Kendra and Charles woke early and went out to the meetup point for the tour of Byron Bay, Bungalow, and the Gold Coast. The first stop after pickup was the Captain Cook Memorial and Lighthouse, which had been built back in 1971 to commemorate the two-hundredth anniversary of Captain Cook's "Voyage of Discovery" when he sailed around the east coast of Australia.

Their picture was taken with one foot in Queensland and the other in New South Wales, then they took the Walk of Remembrance with the group, reading the plaque with Australia's maritime history on it while enjoying the expansive views of the ocean coast.

The next stop was a place simply called The Farm in Byron Bay, grabbing breakfast and coffee, and watched the livestock go about their day as their tour guide gave them an abbreviated history.

Then it was off to Cape Byron Lighthouse, the most eastern point in all of Australia, casting its shining light over the Bay. They admired the nineteenth-century white tower that had been fully automated since 1989 and went to the Maritime Museum below to learn about shipwrecks and other stories from before the lighthouse's construction.

Byron Bay itself was their lunch stop, wandering the shops and sitting on the beach until it was time to go on to the Wildlife Sanctuary for fifteen minutes to grab macadamia nuts and ice cream before heading over to Bungalow.

It was a small, rural town thirteen kilometers west of Byron Bay with only one street. Despite that, there were plenty of places to stop in and browse or just big enough to simply walk through and experience all of the most interesting buildings in town.

Heading back, their last stop was at Mick Shamburg Park back in the Gold Coast.

"This has been paced and yet a bit of a whirlwind," Charles observed as they walked along the beach. "This is a beautiful place to finish."

"Don't worry, we can revisit a lot of the sights on our way out to Sydney tomorrow." Kendra smiled. "This is a popular park. Fun for the whole family and plenty of bookings year-round for weddings too."

"I can see why with the sweeping view of the coast and plenty of greenery. Did you come here a lot growing up?"

"We rotated where we went on holidays, but usually got over here once a year. Used to have barbies and sunbathe and play with my cousins. Exmouth was our other favorite vacation spot. It's still one of mine."

"That's the place you simulated in the Danger Room, correct?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Wish we could get out there, but that's not feasible this trip."

"There is always next year."

"True." She smiled as they rejoined the part of the group going back to Brisbane.

Once they arrived, they grabbed a quick dinner and then retired for the night.


In the morning, they packed up the Jeep they had rented and left after breakfast at nine in the morning. They drove for an hour and paused along the Gold Coast, stretching their legs and seeing some familiar sights before continuing to Byron Bay to do the same there more intimately.

Angourie was their next stop, a new place for Charles, so they stayed a little while and Kendra took him on the Yuraygir Coastal Walk before they headed back towards where they had parked and stopped at a local cafe for lunch.

Because they had taken their time, it was eight at night by the time they arrived at the hotel in Coffs Harbor they had made a reservation. They took advantage of the fact that it had a restaurant nearby and had dinner there.

Getting up early again, they partook in the free continental breakfast, checked out, and were back on the road by seven. Port Macquarie was their first stop, stretching their legs at the museum there before heading onward to Forster and getting lunch there before enjoying a stroll through the mall.

"That's a lovely yellow dress." Charles commented as they passed one of the clothing stores.

"Then I better get it." Kendra laughed and ran in, buying matching accessories as well before they got back in their jeep and drove to Newcastle. They browsed the local shops for about an hour and then completed their road trip to Sydney and arrived at their hotel that evening.

They got cleaned up quickly and met her parents at one of the family's favorite restaurants in the area.

"Kendra, you are positively radiant." Her foster mother Cora beamed, hugging her. "Yellow is such a good color on you."

"Thanks, Mom. Charles picked it out."

"Looks like he has good taste." Her foster father Shane shook Charles's hand. "Pleasure to see you again."

"Thank you, I feel the same."

Kendra noticed her man trying not to flinch. "Dad, you don't have to crush his hand."

"Anything for you, ankle biter." Shane came over and hugged her. "I know you aren't harmless."

"Gee thanks."

Cora giggled behind a hand. "Looks like our table is ready, shall we go sit?"

They followed their waiter to a circular table by a window with a great view of the coastline.

"Anything to drink?"

"Anyone have preferences?" Shane glanced at Kendra and Charles.

"We took a cab, so no."

"That's my girl." He flashed a grin. "What wine would you recommend for our reunion celebration?"

"We have a 1989 Brokenwood white wine, which as you know is made locally."

"Two bottles of that to start, please."

"A fine choice, sir. Any appetizers to start you off with as well or do you need a few minutes?"

He glanced at the couple. "Any allergies?"

"No. Whatever you want is fine." Charles smiled.

"Let's have your emu fritters then."

The man nodded and left them to look over the main course. He returned with their wine a few minutes later. "Are you ready to order?"

"Yes. I will have your kangaroo steak, medium-rare with everything on it, fully-loaded chips, and jalapeno poppers"

"My husband the carnivore." Cora chuckled. "I want your swordfish platter, please."

"I would like your seafood bowl." Kendra added.

"I'll have the same."

"All excellent choices." The waiter took away their menus and returned with their appetizer, which they shared until the rest of their food arrived.