CAMPSITE # 58 - Our remarkable encounter with Australia's Greatest Entrepreneur

The four of us felt fit and alive, we needed to if we were going to tackle the 11km track. A circuit around the famous & beautiful Wineglass bay - where we visited the lookout featuring spectacular views over the bay and then ventured down to the beach for lunch and VERY cold swim. This is normally the final point for most travellers, they have their swim and walk back along the popular 3km trail. But we decided to take the loop across to Hazards Beach and back to the carpark.

I think this guy might have eaten something he shouldn't have...

After leaving Wineglass bay, crossing over to Hazards Beach, we made our way back along the 6km trail home. We hadn't passed anybody along this route which says to me barely anyone walked along it. And they were missing out because we saw some seriously amazing scenery where gloriously large mountains met with the ocean and the ocean continued out to never-never land. 

Bear Grylls pose...

Our crappy attempt of snapping a shot of the two of us doing the 'Jetstar' beach jump

As we continued along our track, finally we found somebody ahead to give what we initially thought to be just a gentle "Hello" as we crossed paths. But as we grew closer and closer to the figure I realised that we were in need of more than just a friendly Hello. I think I startled him when I walked straight up to him and casually asked "Hello, are you Dick Smith?" Of all of the places in Australia, or even of all the places in the world to bump into Australia's most iconic travelling entrepreneur, (translation to all you Brits, he is like our equivalent to Richard Branson) there he was, Dick Smith himself, living up to his name and exploring the track less travelled. I couldn't have thought of a more fitting person to have bumped into during our huge exploration around Australia.

Just to put it into perspective to those who aren't so familiar with all of his accomplishments ... 

Dick founded Dick Smiths Electronics and sold it off to Woolworths for a whopping $20million back in 1982...

He began a crusade against foreign ownership of Australian products, selling only products produced in Australia by Australians

One I find quite amusing... in competition with Redheads matches, Smith sells near-identically packaged matches called "Dickheads"...

He also founded the Australian Geographic AND flew a helicopter solo around the world. But the most amazing story was the one he told us himself... he and his wife DROVE around the world in an EarthRoamer but he then proceeded to tell us that he wishes he did it in a Troopie!!! The only reason he didn't was because his wife wanted a flush toilet (I don't blame her!!) How cool, Dick Smith himself wanted to travel like how we're travelling only, we're not travelling around the world but hey, there's still time!

After we finished our chat with Dick and his wife, we all walked off in disbelief. I think we practically skipped back to the car.. that was so cool! And such a great moment in our trip, one that I will never forget. It's so great that we bumped into him, not just anywhere but in such a remote location and .. he was a really nice guy.

Our FREE camp at Friendly Beach...