Beach Walks & Hidden Treasures

The familiar arch of the Tasman Bridge welcomed us as we journeyed northward, its steel spans glinting in the morning light as we made our way toward Sorell. The day held a mix of practicality and nostalgia – a final visit to the optometrist for Sal's contacts, another small piece of our nomadic life falling into place before our temporary separation.

Following whispered recommendations from fellow travellers Justin and Tevin, and validated by Andy's recent visit, we steered our golden home toward the Seven Mile Beach day use area. The spot lay less than ten minutes from the airport, perfect for tomorrow's bittersweet departure. The parking area, sparsely dotted with vehicles, offered us a quiet sanctuary for our last evening together.

The beach called to us irresistibly, and we found ourselves walking along the shoreline, our feet sinking into the cool sand. Each step stirred memories of another life, of countless sunset walks along Wurtulla Beach on the Sunshine Coast. The parallel wasn't lost on us – how life has a way of echoing familiar joys in new places, even as we embraced our freedom-filled nomadic existence.

Back at the bus, as Sal immersed herself in the digital realm of her online tutorial, Anth embarked on his own afternoon adventure. The dense fir pine plantation beckoned with its geocaching secrets, offering a few precious hours of solo exploration while sunlight still painted the sky. The forest held half a dozen hidden treasures, each cache a small victory in his personal treasure hunt.

As darkness crept across the landscape, Anth returned to our home-on-wheels, pleasantly exhausted from his successful expedition, just as Sal was wrapping up her academic pursuits. Together, we transformed our conspicuous gold bus into our version of a stealth camper, pulling curtains across windows and relying on our limo tinting to maintain the illusion of vacancy. The solar panels on our roof might have given us away, but we liked to think we achieved some measure of discretion.

In the quiet of our last night together before a two-week separation, we found ourselves reflecting on the life we'd chosen. The gentle sound of distant waves provided a soundtrack to our gratitude – for our relationship, for the courage to embrace this unconventional life, and for all the adventures still awaiting us on the road ahead.Read more