We just spent the past 36 hours on the bus. Eighteen one way, about 9hours in between, and another 18 going back as we participated in the INCGiving Aid to Humanity charity event at Gladstone, Queensland.I'll be honest, I didn't want to go at first. I dreaded being on the bus for that long mainly because of my tummy issues (i still need to go to the toilet at least 3 times a day, a consequence of having no colon). So 16 hours in a crowded, close-space moving compartment is not really my idea of a holiday. But Lani was very enthusiastic about it. She felt it was going to be a great experience for the kids - not just the road trip, but more importantly, the cause - and she wasn't wrong.
Our adventure started on Friday, the 21st, Ethan's birthday. Our worship services were moved to accommodate the activity so we had to perform our duties on that night. Which meant we didn't have much time to prepare for the trip. We had to stay very late for groceries, packing our stuff, making sure we didn't forgetting anything important (like iPads and Switch consoles and portable chargers).
The following day, Saturday the 22nd, we got up early to prepare our food for the road. Lani cooked adobo, boiled eggs, nuggets, and we packed chicken sandwich along with plenty of chips and drinks (bottled water, soda cans, and juice boxes). We ended with 3 big bags of food, 1 bag of pillow/blankets (to maek the kids comfortable), a bag of electronics (to keep them busy), and a small bag of clothes.
We got to the meeting point at 11am, hopped on the bus, and departed Sydney just past 12:30pm.
The trip was long. We took the inland route instead of the pacific hi-way path as the former was the more direct route. Unfortunately, it was also more rural. There weren't many service stations that could cater to 2 buses of people needing to use the toilet in the middle of the night. We had to stop so many times (I actually lost count) because we had both kids and elderly people on board. And every stop took forever because the toilets are far too few. Nevertheless, it was fun. It was a great opportunity to bond with the kids and with each other.
We got to Gladstone at around 9am on Sunday, 23rd. The program was scheduled to start at 10am, so we're just on time.
The activity was intended for both the victims of the recent bush fire and for the heroes who helped them. The church prepared production numbers to entertain the audience, and presented cheques to the council and emergency response teams in appreciation of their help. There were also plenty of food prepared by the brethren from all around Queensland.
The event ended around 3pm but we couldn't leave yet because the bus drivers needed their sleep. We were able to depart only around 5pm.
The trip back was again the same - long, full of stops, and not enough toilets. Worse, we were all out of batteries so that kids didn't have iPads to keep them entertained anymore. Well, it might've been a blessing in disguise because that gave us more opportunity to bond and talk and chat.
We got home around 2pm on Monday and headed straight home and to our beds for a proper night's rest. And in 2 days time, we will travel again, but this time southbound to Melbourne for our year-end holiday. 
