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| Quite a unique landsacpe |
Reunited
with my Dutchie Friends, Sas en Paul, I promptly whisked them away north of Brissie to the peculiar formation, the Glass
House Mountains. Each mountain
is the remnant of a volcanic plug, the volcano having mostly eroded away, giving them a very upright and towering appearance,
and quite spectacular, all within a few kms of each other.
We spent a couple of days
there chasing sunsets and walking up a couple of the smaller ones, getting stunning views of the others from the top. I climbed
the highest on our last morning, a near vertical climb in some parts - fun going up, a tad nerve jangling coming down. I employed
the behind-the-back-on-all-fours-crab-walk, it was very effective. And it was a stunning view from up top.
As we left, we discovered that we were
mere minutes from Australia Zoo, home of Steve “Crikey” Irwin (amongst other creatures) but on closer inspection
it did not appear very exhilarating so we gave it a miss.
Back to Brissie and, over Safeways
finest discounted cakes, we hatched a plan for the next day – Cirque de Soliel was in town!! And what a show! We had
the best seats in the house too (the first row behind the double price VIP seats!) I want to join the circus now. Obviously.
But
alas, it was dawning on me that my time in Oz was drawing near, so I had to keep moving. I was trying to sort out my tax return
(inspired by Sylvia who got all of her tax back!!) and had to pick up my payment summary from Muffin Break head office, Sydney.
| A bush turkey |
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| ...complete with yellow flower! |
So
I made a bee line to the city on the bay. I say beeline, but on the way down I visited the stunning lamington National Park,
right on the border between NSW and Queensland. I stayed in a peculiarly ‘local’ campground
(as in all the occupants appeared to be ‘local’). I managed to change the now Hiccupping Oscar’s air filter.
Not too sure what’s up with him, he just seems to stall once stopped after a long drive… Didn’t do too much,
but I had to start thinking about selling the old beast.
I
continued south and spent a couple of hours in Byron Bay. Possibly a mistake, because I saw what I was missing out on – it looked great.
I would love to have stayed there for a while, a shame to miss it.
| Byron Bay |
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| I want to stay and play |
But
to the opera house laden city I must go, and get there I did (albeit with a few stalls). At last I found where all of Australia’s
cars are – in the 5 square blocks of downtown Sydney.
It took me 2 hours to get through, to get to Muffin HQ and pick up my tax form.
I
stayed at a campsite out in the sticks, and spent the next few days getting Oscar sorted for the renowned ‘Kings Cross
Backpacker Car Market’. He failed his safety test on a couple of points – including some rust. It reminded me
just how old he is. As for the rust, Paul had told me a nifty way of removing the brown dribble stain from the small rust
spot – a gentle once over with a small green pan scourer pad. It worked a treat. Infact it worked so well that when
I was washing the car, I used it on all the stains and blemishes, and, having not been washed for sometime, it brought the
best out of all the panels, roof and bonnet.
It
was late afternoon on a particularly grey and dull day when I washed it. The next day it was blue sky and brilliant sunshine.
I
woke to find that some moron had scratched a plethora of hazy rings and hoops all over my car.
Talk
about feeling like a prize buffoon, What did you use to wash your car?... Oh, I used a pan scourer.
The
guys in one of the campervans lent me some wax, which helped a touch, and you can only see it really close up, and luckily
I am selling it at the KingsX car market – it is the bottom floor of a multi-level car park.
Otherwise
known as the Dungeon, the car markets reputation preceded it. It worked out great for me as I moved into the hostel just round
the corner, where Steve and Abby (Bacon and Egg Lady) from Carlton
College were staying. And it was cheaper to park there than anywhere
else.
The
walls of the market/car park basement were inscribed with billions of testimonies to the dank and dreary weeks previous backpackers
had spent down in the dim basement. Some saying “Been here for three days and sold – Just drop your price and
get out of this dump.” The others saying “We’ve been in this hell hole for 13 days now, finally sold our
van. Don’t give up, and don’t budge on your price and reap the rewards!”
I
joined the other hopeful sellers (all sat in front of their machines on their statutory camping chairs) for my first day,
and had a strangely enjoyable day, with no one even remotely interested in Oscar.
| 'Hey, want to buy a car?' - 'Nope, got one' |
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| 'Oh.......want to buy it anyway?' |
The
Market shut at 5pm so I went back to my Hostel, the Pink House (very similar to Carlton College,
but a bit more upmarket!).
I
ventured to finally see the sights of Sydders, but thought I would just check I had locked Oscar. As I descended into the
bowels of the car park I was joined by three Norwegians/Danes. They turned out to be heading to the car market, to buy. I
told them I was there to sell. They looked at Oscar, just what they wanted. I took them for a test drive, he didn’t
stall. They said if I fixed the required safety test repairs they would have him. Brilliant! They even said they would not
bother with the Car Market Recommended Mechanical Check (he runs so well…). That was a BIG relief as the Mechanical
Check is notoriously stringent and pernickety – no one walks away with out at least $1000 worth of repairs that may,
or may not, need doing.
