It was the first day of school holidays when Bear and I packed up the car and set out on an adventure. We decided not to make any plans and just see where the road took us.
It was marvelous! Glorious sunshine, great audio book to listen to as we drove, holding hands, stopping wherever our fancies dictated.
Mostly it consisted of looking for green spots or water on the map and going “there” – wherever there was.
Our first stop took us to the gorgeous red beaches of Oyster Point Park.
At lunch time, it took us here: Logan River Parklands.
The fun part about not having any expectations is that you’re always surprised, usually pleasantly. Such was the case at Logan River.
There were a few people about, mostly families flying kites and riding bikes, but it wasn’t remotely crowded and we had oodles of empty picnic tables to choose from.
We chose this one, right by the river, under the partial shade of a gigantic gum tree.
How we loved it, munching happily as we watched the river roll by, listening to various birds chattering in the trees, grinning at an adorable little boy beaming proudly as he showed us how well he could ride his bike.
We tucked into gluten-free meat pies I’d made the day before, full of savory veggies and tender chunks of beef.
There is something absolutely heavenly about not having a deadline or a commitment spurring you on. To just be able to sit quietly, soaking up sunshine and fresh air, feeling and loving every moment. How we needed and treasured it.
It didn’t take long for the birds to discover there was food to be found at our table, and we happily shared a few bits of pie crust with them.
While Bear stretched out on the grass, I moseyed along the waters edge, loving the profusion of purple blossoms festooning the river bank.
Everything was so quiet and peaceful, the only sounds soothing and happy ones: wind in the trees, water gurgling through twisted tree roots, the occasional shush of bicycle tires as someone rode past.
I joined Bear on the grass and we leaned back, utterly content, delighted with this little escape. There’s no need for much talking at such moments, just the occasional sigh and “I love this” more than sufficed.
After a while we broke out dessert and dined on smooth, dark chocolate, lingering over each piece.
I love how places like this settle the mind, relax the body, and nourish the spirit. You can arrive worn out and frazzled from that stressful last week before holidays begin, but just a short time in a gorgeous place has you so relaxed you could fall asleep right there under the trees.
As we started to nod off next to each other we laughed and shook ourselves and went for a walk instead. We had a good visit with some fishermen waiting patiently next to lines trailing in the river and learned how to catch mud crabs from a couple of Maori ladies stuffing crab traps with whole chickens.
It was a beautiful discovery and as we drove home we continued to sigh happily. It was a great start to our holidays.
Where is your favorite place to go for a picnic?
OK i love that part about the whole chickens in the crab traps! It gave my pescatarian (newly in love with fresh crab) hubby PAUSE. “Were the chickens alive or dead?” he says. I thought the pie looked good, as obviously the birds quickly discovered. Enjoy your time off! Looks like you’re off to a good start.
http://mlleparadis.blogspot.com
The chickens were amazing to me too, @9d73767d10227efff04c7307e331304c:disqus 🙂 These were very much dead and frozen solid. 🙂
A holiday! Enjoy each luxurious moment.
Thank you so much, @disqus_2LQ5qLN5aY:disqus !! 🙂 I most certainly will. 🙂 xo
No crocodiles, then! Only kidding :).
I’m not sure about feeding the noisy miners. They are such teasers but have overcome several other species in our neck of the woods. We’ve even seen them taunting kookaburras, king parrots, butcher birds and galahs, so they are not afraid to fight above their weight. G&P
Apparently the crocs were there, but we couldn’t see them. THANK GOODNESS! I would’ve run for the hills if I’d seen such a thing, @ken_powell:disqus 🙂 I didn’t know that about the miners!! Naughty creatures. I don’t like bullies – no matter how small and cute they are. 🙂
I’m so in love with that last photo!!!!
Aw, thanks, @GlobalButterfly:disqus 🙂 I thought the fishermen couple was so cute. 🙂
What lovely photographs from your picnic! May I have some chocolate please?
I would happily share with you, @lizposmyk:disqus 🙂 We’d HAVE to eat it all up to make sure it didn’t melt. 🙂
What a wonderful, carefree day! Those kinds of days are just the best. Back to basics and simple fun. Loved the photos too – made me feel like I was enjoying the day with you! I haven’t been on a picnic in ages so I might have to go and re-aquaint myself with some favourite spots 🙂
Carefree describes it beautifully, @119c2cee80d4ff8a6f3916096ddfc8dd:disqus 🙂 I bet you have some gorgeous spots around you for picnics! I will keep an eye on your blog for future picnics. 🙂
Beautiful Krista! What a lovely spot for a picnic.. something we love to do often! And I swear I have a bar of that exact same chocolate at home – just love dark chocolate!
