Driving North Again
Trip Start
Dec 25, 2006
1
18
26
Trip End
Jan 30, 2007
Gladstone, Australia
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
For once I managed to wake up and get up early i.e. before 08:00 and felt fine. Which considering the amount I had drunk again the previous night was good. Lillian's knowledge about wine and providing some very yummy white and red to drink made life all the better. Highly recommended are Peter Lehmann's wines from the Barossa Valley. I enjoyed them immensely.
Setting off on what would be a long drive, I hoped to get to Rockhampton that evening. But my antic's that day eventually stopped me from getting there. So zooming north, I paid my first toll in the whole of Aus, to cross the Brisbane River at Brisbane to go up to Bruce Highway and beyond I had to pay my first Toll. Which I was a bit miffed at especially as I had no idea now much it would cost
Glass House Mountains
. I do find it very frustrating that they don't seem to signpost anything much or at all, unless it's a merge right sign. Lots of them. I can often find myself going, I wanted to get off there, god dam it or in this case, much is the toll. No information at all. So turned up at the toll booth having dug around in my purse for some money. I extracted the first note that I had to hand, a 50 dollar bill and the cost of the toll. Two dollars fifty cents. Umm so I could have gone the non manned booth way. Dam it; I was now struggling with lots of change while trying to drive at the same time, bits of paper flying in all directions and the coins doing their usual trick of going down the side of the driver's seat. What fairy, likes to send small objects down the side of this seat. I always end up sending something down that way and then having to extract it out at a later date, which much cursing and swearing. Approximately an hour north of Brisbane, I saw a sign for Glass Mountain Lookout. It wasn't called that something to do with Stallions or horses, if I remember correctly, but not having a piece of paper and pen to hand I didn't make a note of it. I thought this would be an ideal time to get out and stretch my legs. Lookouts tend to mean good photo opportunity, though it was a tad overcast. Walking up the incredibly steep track to the top for this lookout, I discovered that it was shared with the fire department to look for fires in the State Forest that the lookout was situated in
Noosa
. Plus the Glass Mountains National Park it over looked. The views were fantastic and would have been even better if it had been clear. But whether that would have been any better for me, not certain. As by this time it was getting pretty humid and the climb had somewhat turned me into a melting pot of human flesh. Arriving at the top all damp and wanting a breather I stood and admired the views, while letting the beautiful breeze cool me down abet. Though I have to say it still wasn't as humid as England gets in the summer. Photo opportunity over, I wandered back to the car and set off north for my lunch break which was to be in Noosa. Going ever further north, the entertaining sights I saw where as follows. Banana plantations with the bunches of banana's covered in silver coloured bags, tied at the trunk. I had found out from Lillian that, this was an anti cockatoo devices and other birds from pecking them and destroying the whole crop. Banana trees do look funny with silver appendages. No photo's I'm afraid as the Bruce highway at these locations, was too busy just to pull over. Just take it from me, banana trees can look seriously un-sexy and funny dressed like this.
Continuing along the Bruce Highway I started to pass a lot of sugar plantations, I didn't know Australia grew so many things, including sugar, I followed the Clarence River which was fringed by these plants (photo). The town of Tiaro, I think it was there - again forgotten, but it rings a loud bell in my brain but it had a really pretty church hall / community hall. It was really battered, opposite the bowls club and situated very near a river. Unfortunately the dam Bruce highway precluded me to not staying, too much traffic and no where to park, other than the bowls club. I'm guessing they would not like a stray Toyota turning up and parking for 10 minutes and then pushing off.
Finally arriving in Noosa, I drove round looking for the town centre as it wasn't obvious. I had already driven something like 25 km's off the highway just to see this place. I had been told to visit it by a diver I had meet in passing in Sydney airport. Her thought's hsf brrn it was the prettiest place in Aus.
Impressions of Noosa,(photo) pretty, upmarket very upmarket for Aus and quite crowded, though I still managed to find a parking space on the high street. Noosa is also rather upmarket for Aus, not the normal beach side resort. A quick lunch then off up north as far as I could go, I never made it to Rickhamton, I ended up in Gladstone, which isn't great at all. A little dull to say the least. Plus ot was still raining. It had done nothing but rain on and off which the 1st. Bugger,,,, Which was annoying for accommodation. I eventually found somewhere; all I can say is that it was ok. But I found this really nice place to eat at. The grand hotel, not a hotel now, but the food was cheap and very tasty. One lovely Thai salad later I needed no more persuasion.
