ReaderPaul

Sudden action! Good thinking on the part of the boys. Now, the acronyms -- is AFP the Australian Federal Police? ADF was also mentioned; is that the Australian Defence Force? And wasn't Anthony Lang mentioned in another of your stories, @quokka?

I could almost swear I have read part of "Dick's Male Retirement Ranch" previously, somewhere, but without "Dick's" in the title. But a search is not coming up with anything concrete.

Fascinating, @quokka. How many additional chapters in this story, or have you decided yet?

Wow, Terry, love it! With the pictures you posted some time back, I could visualize some of the beauty of Thailand in the poetry. Please continue writing various poems and post them when you choose.

@raven1 -- Way to go, Terry! I could just taste that German Chocolate cake -- my favorite -- except the coconut did not show up. But I also like Black Forest cake. You can have an extra career as a poet! Paul

@Quokka, I like it when an author has more than one story going at the same time. Only a few authors can do that with success. You are one of four authors that I know can do that. Please, at some time in the future, consider continuing your Deep Space series.

Excellent start to this new story.

RFDS -- is that the Royal Flying Doctor Service? And I am also guessing that that the airstrips are "hardened" or strengthened against the potentially damaging effects of the wet season. Possibly, they are even elevated slightly so they don't get flooded? @quokka -- for those of us who do not live in Australia, you also stimulate us to read more about Australia and sometimes New Zealand as well. Thank you.

When they had two tires flat in the previous chapter, I haven't seen anything about them being repaired or replaced yet with new. Of course, that could have happened "off screen," so to speak. They did have more than one spare, I recall from previous chapter. @quokka do most cattle stations in Western Australia have air strips nearby? Another good chapter.

@quokka -- sorry to hear about the Cyclone. Good chapter. The guys continue to find situations and circumstances where they are able to help. I am guessing that Ryley and Langley are learning a lot about vet work as well as their school lessons. They seem to be adapting well to life in the bus and on the road. Looking forward to future chapters.

Geron, I first read this at a time when I was almost never commenting. Considering how much I enjoyed this tale, that was very remiss of me. But in re-looking at the story, I notice several things in the story and the comments. First, David's grandfather. He reminded me of Mike Hamlyn (Derry Hamlyn's grandfather) in the Doorways / The Odd, Onward Door series. How important the grandfather is in the story was alluded to in many of the comments of this story. DQ, @RevSimon, @headtransplant, @travlbug, @ColumbusGuy, and @JeffreyL are some who mentioned the importance of the grandfather in this story just in the comments of chapter 10. Mike Hamlyn is very important to Derry and Cally in the Doorways series as well, though his importance is not as obvious until the second story, Never a Door Lost. @Geron Kees, this is an excellent tale as it stands. But to coin a word, a "sprequel" tale for this story would be great. What is a sprequel, you ask? Definition: sprequel (noun). A story which is both a prequel and a sequel to a previously written story. The prequel part could give a few details of Grandfather and Sid getting together. The sequel part could be an update on David and Mark. But we can always use our imagination if necessary.

Thank you, @Ivor Slipper. Magnum Ice Cream is sold in the US by Unilever Corporation, an Anglo-Dutch firm. The record on a joke I have seen in over four years, but not quite five. It was not on this site.

@Ivor Slipper, can you explain the joke for us readers in the US? In the US, a Magnum brand Condom is 20 percent larger than a standard condom in length and somewhat larger in girth, and Magnum XL condoms are 30 percent larger than standard condoms. Magnum is also a brand of ice cream made with Belgium chocolate. Magnum also means a large wine bottle with 1.5 liters (1.6 US quarts), and it means a firearms cartridge with larger than normal charge or capacity. Magnum also means large in power or size. Pistol is sometimes used as an informal term for penis. Can you explain the UK meanings of the term, please? Perhaps @Geron Kees or @chris191070 or @raven1 already know, since they have more international experience than many of us.

What, Ron? You mean you haven't seen the meme on social media with the planets lined up and named, with Doug listed instead of Uranus, and the caption says, "No one was surprised to learn he'd changed his name?"

Uranus changed name to Doug. Why?

Another very good chapter, @quokka. I look forward to descriptions of the continuing trip.

@JamesSavik, I love it. I didn't know whether to react with a "Love" icon or a "Laugh" icon. Wonderful!

Ron, have you considered SEVEN-worded Sci-Fi?

Earth. Dolphins plot to take over.

Aliens. The monkey house laughs back.

I have heard several versions of "Prior proper planning prevents...." Some I have heard to complete the phrase include -- A. Poor performance. B. Pregnancy. C. Parenthood. D. Poverty. E. Problems. F. Pissed-off people. G. Paperwork. I am sure many others could apply. Perhaps, @drsawzall, you might be aware other endings to the adage? The helpful police officer reminds me of stories I have heard here in the United States (before I had to retire for health reasons) about how helpful and practical so many people in Australia are toward strangers as well as each other. I heard many positive stories. Really good chapter, @quokka

I see homophobes are not confined to the United States. Good chapter, Preston.

Wow, Auggie must really be talented and organized, being able to keep up with things while Marcus and Jexon are away. The boys will probably enjoy the travel and learning these trips will involve.

@R. Eric, I look forward to reading more of this but also more of Ark II, Makarovia, I Will Always Love You, and Bluebloods as well. Thank you for continuing this.

IF I were organizing a crossover between the Boone universe and the Doors universe (Geron already said in a comment somewhere they they are totally separate universes) I would have Charlie, Ricky, and Keerby meet Cally by accident while exploring alternate side universes, then using Charlie's second presence, Ricky's tag-along ability, and Keerby's universe-hopping expertise to take Adrian and Kippy along for powering, Horace for sensitivity, Robin for general ability, and Ragal and Casper and Durapar, Uncle Bob for his ability to copy Ragal's magic as well as use his own, and that combo allows for wide ranges of experience. Just dreaming, @Geron Kees. But you are certainly welcome to use any and all ideas I come up with with my blessings, IF you ever do a crossover, whether done by second presence or physical arriving in the Doors universe. Geron, can a Door be re-directed to a new destination, or is that beyond even Armenti tech?