I felt the need to find somewhere I'd not been, to head in a direction and drive without knowing where I was going or what I may find there...maybe something, maybe nothing but when I arrived I'd know, and whether I found something or nothing it'd be exactly where I needed to be at that given point in time and space.
I packed a picnic: An amazing artisan-made sourdough loaf, small assortment of cheeses, olives and cold cuts, a bunch of grapes, some of the reddest strawberries I've ever seen, cashew nuts, a lovely bottle of wine and some water; a simple meal but that suited me fine - it seemed like the sort of day to tear chunks off bread and combine with cheese and other assorted things and I knew just the place...well, I didn't actually know it...but I figured I'd find somewhere, and I did.
It was a couple of hours driving before we stopped at a lookout above the River Murray, Australia's longest river at over 2,500 kilometres long. The dirt road brought us to a lookout (above) and we made our way down what was a fairly steep cliff on foot to see what we could see at the bottom just to stretch our legs. As we walked I felt content that I'd satisfied my goal for the day - I'd not been in this exact spot before.
It was mid-morning and the day was warming up, a little breezy, but still pleasant, so after a half hour of walking we went back up to my truck and headed back along the dirt road to the blacktop and wherever we were going next - We didn't much care where that was, we had nowhere to go and all day to get there.
On our way to nowhere we made it to somewhere, a river ferry crossing. These things are pretty cool, cable-operated vehicle ferries that run back and forth at various locations along the entire length of the river (which actually runs through three Australian States) and as you can see above, I'm in the truck waiting for the ferry to make its way back to my side.
Here's a picture I took from the other side. As you can see the ferry is a simple thing, a floating platform that one drives onto, and you can see the two cables in front of it that keeps it from drifting. This crossing has two ferries as it's a busy crossing but some only have one.
Once docked snuggly up to the entry/exit ramp the operators raise the boom gate and the vehicles drive off and they usher on the waiting ones before they go back to the other side - A simple process really. These ferries operate twenty four hours a day year-round and are usually the only way to cross the river for many kilometres up or down river so are vital links to keep locals and visitors mobile.
We moved on to the next stage of the journey to nowhere and, as you might possibly guess, actually found somewhere which seemed like a very good place for lunch.
We found a lovely shaded spot with massive river redgum trees lining the river, their creaking and groaning and the rustle of their leaves in the breeze made a nice soundtrack to accompany lunch and while I unpacked it, got everything organised, my girl stretched out in her bikini on a towel laid upon the thick green grass beside the river to catch some sun.
A little while later, lunch was ready and we ate while listening to the sounds of the water lapping at the shore, the birds singing and trees moving. We didn't talk much at first, there was no need, but in the hour or so we were there we chatted a little, commented on how relaxed we felt and how lovely the day was.
After lunch we decided we had one more stop to make on the way home, but we didn't know where that was going to be.
We got back in the truck and made the decision to go whatever way felt right, which was left at the 'T' junction, not right, and managed to find ourselves in a riverside town which, once there, we decided was the final stop before we drove home we'd been seeking. Why? The answer is simple...ice cream.
We wandered around the town, pretty much a single high street with a few side streets running off it up the hill and the river below, and found a few little second-hand and curiosity shops to explore and then the main attraction (ice cream) was purchased and we went beside the river to see what we could see. Above is what we could see, houseboats moored on the opposite bank, along with ski boats and jet-skis plying the waters loudly, and fastly. (Fastly is not a word but I like it so it's staying.)
After a bit, the road trip to nowhere reached its final stage, the drive home, and we saddled up the truck (figuratively speaking) and headed home which took us just over two hours.
We had an awesome day. For us, being away from people is glorious and being with nature is even better - it's uncomplicated and has a way of soothing the soul - and the day was spent largely by ourselves, although the ferry-guy said hello and there were a few people to interact with in the antique and ice cream shops. Generally it was just the two of us though and that's just perfect.
I wonder if you've ever set out without any real clue about your destination, just the idea that you want to be somewhere you've not been before, to have an adventure of sorts and see what you can discover? Feel free to tell me about it, or generally comment below.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
[Original and AI free]
Image(s) in this post are my own
I love this situation of going nowhere and I have done it, not only in the city, finding beautiful places, but also in nature, especially when I go to the mountains because there are many paths and I can change and see where it takes me, I love it! The adventure of seeing what new things I will discover fascinates me.
I'm glad you had such a good time, it's often necessary to clear your mind and think about nothing, to touch nature and to reawaken!
Getting off the rails we like to live our lives upon for comfort of convenience is something I like to do a lot although it's been difficult to find the opportunity for a while...when it arose we jumped at it and had a great time. I figured you'd have done things like this in the past, you seem the type to like a little adventure.
Don't think I've always done it, since I changed I do, I love the adventure that always brings me something new and makes my soul grow. Always looking for a better version!
