GOODBYE! I'm leaving DU for 6 months...

[Pert_UK]

My Lords, Ladies & Gentlemen, Boys & Girls, Officers of the Court, Her Royal Highness Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and fellow DUers…..

It is with great sadness and regret that I announce a temporary cessation of posting here on DU. At approximately 10pm (US EST) on Friday (7th November) I will be logging off for the last time for at least 5 months.

For those of you who haven’t been following my gripping adventures, I’ve ended up (quite by accident) on a “working vacation” in Bunbury, Western Australia. I’ve spent the last 6 months working and saving money, but I’ve finally reached the point where my girlfriend and I can get out and do some bush-bashing, as opposed to the Bush bashing that I’m usually involved in on here…

Our intention is to go North up the West Coast, all the way down through the middle, East along the South Coast and at least half way up the East Coast….given that Australia is roughly the same size as the US mainland, we’re looking at over 6000 miles of motoring…….Yikes! Hopefully this explains the 5 month DU hiatus and the $800 I paid a garage to fix up the van yesterday (although it still came back with a note saying “tired engine, gearbox on last legs, no rear brakes etc.).

Needless to say, I’ll miss DU’s regular news updates, intelligent articles, analysis and debate, and the (mostly) happy conversations I’ve had on here nearly every week for the last few years. Hopefully I’ll be having too much fun bodyboarding, surfing, fishing, snorkeling, wine-tasting, golfing, exploring, fishing, sunbathing, swimming etc. to notice!

In the meantime, as a far wiser man than me once said: Look after yourselves – and each other!

I’ll leave you with my sincere wishes that the USA finally regains its sanity and, following the best traditions of all high-quality porn films, gives Bush a damn good licking in the 2004 election….

:evilgrin:

And I’ll say hi to Steve Irwin for you when I see him.

All the best.

P.

[Cleita]

1. Have a great time.

It sounds like a great adventure. I'm sure things will be the same when you return although I hope Bush is gone and we are sane again.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. Have a GREAT TIME Pert! You only live once...

unless you are Shirley McClaine. :D

I am quite jealous of your adventure.

I wish you all the best and will definitely miss your humor. SMOOCH!

[SOteric]

3. We'll miss you!

Have fun, and do come back to say 'hello' before the big election next year!

[leftofthedial]

4. Cheers!

and best wishes!

[fishnfla]

5. Good on ya Mate

2 book recommendations for you
One For The Road by Tony Horowitz
Tracks by Robyn Davidson

[Pert_UK]

12. Cheers - got to read The Magus + 4WD Survival Guide first!

:hi:

P.

[jody]

6. Pert, have a great trek. Wish I could go with you.

:hi:

[HEyHEY]

7. Safe travels pert

:-)

[Philostopher]

8. Sounds great, Pert.

Have a terrific time -- we'll miss your particular view from across the lake.

[ewagner]

9. Have a great time, Pert!

Get back in time for the fun & games!

[DrGonzoLives]

10. Look out for the lair of the Old Ones

It's out there....lurking in the Australian desert....madness and horror....

[DavidMS]

11. have a great time

Pert --

Sounds wonderfull. Have a great time and looking foward to hearing from you oun your return.

[dolo amber]

13. Happy trails, Pert

Have a safe and excellent adventure, we'll miss you!! B-) :hi:

[xJlM]

14. Enjoy yourself

Let us know what medium rare Guiana tastes like.

[dweller]

15. Van, did you say van?

hope it's a volksie, and hope you have Van on the tapeplayer too.
stay cool

dp

[Pert_UK]

17. Sorry dude....thought about a Combi but wanted 4WD...

It's a Mitsubishi Express 4x4 people carrier, but with the back seats ripped out and big wheels and no aircon.....

Like this one, but older:

[dweller]

22. You'll still need a copy of

'Beautiful Vision' then...
happy trails mate.

dp

[amazona]

16. woo hoo go you!

Sounds like a great trip, I'm jealous! Good luck on your travels!

[Pert_UK]

18. Did I mention that it's 45 degrees C and we have no aircon?

Marvellous.

Thanks for the good wishes.

See you soon!

P.

[DrWeird]

19. Good riddance, you utter bastard.

Nah, I'm just messing with you. You're a wonderful person.

[Pert_UK]

20. CHECK OUT THIS MAP OF WHERE I'M GOING!

Leaving Bunbury, south of Perth on the West Coast.

North to Darwin.

South to Alice Springs (in the middle) and out to Uluru and back.

South to Adelaide.

Round the coast and up to Brisbane.

[hlthe2b]

23. I'm envious!

Have a great time but be safe. Come back with lots of tales and be prepared to help us take back some sense of democracy in the US. We'll be thinking of you!

[kayleybeth]

21. Good luck!

and have a great time :-)

[KoKo]

24. A Great Adventure! Much Luck and Good Times to You.....

When you get back fill us in. Maybe times will be better over here by then!
:-)'s and :toast:

[BurtWorm]

25. Cheers!

Send us a postcard!

:toast:

[Pale Blue Dot]

26. That is so cool!

I'm jealous. Have a great time!

[Snow]

27. Her Royal Highness Queen Beatrix posts here?

as if Jenna's not enough!
Anyway, sounds like enormous fun. I hope to see all this on the tube some day. Adventure channel or some such. Steve Irwin's okay, but his wife is very strange..

[newyawker99]

28. Have a great trip Pert!!

:-)

[Pert_UK]

29. Thanks for all the good wishes everybody!

See you in six months!!!

P.

[GOPisEvil]

30. Have a good time. We'll miss ya!

Write if you find work. :hi:

[UrbScotty]

31. Awww, crikey!

;-)

Have fun.

[foxy]

32. Have a great time and take plenty of pictures

And above all be careful.

[CanuckAmok]

33. Have fun wheelin', Pert.

Y'all come back naw, y'heah?

[Catshrink]

34. Have a great trip!!!

We'll look forward to hearing of your adventures when you return!