Day 10 and 11. June 29 and 30 2022. Sawtell to Ballina to Brisbane

Travelling day again, but with Sawtell being so nice, we left as late as we could so Linda could fit a walk in and I could have a relaxed morning. Travelling some days is just about clocking up the k’s to eat up those miles, to be a few more furlongs down the road, just to be light years closer to the next main target. Ballina is close enough to Brisbane to be able to check out early and be able to see the new “not a van” before lunch. We did a slight detour past Kirra Beach and a café that we have walked to many times while on holiday in Tugan. It was too close by not to call in. Used to be called GG’s, now it is some Byron Bay coffee company, but the location near the beach is lovely to sit at. Maybe a quick chance to reflect on old holidays with the boys to new holidays without them. Was this a passing of the guard? Nah, probably just a desperately needed coffee after an early start.

Onwards to go and see this “not a van” we have bought, our home for the next 2.5 months. Where we eat, where we sleep, where we launch from daily into the unknown. It will follow us faithfully where ever we go, and carry the clothes to put on our back and give us the ability to cook food to be nourished from. As we drive through an industrial suburb where no tourist is supposed to go, we arrive at the oversized garage to see our van in the driveway.

Everything is actually as described. A bed and a kitchen. Well, a little bit more than that – special lights that help stop the bugs, bigger doors, security mesh windscreens, fridge, a whole lotta bits and pieces all in there for us to work out. With Linda as excited as she would be hearing about a new release from Mick Thomas, we make our way to some friends place who have graciously offered to put us up as we work our stuff out. Liz has already made sure there was some lunch for us as we do a dump of luggage and then head out to start the big shop – we need almost everything. That night, we come back and have dinner with Liz and Ross, and stay in their great little apartment in the Brisbane CBD. By pure coincidence, and I do mean this honestly, the bulldogs happened to be playing at the Gabba and Ross hasn’t had a chance to go to too many games since moving to Brissie – so we go to the game. That is where the rot started. Dogs done like a dinner.