Side Quest
Pit-stops, Raygun and the self-proclaimed mayor of Bangalow.
“Drive safe xx,” was the accompanying note to the above meme. I burst out laughing.
I opened James’ message somewhere near the Mid North Coast regional town of Tea Gardens, in the thick of one such side quest. In fact, I was En route to Byron Bay, having agreed to drive and drop off friend’s family wagon (with a touch more tech than my beat-up Honda Accord), to their new place in Bangalow.
If nothing else, Bangalow would be a stunning setting to fire off a few more applications, or perhaps the town would moeve at a slow enough pace to let some latent ideas develop. Either way, I have grown to love the area over the last couple of years, so was thrilled to get behind the wheel and high-tail it to the Hinterland.
After stops in Gundagai (home of the Tuckerbox, the dog that sits atop it, and the Family Pub where families walk through the pokies to get to the main restaurant) and in Yass on the first day, most of the drive awaited on day two. Fuelled by a pit-stop at Trappers Bakery in Goulburn however, ten hours in cruise control was a cinch.
Travelling with the old man in tow, we had planned on playing some golf on the way up; we’d even dared to book a round at Bonville in Coffs Harbour. A forecast 80ml put paid to that idea, and with more predicted throughout the week, we decided against even packing the sticks.
Without golf clubs in the boot, I packed something that is even more foreign to me than a second shot from the fairway; my housemate’s Canon Mark iii – determined to fumble my way through some beginner photography in a remarkable setting.
As it relates to being bad (or at least new) to something, Sarah Berry wrote of Australia’s own Raygun, that “there is glory to be had in being bad, but still having a crack.”
Bad is relative, of course, especially when talking about an Olympian, but Berry’s commentary was broader. With Raygun her muse, Berry references organisational psychologist, Adam Grant, to explain the liberation that comes with learning a new skill, wrestling frustration and feeling an incremental increase in passion and progress.
Indeed, as I have trawled videos explaining the exposure triangle, fiddled with focus and resisted the crutch of auto mode, I have felt those two P’s grow in tandem, and more importantly relate to Raygun’s dignified summation:
“I just want to do something artistic and creative.”
Beyond the lens, there have been some cracking characters in this side quest, too. Starting with Hock from three doors down, who is the self-proclaimed mayor of Bangalow.
Having lived in the town his whole life, Hock was quick to invite us to the pub for raffle night. Full of local knowledge, he gave us the inside word on Happy Hour too, but cautioned – firmly out the side of his mouth – that he’ll only have a schooner if the sun is out...
He then dropped off mail addressed to the previous owner; the smart money suggesting the old post was just Hock’s tried and tested excuse for a chat.
Colin next door is always closely followed by Skylar, his Maremma sheepdog.
Skylar tends to herald Colin's arrival – the naturally protective instinct meaning that people, cars and cows all catch her attention. I’m not sure if dad carrying an armful of groceries posed a real threat, but Skylar had to ensure no harm was meant before allowing Colin to explain the risk of the river breaking its banks in this recent downpour.
As it stands, Colin was right and despite persistent warnings, a flood is yet to manifest. That seems like something worth celebrating, and with one more night left on this side-quest, perhaps a Happy Hour with Hock is the way to do it.