I was convinced it was time to travel again when I got a bad
case of itchy feet… turned out I had tinea. But this wasn’t going to get in the
way of my urge to get out and explore the wild blue yonder. My ultimate destination had to fit a certain
criteria: my budget was modest and my time-off was limited. However being solo and having a sense of
adventure were big advantages.
My desire was to get off the beaten track and go to a place
that many had never been. I’ve done the
resorts, tropical islands and major cities. This time I wanted to feel fresh
air and sunshine on my face as I ventured into the great outdoors. As I researched my options on the interwebs I
kept coming to the same realisation. The following day I was off, that’s how
fast I was able to plan, purchase and pack for my next holiday, and the subject
of this, my first ever travel article.
My email was set to vacation-mode, I
put a handful of food in the dogs bowl and topped up her water then hung a load
of washing on the line. Time to hit the road! And that’s exactly what I did. My backpack was so unexpectedly
light I lost my balance, tripped and fell into the gutter as I left the
house. It wasn't enough to put me off
because I was on my way. On my way Up-the-Road!
Up-the-Road was everything I expected. It was nearby and had a charming sense of
familiarity. Only metres in I was already feeling good about the lunch I’d made
myself; apparently there are no shops up this particular road. This was also good because it meant I
wouldn’t overspend on souvenirs and weigh myself down on the trip back home later
on.
Weatherwise it was fairly predictable, just like home. What
I didn’t anticipate were the people I’d meet and get to know in such a short
time; people who I’d later Facebook and share my holiday snaps with. It’s one thing to know your neighbours, but
getting to know the folks from Up-the-Road provided me with memories I shall
cherish forever.
Picture a suburban tree lined street situated on the fringe
of an estate, lined with beautiful natural bushland that would soon be shaved
to make room for more suburbia. I was walking past places that would soon
disappear forever. It was simply magic! I madly clicked away with my digital
camera, recording and capturing the history and grandeur of this place so that
one day my children’s children would know what Up-the-Road once looked like.
With the Aussie dollar doing so well against the greenback
it was a bit of a shame that Up-the-Road didn’t accept $US or American Express
travellers cheques. As I went by a brand
new home Up-the-Road I was tempted to browse the wares at a garage sale that
had pieces from days gone by in a home up a previous road. I resisted the urge to haggle like I was in
an exotic emporium or beach side markets. Continuing my way Up-the-Road, I began scoping for a place
to sit and consume my packed lunch. I
soon found a tree on council property and sat myself in the shade under its green,
leafy canopy. Straight away I was reminded of the Left Bank in Paris as I
realised I’d seated myself in dog droppings.
After gratefully accepting a fistful of baby wipes from a
sympathetic mother walking her child Up-the-Road in a pram, I realised that the
day was nearing its end. I turned my
back to the warm glow of the sunset, crossing to the other side of the street
so as to give myself a chance to view the other side of Up-the-Road on my way
home. That’s the beauty of this place, both sides of the street are always
sunny here. Up-the-Road has a simplistic kind of symmetry to it in that way.
I couldn’t wait to tell everyone back at work about my time
Up-the-Road (I'm a sole-trader). Upon my arrival back home, as I pushed the key in my front door, I
smiled, and turned to reflect on my travels.
No one can truly say they are well-travelled until they’ve journeyed
Up-the-Road.
