The second half of 2026 has officially begun, and this week I decided to stop working after Friday for a while. I have the feeling that I’m not moving forward if I keep staying in Sydney. The plan is to extend my visa, and to do that I need to work in a regional area. Work in Sydney doesn’t count, so I’ve decided to head to Adelaide.
July 1st starts, as normal, just another workday. It a pleasant feeling knowing these are my last few working days of the week. In the evening I have dinner with Izzy. We talk about the tougher days I’ve been having, but also about her life and what it was like when she returned home after her own travels. She told me how strange it can feel to be back because your perception of life has changed. I’ve already noticed that my own perspective has shifted since I decided to go back to the Netherlands for a few weeks. It’s valuable that I can share these thoughts with her, and we have a lovely catch-up. Once again, I realize how special it is when people choose to spend their time with me. I’ll always be grateful for that. My head is pretty full at the moment, with all kinds of mixed emotions. Oh oh… I grow. Growth is part of development, and growth almost always comes with some pain.
Thursday means putting on the gumboots and drilling holes into the ground for a steel structure. After work I head to my piano lesson for a bit of balance. Friday is my final day at work, so a nice half a roast chicken as a treat, followed by carrying stones, cleaning up, and then that chapter comes to an end. I wrap up the work in Sydney. That evening I take myself out to a comedy night. I keep it relaxed and simply enjoy the feeling that my holiday has begun.
On Saturday morning it’s also my final Coffee Quiz Club because I’m leaving Sydney. Saying goodbye doesn’t actually feel like I’ll never see these people again. That’s a special feeling. Sometimes you know you’ll never return to a place, while other places just give you the feeling that one day you’ll be back. That’s exactly how I feel about Coffee Wharf in Cremorne, Sydney. I will be back there.
I’ve planned a quiet weekend, and from Tuesday onwards I’ve booked another Van for a few days on the road. I guess I’m escaping for a bit… and yes, I know I’m taking myself with me. During the weekend I do some laundry, go for a short walk with Chiara, eat a cookie in Manly, and share a few laughs. Some of you readers may have noticed there hasn’t been much romance lately, and you’re right. Romance has hit a bit of a winter dip, and my own inner flame has been burning a little lower too, even though I do still spend time with women. Thankfully I know these phases are simply part of life, and looking at the bigger picture, I really have nothing to complain about. A little less romance for now, it’ll find its balance again. No need to overanalyze it. Just let it be. On Monday I finish a few last things before leaving and go for one final peaceful morning walk along the coast.
Tuesday I collect my Van. It’s an absolute beast of a vehicle, and I immediately cover a lot of kilometres heading towards Port Macquarie. I’ve arranged to meet James there, an old colleague from Workiva. Once again it feels like confirmation that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. He had actually messaged me the week before, and coincidentally I was already planning to drive north from Sydney with his hometown right along my route. One of those meetings that simply crosses your path. A little ‘stars aligned’ moment. We catch up about his years in the Netherlands and his move back to Australia, where he grew up. He now works for a Dutch legal start-up. I really believe in the power of networking, relationships, spending time with people, and helping wherever I can, so I gladly invest my time in moments like this. Networking is genuinely one of my strengths. It’s good to reconnect. And just to be clear… I’m still travelling, so I’m definitely not applying for a job. James has his daddy duties to attend to, so after our catch-up I continue my drive further north and park the Van for my first night.
The next morning it’s a bit chilly, but that doesn’t stop me from walking along Sandy Beach. Then I continue towards Yamba, a lovely little town where I enjoy the weekly Wednesday farmers market. It’s nice and busy, partly because of the school holidays, and I treat myself to some delicious food from the farmers’ market. Afterwards I continue to Byron Bay.
Byron Bay immediately feels like one of those places everyone has heard about. Ever since the 1970s it has attracted surfers and hippies, but these days it has become much more popular and sophisticated among luxury. It has a trendy centre and, even in winter, there’s still a little bit of magic in the air of what I can feel. I spoil myself by having dinner at a nicer restaurant, something I haven’t done for quite a while. I chat with a Dutch girl working in the UGG store, wander around town in the evening, and watch a rugby match in a packed pub. The next morning I wake up to sunshine, go for a walk along the beach, and even take a swim in the ocean. Around 20 degrees, in the middle of winter! Afterwards I visit another farmers’ market before continuing towards Brisbane to return my Van and pick up another one.
It’s a long travel day after my little Byron Bay break. I wake up on Friday morning in Valla Beach and take another peaceful walk along the shore, letting all my thoughts move with the waves. There’s something incredibly calming about staring at the endless ocean. Afterwards I drive to Nambucca Heads for another swim. These coastal views never get old. Looking out over the endless horizon always brings me at peace. A healthy dose of Vitamin D, saltwater, and magnesium.
