Coffs harbor

I woke up and went straight to Hearth Fire to have a Smoked salmon quiche. I walked 25,000 steps and did not even have a proper dinner. I made pesto pasta and it was underwhelming. I drank a whole jug of table water and then I was off on the road. I did not have a destination in mind, but I knew I wanted to get out of Bello and into a new place, a new scenery, a new atmosphere. Something away from the small town and closer to the coast, the beach, new cafes, and new faces.

I started walking and decided I was just going to walk down the main road and to the café near the golf course. I knew that was not going to satisfy this craving to explore so I put my hand up in the air for a ride and just a few minutes later a car stopped. It was a younger girl with her daughter, Olive. She was going into town to get some supplies and do some shopping.

“Would you like to go to Coffs?”

I was thinking to myself, “Yes I have wanted to go to Coffs forever.”

Little Olive was sitting in the front seat and she reminded me of Abigail from “Little Miss Sunshine.” She had her coyboy boots on and she was all dressed up. Her mother Emily said that she likes to dress up when she goes into the city. She also likes to change her name each week lol. Emily traveled all over the world and says, “She can never pass up a traveler who wants to go someplace because that once was her.” She hitchhiked all over Australia and did volunteering all over USA. She has her own business selling boutique items and specialty honey. She lives in a beautiful countryside mountain top house and has a great community of friends and family. She did not mention a father to Olive so I did not ask, but she talked about her love for Morocco…. A place that I used to live.

She said that Olive is a “love child.” She comes from Berber roots with her father being Moroccan. When I looked back at her, I could see the Moroccan in her-beautiful dark hair and complexion like mine. She was such a doll and her mother was this warm, beautiful human being. She appreciated the kindness, hospitality and heart of Morocco, but there were religious differences and societal pressure. She said that she broke up with him and got back together so many times that she lost count…..

This reminded me of My Moroccan who I thought I would marry and have kids…I still can’t believe when I think about it why that never happened.

I would have loved to have his child and if I was a single parent then so be it- but I think our love would have lasted forever….
I had some envy thinking to myself….why was that not part of my own story?

She dropped me off and I went to the beach with the beautiful walkway in Coffs, the trees, the café, the Carrot cake and latte, the Black volcano gelato. I was really treating myself to a nice day and the weather was sunny rather than the rainy days that were past. Everything was just super lush green and so beautiful.

The water was clean, crisp, and blue and there were very little people at the beach making it so enjoyable. I had sometime there and knew I had to head back because the transportation situation was not good. I took the bus and then hitched a ride with another older man Disnael and his dog, Dino. He had these Krishna beads hanging from the rearview mirror and he said, “Do you know Krishna?”
I said, “Yes, I’m Indian.”

He said, “I know you are.”

What I absolutely love to hear…he said that he used to host guests to come stay at his farm and help with harvesting garlic and picking blueberries. He said that Bello produces pecans, mangos, and has some of the largest dairy factories. He was super kind and I was just in love with the sun in my face and the landscape was shining through dirty windows. Australia feels like Ireland meets California meets the rest of Europe.

We drove through the Banji forest where he said that Koalas are present. He said there were many strikes because the forests were state forests and they now will become national, which is good to protect the endangered species like Koalas.

I went back to be the Night Manager-my favorite job. I made my dinner, shared some watermelon with Dirk, spoke with the lady who is a teacher in Sydney, went in the sauna, and talked with my little crew – Dirk, Athena, and Zack. They are really cute humans -super healthy people and good at heart at least I think.

Hot sauna plus cold water shower is HEAVEN

It was so wonderful meeting these nice people and I thought maybe I should hitchhike more if I’m going to have such great stories and recommendations from locals.

Oh yes, I saw a rainbow. I saw a rainbow that appeared for like 5 minutes and then left the sky. The bats came out again like they do every night around sunset and that was it. It was mellow, quiet, and while the guys went out to the rave- I went to sleep.

Beth was super nice and  very sweet. I did my laundry and cleaned up the room.

This is NOT a big city-this is countryside and probably one of the safest cities(safer than any American cities for sure).