Year 2, Week 1 - Rodeo Time

Well, we’ve officially kicked off Year 2 of our big lap — and while it hasn’t been all go-go-go, it’s been a good reminder that not every week has to be wild and adventurous to be worth writing about.

Right now, we’re parked up in Dicky Beach on the Sunshine Coast, soaking up a few slower weeks while we get some work done and give the bank account a bit of love. Honestly, if you’re going to stop somewhere to knuckle down, Dicky Beach isn’t a bad place to do it. I dragged myself out of bed early one morning and was instantly rewarded with a stunning sunrise walk along the beach. Absolute natural serotonin.

Dicky Beach at Sunrise

And speaking of good vibes — I quite literally sniffed out something special… the Dicky Beach dog park. Let’s just say it’s a mood-lifter on four legs. If you need a reason to smile, just go sit there for a few minutes. Instant joy.

Too Good to Go — and Too Tasty!

This week we’ve also been using a new app called Too Good to Go — it connects people with cafes, bakeries, and restaurants offering up leftover food at the end of the day for a bargain price. The idea is to reduce waste and help local businesses, and we’re all for it.

Lucky for us, the café across the road is on the app and we’ve scored two “surprise bags” this week. One bag came packed with a full loaf of bread and three savoury pastries. The next? Three massive, delicious sweet pastries. Not bad for $4.99 a pop — though maybe not so great for the waistline...

We also grabbed a Bakers Delight bag for $9.99 before the weekend, which was quickly demolished by our friends' kids. Perfect for snacks, and not a crumb left by Sunday.

A Luxury Weekend & Our First Rodeo

This weekend, we swapped the van life for a little bit of luxury — a stay at the Sandstone Point Holiday Resort with our good friends. Our overwater villa was absolutely beautiful and made for a dreamy weekend away. If you’re after a relaxed and comfy getaway, these villas are spot on.

The main reason for our stay was the Sandstone Point Rodeo — our very first rodeo, and it didn’t disappoint one bit. The venue was fantastic, the facilities were well set up, and the atmosphere was buzzing.

But before the event, we received some sad news — Rachael’s stepdad, Richard, passed away in the UK. It was a really tough moment, and definitely shifted the mood for both of us. We’re so grateful we were surrounded by friends when it happened — it really helped to have that support around us. We knew Richard would have wanted us to enjoy the weekend, and we carried that with us as we headed to the rodeo.

We soaked up every moment — the bull riding, the bronc riding, the sheer skill and chaos of it all. We’re hooked now, and can’t wait to get out to the real outback and see more rodeos in the heart of Australia.

Wrapping Up the Week

We ended the week with a quiet Sunday, cleaning up the van, catching up on chores, and enjoying a cuppa with a friend in the afternoon. The weather’s definitely taken a turn — cold, drizzly days have crept in and yes... we even had the heater on last night!

This coming week might be a bit quieter, but you never know — there’s always something waiting around the corner.

Hit the road 🎵 — we’ve got places to be. – R&R