Finding something new
Harry grew up in South Australia and had devoted his life to playing Aussie rules football. A serious knee injury brought his sporting career to an unexpected end. But, life would move on.
“I like to think of my injury as the best thing that could've happened because it gave me an opportunity to find out what really excites me, spend time having a crack and exploring the world.”
The turning point is quite ironic. Coming from a small town, Harry had always craved city life. He found himself happily booked up with work as an air conditioning mechanic, but inevitably missed the outdoors and slower pace to how things were back home. With everything he needed to escape and reconnect with that feeling, Harry hopped into a Ford Ranger, fully equipped with everything needed to get out there, and set off to North Stradbroke Island.
Getting back to your roots
You never quite know what you’ll find when you head outside, but sometimes the best thing you can find is a chance to reset. Arriving somewhere like North Straddie is enough to feel that begin. Harry started with the stunning North Gorge Walk. The trails skirt the coast of Stradbroke and offer incredible views across the Pacific. The mix of wildlife and vegetation is striking, especially when you're used to living in a city. It’s a place where people from all over the world come to appreciate the natural environment.
“I really enjoy seeing the mix of people from all over the world, taking time out of their day to appreciate what a lot of us are lucky enough to live amongst.”
Another highlight on the island that shouldn’t be missed is Cylinder Beach. One of the island’s most accessible beaches, with a short walk of just 20m from the car park, finds your feet in soft sand that stretches as far as the eye can see. Another reminder that adventure doesn’t always have to be difficult to reach.
Making camp feel like home
Harry enjoyed the slower pace of hanging around camp and prepping breakfast. Nothing beats a sausage and egg muffin, prepared in the open air on the Dometic 2 Cook Turbo stove. Camping with just the bare essentials isn’t roughing it for the sake of it. More so, it is stripping things back to the minimum needed to have a comfortable base from which to slow down.
“It was also great to challenge my traditional camp cooking arsenal with some of the dishes I whipped up. The Tandoori chicken naan and the quickie laksa were unreal.”
And the easier it is to establish camp when living on the road, the sooner you can properly unwind. The Dometic Pico 2x2 inflatable Swag sets up effortlessly, so after being on the go all day, there is little fuss about where you’ll be putting your head down in the evening. Alongside the essentials are some pleasures that only taste better outdoors.
“I used the Dometic Recon soft cooler for my beers, filling it with ice on Friday morning and lasting til I was back in Brisbane Sunday arvo.”
The things that bring you back
There was still time for a slow morning at camp before packing down and making the most of one more day. For Harry, not every moment outdoors needs to be filled with something active to do. Sometimes it’s just about having the time to unwind and clear your head, with journaling, studying French and simply sitting back to enjoy the surroundings.
“Life moves so quickly, it's been 10 years since I finished school. It's easy to feel like I am growing up too fast. Being outdoors brings so much nostalgia that reminds me that there is always an opportunity to slow down and remember where I came from.”
Perhaps that is what Harry was looking for all along. Not another thing to fill the day, but the time to simply stop and enjoy where he was for a short while.