Ohhh, I bet you have lovely places around you for picnicking, @TuulaR:disqus 🙂 I’m delighted that you’re a dark chocolate fan too!! 🙂
It looks like the perfect place to think of when you meditate! Peaceful and untaxing. 🙂
Yes!! What a lovely idea, @margowrites:disqus 🙂 I shall tuck that away for future meditation moments. 🙂
What beautiful scenery for a picnic!!
Isn’t it wonderful, @joanneeatswellwithothers:disqus ? 🙂 It made my heart very happy indeed. 🙂
I haven’t been on a picnic in far too long! What a lovely day
I hope you get to go on one before the weather gets too cold, @inspiringtravellers:disqus 🙂
We have a lovely little nature preserve by our house that we love to frequent. It sounds like you had such a beautiful day here though. And how can you go wrong with pie and chocolate? Thank you for sharing. Just lovely!
I’m so glad you have a beautiful escape near you too, @monet_anecdotesandapples_com:disqus . 🙂 Such places do wonders for the soul. 🙂
We love going to places like this and love picnics. Our favorite spot is outside of Nantes in the vineyards of Muscadet. It is green, peaceful and soothing. I love the look of that meat pie!
A picnic in a vineyard sounds idyllic and so romantic, @71eb07213759ab4e5611e1dd9f1df8a7:disqus . 🙂
What a great way to spend the day! I can’t remember the last time I went on a picnic.
I got out of the habit over winter, @4051406338aaef5dd8bf9775f8ab662d:disqus , and I’m SO glad the weather is picnicky again. 🙂
I could pretty much do with a break like this right now!
I wish you a real break very soon, @bcdeb9873aa58892d29aa565c71353f5:disqus , for body and spirit. XO
What a lovely place to picnic!!
This is exactly the sort of thing Mr GG and I do… love it!
How lovely that you and your man like this sort of thing too, @GourmetGetaway:disqus 🙂 It is such a happy thing for us. 🙂
That day does sound absolutely
wonder-FULL in its nothingness!
Does that make sense? What I
mean is, the time to just BE, with
no deadlines and a gorgeous day
and great company. Ahhh……
Thank you for a recent comment
that was so full of kindness and
caring. You have a beautiful heart : )
xo Suzanne (privet and holly)
It makes perfect sense, @suzannewalcher:disqus 🙂 Peaceful and free-spirited, I loved it. 🙂 xo
What a lovely holiday! My favorite picnic spot is less than 10 minutes from here at La Balsa park near the Mooloolaba lighthouse.
I would love a picnic spot near a lighthouse, @OrgasmicChef:disqus 🙂 How beautiful that must be. 🙂
Again… what beautiful pictures!! You are single handedly moving Australia to the top of my travel wish list! We actually have a question for you… I was teasing my daughter the other day saying I was moving to Australia as it is springtime there now. She was intrigued, and we are wondering if your school dates are similar to ours? Or do the Australian kids get “your” summer off? (Hence they have summer vacation over Christmas?) She’s ready to move too… something about and Endless Summer…!! 🙂
That makes me so happy, @kimlivlife:disqus ! 🙂 I would love to meet you in person over here. 🙂 You can tell your daughter that we have opposite everything to you. 🙂 We just finished our Spring Break and our Summer Holidays start in December. 🙂 She’s not too far off about an endless summer. We do get winter but it is mostly cold only in the morning and at night. During the day I rarely have to wear a coat. A sweater and scarf do me just fine. 🙂
What a lovely day this looked like! Sighing happily at the end of the day means it’s as close to perfect as one is going to get…..
You are so right about happy sighs, @karlynn:disqus 🙂
Love, love this. Free and unfettered with no expectations….what a good way to live life. These kinds of days are such gifts, glad you could soak it up. And yummy on the pies!! I miss the savoury pies from down under.
These sorts of days are absolute treasures, @breannemosher:disqus , mostly, I suppose, because they’re so rare. 🙂 I do so love them. 🙂