Horcruxes and Coconuts

On the road to nowhere, somewhere in Queensland, where we pass another car only now and then, we copped a stone to the windscreen. Doh! Now we just need to find someone that can fix it quick-smart before the crack spreads, because we don’t think they’ll be many places up here that can replace a Kombi windscreen!

***

The day got better. By the time we arrived at Clairview, the weather had warmed up and we found ourselves in another beachside caravan spot, with ocean views from the back window. Daph thought Clairview looked spectacular from space on Google maps and decided that she and Ern should take a walk down to the network of estuaries at Clairview Island.

Ern: “How far is that?”

Daph: “Dunno. Google maps says it can’t find a way there. I just thought we could walk along the beach and see if we can cross the estuaries.”

Ern doesn’t look convinced. Daph is raring to go.

Daph: *Excitedly, “We should take food and water in case we get stranded.”

Ern looks even less convinced. But pops two bananas, some nuts, and a bottle of water in his backpack.

Daph: “You don’t look keen.”

Ern: “Well excuse me if I’m not brimming with enthusiasm at the prospect of getting stranded at high tide.”

Daph skips ahead, “Come on, let’s go!”

Ern follows reluctantly.

We made it to the first estuary, but Ern wasn’t convinced about crossing it because the water was icy cold and looked deep. Daph continued to look for ways around their predicament, whilst Ern found justified excuses to not venture any further...

Daph: “Maybe I should carry the backpack for a while. I think it’s a Horcrux[1]. It’s making you all negative.”

Daph gave in to reason and turned back to explore the beach instead. This made Ern happy. Not only was his life safer, but he found a freshly dropped coconut, which he spent the rest of the afternoon trying, and eventually succeeding, to get into.

Our adventurous day was cut short when we had to retreat inside the Kombi for the evening due to the stench of sewerage coming from the amenity block.

Ern: “At least your farts won’t stink so much in comparison.”

Onwards to Airlie Beach.

[1] A Horcrux is from the Harry Potter books: an object used to house a piece of one’s soul, and which negatively effects the emotions of whoever is carrying it.