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Australia Day
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Monday 26th January
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.......
Crowd: Oi, Oi, Oi
yes it's Australia Day and we were lucky enough to be in the modern, tropical city of Brisbane for the festivities. Due to a siesta we just caught the tail end of the parade i.e. the fire engine and ambulance. Still the 'south bank' where it was staged also has the man made beach lots of nice landscaping. Jane had the most amazing barramundi.
Stayed on for the fireworks which were accompanied by Australia classic pop hits. Short show but finished with a rousing Waltzing Matilda.
Tuesday 27th January
Took train, van, van, train, bus, ferry, bus, bus, ferry, bus, train and a final walk to the hostel in Manly today after getting out to North Stradbroke Island for the day. Manly was advertised as a bit of a beach resort but its only got a bit of a mudflat really. Slightly disappointed so we had to go on the mad journey to get to the beach on 'straddie'.
Wednesday 28th January
Cool thing about Manly is the massive harbour and Yacht club. Every Wednesday there is a yacht race (WAGS) around Green and Helena Islands. The good thing for backpackers is that they are always short of crew for the big yachts and get all the hostels to send people down to take part. Cue Jane and Mike deckhands.
Waited in line to be picked, like school playground football at lunchtime. Definite pattern of all single females picked first by crusty older seamen with big boats. Near the end we finally got a ride on 'Miss Freelove' thanks to Captain Geoff 'Tuffy' and first mate Ray. The yacht was one of the smallest 20ft but that meant we got a headstart on the rest of the 48 boat fleet.
Such a good laugh pulling a few ropes and sails (sheets, spreaders, booms etc) and diving flat whenever the boom swung across. Suffice to say we did ok till the second marker but got to see all the other boats in the fleet during the day. Limped back to the harbour as a storm came in, lightning on the horizon and choppy waves. Sunk a few XXXX with the crew and a kebab on the way home.
Thursday 29th January
Day trip to Moreton Island on the former racing ketch 'Solo'. Named by its previous owner a Swiss guy Van Meyer who won lots of Sydney to Hobart races in it then took off around the world famously taking all female crews with him.
Moreton island was beautiful, snorkelled and saw lots of big fish on 'the wrecks'. Did a bit of tubing and sunbathing then set sail. Another thunder storm. Its weird how quickly darkness descends. One minute its hot, sunny and calm the next dark, cold, windy and raining heavily with big waves coming over the side of the boat as it leans over on its keel. Seemed pretty innocent at the time. Stood on the rail like Captain Ahab taking it full in the face. The day after a fisherman lost his life when his boat capsized in the same area.
Friday 30th January
Mooloolooba via the glass house mountains. Walked in the rainforest reserve to a lookout over the mountains down to the sea then played frizbee in the park
Saturday 31st January
Australia Zoo, but no Steve Irwin, apparently he's not there that often which is a bit of a blow. Still we got Brian.
Sunday 1st February
Mooloolooba has a great beach, hired surf boards and played around for a few hours. Luckily caught the Merseyside Derby on TV but soon panicking as Liverpool outclassed us. 0-0 good result in the end
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