Getting Ready to Return

It always seems that towards the end of a trip, no matter its length and no matter how much you've enjoyed it, you start to mentally prepare for your return, beginning to look forward to your familiar surroundings and routines. We're at that place now.

We've enjoyed a return of better weather here in Surfer's, with more sunny days than overcast days, but there's a definite touch of "fall" in the air--Gold Coast fall, that is, where the temperatures at night may drop down to the 50's and the day temps are only in the high 60's or lower 70's. Still mighty nice to a Seattlite.

At present we're still alone in our friends' apartment, expecting their return this weekend. We've taken a second trip into Brisbane, haunted the local shopping centers, bookstores and libraries, and today took a 2-hour river tour to see some of the elegant homes along the many waterways that have been constructed here.

Saturday is Anzac Day here--the Aussie version of Veteran's Day. Anzac is the name for the Australia/New Zealand military forces that served in the several world and regional wars. And it is a BIG DEAL here, unlike our comparable day in the US. There is very strong sentiment about honoring the many Australians who have given their lives in defense of other sectors of the world, usually joining European and US troops. About the only time they were actually fighting action that threatened their own country was in the Pacific arena in WWII, when the Japanese attacked parts of the Aussie coast. So there's lots on television about these veterans and about their part in the wars. Just great for someone like me who loves watching military history, but you-know-who is loving it!

Next posting when we get home. I'll be glad to be back to my own machine where I can actually upload pictures again.

Back to the beach!

We're back in Surfer's Paradise, glad to be where we can again get our daily walk on the beach and our cappucino at our favorite cafe. I tried to post a picture of me on the beach, but the dial-up computer access I'm using seems to be too slow, so I've given up.

The weather continues quite mixed. It's been overcast, with spells of sun each day, along with a little rain. Naturally today's rain came just as I was beginning my return trip from the cafe. Phil opted to take the bus. I went ahead and walked, and about halfway home the rain stopped, so at least I wasn't dripping wet when I got back to the apartment. Tonight we're going to check out a Thai restaurant near us, the beginning of our scan of the local eateries that are within walking distance.

I've been collecting some Aussie phrases. Shortening words is the order of the day, occasionally leaving us scrambling to figure out what someone is saying. Here are a few of my favorites so far:

Brekky (also spelled breaky) = breakfast
Swimmers = swimsuit
Servo = service/gas station
Avos = avocados
Muso = musician
Cuppa = what Phil and I do each day--having a cup of tea or coffee (the operative phrase is "would you like a cuppa?" or "we're be with you in a minute; we're just having a cuppa" (the latter comment from the hairdresser Phil went to in Gympie to get a haircut).

No worries, mates. We're getting the hang of this. She'll be right!

Tin Can Bay & the Dolphins

We've now been up in the Sunshine Coast area, staying with our friends Steve & Betty Ostrycharz (formerly from Seattle) for four days. Our weather luck ran out, and we've been treated to rain every day, sometimes as showers, sometimes as tempests. We've tried not to let it curtail our explorations, including this morning's trip to Tin Can Bay to participate in feeding three dolphins from a pod there that appear every day to "socialize" and be fed. The picture shows me (yellow t-shirt) feeding one of them. Each person gets one or two fish to feed to them, the total amount carefully measured so they get no more than 10% of their daily food needs, so they don't become dependent on it.

Tin Can Bay is not named for piles of tin cans that somehow ended up there; rather it's an Anglicized version of the aboriginal name for the site. It's on a river estuary off the Pacific ocean. For some reason, about three generations ago these dolphins began to appear, and each succeeding generation teaches the next. Not all of the dolphins in the pod come, just a few. They're quite docile, though the visitors are urged not to splash and to douse their cell phones, because sudden noises or movement can scare them off. They gently take the proferred 6" fish from your hand (you are holding the tail, they take it by the head) and down it goes. Then they wait for the next person in line.

The countryside here is different from what I expected. Somehow, having heard that Steve & Betty were on a 110 acre farm, I expected it to be dry and brown, out in the middle of the wilderness. Instead, they're about 10 minutes from the town of Gympie, which while not large, has all the necessary services, and only about an hour from Brisbane. It's also lush, green and very hilly country. The lush grass feeds the cattle that they have grazing their property, along with the goats, chickens and ducks. We've been enjoying fresh eggs for brekkie (as breakfast is known here), along with wonderful pineapple (bought a large one today for $1.50). They haven't yet butchered any of their animals, though the plan is to do that with at least some, and sell others. That may prove difficult--nearly all of them have names.

We explore the highlands area two days ago, popping into shops and driving around trying to catch things between downpours. Lots of dairy cattle in this region, so there's good ice cream, cheese and yoghurt, and we sampled some excellent, prize-winning ice cream on that excursion. Yesterday we visited the Saturday market in Eumundi, about 30k from here--lots of booths with clothing, jewelry and the usual assortment of other trinkets, along with food. Had some excellent calamari for lunch.

Phil is making a paella for dinner tonight, which will feature some expensive (but delicious) prawns. The commercially bought prawns here are just as good as the ones we catch on the boat. I don't know why that is--I certainly wish it were true in Seattle.

We'll stay here til Wednesday, at which point we'll venture back to Surfer's Paradise by train, just before the Easter holidays. Though Australia is not particularly religious, everything shuts down on Good Friday, and the weekend is an extended holiday with Monday off as well. Some stores shut down the entire weekend. We want to get back to Surfer's in time to do some shopping before the holiday, though I think the larger grocery stores will be open at least on Saturday. However, we may find our favorite coffee shops in hiding for a few days. We shall see.