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Who wouldn't drive 8 hours for a good house party?
My friend, Erica, has a brother in Canberra (Australia's capital city) who happened to be having a house party the weekend before I was leaving Melbourne for a road trip to Perth. She invited a few to attend and before we knew it a road trip was in the works. Erica, Caroline, Kyle, Tucker, and myself has an awesome weekend.
I met Erica through my roommate Caroline (who I was introduced to through our mutual friend in Yellowknife, Becca). Kyle is an American guy studying in Melbourne who I also met through Caroline. And finally, there is Tucker. Tucker requires a bit more detail to explain.
I have already driven the road to Canberra when I travelled to Sydney with Fabio, Ethan and Vanny (the latter two are friends from Yellowknife). It is a long drive and there are very few attractions on the way. In fact, there may be just one. In Fabio's travel guide it mentioned a statue that apparently draws much attention. Lucky for us, on the way we saw road signs identifying its location and our distance from it as though it were a major city. We were eager to see a change of scenery and this sounded like a good distraction. Our enthusiasm was met with disappointment when we arrived to a life sized statue of a "dog" sitting, as so blatantly described, "on a tucker box". This, perhaps, is the worlds most anticlimactic attraction, and did i mention it draws thousands of tourists! It was even unveiled by their premier. When we first arrived, we actually disregarded the statue and continued looking for what must be the actual attraction. Surely it couldn't be this pathetic life sized dog?! But it was.
Well, I've since been there two additional times. Yes, it's true. It's so lame I keep returning to show friends JUST how pathetic it actually is; otherwise people just don't understand. But for me, it's worth it to return. I love to see people's reactions to ol' Tucker sitting on that box.
And now? You know what.. having been there so many times I've developed quite a liking, perhaps even a fondness, for the statue. It's partially just comical and partially enduring to have so many great memories associated with Tucker and all the people who I have shared him with.
So, I did like any good tourist would do and I bought a mini Dog on a Tucker Box replica whom I named Tucker for obvious reasons.
Tucker became the fifth member of our road trip. He sat on the dashboard, my lap, I'd scratch his ear, he'd give me fake doggy kisses. Tucker has proven to provide endless entertainment and became kind of our road trip mascot.
My intent was to bring him on my next road trip to Perth. He was to be an omen of good luck. Unfortunately, I lost tucker. My heart was broken. I made "Lost Dog" signs and posted them all over Melbourne. I even offered a reward for his return. But he was gone and I had to leave for my next adventure without him. I accepted my loss and moved on.
I was all the way to Adaliade before i checked my emails after some time without Internet access. Little did i know or expect that good news awaited me - Tucker had been found. Erica has given him to Caroline for safe keeping! Woo-hoo!
So, there is only one solution. I must return to Australia and reunite with Tucker. And while im there, of course, see some good friends and check off the rest if the things i wish to do there! Ive got important people to see, and a couple more road trips to do. This time, however, with Tucker sitting in the front dashboard!
- comments
Caroline I've got him all safe and sound and he's begging for you to come back! And so are Lucie and I!