W elcome to the true adventures of Mudpoo. Every story Iâm about to tell you mostly, really happened. Captain Pete and Gus the talking Kombi van are real. Mudpoo is a real person and Harry is a real dog. Liz loves whales and she is a  real person too.Â
Mudpoo and Harry grew up together in a happy home in the very sleepy hillside town of Bethanga. They loved to build cubbies and often talked about going on exciting adventures. Captain Pete told them stories about the exciting adventures heâd had.Â
One day they would all go on an adventure together.Â
Mudpoo and Harry played exciting adventure games in the trees and muddy puddles in the garden. They would pretend that they were exploring Australia in their backyard. It was great fun.Â
Sometimes Mudpoo and Harry would get into trouble, especially if they walked into the house with mud on their feet. âMudpoo and Harry!â Captain Pete would say, âDid you leave muddy footprints on the carpet?â
They were so busy playing adventures that sometimes they forgot to wipe  their feet!Â
One day a long time ago, Captain Pete found Gus, the talking Kombi van. He was like a little house on wheels.Â
On the They packed: sleeping bags, a billy, real tea, flour (to make damper), an esky filled with food, some spare clothes, a tent, a torch and some spare batteries, a cooking pot, a gas stove, lots of cans of Irish stew and potatoes, some plates, knives, forks and spoons, lots of fruit, some towels, soap, bathers, a fishing rod, a road map of Australia and their toothbrushes.
When they left home they were so happy they sang Christmas carols (and it wasnât even Christmas!). Captain Pete decided that they could spend four weeks exploring the East Coast of Australia.
He told Mudpoo and Harry that if Gus was strong enough, they might make it all the way to Queensland and if they were really lucky, they might see a humpback whale. Mudpoo and Harry had heard that whales could sing and they were very excited. They had so many real, unexpected adventures I could tell you about . . .
Hmmm . . .
Perhaps it would be better if I let
the book tell you the stories.
Happy reading!
Signed,
T hey were getting very close.
Mudpoo and Harry knew the best roller coaster was in Queensland. The Gold Coast was full of adventure parks. When they arrived in Queensland everyone cheered. When Gus stopped at Sea World Adventure Park, they were ready to have fun. Everyone patted Gus.
âWell done, you made it here,â they said.
Gus beamed and felt proud.
âCaptain Pete and I have been on the roller coaster before,â said Harry. âItâs scary; at first it goes slow, then it goes up, up, up and then, wham, down as fast as a rocket.â
Harryâs face lit up as he tried to tell Mudpoo there was no need to be nervous.Â
The dolphins and the sea lions put on a wonderful show. They all watched in amazement.
âThey understand everything that their trainer says to them,â said Captain Pete.
âLook over there!â said Mudpoo.
âWhere?â asked Harry.
Over there, it's the roller coaster said Mudpoo.Â
It was so big that the roller coaster could be seen from very far away. Even Gus who was in the car park could see it. When the last sea lion and dolphin waved goodbye, they walked to the roller coaster.Â
âDonât be scared Mudpoo,â said Harry. âItâs huge and fast and goes upside down and it feels like you could fall out.âÂ
Somehow this didnât reassure Mudpoo very much at all. As their turn got closer Captain Pete looked kindly at Mudpoo.
âYouâll be ok, just close your eyes if it becomes too scary.âÂ
Mudpoo didnât say a word.âHop in; itâs your turn,â said the smiling attendant.
Harry, Mudpoo and Captain Pete sat in the front seat. Some other people sat in the seat
Andrea Pirlo, Alessandro Alciato