A trip down memory lane

 With a couple of weeks to kill between my AAWT hike and returning to NZ I decided to catch up with a few old friends, some of whom I hadn't seen for a very long time. I also scheduled a trip to Queensland to visit my uncle, who had had a stroke late last year.

Matt kindly lent me his VW campervan, so I headed down to the South Coast to Lake Conjola, to catch up with my good mate Neen. She's been silly enough to come on ski trips with me in the past. Who can forget that time I broke my arm and she almost dislocated her shoulder!! I may have suggested she join me  another time in the near future...

After Conjola I headed south again, on a mission to catch up with my best friend from university. Dave and I had lost touch over 20 years ago, and neither he nor Claire were into social media. Just by chance I discovered that one of Claire's best friends from her nursing training happened to be a work colleague of mine in Geraldton. Small bloody world! So I found out where they lived, on an off grid property north of Durras, and just turned up!!

Dave walked outside to see who had driven up his driveway in the middle of the day and nonchalantly said good day! Claire came home later that afternoon, and I ended up staying two days! We had a lot of catching up to do, but we were just as comfortable with each other's company as we always were. I guess I need to make it not quite so long next time...

After Bawley Point I drove north again. I had a lunch appointment in Sydney, but that wasn't until the next day, so I planned to camp up somewhere along the way, and head into the big smoke the next morning. So I took my time, pottering along visiting some old and new haunts. Jervis Bay, Shellharbour, South Beach Wollongong...

I remembered another old mate Kathy, another skiing tragic like myself, so I called her up and later that evening turned up at her place at Coledale to camp in her driveway. Quite liking the van lifestyle.We may also have discussed making some plans for another ski trip to Japan...

The next morning I drove up to Sydney, parked the van at Sutherland, and took the train into the city. I was meeting Kath and Jenny at the very posh restaurant in the Botanic Gardens. It's been well over 25 years since I've seen them in person, but at least we've kept in touch through FB.

After a spectacular meal at the Luke Nguyen restaurant we went for a wander around to Mrs Macquarie's Chair and then past the Art Gallery of NSW with it's weird sculpture out front, before going our separate ways. I returned to the van at Sutherland, then drove home to Canberra.

Next was my trip to Hervey Bay. My uncle was devastated when mum, his sister, died almost 5 years ago and had been planning to come on a holiday to NZ, but COVID had scuppered that. Now that Mel had had a stroke, the likelihood of him ever making that trip was gone. So the least I could do was go visit.

Mum and Mel

Mel was back home, but mostly confined to a wheelchair, and his aphasia made communication difficult. But he was very emotional when he saw me, and we had a couple of lovely days hanging out, including going out for a drive around the area and getting up close to some very inquisitive local birds!

Mel and me

Mel and Johnny

I also managed to fit in a quick trip down to Noosa, to catch up with Sally and Sheridan, who are well and truly still entwined within the local croquet community! Their apartment backing onto the Noosa River is very nice indeed. 

Back in Canberra, there was a final pack before jumping on a bus for the drive up to Sydney and flight back to NZ.