabin.

And by the way, if any of you feel like calling my phone and seeing if someone answers, feel free to tell them what a piece of shit they are.