A D-Tale in Denis's Big Big Journey
Like so many other people who knew Denis, I too, was lucky enough to share an adventure with the world's most enthusiastic tropical island traveler.
Ours was in the hey-days of Bali, back in 1975, so some of the names and details are hazy and may not be correct.
However the spirit of that Indonesian trip and the classic moments remain unforgettable.
I know that trip was special to Denis too. We both got excited when we rehashed the Nusa Lambongen expedition of 1975.
We qualified our friendship with it, mentioning it when we introduced each other to those who had not already been told the tale.
After a couple of light beers Denis would flash on some long forgotten detail. With a grin and a glint he would bring back a memory with so much excitement, that you were reliving the past.
My friend Debbie Overall and myself were staying in the same Balinese Losman - 'Puspa Sari' - as some of Denis's Gold Coast mates including Tim Treasure, Doris, Tony Greig along with the late Lizzard and Dave Michelle.
It was a random meeting that turned into a life long friendship from when Denis was just twenty and I was a teenager.
Denis would visit every morning and afternoon sprouting some new adventure we just had to do. I can still see him sitting on the verandah steps, streaked blond hair, Bali bag strapped across his chest and styling in his orange and brown batik boardshorts.
Back then Bali was the new surfing playground and it was a time when you stayed for months not weeks. They were lazy days and we were content to surf, sleep and eat but thankfully Denis was not so easily satisfied. We had all the time in the world but Denis had Law at University looming so there wasn't a minute to waste.
He went on a mission to motivate the ranks and before you could say 'Bagus' we were bargaining with the local fishermen on some Balinese beach for transport to Nusa Lambongen.
Around a dozen of us, with as many boards and bags squeezed into one traditional Balinese outrigger with Captain Wayan at the helm.
In a trip that now takes a few hours in a motorised craft we paddled - well rather Wayan paddled non-stop all day - through the deep rushing wild waters of the Badung Straight. There is no doubt there was some scary moments on that trip.
But Wayan knew those waters like the back of his hand so onwards we cruised to Nusa Lambongan with the Doobie Brothers and Phoebe Snow rocking us along.
By the end of the day Wayan was another human being that Denis had attributed legendary status too. Denis spoke of Wayan decades later and knew things about him that no-one else did, because as always, he cared enough to find out.
Of course there had been other surfers before us at Nusa Lembongan, but we were still a massive novelty to the locals. The whole village was on the beach to greet us, as we were hussled off to the one and only vermin invested losman.
There was only the traditional shower and toilets, both very nasty. I can still remember the major golly that the cleaner spat into the corner while sweeping as we moved our bags in.
And how happy and excited Denis was.
Debbie and I had the only room and I think the boys slept on the tile floor outside.
The village chief insisted on hosting a dinner that night so off we all went to the town hall - a concrete hut in the middle of the village.
The entire population surrounded us, watching our every move through the window-less frames of the hut as we sat down to eat with the local leaders under lampoo lights.
Some but not all of us ate the raw eggs and who knows what else as Denis kept the conversation rolling along despite limited language on both sides.
He was charming and absolutely in his element on that night.
Later on I can remember being with Denis on the beach under a beaming full moon surrounded by kids singing their ABC's in that special Indo sing song lilt. A zillion stars in the sky - it was truly magical.
And there was so much more to that special time - the waves - the Euro backpackers - bedbugs - crystal waters - the reef - the moon - the village- singing - astronomers - the locals - the night sky - the paddle back and most of all there was a beaming Denis.
Denis the instigator loved every moment, as did we all.
Thanks Denis.
Your mate.
Mandy McKinnon
"Once you have lived a little you find that what you send out into the world comes back to you one way or another. It may be today, tomorrow or years from now, but it happens; usually when you least expect it, usually in a form that is pretty different from the original. Those coincidental moments that change your life seem random at the time but I don't think they are. At least that's how it worked out in my life. And I don't think I'm the only one."
Slash - Guns N' Roses
