Escape to Bribie Island
“The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea.” – Isak Dinesen
Dear ones, thank you with all my heart for the kindness and support you’ve given me the last few days. Isn’t it strange how one moment you can be chipper and hopeful and then something – a loved one diagnosed with terrible cancer, losing someone precious, the shattering of an illusion – brings it all crashing down? It’s odd how sometimes you can bear one trauma after another, head held high, chin up, and others, well, you’re a puddle, feeling weak, insecure, and afraid.
Last week was a puddle time for me. It held the proverbial last straw and I crumpled. Thoroughly. It struck me anew that I’ve been bearing too much for too long, stuffing it in, letting it build until I couldn’t take anymore. I don’t like being in that place. I like feeling strong and brave, like being cheerful in the midst of pain, like having hope when things are dark.
I’m so glad the dark times don’t last.
The last three days I gave myself a break. Turned off my computer, stayed offline, and just lived.
I slept. I read. I drank lots of tea and coffee. And when Bear and our friend had to go to the coast for a meeting, I tagged along for the ride.
Driving through Queensland never fails to cheer me. The countryside is so beautiful, especially driving through Cunningham’s Gap through the mountains to the coast. We had such a good time, visiting happily and stopping for our very-favorite-fried-chicken-in-the-whole-wide-world. It felt so good to be with dear, trusted friends and see a bigger, more beautiful world than the little painful struggles in my heart.
The best part of the trip was after the meeting when Ann decided we couldn’t possibly drive all this way without going to the beach. I love that woman! 🙂
So over the bridge we went to Bribie Island.
After clambering out of the car, we made our way through a stand of trees, grinning as the cool sea breezes hit us.
For me there are few things more healing and rejuvenating than the beach. The fresh air, salty wind, and hot sun do wonders for the soul.
It didn’t take long for us to jump down into the soft sand, kick off our shoes and head for the water.
Although the ocean in this part of Australia is the Pacific, it is nothing like the Pacific I grew up with in Washington State. There’s no hint of cold northern waters, no beaches of smooth pebbles and craggy cliffs. Here the water is deliciously warm and the sand is feather soft, dotted with all sorts of interesting treasures.
We found twisty, weathered driftwood, vivid orange lava rock of some sort, and a whole swath of sand balls, made by a little crab who grabs mouthfuls of sand, swishes it around to sift out the edible bits, then spits it up on the surface in perfect little spheres.
Fisherman dotted the shoreline and kids shrieked with laughter as they chased each other through the waves.
It was a glorious afternoon. The sun felt so good on bare shoulders and the water was pure bliss on our bare feet. The Glass House Mountains towered in the distance as pelicans swooped and boats bobbed leisurely along.
On such a day there is no other lunch to be had than fish and chips. We popped into a local shop on the pier and chose a type of fish called Sweet Lips to go with a mountain of golden fried chips. We found a shady spot under the trees where we could still see the beach and tucked in. Deeelicious!
At last, drowsy and full, we brushed the sand from our feet and bid farewell to the beach.
Where is your favorite place to escape to?
