Dad, You Have to See This.

The success of a stay anywhere depends on the people you meet. Arkaroola initially looked like a complete waste of time. The young, pretty blonde woman at reception was nice, but hardly welcoming. We paid top dollar for a stony bush campsite next to dirty toilets with no sign of life anywhere. Great pool, warm weather, and no flies (Not the insect type, the tent type. Insect type bloody everywhere.) on the tents made for some optimism, but by morning, Sara and I had determined we would do a brief hike and bolt. Then we met Peter.

Peter drove the car to the trailhead for our walk up Acacia Ridge. Peter, before he retired, worked in advertising and at one stage was in charge of the Myer account Australia wide. Peter used to be in the business of convincing people to do things they had decided they wouldn't. Sara and I were babes in the woods to Peter. We returned from our walk, handed over the credit card, and signed up to do the Ridgetop 4WD tour.

We now understand Arkaroola. We now appreciate why it is a special place, and why (Dad) so many people make an effort to get here. Peter was able to explain basic geology and biology. He discussed the eco-politics of the place. He even told a ghost story, and served us Milo, coffee, and lamingtons. He did all this whilst driving along a precipitous 4WD track in a big old Toyota. It's a long way from St Kilda Peter, but we're glad you ran away from the glamour, even if it means you are the only person in a 5,000k radius who actually knows what a food stylist is.

Peter's final piece of local knowledge was that the Leigh Hotel in Copely does a good bar meal. He's right. It's amazing how good crumbed sausages in onion gravy can look if the parsley is positioned just so. On the money ($10) again. Seriously Dad, get out here.

H

PS Mike and Jen, we are staying with you at Grindells Hut at some stage. Peter told us to put it on our bucket list, and Peter knows about buckets.