There was only one week left for the Path in 2022 when I returned from my epic road trip in Victoria. We decided to make the most of our family time together. First stop: Symbio Wildlife Park where my wildlife cup ran over! We saw a frisky Tasmanian Devil, resting koalas, hungry kangaroos, sleeping crocodiles, some caged and some free birds, an echidna in an enclosure this time, a pecking emu, two dingoes who reminded me of my dog Arya, and many lizards.
I abbreviated my third and final trip to Canberra to one day of activities, to maximise my time with Jon, Angela and Evie who were by then quite settled into their townhouse apartment and lifestyle. However there weren’t any trains running that weekend, which meant I spent an extra night in the Hurstville church’s guest house, Baringa, which I have known since the original owner’s widow lived there when I was a young child. Before Angela’s sister Carolyn gave me a lift to Baringa, she and their parents Owen and Margaret Heldon came over for a farewell lunch and visit in a nearby playground.
I had two more ministry events left. The NCIA Virtual Retreat began, for which I had submitted a proposal to repeat my “Feminine Swedenborgian Spirituality” talk. My offer wasn’t taken up, so the sessions were all given by the male members of the NCIA clergy. In the end I only attended one session, which was amazing! Check out the Hurstville New Church YouTube channel’s “Live” video about aliens. In Canberra, I lead worship with the church group before a farewell lunch, and finished up our “Journey” spiritual growth program in the afternoon. My friend Jen from Gosford (see “Travel in NSW and SA”) joined us on Zoom for both. Before heading back I caught up with my cousin Jeff Brock’s widow Michelle and her partner Ken. Michelle been saving kangaroos during bushfires last time I saw her, in 2020. She gave me Jeff’s Academy of the New Church yearbook from 1964. Surreal to be seeing high school photos of older people I know in Bryn Athyn, while sitting in Canberra, in a very different context.
Another surreal occurrence was seeing Lake George when driving to and from Canberra all three times. Surreal because every time previously in my life that I’ve been along the Federal Highway, “Lake George” was just a flat grassy plain with no water in sight. But with the rainfall and flooding, Lake George had finally appeared and seemed to want to stay awhile.
Before returning to Woonona, where Jon and Angela now live with a view of the beach from their apartment, I farewelled the ever hospitable Murray and Lori Heldon over breakfast at their lovely home. With all these farewell meals, it was beginning to sink in that I was really going to be leaving, and Jon’s family wouldn’t be coming with me. But my path in 2022/2023 ended with us filling our final two days with a few adventures! First, south to North Woolongong, where Jon has joined an early morning breathwork group. We visited the two lighthouses, from 1870s and 1930s, saw the rockpool area where Jon’s group meets, looked at the boats in the historic Woolongong Harbour, and of course played in a park (AKA playground) on the lovely esplanade along the beach.
For my last day, we headed north for breakfast at Sydneys’ first communal motorbike workshop and restaurant combo for city dwellers. Angela’s cousin-in-law is one of the owners of The Rising Sun Workshop, where the ramen menu is outstanding. From there we took one of the famous Sydney Harbour ferries, to the Taronga Park Zoo wharf. Evie was enthralled by her first ever ferry ride on the dazzling Sydney Harbour. We somehow walked past the world-renowned zoo, and instead took the Bradleys Head Walk. Growing up, my family had come several times to Bradleys Head on Sydney Harbour for swimming and picnics, and I’d just been there for New Years Eve. Very different to be there again without the crowds, and in daylight! We swam at gentle Athol Beach, marvelled at the views of the harbour and the wildlife around us, and then swam and climbed on the rocks at Bradleys Head. Then off to the historic “Rocks” district of Sydney for an early dinner (we debated linner? dunch?), and then home in time for me to pack for my long flights to the USA the next day.
Big hugs, group family hug and tears as I somehow said goodbye to my dear family at the airport. I knew they’re in the loving care of the Divine, and that they were now settled in their new life, and I would be seeing them again in six months. The separation isn’t easy, but it guarantees more Walking the Path in the future! As always, I had to confront the reality in my life of having two homelands, Australia and the USA, as the familiar beaches and towns of Botany Bay and the Australian coastline disappeared under the aeroplane’s wings. Thanks for Walking the Path with Ros in 2022/2023, and look for the next bend in the path in 2024.
