Shorncliffe Pier

 My wife had addressed the two boys again and again for not going too far away, as they would be tired and probably were not able to return back to where we parked our car when the brothers were riding a bicycle and a scooter. However, the brothers ignored her summon and rode as far as they could to Shorncliffe Pier.

Shorncliffe Pier was a wooden bridge that stretched from the shore to the middle of the ocean for tourism and fishing. There was a fishing group holding an activity when we arrived, and thus it was very crowded, with fishing rods leaning on the fence. As usual, there were also some people coming for leisure. A few of them were leading dogs, while some others were pushing baby prams. What a peaceful and pleasant view!

At the end of the pier was a pavilion with a white roof. It was very enchanting when viewing it from far away, just like a small white cottage floating on the ocean. It was a beautiful, sunny Saturday, with golden sunshine gleaming on the waves, which was more astonishing and splendid than any painting that was possible to create. I liked to hold a cup of coffee while leaning on the fence and listening to the ocean waves and winds, as well as feeling the warmth in the golden sunshine.

Shorncliffe Pier was one of our most frequently visited spots. When I came to Brisbane for a course at QUT, it was just a small, ragged pier, much shorter than the current one, despite the surrounding area being the same beautiful. I am not sure from which year on the current pier has been built.

When I had finished a contract with QUT and before the start of a new job at Shenzhen University, I often drove here with my parents. We tried fishing like others but couldn't catch any. Nevertheless, it fulfilled the days when I was rather dreary.

In recent years, when we came here, we had seen a couple of spectacles. One day we played here until dark and saw a full moon rising from the horizon of the ocean. On another day while there, it was raining. Then we could see a giant rainbow across the sea.