I
spent the next couple of days getting my engine mount replaced and new steering arm bushes etc. and met up with the lad again.
Only this time they had decided to get the Mechanical Check after all…Noooooooooo!!
But
they booked him in and the mechanic turned up and poked, prodded, fiddled, jacked and inspected every nook and cranny Oscar
had.
To
the dent on Oscars wing (not done by me…) he said nothing, but when he looked underneath – “CRICKEY! There
is severe structural damage under here! Look, its bent like a banana!”
The
boys gasped, and I went white. “What can we do about it?’ asked one of them. “Oh nothing, it wont bother
you, its just sent this wheel out of alignment. Get a new tyre, and an alignment and you’ll be fine.’
And
that was all!! Oscars a beast (I should have asked for more money!) SO we were happy all round, the boys had a car, and I
had a pocketful of cash.
Farewell
Oscar!! You have served me extremely well; enjoy yet another trip across this dry continent!
The
end of yet another era.
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| Errrrm.... I think this is Kalgoorlie....or Dubbo. |
I
spent the rest of the week doing a quick sweep of the Sydney sights – Ferry to Manly, train to Bondi (where it rained
and the packed beach vacated instantly, only for the sun to come out again, and I had the whole beach to myself!), Luna Park,
the Opera House, the Rocks. Seems like a nice place.
I
met up with and said farewell to Shazza from our Uluru trip, and Steve from Carlton. And visited Holly, Lisa and Ariane from Darwin, shame not to be staying for Chrimbo (along with everyone else
in Oz!).
But
I had other things to do, like visiting the Blue Mountains. I managed to spend a day out
there on the train, and had a great wander about the impressive ridge line, with the Three Sisters, and the world’s
steepest passenger carrying rail track, overlooking the blue tinged, Eucalypt forests covered hills (oil vapour from the trees
creates the blue apparently). A beautiful place.
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| The Three Sisters |
I
then made brilliant use of my pre-purchased travel plans. I had sold Oscar in Sydney, even though I still had to get to Melbourne,
because I still had my six month backpackers RailPass to use, that I had bought over five months ago. I had a two day trip
to Melbourne via Adelaide,
and the last day of my trip was on the very last day of my allotted six months!!
I
spent an enjoyable day in Adelaide, and visited the Barossa Valley Wineries, and sampled a
few of their famed Shiraz, amongst others. And also visited
the world largest rocking horse…
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| Yeeeehaaa! Rock 'im Cowboy!! |
And
soon made it !! My circumnavigation of the Continent!! Melbourne to Melbourne. Outstanding.
I
spent my last week with Ivan, in his new and swanky apartment, right on the beach front in St Kilda, with Justin. Great to
see him again, and we had a splendid time. Thanks for letting me stay Ivana!! I also met up with a few of my old Melburnian
friends, Christie and Stupor, Jodi and Natalie, the muffin maids (unfortunately old Muffin Break has closed down – they
obviously couldn’t continue with out such a Master Baker!) Great to see everyone again, shame it was so fleeting.
But
Ivana and I had had a plan for some time, and it was now time to execute it. Surfing at Bells Beach on Christmas day with Christmas
pud on the beach! After whipping up a fine brandy sauce on Christmas morn we bundled into a hired car (that Ivan had magically
acquired, being Chrimbo and all) and whisked down the coast to Torquay. We phoned the surf board hire company with whom we
had prearranged to hire with (being Chrimbo and all), the bloke came down to serve us, only to find that the petrol station
that they operated out of with closed and locked – he had no keys. Scuppered! That put an end to our surfing.
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| Nothing like pulling your cracker on the beach! |
Still
we visited Bells Beach, and battled the surprisingly icy
wind, maybe not such a good day to surf anyway. We returned to Torquay
Beach where everyone else was. We found a little spot out of the wind,
and enjoyed quite a magnificent picnic feast, including Chrimbo Pud, with a surprisingly good Brandy sauce. Not so surprising
when I realized that when making half the quantity, I forgot to halve one vital ingredient!
A
splendid Christmas lunch.
And
then, a couple of days later, it was finally time. My year in Australia had passed. 363 days.
I
was very sad to be leaving, and very glad that I had had such a great time. Huge Thanks to all of you that I met in Oz and
had such a brilliant time with, now I know how you all felt when your time came to an end. (Ivana, may your time never come!
St Kilda is groovy. Have an innings at the Espy for me!)
And
so with a heavy heart I made my way to the airport, and said farewell to this crazy continent of crocodiles, long drives,
gorges, rocks, empty expanses, bizarre creatures, beaches, National Parks and Muffins.
Goodbye
Australia Fair.
Hello coconuts and Kava...
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