the unknown destination

---

Life is a journey not a destination

Our travelling companions, the Smiths, arrived at our door at the ungodly hour of 4am. We are spending a few days together. Where we are going, or what we are doing has been kept a complete secret from us, with only a few morsels of information leaked to us over the few preceding weeks before our departure.

Clothing needs to be hot and cold, small bags, torches, passports, swimmers, sunscreen and various other random clues for us to go by. We have no idea and here lies the fun. Trust is very important and obviously a sense of humour essential. If we are still friends after this, we will be for life.

Walking outside we discover a four wheel drive with caravan in tow. Camping immediately springs to my imagination, for Keith has said the first day will be long and arduous. Kathy is thinking the snow, so I have packed for warmth.

Driving through Murrumburrah, Keith cannot locate his wallet and after much banter between him and Sue, it is decided it is still sitting on the kitchen table. We turn around and head back for Hillside.

Sue heads inside and returns empty handed. Keith then has one of his enlightened moments and declares it is in the truck. We drive to the shed, park next to the Smiths car and are told “everybody out”, we are changing vehicles. The caravan was all a ruse to put us off the scent of our destination.

Kathy is laughing and uttering expletives’ all at the same time.

We are now heading east and I am thinking Canberra airport. A simple domestic flight to a great Aussie spot. Keith swings the car in at the Canberra turnoff than at the last minute turns back on to the Hume Highway. We journey on to the outskirts of Sydney where Keith and Sue are deeply engaged in discussion on how to get onto the M7. Ah! It has at last occurred to me where we are going. A little, sunny beach town on the north NSW coast.

Guess what? Keith starts giggling about 50 metres from the turn and consequentially we are back on the Hume heading east. It is pretty obvious now that we are heading for Sydney Airport. Whether we are heading to domestic or international are still both options. Arriving at the car park we are told to repack our bags as we are only allowed one bag between us. Kathy has packed for all contingencies right down to rum and ginger beer. I am now being told that no more warm clothes will be needed past this point. Holy Shit! The only summer clothes I have packed would fit in a plastic shopping bag.

That said, they say you should travel lightly. But this is taking it a bit too far.

Arriving at the International Airport we now have our destination narrowed down to some 100 countries of the world, all the cold ones eliminated I hope.

We stroll up to the Airasia counter and the girl finally puts us out of our misery by wishing us a safe journey to Phuket. I think I am excited.

Overseas was never in my thinking and we are all of a sudden thinking what we forgot to pack, but Hey! What the hell? Isn’t travel supposed to be an adventure? As Mr Frost wrote the road less travelled is always the best, as long as you think so.

---