Chapter 21
The Pacific in our backyard
We fell in love with the Sunshine Coast that we decided to move back. This time, we settled in Coolum and Peregian Beach – and it turned out to be a fantastic choice. It felt wonderful to return to the coast, with the Pacific Ocean as our backyard and the laid-back vibe we’d been missing.
We also had some lovely reunions with great people. We caught up with Jack again and spent time with Bjørn and Brett down at the marina. There was plenty of table tennis (both in VR and real life), sailing, and beers on Moonyah, as well as runs and hikes. We finally tried our first Vegemite sandwich – and possibly the world’s best pineapple – at Sue and Mark’s place.
During the final weeks of our trip, Cyclone Alfred made an appearance. He caused quite a stir, was hard to predict, and much of the coast shut down as a precaution. Strong winds meant big waves, drawing some of Australia’s top surfers to the east coast. It was actually pretty amazing to witness – wow. We even gave surfing a try ourselves, though in slightly smaller waves.
Our first big chapter has come to an end. It was time to say a bittersweet goodbye to Australia – for now. But we’ll be back. Until next time, dear Australia. Thanks for everything.