Thankyou, Old Friend

So here is the poem I wrote in tribute to our Millard, which nearly completed a lap of Australia with us.

Even though we needed a ute full of tyres across the Nullabor,

And another across the Top End,

We all still love you

Ooh our faithful Millard,

with the bits flying off

and the tyres going bang,

and the non-existent suspension

For you travelled around the country with us, all around,

You saw us through the snow

and through the wet,

you went bouncing over corrugations,

and flying over speed bumps.

You saw us through a flood,

where the raging torrents nearly took you away,

but our old faithful Millard stood strong and true.

And now as our adventure draws to a close,

and the time for retirement draws near,

we write this ode with grateful hearts,

for you saw us through the adventure of a lifetime.

Even though our Transit blew an engine,

you followed along faithfully behind,

all we needed to fix you is some cable ties, prayer, and duct tape,

for they built old things to last

We looked after you,

with a few loving bangs of a hammer,

and the screws of a drill,

and then a few loving kicks when the tin started to peel

Built in the 1980's,

and still going strong,

with it's tiny wheels and vinyl floors,

Our millard is truly dear to us all.

You've seen the Ningaloo,

travelled Kakadu and Darwin,

you were dragged up the hills of the high country,

You've visited Perth and Bourke,

You've been gawked at all around the country

Many people think we're crazy,

as they sit on their chairs being lazy,

Their eyes go up and then go down,

their mouth falls open, swallowing a few flies,

their heads whir with wonder as we slowly chug on by,

never knowing what they are missing,

in the rat race

You saw kangaroos,

emus and galahs,

termite nests reaching for the sky,

cows grazing along the side of the road,

the sun rise and set, and the scenery fly by.

For you camped next to the Mighty Murray,

and overlooking an estuary,

you heard the whispered secrets of a high-country stream,

and camped as the dust danced around you at Cubbaroo.

You camped in blazing sun at Exmouth, '

and pouring rain at Kununurra,

the freezing cold at Tumburrumba,

and howling winds at Nundroo

You saw the highs and lows of our travelling,

laughter, tears, shouts and silence

You were always there for us,

we relied on you and you were there

Stuck by the side of the road,
the end was drawing nigh,
a man came by,
a trailer was traded,
we sold you off,
and picked up a new 'van

We are sorry Millard,

that we have to get rid of you.

We part from you with grateful hearts,
and wish you the best of luck.