“It’s nice to see you two again, how have your travels been going?” I looked behind me to see if someone else was coming. No one. “We are loving it”, I replied. Have we met before?” Then the next day, a couple called out “Hello again!”… still no one else in sight. They tried to convince me that I knew them but when it became obvious that we hadn’t, curiosity overtook us and we wondered where this other me and Tachi were on their trip? I wonder if we will eventually meet each other? Is it us on another timeline? Or maybe I’m becoming forgetful? All plausible.
July was always going to be an interesting time with the Seven of Swords as my monthly card. Onto the Queen of Cups for August :)
7 of Swords - Asks us to question our current life strategy. Is there something that is being avoided because you are waiting for someone else to make a play? Other people will have their own agenda, possibly waiting for you to make the first move.
Predator type energy.
Now is the time to sit quietly with your ideas and plans. Observe and patiently wait for your next move. Original plans may change so prepare for a slight shift in direction and timing.
Where you put your focus will change your life. (my take on the 7 of Swords)
It didn’t disappoint when I met this little lady (I managed to take the above mug shot before finding a new home for her away from the van) in Tulga, Qld. I initially thought she was an insect. I then declared her to be the most scary and unusual arachnid I have ever seen!
After a bit of the Google I found that she wasn’t harmful but my goodness did she pack a punch! Her bite on my head had me thinking, “What if said Google was wrong? I slept with a freezer pack on my head that night and woke up with a pounding headache that lasted a couple of days. I decided it would be a good time for a three day fast, that always makes life better.
It was lovely to meet you, Northern Jewel. I was also told that she is described as a ‘sit and wait’ predator - that makes sense.
Van life people amaze me… the way older couples travel together is intimate proximity and survives to tell their story. There was one couple who had just purchased more solar panels as they both used CPAP machines. They can breathe easy now knowing that they have enough overnight power. Caravan living was their chosen full time life and they will be travelling down to NSW and across to Adelaide for the next chapter of their travels.
Another lady, Lisa, has a house on the coast of Qld but chooses to live in her van and travel around, occasionally returning to her property to park and stay a while and check in on her rented home. Her van is full of plants and has so much character - it matches her nature perfectly.
Leaving behind the stunning Atherton Tablelands, Qld after about 10 days, which included our change of plans with Tachi’s vet visit. She is back to her happy, healthy self x
We stopped over in Ravenshoe and visited the Information Centre which displayed the history of WWII in the Atherton Tablelands area. There were between 40-100,000 soldiers in this area recuperating and retraining before and after the Kokoda campaign.
The natives of Ravenshoe were the Jirrbal People. The Nganyaji Centre housed an amazing display of local indigenous artefacts and knowledge. Truly amazing.
Ravenshoe (Ravens-hoe - not Raven-Shoe like I was pronouncing it) is 900m above sea level and is Queensland’s highest town. We can now lay claim to having driven on the highest road (1162m), in the high town in Queensland.
Following the Great Inland Way down to Charters Towers we learnt that this town was known as ‘The World’ because of its connection with the discovery of gold by a young Aboriginal boy, named Jupiter. A lovely historical town with such rich history.
Then further down to Emerald where we turned left onto the Capricorn Way.
On the Inland Way stretch of road, we experienced variations in the road’s surface. Sometimes stretched out with perfectly laid bitumen and then the odd surprise of potholes the size of swimming pools and Road Trains measuring up to 50 metres long!
There was a hand-painted writing on the bitumen reading - “C a r R o l l s”… Then… WhAAAAttttt the truck! It was like being thrown about on an ocean wave. Crikey! Poor Nelly, had doors flying open and things being thrown around. I was laughing so hard I think Tachi thought I was going slightly mad. I probably was, it seems like the sanest thing to do. There was no reception, no radio just us, so what they hey!
I think the sign that had me pondering life a little more deeply was the one that said “Sheer road edges, Drive safely”. What that meant was, the edge of the road was like a knife’s edge, so don’t let your tyres go anywhere near the white line. I think I said a Hail Mary when I read that one …
And then said an extra one for the travellers heading north with a blown out tyre and their 4WD and trailer nestled down in the dip of the roadway.
Amen.
We stayed in Nambour in my new Aunt and Uncles’ street and caught up with new cousin Deb :) While I was there, I had Nelly rust proofed, new water filters fitted and a CB Radio fitted too. Next job is to get the external rust patches fixed up. I’m thinking of getting her wrapped… hmmm maybe duck egg blue? House of Tarot on the side?
We travelled over 2500km inland from Cape Tribulation, inland, down to Varsity Lakes and every day is an exercise in being in the awareness of each experience and appreciating each and every emotion that wants to be felt, seen, heard and expressed. I feel like this new way of life is something that has been waiting for me to turn up. And here I am, here we are. Appreciating and experiencing every moment as the creator. Doing our readings and creating our deck with Meg. New creative projects are twirling around in my mind…
If you are going through something that is pulling you down or holding you back, keeping you stuck. I encourage you to sit with it and see it as a mirror, your reflection of the inner you that only knows how to get your attention by projecting into your reality. You are an entire universe, creating and destroying life. Everybody you meet, every situation you find yourself in, is a creation, so see it all with love in your heart, and go from there.
During our travels I’ve been completely ensconced in the works of Vanessa - The Mindful Narrowboat on Youtube. Today I received her Nature Journal and Auntie Earlene and I have been reading her poetry and nature insights. It’s so beautiful and also a wonderful new learning experience.
I suggested we challenge ourselves to do our own mindful journal poem and sketch… so here goes….
Join us?
US.
I wake at first light
and through the skylight I sight
the day that awaits my creation.
Then from the bed at my feet I hear the gentle greet.
from the girl who captures my imagination.
Wake up she sounds, It’s me you see, I’m ready to start a new day!
Go slowly she says, no rush, no push.
Let’s be grateful for this moment.
Let’s play.
Thanks for being here. And thank you to Brett Y, Jan M and Sarah M for showing your support through pledging. I appreciate you!
Love,
Tania and Tachi xx