“Are you sure?” I asked Tanya nervously when she offered the driver’s seat on the way back home. I did fine at first, and steered the big truck through the sand no problem. But then a scary patch of beach appeared and, despite the instinct to relinquish the wheel, I went full speed ahead. Tanya had instructed me successfully so far, had calmly suggested to shift up or down when I felt comfortable, but the orders started coming rapid fire and the whole clutch thing just got too confusing. As the tide crept nearer, we were bogged up to our armpits. We tried reversing, we tried digging around the tires, we tried pushing, but to no avail…as images of the ocean swallowing Tanya’s car haunted my conscience.

Luckily, the majority of people driving along the shores of Cooloola Shire know that same feeling. It happens to the best of us (though I’m among the worst), and the kindness of strangers often comes to the rescue. You help me, I help you someday - Carma. Five big guys rushed over to push with me, and moments later we were back on track. Bog Shmog.

Although I miss cruising by the ocean at liberty, the smooth roads of Brisbane are much appreciated. We drove down from Caloundra this afternoon and met up with Steve, Jodie’s (Tanya’s sister) husband, at their house. He took us for a stroll along the South Bank, a riverside stretch with perfect views of the city. There’s more action than normal at and around the harbor these days, for the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan has recently arrived - A ship longer and taller than Sydney's Harbour Bridge, with more aircrafts on board than the entire air force of Australia. When asked what they wanted to do in the country, most of the 6,000 passengers replied: “Have my first legal drink and go to the Australia Zoo.”

Jodie got back from work in the evening and quickly changed into her touch football uniform. Touch football is a less violent version of rugby, and one of the country’s most popular recreational sports; We tagged along to watch her play. It was comforting to see a large plot of land preserved for a non-lucrative cause, and to see hundreds of people take advantage of it (on a Tuesday night). It’s friendly, but competitive. A social gathering as much as an intense 40-minute game. And, for the record, Jodie’s team won.

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