This year has been by far the hardest year in my adult life, I mean, I have been through a hell of a lot of crap in my 31 years on this earth but this year is the only year that has been filled with doubt and uncertainty.
So around a month ago, while in some of my darker days, I just wanted my Dad. I didn’t know what I was doing, or who to trust or how to fee or what to think! I hit a point in my life I had no control of and all I wanted was my Dad.
His days on this earth are numbered and only God really knows when he will leave us but in the midst of all the madness going on around me and within me.. I know I needed to escape my life, my house and my own mind.
So I called Dad and it’s funny that he already knew. Him and I are so similar in the way we think that he’d already sort of planned it all previous to my call.
On the other end of the phone, right when I needed him the most he also knew I needed a break and some time with my Dad.
Portland came up and so that was that.
Organised in a month in advance it was a trip just meant for a father and his daughter. But as the weeks drew closer the Corona Virus also hit the shores of Australia and our state. Everything was against us with Jie then set to come with us and everyone having so much to say, we never let anything get in our way. Packing the car the day before Nevaehs Dad cancelled (as he does, she is lucky to see the bastard once a month) last minute and so we took her with us too.
The weekend was amazing! I mean, was Dad - Dad.. yeah of course he was! Moody, lacking patience at times but there to teach us something at every opportunity and that’s exactly why we went.
Knowing I’m going to lose my Dad one day it’s scary and heartbreaking and hurts more and more as that day nears. But there is so much he has yet to show and teach me and this weekend away proved that in every way.
Day 1 (Friday) we drove around, got a few bits and bobs we needed and had a bbq at the local park. Afterward we ventured out to the lighthouse before we got checked into our stay at the Retro Motel. The kids saw wind turbines up close while Dad told jokes about the one that wasn’t working as we all laughed. We were also lucky enough to see an echidna walking into the brush. Nevaeh and I got out to take a look and admired it before it went into the scrub.
At the motel we checked in, met the owner and talked fishing for a bit. We got everything out the car and Dad and I went through the tackle boxes in preparation for the next day.
Dad got KFC for dinner and treated the kids to maccas! They stayed up a while watching tv before we all fell asleep somewhere before 12am.
Saturday morning no one was in a hurry to get up. We packed the rods and tackle boxes into the car and went to squidding.. This was the kids and my first time so Dad taught us the technique and soon enough we had the hang of it. But no squid were around.
Dad then navigated is to the pier where he’d got a tip off a local that fish were getting caught and after we’d only just got there, I’d thrown my rod in and I was reeling in my first fish of the trip! But.. there was only one problem.. Sammy the seal (a known local seal of the area) was hot on the tail of the fish I was reeling in and just as I bought it up out of the water, he yanked it off my line! Nevaeh was hysterically laughing and I was sort of stunned but amazed! What a cheeky little local! Jie and Nevaeh also threw their rods in and while they both reeled their rods in at the same time, this cheeky seal took Jies fish but left him the fish head as a gift. The kids loved the excitement but this seal wasn’t going to let us keep any fish! So we went around the other side of the jetty and Nevaeh caught herself 4 fish for the morning and Jie caught 5 and a half (hahah or a head!).
The bites soon died down so we went back to the motel where I cooked a bbq lunch. Afterwards I had a bit of a snooze as Dad and Nevaeh put the surf rods together.
An hour before dark we went to the rock wall. We drove our car and fished from the side of it! As it grew dark we got a few bites but there was no excitement! That was until Jie wound in a stingray! Yep.. a banjo stingray! Dad got the hook out no worries and let him go.. the kids were impressed. And with nothing else biting for the night that’s where the fun ended.
We got back to the motel, had leftovers for dinner and packed a bit of the car. I had a can with Dad and enjoyed our small talk while the kids watched School of Rock until bedtime. We all had showers to wash the fishy smell off us before bed. Dad, as on all trips had us all laughing with his dry humour in the dark before we all eventually fell asleep.
Sunday we got up and packed everything back in the car. The car trip home was fun, stopping every half hour or so for Dad to go toilet. I used to only tell the kids of this happening while on trips but they finally got to experience it first hand!
I drove Dad home, stayed a minute to help him put things away and then was back on the road home. We left at 9.30am and were home at 5pm. I ordered parmas and the kids and I sat on the couch together catching up on the news. I was asleep by 6.30pm.
Photos below..
