Arrival in Brisvegas
Trip Start
Oct 01, 2005
1
80
158
Trip End
Jul 21, 2007
Brisbane,
Australia
Saturday, October 21, 2006
We drove straight into Brisbanes CBD (central business district) which is around the same size as Sydney's, and after parking the trusty Molly Duka, hunkered down in an Irish bar to chat. We stayed in the overpriced but extremely central Palace backpackers where the reception staff are so lazy that they have installed tannoy speakers in each room to summon you down if they need anything!
The next morning we drove out to the coast to attend Ben and Skyes wedding, held on a grassy spot just off the beach in Currumbin, which is located at the nice end of the Gold Coast, a safe distance from the nasty blot of skyscraper hotels and wholesale tack of Surfers Paradise, that does ironically work nicely as a backdrop. It was perfectly set up for Skye's dramatic, silver screen entrance; a vision in cream crossing an old wooden bridge spanning the creek
Ben and Skye
. After the short ceremony the guests adjourned to the nearby Elephant rock cafe where we were served tasty canapes followed by entertaining speeches, a nice meal and a band. The day went without a hitch and waves of happiness surrounding the lucky couple as the guests all vied for their attentions. Not completely satisfied with their level of inebriation, the three couples from our table took a taxi into Coolangatta in search of more beer and so we all ended a superb day dancing dressed up to the nines in a local bar.The next week it was back to work and Kerry started at the Royal Brisbane hospital while I plodded the streets in search of employment, becoming more and more infuriated with the rebuffs of unhelpful agency receptionists. I eventually bagged a job doing telephone surveys calling random numbers from the telephone directory at tea time to talk about nursing homes. I got some colourful responses I can tell you. We also enjoyed a couple of debauched evenings in the company of Claires brother Edward and his like minded gang of alcoholic youths at the lively Tin Billy bar.
We met up with Ben and Skye to behold the big sound of one man band local blues singer powerhouse, Mojo Webb at the end of that week, and the newlyweds very kindly offered to have us over to stay at their house in North Brisbane. So we hijacked their honeymoon and moved in!
Ben and Skye live in a peaceful suburb called Wooloowin in a handsome 'Queenslander' style wooden house on stilts which has a nice garden running around and an airy verandah. The next four weeks we spent working and watching nightly episodes of Monkey Dust and Green Wing. Oh and eating some quality grub, cooked up on the MONSTER gas powered BBQ on the airy wooden verandah. We had a great time enjoying each others company and also looked at quite a few wedding photos
bougainvillea boulevard
.Because of work obligations we were only able to spend one weekend together but we maximised the fun and set off for Currumbin beach by 6am Staurday morning for my first surf lesson! Ben lent me his old board and I had great fun trying to find a little perfect balance on the modest waves down at Snapper Rocks. I managed to catch a couple while lying on my belly but popping up and riding properly is a few lessons away I think.
We drove inland in the afternoon and stayed in an exquisite little campsite at the foot of Mount Warning. Built a fire and ate some good tucker and the following day we climbed the mountain and buzzed off the gradually changing rainforest as we ascended. The last 100 metres has been left as a proper scramble up the rocks and the views from the top over the Gold Coast and inland are superb (if a little hazy!).
So the last week I spent working in the same hospital as Kerry as a baker in the kitchen and then on the Staurday Mr Yates flew in from Sydney and we went to watch the Ashes on the Sunday which was good apart from the 'no fun' policy the Gabba authorities employed who split up the English fans, chucked out the barmy armies trumpeteer, ejected people for doing Mexican waves and served piss weak XXXX gold which did nothing apart from make you want to piss a lot. So the atmosphere was shall we say, muted.
Anyway, the road beckoned once again and Molly was chomping at the bit to get some more K's under her belt to add to the 310,000 already on the clock. We regretfully left Ben and Skyes house early on the Monday morning and made in the direction of Hervey Bay.
