Pilot Pilot Pilot Pilot yyyyour our our our llllife ife ife ife Welcome to issue no. 16 of Pilot your life. October 2010 In early September this year, during my four wheel drive trip into South Australia’s Outback, I put into practice another one of the tips I learnt on Oz Flight ’99, my flight around Australia’s coast. I had to ask for help when I needed it several times. The main reason for the trip up North was to see and photograph the Cooper Creek and Lake Eyre in flood and perhaps even fit in a flight over the lake. However, there had still been a lot of rain, the creeks had flooded and many of the roads had been closed.

As you can see from several of the photos, the water was still in the creeks and in some instances the aftermath of the torrential rain was quite devastating.

Pilot Pilot Pilot Pilot yyyyour our our our llllife ife ife ife After the disappointment of not being able to fly in the balloon at Rawnsley Park Station, I learnt that the road to Marree had been closed and I probably wouldn’t be able to fly over Lake Eyre either.

The people at Rawnsley Park let me ring our Marree accommodation to verify the situation and the proprietor there said that there was no way that we could get through. I then cancelled both nights of our Marree accommodation. Just as well I cancelled, because people that had been stranded in Marree needed somewhere to stay – our loss was their gain. After sorting out one problem, I then had to solve another. Where were we going to stay if we couldn’t reach Marree? Fortunately, it was just before the school holidays, and Rawnsley Park was able to help us out for another night. The Leigh Creek Tavern was also able to fit us in for an extra night there.

In both cases (after rethinking the itinerary), I asked for help and received it. People were extremely obliging and they also gained extra nights’ accommodation from us. A win/win situation. Because I had to alter our itinerary, we had a very long drive up to Leigh Creek, with numerous photographic stops for wildlife, wildflowers and interesting places. By the time we arrived in Leigh Creek it was late afternoon and I called in to the local café for tourist information. When I came out and started up the car and reversed, there was an odd sound. I switched off the engine, got out to have a look at the car, and to my horror discovered that the car had a flat tyre. I needed help and since I was a member of the Royal Automobile Association I headed over to the Leigh Creek Tavern. The staff was most helpful and I was able to contact the RAA agent in Copley, only a few kilometres away. The two fellows arrived in about 15 minutes, changed the tyre for me and took the punctured tyre away to be mended.

Pilot Pilot Pilot Pilot yyyyour our our our llllife ife ife ife I’m not a helpless female and I do know how to change a tyre, but with two hands which have had injuries, I decided that asking for help was a better option, particularly as I was right in the middle of town. People in the country are very resourceful and independent but are still ready to be hospitable and helpful. So, my next tip for how to pilot your life (personal or business) is: Ask for help when you need it It’s great to be independent but most people are only too willing to help, just ask. Two of my presentation topics are:

Turning negatives into positives Maintain the right attitude For a close up view of reflections in the creek, email me at fran@franwest.com and I'll send you the photo which you can use as your desktop wallpaper. You can read more about the trip up to the Flinders and Gammon Ranges, Off the Beaten Track, in my blog http://franwest2.blogspot.com. There are plenty of stories, photos and videos. Visit: www.franwest.com and http://au.linkedin.com/in/franwestau. Blogs: http://pilotyourlife.wordpress.com and http://franwest2.blogspot.com. Blog for DVDs: http://alzheimersproducts.blogspot.com. Twitter: www.twitter.com/AdventurerFran Phone: 61 8 82706623 Email: fran@franwest.com for speaking engagements, purchases and the first fifteen issues of the newsletter. While you’re waiting for the next newsletter, “Plane Reflections: about life and a flight around Australia’s coast” is available in book and CD format for $20.00 plus postage and packaging. “Australia’s Coast from the Air” DVD, with over 260 photos and soundtrack, is available in PAL and NTSC for only $25.00 plus postage and packaging. To preview the DVD visit www.youtube.com/ozdragon52.

Pilot Pilot Pilot Pilot yyyyour our our our llllife ife ife ife “Outback Adventure” DVD, with over 260 photos and soundtrack, will be available in PAL and NTSC (early December) for only $25.00 plus postage and packaging. Order now.

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