WE FOUND MY TILLEY!

A HANGIN' ON THE HIKIN' STICK

A REAL OUTBACK TILLEY

I said to B.E. that day, "I need to get away for a man-type

trip, and since I've been writing about camels, I'll just

pop down to Australia,  head out to Alice Springs, buy me 

a lovable camel and re-trace that Aussie gal's route, 1700

miles acrost the OUTBACK," ---the girl in "TRACKS."

"I got the old two-quarter canteen out and am soaking it in some 

baking soda, and my Randall is sharp! Done picked out an

unusual name for my new camel. How do you like 

"Jehoshaphat?"

"Now then, I will take my COOBER PEDY along for any parades

or honors that I might accrue...but I need my OUTBACK TILLEY

as my WORK HAT--- have you seen it?"

B.E. said: "Well, it should be with your LBJ Stetson, your cowboy

Resistol (with the leather band), your fishin' hat with the Rio

Grande King and all those other fish-hook-flies a-stickin' in it."

"You know, where you keep your Willie Nelson beat-up straw,

your Russian Alaskan Fur Cap, your Braves caps and your army

fatigue caps...I bet it's there' you know, with your duck huntin'

Jones Cap...by Fillson..."

It wasn't. "How'm I going to head out to Australia without my

Outback Tilley?" I pleaded.

SHE FOUND IT...in the garage, hangin' on my four-foot--- 1 1/2"

diameter hiking pole, which she said I'd need anyway on the trip...

"TO BOP JEHOSHAPHAT!"

As I am wont  to do, on hearing any good news. I broke into

verse----

"Well, boil my billy

    We  found my Tilley...

My real Australian Outback

     Tilley...

Vented, for comfort in heat

   This hat is so clever...

And pundits say:

    "It will last forever!"

They are made "north-of-the-

     border..."

("O Canada... we lift our hearts

      to thee...")

But you can buy 'em anywhere....

     Don't have to order...

O gollie...O gillie

    We found my Tilley...

O mellie...O millie

    We found my Tilley...

O boil my billy

    We found my Tilley,

My Real Aussie Outback

         TILLEY!

SO LONG THERE MATES!

I'M HEADED OUT...

     ****************

  BY MIL

  4/26/16