Bumpy roads…calm waters…generous hospitality

February 9

Still jet lagged we got up today at 4am and drove to the north of the city to meet some good friends from way back…John and Tracy Harmer. You know how you can have a friendship with someone and due to circumstances (or geography) you lose touch…but when you see each other it feels like everything is back the way it was? That’s how it was seeing John again, he’s a big hearted and a barrel chested man able to put anyone at ease, with a classic Aussie accent and a ‘have a go’ attitude John contagiously spreads joy and optimism wherever he goes. Tracey is his match with gentleness, and grace and she quickly became Olivia's favourite for the day that was full of new sights and unnerving experiences. And so it was John's idea to jump into a 4x4 and drive 3 hours up the coast (2 of those hours were on the beach) to a secluded and calm beach where we could frolic in the waters without care of rip tides, sharks or jelly fish. I think we drove up there for the sheer adventure of it all, we had to go early so as to drive on the beach at low tide...get stranded on a beach during high tide and then race back in the evening at low tide. These are things that a Winnipeger does not know much about. 
A note about beaches in Australia…its not like home where you can see the end; on the east coast of Australia  much of it is blanketed with glorious unending beach with the surf crashing upon it. Its a common hobby for Aussie’s to go to the beach with their 4x4 and drive off to adventure and their own secluded beach. Lots of the trucks are set up with bbq's, tents and all the luxuries of camping on a beach. So with a few friends from his church and a few other trucks we headed up the coast past a place called Noosa Beach heading to Rainbow beach. A rugged adventure with some rugged Aussies. If you can't tell by the faces...no one is complaining about getting out of the polar vortex.