Australian Sojourn – April-May 2026

Part 9: Last Days in Australia

It’s been well over a month since my return to the U.S. from my Australian sojourn of April-May. High time, then, to conclude my series documenting my time in the Great South Land. (NOTE: To start at the beginning of this series, click here.)

After spending two-and-a-half days visiting Mum and my brother and his family in Guruk (Port Macquarie), I returned to my friends Mike and Bernie’s place in Gulmarrad. I’m very fortunate to now be possession of Mum’s car (as she’s no longer driving), and extra fortunate to have Mike and Bernie be willing to take care of it while I’m in the U.S. Of course, how much longer I’ll be in the States is a question I continue to ponder.

Above: The McFarlane Bridge in nearby Maclean. This historic bridge opened in 1906 over the South Arm of the Clarence River, providing access between Maclean and Woodford Island. It last opened to allow boats through in 1962.

Above: A view of Maclean with St Mary’s Catholic Church at right.

Above: Gulmarrad sunset – Thursday, May 7, 2026.

Above and left: Early on Sunday, May 10, Bernie drove me to the Grafton railway station where I caught the southbound XPT to Sydney.

Above: My reading material on my 10-hour train trip from Grafton to Sydney.

Last June when I was in Australia, my nephew Brendan, who was visiting from the U.K., shared with me that his favorite novel is The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. He even gifted me with a beautiful hardcover illustrated edition of the book (right) toward the end of my 2025 visit.

Here’s what I texted Brendan on the last night of this year’s visit.

Hey! I just read The Bell Jar in one sitting – on the train from Grafton to Sydney! 👍🏼😁

I didn’t bring with me to Australia the beautiful edition of the book that you gave me as I didn’t want to risk damaging it in my travels. Instead, I brought a paperback edition that I picked up for $5 in a bookstore in Minneapolis just before my visit home.

It’s an engrossing and powerful novel for sure. And such great writing. Sylvia had a real way with words and with creating vivid scenes and moods.

Thanks for recommending it to me. I’m glad I (finally) read it.

Above: Sydney Airport – Monday, May 11, 2026.


NEXT: May Vignettes

For the previous posts in the Australian Sojourn – April-May 2026 series, see:
• Sydney and Newcastle
• Gulmarrad
• Guruk
• Gunnedah
• Armidale
• Gulmarrad, Maclean, and Brooms Head
• Brisbane, Montville, and the Sunshine Coast
• Return to Guruk

Images: Michael J. Bayly.

Australian Sojourn – April-May 2026

Part 8: Return to Guruk

I’ve spent the past three days in the New South Wales coastal town of Port Macquarie, which for the Birpai, the Indigenous people of the area, is known as Guruk.

My mum, Margaret, lives here in an assisted-living establishment. I spent time with her (right), and with my brother and his wife who live just south down the coast.

I also once again climbed Grants Head (above), a favorite coastal headland of mine at Bonny Hills, just south of Port Macquarie. The last time I climbed Grants Head was in 2023 – with a young Frenchman!

Above: Mum (left) with her longtime friend and former neigbour Heather – Tuesday, May 5, 2026. I'd recently caught up with Heather and her youngest daughter Jillian when visiting our hometown of Gunnedah.

This past Tuesday, Heather was visiting Port Macquarie from Gunnedah. I actually just missed seeing her as she visited mum an hour or so before I arrived into town from Gulmarrad. Heather’s son Troy took this lovely picture, and Heather later shared it with me via Facebook.

Above: Mum and I with a number of her friends and fellow assisted-living home residents.

We had just finished playing a word finding game. We were given the word “Countryside” and ended up with 130+ words that contained letters from it. These words had to have three or more letters — “Destiny,” “Iron,” “Ruse,” “Outer,” “Coin,” etc. . . . What other words can YOU come up with? 😁

Above: Mum with a number of her friends from outside her assisted-living facility. It's great that she stays in touch with these friends and lunches with them every Tuesday.

Above: Mum with one of the many wonderful staff members of her assisted-living home.

Above and below: Climbing Grants Head – Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

Above: With my brother Tim – Thursday, May 7, 2026.

Above: Saying goodbye to mum earlier today – Thursday, May 7, 2026.

I leave to return to the U.S. in four days time, on Monday, May 11.

NEXT: Last Days in Australia

For the previous posts in the Australian Sojourn – April-May 2026 series, see:
• Sydney and Newcastle
• Gulmarrad
• Guruk
• Gunnedah
• Armidale
• Gulmarrad, Maclean, and Brooms Head
• Brisbane, Montville, and the Sunshine Coast


See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• Last Days in Australia (July 2025)
• Family Time in Guruk (2025)
• Home to Be With Mum (2025)
• Last Days in Guruk (April 2025)
• In Birpai Country (2025)
• Family Time in Melbourne, Guruk, and Gunnedah (2023)
• Remembering and Celebrating Dad (2019)
• Return to Guruk (2019)
• Family Time in Guruk . . . and Glimpses of Somaliland (2019)
• Guruk Seascapes, From Dawn to Dusk (2017)
• Port Macquarie, Wingham, and Ellenborough Falls (2015)
• Port Macquarie Days (2014)
• Thanks, Mum!
• Happy Birthday, Mum! – 2024 | 2018 | 2017 | 2014 | 2013 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009
• Congratulations, Mum and Dad! (2009)
• Catholic Rainbow (Australian) Parents (2006)

Images: Michael J. Bayly.

Australian Sojourn – April-May 2026

Part 7: Brisbane, Montville, and the Sunshine Coast

I’m back in Gulmarrad for just one night after having spent the past five days in southern Queensland. Early tomorrow morning I drive to Guruk to see Mum one more time before returning to the U.S. on May 11.

While in Queenslad I stayed (as I did last year) in Brisbane with Enid, my dear friend from uni days in Armidale (1984-86). It was a very relaxing few days in Australia’s Sunshine State, a stay that included a visit to the Glass House Mountains and the town of Montville, and a lovely dinner in Mountain Creek on the Sunshine Coast with my friends Jeremiah, Kristy, Frankie, Sonny, Raphael, Millie, and Collette.

Following are images of my time in Brisbane, Montville, and the Sunshine Coast.

Above: Enid in Montville – Saturday, May 2, 2026.

Above and below: Images of some of my favorite architecture in Brisbane’s Manly West and Manly suburbs. The latter is referred to as the “Harbour Village.” I took these photos on Friday, May 1, 2026.

Above: Port of Brisbane – Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

Above and below: Montville – Saturday, May 2, 2026.

Above: The Glass House Mountains – Saturday, May 2, 2026.

Above: A night out on the Sunshine Coast – Sunday, May 3, 2026. From left: Collette, me, Kristy, Sonny, Jeremiah, Raphael and Millie.




Right: With Collette – Sunday, May 3, 2026.

Above: A real highlight of my April-May 2026 Australian sojourn was meeting for the first time my late dad’s cousin Moya Bayly. We had a lovely visit in Tweed Heads on Monday, May 4. And, yes, I learnt some new things about my Dad’s side of the family.


NEXT: Return to Guruk

For the previous posts in the Australian Sojourn – April-May 2026 series, see:
• Sydney and Newcastle
• Gulmarrad
• Guruk
• Gunnedah
• Armidale
• Gulmarrad, Maclean, and Brooms Head


See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast (2025)
• Townsville (2016)
• Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast (2010)
• Travelin’ North (2006)

Images: Michael J. Bayly.