EC-Rider Travels

I had a second unbelievably spoiling morning with Queensland Ballet, this time watching Company Class which was such a treat. Before class started, I bumped into the most wonderful choreographer called Paul Boyd, who had come to RBS in 2012 to set one of his ballet. I can’t imagine why, but he remembered me and greeted me like a long lost friend – so nice to see him again, and such a lovely man who gave me lots of hints of what to do at the Sunshine Coast. And of all coincidences he had just been working with Sarah Dehn. Their Head of Development also came down to meet me, the most lovely former Principal Dancer with Queensland, called Rachel Walsh. Lovely to have a good ballet chat!

I then headed off to try and find my way to Peregian Beach where I was to meet my friend, Diana Vernon. Looking at the various websites, this was not straight forward and could involve all modes of transport and certainly not less then three. I went to the central train station, where I knew I would find someone to help me and I was right. I was given several options one of which included a Greyhound Bus. I am …. years old and I have never been on a Greyhound Bus and felt this was another first which just had to be done …. on my ‘gap-year. So I bought my ticket and off I went, really feeling the part. Admittedly most of my fellow passengers were a third of my age but it was extremely comfortable with reclining leather seats, air conditioning and charging points for your phone – not the rough and tumble experience I had imagined.

Sadly, however, it only took me three quarters of the way and I found myself in the wonderfully named Maroochydore where I was told I could pick up a local bus. Unfortunately, what had not been made clear was that the Greyhound bus dropped you at one side of town and the bus station was the other. There was a nice lady, equally bemused by the drop off point, as she had left her car by the bus station, so we shared a cab, and I dropped her off at her car and by some fluke I made it on to my bus with no more than 30 seconds to spare. This bus was a bit different as indeed was the local clientele! The very large driver was most concerned where he should be dropping me which was rather sweet, and I certainly did not have a clue, but could sort of see where I thought I was going on my google-maps, so jumped off the bus at one of the stops and by sone total miracle, there was Diana on the other side of the road!

Diana was on a business call, so we did not speak as we drove back to the dear little beach house her friend Michelle had lent her and I went off for a walk along the long long beach while she completed her call.

The cyclone, we had heard about on Heron Island, was still beating its chest and the sea was very rough and lots of amazing jellyfish had been stranded on the beach. The beach goes for miles and is dog friendly so there were lots of people walking their four legged friends – goodness I miss mine. When Diana finished her call, she came down to the beach and we at last said a proper hello and didn’t draw breath for the rest of the evening….