Erik Skye Travel Journal

21 Jan 2012

For the map, click here: Google Maps – Wizard of Oz

Car’s trip odometer: 8,400 clicks (km)

There are always a few mystery people at weddings, and I was one to all.

Bridesmaids and then father and bride made their way through the grand rear hall of Freycinet Lodge, between large double doors, among rows of guests, and up to a rear balcony overlooking Coles Bay, which would serve as their alter. Just as a lodge attendant began closing the double doors to sequester the ceremony, I leapt from my chair, abandoned my beer to the lounge table, and sprung through the doors and out to the rear deck to signify that I was part of the wedding ritual. My camera in hand (with my audacity) was my ticket for admission.

I watched the “assigned” photographer (aka “tog”) move across open spaces (between wedding party and guests), position front and center (between wedding party and guests), and alongside the groomsmen (as if a third groomsman), which is completely acceptable (even expected behavior) for a tog. I was timidly taking a few photos from the crowd, but my camera was impressive enough and my leaning great enough so that people would shift out of my way or move over completely and quietly offer me the vantage point. There was a change in gravity as the officiator ended her light-hearted anecdotes to ask the bride and groom to face each other for an exchange of vows. Everyone in attendance stood a little straighter and became a little more serious as I and the tog sprung into position in the great open area between the wedding party and guests. It seemed as if we were in a contest to see who could get the best shots (and the most of them). Occasionally the tog would glance over at me, but I think it might have been camera envy. He was wielding telephoto Canons while I held a wide angle Nikon. He may have been second guessing ‘if that guy brought his wide angle, maybe I should have too’, or he could simply have been asking himself ‘who the hell is that?!’

The groom is a doctor named Paul, and the bride is a nurse named Suzanne (I wonder how they met?) I believe they’re from Newcastle (a medium-sized coastal community north of Sydney). The officiator mentioned something about Suzanne meeting Paul and wanting to get married quickly, with Paul being only too happy oblige. I didn’t understand the sarcasm until later when I learned they’ve been together for five years and have two beautiful little red headed girls. Perhaps Paul has been dragging his feet?

I resided to the pub to continue chatting with the bar tenders while the wedding group went on to their greeting and reception functions. I heard they were serving wallaby and started to regret not keeping up the charade. Soon, guests and even the bride and groom themselves began breaking out of the wedding reception to come talk with me and ask questions. They had found me out, and they had found me! I think I made some new friends out of it though, and I will pay for my sins by e-mail with photos.

Penny was one of the bar tenders, and as I got to know her, I learned she had a relative (perhaps five generations back) who was sent to Norfolk Island for stealing a sheep. Norfolk Island is part of Australia and roughly a thousand miles away in the South Pacific. I know through my reading of The Fatal Shore that it was one of the worst places in the history of Transportation. (Transportation is what they called sending convicts to serve sentences in Australian.) It would be easy for me to find passages in The Fatal Shore (regarding the mistreatment of humans) that would make the quotes from my article yesterday begin to pale by comparison. As I shared with Penny my experience, thoughts, and feelings from my visit to Port Arthur and from reading The Fatal Shore, she faced me squarely, looked deep into my eyes and listened intently. I could tell it meant a lot to her that I understood the significance of Norfolk Island, its past, and in a small way the story of whom she is today. Penny hasn’t travelled much in her life, but she has made the journey to Norfolk Island. I’m going to make it there too.

For song of the day, click here (let website load briefly, then click orange “play” next to title):  Shotgun Radio - A Bad Place

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