I showered quickly, then dressed in my running clothes while Waffles sat patiently by the French doors ready to bolt out the back—until I rattled my keys. The look on his face was priceless. His tail wagged like a helicopter rotor, tongue out, toenails clicking on the wooden floor as he skidded towards me.

‘Come on, boy!’ I called. ‘Car!’

Waffles flew down the hallway. Going in the car was one of his many favourite things in the world. He jumped into the front seat and licked my face as I leaned over to fasten him into his harness.

‘Dude!’ I cried, wiping my cheek.

Waffles stared straight ahead as if willing me to get going. I laughed and turned on the engine. The sea was what I craved. A run along the cliffs to clear my head. I needed to see the waves crash onto the rocks. I needed to feel small in the majesty of nature.

We drove slowly through town and I felt better as soon as we rounded the bend into the car park of the Devil’s Corner. Waffles barked joyfully, although I think his joy was at the row of seagulls sitting on the white wooden barrier between the car park and the cliff beyond. I pulled over and climbed out, pocketing my keys and phone. Around the passenger side, I unclipped Waffles and put him on the lead. He jumped down like a lion and roared at the seagulls, who looked at him with comic disdain. They flew up and out of reach when we got closer.

Deception Bay got its name from its deceptive coastal waters—calm on the surface, but with jagged and dangerous rocks beneath. The Devil’s Corner—a dangerous cove at the bottom of sheer cliffs—was the pinnacle of this maritime carnage. A swirling undercurrent pulled ships into its deathly orbit. I ignored the steep wooden steps that led down to the beach below and headed for the cliff path. Huge luminescent-green swells rose and turned into waves that smashed relentlessly against the cliffs. The sound mixed with the aarrrk of the seagulls soaring on the wind, so much more regal than when they begged for chips at picnic tables. In flight, they became true.

I breathed in deeply. And out. In deeply. And out.

Then it was time to run. Wrapping Waffles’ lead firmly around my wrist, I took off and he adjusted his pace to mine. We hit the cliff path and the wind picked up and brought with it the smell of salt and seaweed and freedom. For a brief moment the moody clouds stepped aside, and a stream of brilliant spring sunshine swept through.