Gold Coast
Fleck
Fri 2 Oct 2009 03:24
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Friday 2nd october 2009
Position 27:58.0S 153:25.0E
Well, we have moved on, but not far. Hit of last
weekend for me was the open air concert at the Northshore Park: a disconcerting
journey for those relying on public transport, but we made it through streets of
industrial wasteland to the Northeast of the city, and after a long bus ride.
The Australians do this sort of thing rather well. Trashing the classical
orchestral repertoire in a way that leaves Classic FM just scratching the
surface. Anyway we had Ludwig Van, lots of George Gershwin, and period
Russian Soldiers setting off the canon at the end of the 1812. Great fun,
and Charlie was in charge of supper from the food stalls, always reliable in
this department! Poor Mark had the short straw, guarding the boat back in
Brisbane, from the drunk and ticketless would be pop concert goers at the
Parklife event in the botanical gardens. Although only a stones throw from the
boat the noise from the treble speakers were directed away to the north, leaving
Mark with a constellation of subwoofers to contend with. Didn't Dad do
well!!
Gold Coast- The colour of the sunsets around here?
No, of course not, this is Australia. The term was coined, pun intended, to
describe what you need to live here, especially in Southport Yacht Club Marina,
where we have taken up temporary residence. We should have anchored in Bum's Bay
(They certainly don't welcome the poor around here), but needed to top up our
water and fuel, and Charlie needed to wash her hair. Now that we are here the
lure of shoreside toilets and showers, unlimited water on board for cooking and
washing, and 240 volt electricity for Marks 24hour computer use is seductive. It
is also rumoured that the waterways police check out the occupants of Bum's Bay
to make sure that they are not discharging their toilets overboard; and no, I
don't know how they do this. Anyway, the washing machines here have been on
overtime, and at last our clothes and upholstery are clear of the red dust from
last weeks storms.
We are 40 mins walk from Surfers Paradise - the
epicentre of this sprawling holiday coastline. 'Surfers' is described in the
Lonely Planet (how inapropriate that they should have visited!) as flashy and
trashy.. I find that I have nothing to add.
We got here via the waterways behind the Stradbroke
Islands. Very attracive and similar, but at the same time different in
character, to the Great Sandy Strait. Unintentionally we spent two days
here, one of them stranded on a sandbank off the shoreside community of Cabbage
Tree Point. Not that anyone there seemed to care or notice. The nights were
dreamy: complete calm (how did we ever cope with those Pacific swells) and
isolation, unless you count the pelicans. Generally low lying sand Islands, and
lots of Mangroves, and I am afraid some sandflies. As we travelled further
south the whole experience changed dramatically: high rise buildings appeared on
the shore, and all manner of fast and noisy watercraft, from jetskis to gin
palaces, left us wallowing in their wakes.
I am now stuck here with a strong winds forecast
ahead of the next southerly change. Even on my own I would not really fancy a
gale, especially with steep seas over the shoal waters off the coast. And we
have all lost our sea legs......So once again discretion becomes the better part
etc etc. I am however getting very frustrated by our slow progress. It is still
a long way to Sydney, and it will be much harder coming back.
Despite the absence of pork pies and pork sausages
Mark has managed to pick up a mild dose of swine flu. Mum's the word as far as
the Authorities are concerned, as Fleck awaits the inevitable epidemic!! To pass
the time we plan a further budget busting exercise: a days car rental to get us
into the hinterland and perhaps some of the wineries. Should be a great trip,
unless the rumours of a further dust storm come true.
We were upset to learn about the Tsunami, which has
had no effect down here that I know of. We were of course in Tonga last year,
for several reasons a highlight of many in the
Pacific.
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