Honestly, there isn’t much to report from this drive.

I stopped in at St Lawrence, got a feed at Ogmore and fuel at Malborough.

Malborough was tiny and there wasn’t even a fuel stop in the town – it was outside on the highway lol.

Maybe my expectations were unreasonably high because of Airlie to Mackay, but this was really an A to B drive.

I’ve been really lucky in the sense that other drivers have kept their distance – I tend to remain between 80-90km/h. We did hit a 110km limit which is nice for everyone else, but I am lucky to comfortably sit on 100km/h if it’s not windy.

I was listening to an interview with Kate Reid on the Imperfects and it got me thinking. I am well aware that people can only meet you as deeply as they’ve met themselves. But once again the theory doesn’t always translate into practice for me. I was reflecting on how I am often met with defensiveness when I suggest/identify a theme or pattern in others. I am usually taken aback by this, but the resistance simply infers that they have not yet met themselves so deeply. So it isn’t true for them. and unfortunately we can’t grab the hand of another and guide them through the depths, no matter how much we wish we could. (me)

I was super excited to reach Rockhampton.

I was in Rocky earlier in the year and couldn’t wait to come back with my car. Dream actualized.

I headed in to Kershaw Gardens, there’s a 48hr camp there and loads of RV’s were parked. It has very open access to the public and is right next to the shopping centre. I walked over to Stockies but it felt a bit suss. Like, anyone could just walk on in and… I don’t know but it’s a bit different being in a car to a van.

I’m thinking about how ghetto stockies in Townsville is and assuming Rocky has it mirrored, because it feels like a lowkey bogan place.

My threat detector is a little bit out, but I’d rather my instincts keep myself safe than feel safe in a potentially threatening situation.

I booked myself into a caravan park just up the road AND it had a spot for my hammock! I ended up staying two nights.

I spent the afternoon reading, went for a swim and watched the stars. The next day was a big day for rest and rejuvenation – I could feel my hormone/energy dropping and fatigue coming in. So I spent the day in the hammock reading, only leaving to source snacks.

The day went on, I am really enjoying both of the books I’m reading: Love and Virtue by Diana Reid and The Road Less Travelled by M. Scott Peck. Is that meant to be Mr?

I picked up Love and Virtue in the op shop and wasn’t real committed to it – the same way I go into movies with no context at all and am confused until half way through when the penny drops. But the moral philosophizing and local Australian references has dug it’s claws in and I am hooked.

The Road Less Travelled – I bought this back in May but really struggled to get through the first chapter. It just made me irritated, pointing out society’s communal short-fallings. I deduced I would have to come back to this book when I had more time and mental capacity which alas, we have arrived to.

Lo and behold! I managed to get to the succeeding chapters and I’m enjoying it. This book is exploring subjects such as discipline, love and dependency and really making me think. I, myself am quite disciplined and sometimes criticize myself for it but reading the anecdotes from Scott/Pecks clinical room, the root of my discipline is reinforced.

In the evening I cooked up Daal and coconut rice. Yum!

On Saturday morning, I packed up and drove out to Yeppoon. Ah I love Yeppoon. I went over to Keppel Island – beautiful scenes, however not as much to do as Magnetic Island and for someone who doesn’t need any more sun… I struggled to find an alternative.

On my way back into Yeppoon, I was meandering about how I’d like to spend the afternoon in my sun-infused haze. Dinner and live music sounded like the way to go.

When I arrived in Yeppoon, there was a festival on. Market stalls, food trucks and live music. Now, I’m not saying I manifested this, but…

I settled down with my bubble tea and curry puffs and watched the music. I don’t know who the band was, but they were playing dreamy, folk interpretations of trending songs.

I booked myself into Yeppoon Farmstay for the evening.

What can I say.

This place is absolutely incredible.

There is a panoramic view of the ocean, looking over Yeppoon and the rolling countryside.

This is the kind of deal I had envisioned I would attain in the future. A place to park up with sheltered/established toilets and a sheltered area for cooking. Friends and nomads welcome to park up and rest.

I don’t think about it often – it’s a given – but clearly two of my values are minimalism and resourcefulness. I mean, I’m living out of a shoebox and feel like I have all the luxuries in the world.

The norms we have created as a society are so unnecessary and stress provoking.

In the morning, I made my cacao and headed down to the town center. I was so excited to have my girl in Yeppoon. I was sitting in the car, writing this post and listening to music aaaand she went flat.

First flat battery in the year I’ve had her so I’m not mad. I had been marveling at the battery capability with the amount of time the doors spend open lol. But now I am more conscious about closing the doors.

and unplugging the fridge.

Maybe I should use my battery more.

But hey. I finally got the fridge to agree on using solar as a power source. 6 months later.

Winning.