From: "Pete" <[email protected]>
To: thegang
Subject: Potatoes to Paradise in only 4657kilometres!
Date: 06 July 2001 11:41
Once again, greetings from the new world.
Well, how is everybody doing? I was very grateful to log on today and find that so many of you had responded to my last mail. Well done.
Anyway I think that I left off in Brisbane. Well we spent a few more days there, having a pretty relaxing time (what can I say, the offer of free accomodation was just too good!). The highlight was probably theday in which we met up again with Edy and Tracey and visited North Stradbroke Island (after at least an hour of in depth conference on what to do with the day). Although the island did not seem much at first, the sighting of around a dozen whales (a few of them only a couple of hundred metres from the shore), a half dozen dolphins and a school of rays swimming just beneath the surface. This combined with the fact that Edy and Tracey are great company (see the Nimbin trip in my last email) really made it an excellent day.
The drive north from Brisbane took us through theextremely scenic Glasshouse Mountains, so named by Captain Cook because they resembled glass furnaces apparently. We passed a turnoff signposted for 'The Big Fish' but Paul was mean and wouldn't even drive past however much I whined. Still we passed the Big Mower outside a lawnmower showroom. Skipped the Big Pinapple because we'd both seen it before (even though it's the original and best!). Saw the Big Ned Kelly in Gympie even though it's 3000 klicks away from his domain, and wasn't even founded when he was hanged.
The town also offered a Big Pinapple of it's very own, although it lacked, the gift shop, plantation tour, ice cream and anything else that made the original more than a sureal experience from a car window.
We stopped at Noosa Heads, where Edy and Tracey, arriving a day before us, and discovering all the hostels full, had already procured a fanastic apartment, at an extrememly cheap rate, which they very kindly offered to share with us. Not bad. So after the usual problems locating the place (exactly how many of those 4657k were the result of u-turns is not clear. Too many is probably the only true answer.) we spent the first half day (after the drive from Brisbane) with a little shopping, and a sunset walk on the beach. The next day was filled with another walk ("Why is it whenever we're with you guys we end up walking miles?" Tracey asked) this time around the national park on the head itself. It was, well, national parky. Dramatic coastline, lots of trees and boring as anything unless you go there for yourself. Still of the rock formations the very cooly named 'Hell's Gate' was disappointing while the, less promising on the map, 'Boiling Pot' was pretty neat.
As the wave comes in the water enters through an underwater opening and bubbles up over the edge of the pot rather than rolling in over the top in the conventional manner.
The second full day was spent looking at the markets at Eumundi in the rain (very good if you enjoy incense, alternative jewellery and modern art) then we attempted to drive to Maroochydore, gave up because of a thunder storm, then returned to the apartment for a fantastic roast dinner. (I must admit that I didn't have much to do with its preparation.) Tracey even gave me a haircut (no not a proper one - don't be silly!) since she owns a salon back in NZ. It at least served the purpose of getting the time it takes to brush my hair down from 10 minutes to 2 and removing a lot of the pain. (maybe there is something to be said for this haircutting business after all!)
The following day we sadly parted company with Edy and Tracey who were returning to Brisbane to catch a flight on to Bali. I did promise to meet up with them in England in September though, since they will be there doing what I am doing at the moment. (That's a year's Working Holiday, in case you were under the mistaken impression I was just doing the holiday part!)
On the way out, we saw the Big Pelican. This country never ceases to surprise me.
Next stop, Hervey Bay, which is the launchig pad for Fraser Island, which is the largest sand island in the world. It is also the largest single mass of sand, extending from six hundred feet below sea level, to forty above it. Well we spent three days on the island on a 4WD safari, it was one of the most fantastic places that I have ever visited. The water in lake McKenzie, is so clear it could be a swimming pool, although considerably colder. The beaches are nice. The Sand dunes are like classic Hollywood Sahara, and more so than the Sahara itself, an Austrian girl that had actually been there informed me. Indian Head is a terrific spot to look for whales and is a very romantic and dramatic spot in a rocky outcrop sort of a way. The worst thing about Fraser could only be that there are far too many people like me on it already. The many 4 x 4 tracks on the beach are testimony to the way tourism is damaging the place (and trust me if they all bring back as much sand as I did - albeit unintentionally - then there will be very little of Fraser Island left in a hundred years time - how did I get so much in my sleeping bag?).
Anyway today we left Hervey Bay for Rockhampton, viathe Bundaberg Rum Distillery. For any of you who don't know 'Bundy' rum is a great Australian institution, especially when mixed with coke. The tour was feeble compared with the Carlton Brewhouse, and I don't even like rum much anyway. Still we got to see the Big Rum Bottle and that's the most important thing.
Anyway, sorry that this has been such a rushed correspondence, but I have much to tell you about, and only a few coins to feed into this miserable little hostel net kiosk. Hope to catch up with you all very soon.
No Worries!
Pete