Pretty simple...

I went for a beach walk at Yorkey’s Knob, Far North Queensland, after my morning run. Yorkey’s is about 10 – 15 minutes from where I live. I was walking along, in my sweaty running clothes thinking how nice the morning was, how simple, beautiful and uncommercialized the stretch of beach is and how peaceful I felt at that moment walking in the water and scrunching my toes in the sand that dissolved beneath my feet with each rush of waves in and out. Simple. Easy. Peaceful.

This year, for me, has been pretty tough for many reasons but I have endured because to do anything but would go against my nature. Walking along the beach reinforced that whatever I do is okay and it’s what I’m supposed to do. Whatever I think is right, will be right and the battles I fight are justified because fighting for another’s honour is important even if I lose everything defending it. And in the end? I know the hope for a simpler life, without all the crap of this year, is obtainable and it’s just a matter of keeping faith in myself. It’s pretty simple really. Endurance + determination = self belief.

Beach walking -  good for the soul.   

Pre-eclipse...

So, I went for my usual 2.5km run before boot camp this morning, along the Cairns Esplanade. The Solar Eclipse is on tomorrow and Cairns, Far North Queensland – FNQ – is one of the best places to see it as it will be the total eclipse. This morning, as I ran, I noticed something different. Sure there were the normal tourists wandering along the Esplanade looking at the beach and scoping out the ocean, no doubt hoping for the odd croc to wander out looking for breakfast – but there were other people – very pale skinned people dressed in khaki and beige and carrying whiz bang cameras and laptops and talking about the angle of the sun and the distance from here to there and multiplying that by their ages and dividing by their shoe sizes then subtracting their waist measurements. They were quite fascinating to watch and while I don’t agree with stereotyping people, they were scarily the archetypal nerds.

What will tomorrow bring? The end of the world? Nah. We need Mothra to turn up for that. Rain? Probably. It is the wet season. Bugger of a time for Mother Nature to shock and awe us but you get that.    

Just you?

I took some time off and shot up to Port Douglas – 50 mins from home – and did an overnighter. I just needed a moment away from stuff so I had time to think and not do. I got an excellent local’s rate at one of the resorts.The beach was fab but it is FNQ (Far North Queensland) and everything is always good in FNQ. I did get a couple of swims in before the beaches were closed due to stingers and I sat and stared at the waves for a long time and thought about stuff. Waves - amazing, life changing and restorative things.

A few of thoughts...

1. I loathe plastic key cards. I like real keys that have substance. See pic. My keys versus pissy hotel card. Rarely do I lose real keys. Plastic ones disappear the minute they hit my handbag.

2. Why are they going with those dispensers now in all the hotels? How am I supposed to get supplies for the gym? Where have all the freebies gone? Long time passing?

3. I wonder at people who cannot fathom why anyone travels alone. I do. I like it. I adhere to the 'she who travels fastest, travels alone' policy. Is it just you staying? Dining? Swimming? Standing on my head? Chanting a Himalayan pop song from the balcony of my room? Yes. It is. And I am not 'just’ anyone. I swear, we accept gay and lesbians more than we accept sole travellers. People are different. Not everyone needs to have their hand held.

In conclusion, I know the following – I'm pretty damn good as I am. And just me? Yeah and get over it.