Change can be good if it's the right change...it helps one live a better life as you say. #bestlife
Exactly, well said! Have a great day... over here to rest.... well in a while haha
Gonna drop by later to give a better comment but I wanted to let you know I randomly found the Rant community keys! LOL
I removed you as an admin for it! Wanted to let you know :D fucking stoked I squirreled them away somewhere I forgot LOL
Haha! I never thought I'd live to see the day those keys would be found. Your system of keeping them was effective, no one could have found them...not even you!
Cheers man, and well done for the find. I assume you've used a different storage system for them this time. 🤔
Hahah yeah it's one of those things where you do extra security layers and then you forget about some of those layers LOL well I uncovered one and was like holy shit there they are. I knew I didn’t entirely forget about them since it’s not my first rodeo but damn.
Yeah I’ve added the keys to my keychain so I at least have two of them but I’m going to improve that process a little bit hahaha
I have mine printed in one of my gun safes...if anyone happened to get into there it would mean I'm already dead and they're welcome to my crypto.
Hahah yeah I’m getting into that more. I wrote down a bunch of things on paper and doing it the old fashioned way. The keys for the rant account were on a drive I forgot I used to get all my files off my old work laptop so that’s why. It was in the right secure location but I thought it had random pictures on it and shit LOL. I never throw things away without looking through them thoroughly but that would’ve sucked.
Going nowhere slowly is something to enjoy, packed picnic in no hurry in finding a peaceful spot to enjoy, sounds like an excellent lunch, with different spots explored. Great day out.
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It surely was a great day out with nice weather, company and food of course...oh, and ice cream. 😁
Break for a day feels like a lot longer when you having a good time.
Sounds like a lovely day! Great lunch too!
Definitely but, as I don't drive a car, these adventures are either on foot or cycling.
Even in a city, I sometimes have the tendency to just follow the streets where the sun is shining ( which was easier said than done but very necessary, in The Netherlands ).
Luckily I have been living in the much sunnier Portugal for over 5 years now ☀️
I do a lot of hiking and in remote wilderness areas and I love the thrill of getting off the tracks, having to rely on my navigational and map reading skills...it's a good way to sharpen them up and I often find places few people ever go. It's very rewarding.
I've heard good things about Portugal and would like to go there, it's on my list. I'll do some wandering for sure.
I love how you spent the day, going out without a map, not knowing where you're going to end up every once in a while is the best plan ever. I for one have had interesting and funny adventures doing what you did. How was the ice cream?? A perfect plan to end a trip without a plan.
Ice cream is always good, although I had to inject a lot of insulin before of course. I don't have it often so it was a nice treat on what was a really nice day all-round.
Happy Australia Day bro; that's right we don't give a fuck if you're Australian or not, today is for everyone. 😊🤣
This is how I like to roll also :)
Can you call that a ferry? I guess so but it is basically a platform with cables?
Yeah, it's not like those big old things you folks have in Europe; we have them here too in places. This is more of a traditional ferry which was basically a boat, often flat bottomed, that went back and forth on a river, often poled by a man...the ferry man.
They still have one of them in hell you know, and one has to pay the ferryman to get to the other side. (Remember that Chris de Burgh song?)
You're right, it's a floating platform with a motor and a few big internal wheels that pull it back and forth on those cables. Simple but effective.
Yes, my mother liked it :)
Simple but if it works and is cheap to run and safe then all good.
Glad you got out and about, taking in new and positive sensory info sounds good to me.
Your picnic content descirption has me ready to chow down on some breakfast now.
Years ago, after a long hours throughout the week, I was able to get off work early on a Friday and had the weekend off. The wife and I decided to get away for the wekeend but had not plan, so we just took off and drove North. After a while we started looking for historical sites on the map, and would stop and visit them. We spent the nights in a hotel, and finally returned on a Sunday. It was a great time, no stress, no plans, just make shit up as we went along.
Hope all has been going well.
After all them MRE's a decent picnic lunch is well deserved, and the least one could expect right? 😋
I like the sound of your wanderings up north man, I've done similar and will again. There's something freeing in it I think, and I think it's a nice way for a person to connect with themselves and others by removing life's structure.
All good here, just getting some, you know? Working hard at life and all. I hope you're well too.
Yeah, anything is a fine meal after MREs. Although the newer ones I hear aren't too bad.
Things are better. Just need to reach down and give my balls a tug a little more lately.
Well,not long trips but whenever I feel like I am alone or feeling down. I just take my headphones on and go outside without any specific destination in my mind.
During that walk, I explore different parts of my university I have never seen before. It is kind of too much fun
Walking is one of the best ways to connect with ones thoughts and feelings and to think things through or simply find some relaxation. I do it a lot.
Nice to hear that.
Do you also like to listen to songs while walking around?
Sometimes I do, it depends on my mood. There's never a day in which I do not listen to music though, it's a huge part of my life.