A few hundred more kilometres go by, once again surrounded by Australia’s endlessness. Friday evening I park near the Blue Mountains, close to Sydney. I feel absolutely no urge to return to city life; I much prefer nature now. As for sleeping in the Van… I honestly keep it simple. I usually just find a parking spot somewhere, climb into the back, and make myself comfortable to snuggle and sleep. Sure, I could stay at caravan parks with electricity, bookings, schedules and all the hassle that comes with it. For many people my way probably seems primitive, but fortunately I’m quite used to it.
The following morning I head out for a hike. Although I realise I’m not experiencing anything particularly spectacular, I am still exploring, making choices, and moving forward. It’s all part of growth. Just like every year has its seasons, winter means trees lose their leaves. It’s colder, emptier, quieter, but it’s still growth. Maybe that’s another way of looking at life. It comforts me to remember that this is simply part of the process.
After the hike and incredible views over the Blue Mountains, beautifully covered by a blanket of clouds filling the valleys, it’s time for the big crossing the country: from Sydney to Adelaide. Straight through the heart of Australia. Around 1,500 kilometres.
The further inland I drive, the more amazed I become by the tiny towns scattered across these enormous empty plains. The sheer emptiness and space is hard to comprehend. Sometimes I genuinely find myself staring in disbelief at these little towns that look like they belong in old movies. It’s Saturday, and there is absolutely nothing happening. Well… there’s always a pub, a church, something that looks like a supermarket, and if you’re lucky, a memorial hall and a children playground. Looking at the houses and streets, I keep thinking: people do actually live here. It’s a strange realisation that I share the same planet with people living in places like this. Completely remote. Completely quiet. Almost nothing going on.
I decide to stop in Hay, a “well-known” stop between Sydney and Adelaide. Here there’s one slightly longer street with a few more shops, and on Saturday evening the pub is full. I’m fascinated by everything I see. A 70th birthday celebration, young families, older families, and young boys and girls spending their Saturday night wearing cowboy boots, hats, leather vests and work trousers. For two hours I simply sit there observing everything around me. So far away. So different. So simple. So fascinating. Is it the highlight of the emptiness, or the lowpoint or the emptypoint? No, I choose to see it positively. This is life too. It’s no different from a tourist ending up in a small Dutch village on a Saturday evening. After finishing my rump steak I continue driving to Manangatang another place that looks straight out of a cowboy, outback movie. I spend the night there in complete silence, and when I wake up it’s still another five hours to Adelaide.
When I finally arrive back in Adelaide after those five hours, it feels surreal to realise just how much I’ve experienced since starting my Australian chapter here back in March. What an incredible period, and what a journey of personal growth. It’s comforting to have that thought after spending endless hours driving through absolute nothingness on my own. The many thoughts during those drives were definitely confronting. Absolutely. But ultimately I know I’m growing from all of this, and I believe everything will work out.
I’ve decided to stick to my original plan or at least give it a genuine chance. Work in Adelaide to complete the regional days I need for my visa. That’s the mindset I arrive with. To celebrate the end of the drive, I treat myself to a delicious pita gyros. Afterwards I take a walk along the beach. It’s cold, windy and raining. Winter. I FaceTime my parents, who are on their cycling trip in Paris. Unfortunately they had to end the trip earlier than planned because my mum got injured. Everything is under control, but it’s still disappointing. Even from the other side of the world I can feel that. The thought of going home earlier definitely crosses my mind. As I’m writing this, I notice my thoughts constantly moving back and forth. Right now… I simply don’t know. Everything feels a little flat and numb at the moment.
An early night follows, my final evening in the Van, parked by the beach. On Monday morning it’s time to make some decisions because I have to return the Van. I decide to start with a week in a hostel. I meet Cameron for lunch who I know from Thailand and leave some belongings with him, including my keyboard. Once I arrive at the hostel, I realise I need to slow down after such a busy week of driving and constantly changing locations. I’m tired, and this isn’t the moment to make rushed decisions. The answer will come with time and in silence, so that’s what I’m giving myself first.
If I’m completely honest, I genuinely don’t know how things are going to unfold, so I’m keeping my options open. I walk around town looking for work, asking people in person and calling recruitment agencies, but without much success. It’s winter, so everything moves a little slower. Naturally, that raises questions and doubts. Every now and then I catch myself overthinking, questioning everything. I keep going out, asking around, making phone calls. Some moments I feel calm; other moments I feel restless. It’s all part of the learning process. Every possible scenario runs through my mind. Do I still really want this? Would it be better to go home first? Or do I simply need to give it more time?
For now, I’ve decided to give this week a fair chance before making another decision…
Every writer—and every reader—loves an open ending.
To be continued…
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