Steppin' out.

Tomorrow, I begin, for real, my travelling career. Sure, it's only up to Cairns, but this is the first time I've ever really travelled anywhere. I mean, I've been to various places in Australia, but somehow, they didn't feel real. I felt like I was being herded to these places by my friends or family. I always knew the people I was travelling with. There was no sense of adventure.

By contrast, tomorrow I am flying to Brisbane. I stay with my family for a very short while, and then I get on a coach to the Sunshine Coast, and from there, 10 or so days backpacker cliches, by myself. Unless of course I find some cool travel buddies. But the point is, I am doing it on my own. My own (non-existent) itinerary. I can't wait. I've bought a 2000km bus pass, which should cover the coastal trip. And then I'll fly back to Brisbane. Although I did want to duck inland for a look at outback Queensland. Not just so I can ogle the cowboys...I'm not sure why exactly. It'll probably be like Wagga, but crappier :)

Not only will tomorrow be the exact Ground Zero of my explosion out of Sydney, it is the birth of my Travel Journal (notice the capitals). This day wasn't supposed to be until March next year, but I realised that I had to take a break from work, otherwise I would definitely go mental. I realised I had to get out now, and make the most of my holidays. Staying for two weeks with my family would not have been a holiday. And now: My Travel Journal.

I promised my workmate Tahli that she would be one of the leads in this first run, and that she could even play herself in the movie that will eventually be made of this Travel Journal. I told her that this Travel Journal will be updated regularly during my Travel Career. Even if I'm hanging from an exceeding high precipice and about to fall to my death. By that stage it's likely I'll have a handsfree voice-operated dictaphone in my pocket. I hope to God Blogger doesn't go bankrupt or get attacked by a secret terrorist organisation of blog-hating hackers. I'll work out a convenient way to back it all up, eventually. So anyway, I now need to write a lead role for Tahli...

Tahli entertained me enormously on the three night shifts we worked together. She's a funny gal. An actor. Should explain a lot. She's just come back from doing Important Things for Important People, and is now back at the Switchboard of a television station. I can only imagine the indescribable joy she must be feeling. She also apologised for not taking my food, which I offer to her repeatedly. She swore that it wasn't me, or my food. It was her, she said. But today, she did munch on my nuts, and also my very special secret recipe of Tahini and Fig Jam and Baker's Delight bread, and also my very special Extra Tasty Vintage Cheese. She liked all of these things, she said.

How's that Tahli? One and a half paragraphs out of five. You've done well, my wordy yes Janelle.

Anyway, I've typed too much. The End.