That's nice
It is a meditation
That is really cool. We used to take trips like this when I was a kid, but we don't do it so much now that I am older. I think if we didn't go camping as much as we do we might take more day trips like this. It looks like you found some really beautiful and relaxing spots!
I'd rather go camping for a longer period but with time constraints due to some stuff that's going on a day trip is the next best thing I guess. We enjoy it and it gives similar feelings of freedom and relaxation.
We usually only go camping for three nights at the most because it is on the weekend and because the tanks in our trailer only hold about three or four nights worth of stuff before we need to dump them.
I’m used to planned outings and most times it’s either your expectations are met or not.. so predictable.
I enjoyed reading how the trip was unintended and spontaneous. Like you said it was just the two of you and it was perfect.
It’ll be nice to cultivate this habit, sometimes you need a drive to no where. Just you, yours and nature.
We mostly live structured lives, it feels safe, comfortable and predictable...but sometimes one needs to step out of the box and do something different, that's what this day trip was about.
Beautiful way to decompress and reset the mind, body and spirit. With the perfect companion and delicious picnic, the only way to top it off is with ice cream lol. Sounds like a superb day!
Ice cream makes any day better, but this particular day was awesome and would have been even without the ice cream. (I had vanilla and macadamia in case you were wondering. Lol)
I love the idea of a journey to somewhere and yours turned in a really cool and refreshing one, it looks :)
On a much smaller scale, there have been times where my girlfriend and I just picked the car and drove for 20-30 minutes towards an almost random destination while looking for a place to explore! It's always so fascinating when you see something unexpected or unusual and you know that that was exactly what you where looking for... somehow!
I like the thought of stumbling into something new or interesting by accident when wandering about like in my post and how you and your girlfriend do it. It's a little adventurous and the unknown can be exciting too.
Yup, I 100% agree: the feeling that comes whenever you find a new quite and less known place is always so nice! And sharing it with someone you love make it even better :) and if at the end of the adventure there's an ice-cream, well, that's gg! ahahah
wow that's awesome the view was quite peaceful and I love the environment.
It was pretty good indeed, a nice day spent wandering about on roads I've not been on before and some nature thrown into the mix.
I've had that with friends, and it was one of the funniest experiences we've had. We just came from a party, and wanted to walk a bit before going home. We ended up going to different restaurants, drinking and hanging out, and having more fun compared to the party we came from. Sometimes, unplanned adventures turn out to be the wackiest experiences.
Life is often so predictable, something we design into it for one reason or another, and I think it's good to colour outside of the lines now and then which is basically what we did on the weekend. It was designed to be unstructured and with a full tank of fuel and all day at our disposal we made the most of our trip to nowhere.
Yeah, that sounds wonderful. A lot of times, the company alone makes even the simplest trip awesome.
it's always fun to plan a trip without a destination. I did it recently after recovering. Can't wait to share the pictures and details of that trip.
It adds an element of adventure and quite often one finds unexpected things right? I'll look out for your post.
Yes. It's the unexpected finds that stands out!
Hi Galen, the truth is that traveling without knowing where the road is going to take me and also finding such beautiful places I have never done it. Only when I travel I usually leave the tourist routes without knowing where my steps take me. I like more to know how people live than to see monuments. As an anecdote, in Venice I saw many things, but I didn't see any gondola. 😂 Best regards
No gondola?! 😵💫🤣
I have been to Venice and saw many, and rode in one too which was a nice experience, if costly. I liked Venice a lot but feel we didn't see enough of it, just the tourist spots. Like you, we like to get to where the locals are, away from the tourist places.
I am like this 🤣, have a great Friday. Best regards
Always (almost) good to just drive a bit, good music on and enjoying the road and whatever you encounter on the way. Just going with the flow is the best. It leaves you flexible to adapt to whatever is out there
I knew you'd get it. Days (or longer) spent like this are the best!
wow this was very spontaneous. I don't think I have ever set out without any real clue about my destination at least on my own. It would have to be like someone taking me somewhere and not telling me and surprising me.
Nice to see that you had a great time with your partner. I can tell from the way that you wrote that you really had an amazing day with nature and free from people for the most part.
We do this from time to time, makes a change from the structure we often apply to ensure we get things done, especially in our working week. It's nice to be aimless sow and then, and we had a great day wandering around going nowhere.
it's good to have a changeup from the daily routine if not life would get kind of boring so I can understand the aimless unplanned idea of just going where it takes you kind of thing. a great day living life to the fullest. life is short. for me im prob more planned in the future i def wanna go travel around to different countries. cant do so now cuz of money but hopefully things will be different in the future!
Yeah me and my husband sometimes wanted to go somewhere and stop on the place unplanned. It was a wonderful experience.
Sometimes the unknown can be more exciting than the known.
exactly, cheers to more exciting unplanned places.
This is very beautiful to read, thank you for taking us along in your journey.
No worries, thanks for your comment.
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