So this week I have had 4 days off in a row. A couple of them happened to fall on my rostered days off and the others were taken deliberately because of my wedding anniversary. This year would have been 28 years married, and I know from previous years just how hard that day is. In so many ways it is almost the hardest of all our hard days for me, and I just didn’t want to be at work for it. It has felt like a million things have changed again in the last year and I wanted time to be able to process some of that.

I didn’t actually have a whole lot of things planned for my days off, other than just taking it easy, but thanks to a very lovely friend, I was able to have a fabulous adventure. I have known this friend for a whole lot of years, our kids went to school together. We have caught up on and off over the years and have recently reconnected. He is someone that actively lives his very best life and is always doing the most amazing things with the best stories to tell. I am envious of the lifestyle he has, it is how I would love to live my life too, but I have not been brave enough yet to try. He has been promising to take me to the beach to camp out in his van and to watch the sun come up for ages and the opportunity for that came up this week.

One thing that I had actually decided to do last week was to go whale watching again. I love it! Being a tiny spec in the vastness of the ocean and seeing nature doing her thing – it’s a kind of magic like no other! I bought a spare ticket because it is always more fun doing things with someone rather than being alone and took a chance to ask my friend. Happily for me, he agreed to come and also suggested packing a bag in case we felt like staying away and I am so glad I did!

The whale watching trip this time was the best one yet – my seventh time doing it too! (Let me know if you want to come and do it with me, I’ll go at least one more time before the season is over!) We managed to find an incredibly playful pod of whales pretty early into the trip and were privileged to watch them play. The number of breaches out of the water were spectacular, and just when we thought they had enough of us they would do it again. The weather was sensational and the water was lovely and calm… we couldn’t have asked for anything more!

Following on from the whale watching, we headed down the coast to Elephant rock for a seafood lunch and then Flat rock for a swim. Neither of these places are ones I had been to before, but will definitely visit again! The water was icy cold but the swim was totally worth it! Although according to my friend I should have gone a lot further out and put my head under the water! Brrrrrr. A quick dry off and a nap in the sun and then down to Brunswick heads for a night of music at the pub and a sleep out in the van!

Day two saw us up super early to watch the sun rise – one of my very favourite things to do, and it absolutely did not disappoint! The colours were spectacular in a crystal clear sky. What a glorious way to start the day! Brekky at a cute cafe and then onto the next adventure. A drive down through Byron Bay, Broken head and then a stop at White Bay.

It took a very steep descent down a narrow dirt track before we realised we’d taken a wrong turn, so back to the top we went – I thought I was going to keel over. It turns out I am not very fit at all, something I will be working to change! A quick rest and reset and off we went again. Another steep descent, but this time down a more well worn path and then the most amazing vista opening up in front of us.

We sat in the sunshine, had a swim and watched whales and dolphins not too far from shore, with our picnic of chips and strawberries. It was a truly sensational way to spend the morning and well worth the wrong turn! A long climb back to the top before we decided that a tour of the countryside would finish the adventure. Off we went through Lismore, Kyogle, and Boonah to a fabulous pub (owned by friends of my friend) for an evening of fun conversation, dinner and dancing!

Up early for brekky the next morning, and some more scenic driving to come home…. And then back to reality, and for me the emotional crash of my wedding anniversary.

I will always miss Claytie, and I honestly don’t think that will lessen at all, ever. What I do know, and keep telling myself, is that he would be the first person to push me to keep on living my best life. This week has felt like I did some of that. Most of the time it is hard to get my mind around Claytie being gone. I still expect him to come home anytime now. That has not become any easier in the three years since he died. Often I feel as though I have a split personality, I can be happy having adventures one minute and then missing him and crying the next.

I’m so glad that the person I was with seems to understand and accept that. I’m super grateful that I had the opportunity to take my mind off the sadness for a little while, and Im hoping that I get to have other adventures down the track! Since I have come home I have been madly researching vans and thinking of all the other amazing places I could see and adventures I could have! A big thank you to my friend for indulging me and letting me tag along x