The morning light at the S-Bend was something special. I woke up to find the paddocks looking more like a lush golf course than the Midwest. There’s an old stone ruin sitting up on the hill that catches the sun's first glow. It’s a shell of a house now, with the roof caving in and the sky visible through the rafters, but it stands firm against the elements. Seeing it bathed in that soft morning light, you can’t help but think about the families who once called it home.
The ruins overlook a wide, green expanse that stretches right out to the horizon. It’s a beautiful, quiet spot to watch the world wake up. Lisa and I took a slow walk to soak it in before the day's drive began.
Our setup at the caravan park was tucked away on a lovely patch of grass. It’s a real luxury to have such a thick green lawn underfoot out here. I spent a bit of time making sure everything was ship-shape before we hit the road, including a quick check of the gear.
We made a proper stop in Geraldton. It was one of those mornings where one shop wouldn't do; we ended up darting between Aldi and Coles to get our supplies exactly right. I also had to make a quick dash into Bunnings to pick up a new plug for our caravan lights. It’s one of those small jobs you want to get sorted while you’re still in reach of a proper hardware store.
After a quick lunch at Wren’s Place Cafe in Northampton—which hit the spot—and a fuel stop at the Billabong Roadhouse, we finally rolled into Gladstone Bay Campground.
Pulling up with Sandy and Steve made the arrival even better. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of pulling in, getting the legs down, and catching up with good friends. The coast at Gladstone is wide and rugged, and as the sun began to drop, the entire landscape transformed.
We all walked down toward the water’s edge to watch the sun sink into the Indian Ocean. The sky turned a brilliant, fiery orange, reflecting off the damp sand and the tide pools. It was the perfect moment for a group photo to remember the trip. Sandy and Steve were beaming on the left, and Lisa and I were on the right, all of us windswept and happy to be exactly where we were.
As the sun finally disappeared, the horizon stayed lit with a deep, glowing band of gold. It was a hell of a way to end the day, sitting back and watching the light fade over the outback coast.
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