At the drop of a hat, we will stop the car to observe and perhaps photograph one of nature's scenes. My eyes are drawn to the orange blossoms of grevillea trees, the strange blue hue of the grasses slicked with morning dew, but only for a moment as I am the driver on this day, on this treacherous road. Today will no doubt be hot, beautiful and dry even though it is winter and we have not nor will we ever see a weather forecast. Then, suddenly, in a flash of feathers and legs, a creature emerges from the surrounding bush in a mad dash to cross the road. With jaws dropped and eyes popped out, Tashka, John, and myself watch in disbelief as an adult Emu runs for its life in front of Mitsy.
Disaster is avoided by only two or three feet.
Thankfully, I don't swerve and the Emu is a very good runner. I bring the trembling van to a halt in order to size up the situation. The human party is only capable of body-convulsing laughter over the near collision with a great big flightless bird. You see, I should have told you that I am a nature intern up in Cape York, Australia working at a small lodge in a very remote wilderness that caters to birders and all around nature lovers. Tashka is the other nature intern and John is the resident naturalist.