Chapter 12 The Gold Coast (part 2)

Next day. Dark clouds are moving across the sky. The wind is increasing. The unit feels cooler. A storm is coming. Shall we make it to the shop or not. Is it safe? What is the best plan? How long is this storm coming for and how long will it stay for and what will it be like? It’s not like Hobart. In Hobart we are the experts. In Hobart we tell people what is going to happen. It is coming from the south and should drizzle the rest of the day. It will start at the mountain but shouldn’t last long. It won’t be heavy. It will be cold. On the Gold Coast we know nothing. 

Walk with Lorna. Back to our usual topic of conversation. Which is what happened recently. Why did it happen? I want to know what she said or saw. She wants to know what I went through. We both want to know what the other person went through.

In the afternoon it is hot. I lie by myself on the bed in bliss. I am in a little world of reading and writing which is miles from the beaches, the throngs, the t-shirts and the easy food.  It is a good place to be.

The next day we plan to walk prior to breakfast. Need a key to get out. We go down the lift, past reception, past the tennis courts onto the main road bordering the beach. There is a path by the main road which is busy. We take this path.  Flags are on the beach ready for the swimmers who have not yet arrived. Perhaps it is too early or too windy. It is not cold. People are not dressed for warmth. They are dressed to cover themselves. They are wearing thongs and bathers covered by tight shorts, skirts or shirts with messages.

We walk down the path which has now decided to follow the road not the beach. The road is much busier than the beach. We come across cafes and places serving breakfast. All of them are busy. Some advertisements for late night licenses in front of desolate empty buildings. They will be busy tonight. Most of the people walking appear to be tourists. All are dressed casually with shorts, tight tops and sunglasses. All wander without purpose. Spending time glancing around and looking, not striding with purpose.

We don’t stop and buy food. Our job is to walk down the path. We have planned ten more minutes walking and then we will turn around and walk back.