The great 2-0. I’ve spent two decades alive and it’s a weird feeling. This is a recount of the end of my adolescence. My birthday fell on a Monday this year, so it was a great excuse for a Sunday daytrip; we’ve always liked to go on little trips, it’s just that thing that we do as a family (even when brother isn’t around).
The morning kicked off at 7am (love you too Mum & Dad) and we were off to climb the Thousand Steps. It’s become a weekly ritual for them. I don’t care enough about my body to bother usually. Why exercise when you could be in bed? I surprised myself by climbing at a much quicker pace than usual and decided to run the Belview track once I’m up top. It was an additional 4km but there weren’t many people and I felt at ease jogging amongst the bristling trees. Adolescent me would disapprove. I saw a possum though. 10/10.
After destroying my legs, we drove up to Emerald, a lovely town between Belgrave and Gembrook in the Dandenong Ranges, where I insisted on having brunch at the “General Food Store”. It’s a local favourite using seasonal produce from the local area. It did not disappoint. I ordered “The Inquisition” which consisted of chorizo (which I gave to mother), onions, kipfler potatoes, spinach, chilli jam and I added some slow roasted tomatoes. I died because it was f***ing divine. Next time I go I will be ordering the “Arabesque” (haloumi, poached eggs, beetroot, hazelnut dukkah need I say more? Go there now).
We visited the local Sunday market (first photo below) and bought a variety of plants and shrubs from the local stalls; we also found some really amazing antiques from funky wind chimes to tree ornaments to lovely old decorative clocks for the home. Afterwards, we visited Emerald Lake Park where mother & I found this funky elephant trunk-like tree (second photo below); we watched Puffing Billy dawdle by and we ate cheesecake made specially by mother (so decadent) on the grass because we’re cute.
It felt fitting to me that my last day of adolescence was spent feeling like an innocent child wandering around merrily in the forest without any stress, deadlines or responsibilities.
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