"EUROPE ON 5 KIDS A DAY" - Murray Edmonds (Aust 2013)
Subtitled - "The Travel Diary Of A Hopeless Romantic & Father Of Five On An Epic Jaunt Through Europe In 1968" (there is no double underline for "Epic" but there damn-well should be), put together by his eldest son with the help of a couple of the others.
In early 1968 Murray Edmonds (yep, he's my late elder brother) bundled up his wife and five kids and boarded an Italian cruise ship in Fremantle WA and set off on a multi-month journey of discovery around Europe on a budget that could only be described as optimistic. And we're not talking grown up kids either, the eldest turned 11 during the trip, and the youngest turned 3.
Landing in England, they bought a very second-hand Ford Cortina and shoe-horned in two adults, five kids, several suitcases, sundry kit, and two blow up matresses. The Cortina blew a starter motor in Holland in week 6, and had to be push started for the next fortnight, with the help of passing tourists, concierges, and desk clerks. There should be medals for these kinds of enterprises.
So Mick, wherever you are now, this is one helluva read, which I couldn't put down, but left my slightly obsessive self continually traumatised. Only you would've come up with this one, and then talked everyone around you into it. A life-influencing experience for all of them I'm told.
The footnote is - the survivors now tell me that his wife and the two eldest girls kept their own notes and diaries. I look forward to having a peek at those. His compiler son dedicates the book (very limited edition)...
"...to his father for instilling in him at the age of 8 an epic wanderlust that has helped him live a life of discovery and adventure and to learn that you should never, ever take home and family for granted."
Good one Mike.
Trev
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>