Despite all the discomforts and shortcomings of the lifestyle, I rather enjoyed being a digital hobo. So much so, in fact, that I had committed to it pretty seriously by purchasing a full-on camper trailer from Rhinomax. Well, not instantly. Between November 2019 and February 2020, when the trailer was due to be buit, there had been a number of weeks in waiting, full of various events, both exciting and dramatic. However, most of them are not supposed to be a part of this narrative, so I'm leaving them aside. Let's cut to mid-February instead, where I'm leaving Sydney once again and heading off to Sunshine Coast to finally pick up my new home on wheels.

Finally, the bushfire season and draught is over.

It feels so good to be on the road again, after such a long break. I do love Sydney with all my heart; but the great beyond outside the city limits is still so enticing and full of all kinds of beauty. Especially when the road takes you across the Great Dividing Range and into New England: a very picturesque and a very undulating region of New South Wales, not to be confused with its American counterpart. (Funny how, once again, everything is upside down here in Aus: “England” is a part of “Wales” and not the other way around.)

As the road climbs up and down (but mostly up), the afternoon wanes, and the temperature plummets, it gets colder and colder outside the car, and soon the sunlight turns into drizzle, and then into thick fog. I stop every now and then to take a picture or two, because the surrounding scenery is just too irresistible. I do, however, have to wipe up my lens every few seconds, because the drizzle is still very much present. (Professional tip: if it's rainy, just use your lens hood, and if you don't have one, get it already!)

This pool looks a bit like an eye, doesn't it?

So moody.

Lots of trees and lots of lines!

Time for some fog now.

The weather is very much different, of course, up in Sunshine Coast when I get there. Contrary to the name, it's not very sunny during my four-day stay there; clouds and rains and oppressive humidity reign at this time of the year. At least it's very warm; but still, good time to be indoors! Which is where I am, in fact: spending most of my working week at a very hospitable house with a very hospitable couple as my AirBnB hosts. They don't even mind me walking around the house topless (I asked). Totally deserves a 5-star review.

And, finally, on February 27th, the time has come! Here I am, at the Rhinomax HQ, picking up my trailer. It is every bit as awesome as I expected, and then some. However, every silver cloud has its black lining, and when I arrive to Brisbane to buy some necessities for my new home, I don't pay proper attention to the height limit at the IKEA's parking lot and smash one of my brand-new solar panels on the roof, which immediately sets me $500 back in repairs. (In my defence, I had not towed anything in my life prior to that day.)

My new home.

Ain't it pretty?

Still, even that cannot dampen my enthusiasm. After five months (and a few short breaks) of sleeping in a car and working in an awning tent, this little camper feels like Ali Baba palace, conjured into existence by the good ol' Rhinomax and a couple of very brutal bank loans that I had to take in order to obtain it. For my first outing in this glorious mansion on wheels, I pick a place called Lake Leslie; just outside the town called Warwick in southern Queensland, this region does indeed (luckily) have a lake, and (fortunately) a set of facilities, including toilets and showers... and (unfortunately) a fair share of campers eager to use all that. Good thing that the campgrounds are quite spacious, and there's plenty of room for everyone and everything. Including the glorious sunsets.

Clouds are gathering.

Quite a few of them!

Looks promising.

I'm definitely liking this.

The main action begins right after the sun sets.

Pretty clouds, pretty log.

The day after: cloudstars!

A sunset in blue.

A sunset in purple.

Days go by rather uneventfully once I set up my camp. Weekend brings more noisy campers with kids (and, unfortunately, I lose my temper once and yell at two of them when they dare to disturb my solitude), but otherwise, the place is quite lovely. Kangaroos and lizards are much better neighbours than people; sunsets are still beautiful and varied; and my new home is still pretty awesome and comfortable (again, my standards of comfort by this time are pretty low). Phone signal is strong, too, which gives me great opportunity to work without much interruption.

A family of locals.

Must be the dad. Quite a fighter, judging by his ear.

Another local.

Quite a climber!

A pretty flower.

Comes in clumps.

It might get wet.

What??

Layers of a sunset.

Quite a few of them!

The swirls and the ripples.

Pillars in the water.

By the end of the week, however, I am faced with a choice: what's next? Two alternatives seem to be the most interesting so far: to go to South Australia, and from there to the very west of the continent; or to go back to New South Wales and spend some camping time with Maisie and then go to SA. After some consideration, the latter option wins, and we decide to go camping somewhere near Sydney a month later, and in the meantime I'll be gradually moving back into NSW. Which is what exactly what I do this very Sunday, which is March 7th. New South Wales, here I come again!