There have been mixed emotions around town. Anything from withdrawals, to some sadness and a few direct requests for me to pretend I have gone somewhere so I can keep blogging about what I see. And for a minute I thought it was a good enough excuse to untie the ropes and take He who hums off on another adventure. Then I realised that we have been out-and-about ever since we arrived back into Brisbane and I have got to say that if I was elsewhere I would have been telling you about where I had been.
So for now let's pretend I am a tourist again and let me tell you how proud I was to be Australian the day I took Pedro off to fulfill his dream to hug a koala and hang with the kangaroos while he was here, oh and to eat a Mexican meal.
For starters we had one almighty typical summer storms hit Brisbane on our third week home and that was perfect- as we had Pedro repair some porthole seals and we needed to test them to see if he had captured all suspected areas. Roll on in grumbling thunder and heavily laden rain clouds as if on cue. And what a stunning stormy exhibition it was. I can't remember seeing summer storms like that since I was a kid. Family and friends feared for us down here under the Gateway aboard Condesa. However, we were moving with the elements so didn't feel the brunt of it like the high rises and homes must have felt every shudder of that thunder and cracks of lightning. The wind gained momentum as the storm raced across the Brisbane sky and buffered the boats around slightly. However we were happy to be moored in next to some of the biggest Super yachts I have ever seen like Dragon Fly and Exlium. They both shielded us from the chaos and fended off the fetching river as it welled up in response to the temperature changes.
Then a week or two later we thank Dragon Fly again for the wonderful dock party that He who hums attended. I saw the catering and hospitality being set up as I departed for a weekend at Stradbroke island (another Qld gem) and knew there would be stories to tell when I got home. Well, no expense was spared! And you know you have wealthy neighbours when the owner brings his helicopter into the paddock next to the marina to attend his own party in a grand marquee with his crew and fellow invited boaties (us).
I can't tell you anymore these big boats like to be secretive.....how does that saying go……if I tell you, I would have to kill you? Or, it is not you I can't trust... it is the people you tell that we worry about.
Anyway back on the being proud to be Australian. Pedro got to see the gold coast in all its glory, with beaches that stretch for miles, cool smooth soft sand under foot. I am sure the bright lights and night life also impressed him. Although relaxing in a high-rise was all he needed and wanted, as he recovered from all it took to get across the pacific.
I took him off to Lone Pine and as we got out of the car we inhaled the fresh crisp eucalyptus tree air, just 15 minutes from the sleepy Sunday shadows of the CBD. I knew from that moment he was going to have lasting memories of our beautiful Australia.
Post rain, the walk through the lush green and darkened earth was a good start along with the busy bush turkeys weaving in and around all the 'as close to natural' home like enclosures for our native animals. Yes he got up close and personal with the Koalas and Kangaroos. We saw a fine specimen of our Emu and echidnas. The platypus ducking and weaving through the rock pools like there was no tomorrow. The little black Tassie Devil doing laps and the svelte dingo poised behind wire fence where they were in full view.
We sat enjoying the larger native bird show and distracted by the boxing kangaroos behind us. I had told him about this little habit of theirs on our way but never expected them to put on a free bout for us. We covered the sheep shearing demo just in case he should want a sea change down, he then knows what he is up for. The sheep dogs happily wrapped up their job and so we made our way to find the wombats. Stepping over the biggest lizards basking in the warm shallow puddles of sunshine was all part of the experience.
I couldn't have asked for a more perfect experience of Australian wild life if I set the scene myself. As we exited along the river bank under the tall shredded trunks of the gum trees we got one last hooroo from our laughing kookaburras. How perfect!
Is that not what you would want for a special visitor?
However, this was a few weeks ago but thought since there was a request for me to share more blogs, I best tell you how good Australia our home town is.