And Then and Then and Then...

Got lost walking to Maroubra. Ended up at Clovelly Beach. Absolutely gorgeous view.

I paid for the detour, as I didn't make it to Maroubra Junction in time to use a library computer for directions to my couch for the night. Very low on cash at this point so, I bought some cheap avocados and lebanese bread at the grocery store. Avocados were rock hard, but I managed to peel one of them tiny bits at a time with my teeth. Supplemented with a half-eaten burger left on a picnic table in the park. Walked down to Maroubra Beach and found a playground structure shaped like a boat. Hunkered down in the hull for a long, cold night.

In the morning I went back to the library and did some sudoku and took photos of birds while I waited for it open. Got myself a library card. Made contact with Benny, of the shop of a thousand couchsurfers. Wandered about Maroubra some more. Showed up at Benny's around 4:30. Benny gives me a big hug and a tour of the place, which is located in a run down strip mall. Looks like a vacant shop from the outside. Inside it looks like a cross between a used sporting goods store, the fight club house, and an orphanage/hostel/commercial kitchen/auto garage. There are currently 4 other couchsurfers in residence, 3 French guys and an American girl, all traveling together. I take a shower and do some dishes, which were threatening to spill out of the sink when I got there.

Over the next 3 days, I make myself useful by cooking a few meals, trying to keep up with the dishes, and photographing hand-painted wood souvenirs Benny wants to sell on ebay. Another Frenchie named Maele shows up and spends most of the time cleaning up her van and printing up flyers to sell it. Xin, from Germany, rounds out the group and we make dinner with Max and Maele. We watch Pet Detective 2 and drink a bottle of Penfolds.

I leave on Friday, July 8th. Once again, I have no idea where I'm going next. My only goal is North, away from the clutches of the big city. I come to a crossroads and decide to a roll a die. 1 or 2, I walk to a Hungry Jacks (the Aussie version Burger King) a half a block away, drink coffee and hope to run into someone who will give me a ride out of Sydney. 3 or 4, I head towards the suburb of Newtown, where I hung out at a pub the previous night, and attempt to find lodging with strangers at same pub. 5 or 6 and I hoof it straight downtown and try to hitch hike till someone picks me up. I roll a 5. It's go time.