December 21/2018
The long, red eye flight would not be an issue this time around. We were heading to Australia! Of all the places in the entire world, I have always had this one at the top of the list.
Canada’s BAD-ASS little brother. The surfing, swearing, drinks too much yet escapes the law younger version of Canada. This immense land mass is home to 25,000,000 residents, 86,000 types of insects (some of which will haunt you for the rest of your life should you encounter one) and about 7400 different species of vertebrate animals including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. The landscape can change from lush green mountain tops to skin melting desert in the blink of an eye.
Our first order of business was to rent a car. My request of getting one with a left-hand steering wheel was denied so we would have to enjoy the fun of my brain wrapping itself around the whole, do everything opposite as you have done for the past 30 years of your driving career.
Concentration is key to survival here. That and hoping to not see any oncoming traffic for the next 2 hours as we head north west to Maleny. The drive is a hot one… 38C and probably 90% humidity makes for quite the hot trek. I am not a fan of A/C but it is definitely a requirement today.
One night in Gold Coast and we will head out to our destination for the next couple of weeks. An old rodeo friend of mine had reached out and offered us a place to stay through the Christmas season. Since our original plans had gotten messed up, we graciously accepted. Upon arrival at our hotel in GC, our immediate focus was to find the sand and the ocean. A five-minute walk east and we hit the most beautiful site we have seen so far. The sand squeaked beneath our feet as the waves crashed the shore.
This is what we have been waiting for. To set foot on the beach in Australia. Beaches here in Oz are always monitored. Signs that basically lay out the rules so you don’t die saying NO FLAGS, NO SWIM point you in the general direction as to where it is safe to get in the water versus where you may be sucked out into the ocean in a blink of an eye. With the clouds rolling, our plans change to food and we head back inland to find grub. A quick meal and it’s off to bed to get ready for our big day of driving.
December 22/2018
Our plan was to meander out way north, stop and see some beaches as well as take in something fun and different for the kids. The first beach we stop at brings us our first taste of Australia on the weekend.
Approximately 20 of Oz’s finest athletes in speedos are sporting beers at 10am preceding a Christmas run through the park. Of course I have to have a chat with them and find out what possesses them to do such a thing and find out, as I too am now sipping on a cool corona that this is a Christmas tradition for them. Unfortunately, I lack speedos in my carry on otherwise I too would have been involved, I am sure.Heading north once more, Reid had somehow discovered the possibility of putting his little body into a Go Kart and racing on an outdoor track in Australia for his first high speed experience ever.
OK! We pull into track. Register him as a 10-year old (the smaller track was similar to the running track in Falher) and pay for two races. As a parent who loves to go fast and used to live on the edge, I am truly excited for him.
The race marshals get their share of exercise running all over, getting Reid unstuck as I puff my chest out with pride. Watching him enjoy something like this is just as enjoyable for me.
Race number 2 sees Reid stay “crash free” and shows him just how difficult racing can be. Soaked with sweat but still smiling from ear to ear, we jump back into the car and head to Woodford to meet up with Creighton’s daughter who would guide us into our backwoods hacienda. We hit the local IGA to stock up on Christmas cookie baking goods and of course beer before making the twisty-turny drive to Casa Del Lund. Nestled into the hill over-looking the Glass House Mountains lies this massive 6-bedroom, 5 bath ground level property on 40 acres complete with its own pub and outdoor pool. Whaaaaaaaaattt???!!!
My old buddy Creighton Lund and his long-time friend Tecwyn Lamb are renting this pad while they are back and forth to work for the same price as their 3-bedroom apartment on the beach on the sunshine coast. They have just relocated here so we are happy to help with some cleaning and unpacking. Tecwyn is a brewer of his own spirits so I am sure I don’t have to tell you what the night turned into. A little dart throwing and some taste testing leads to a late night.
December 23/2018
First order of business happens to be Sheridans idea. Gardener Falls is a hidden gem of a swimming hole in what will prove to be a long list of these types of treats. Our drive is a short one and the walk even shorter. The beaten path leads us past a creek of still water to the slow movement of a small river to the sound of rushing rapids. The oasis that greets us is like nothing we see in Canada. The knee deep cold fresh water pool that drains into the 30 foot deep hole below allows only the ballsiest Canadians and pretty much ANY Aussie 5 years or older a special way to reach the bottom.
You JUMP, of course! I have never cliff jumped but I have jumped off of a high diving board so this will be a snap. The water is the perfect temperature to chill beer and create shrinkage. I don’t hesitate, mainly because the children are watching… Sploosh… Yup, as cold as I thought. My kids on the other hand might have trou…. HOLY SHIT! There goes Reid… I cannot express how worried I felt watching the next in line jump from this rock to the pool 15 feet below. Lela has balls of steel though and well… Bloop! Pattys turn. It’s nothin for her. She doesn’t feel cold at all anyways. This together with the next obstacle in Australia Ninja Warrior has now sent my nerves into wig out mode. My kids will now swing from a jagged cliff on a rope made of some sort of hemp material that had been knotted together 100 times after it has snapped into the same pool only now from 25 feet. Lord have mercy… Watching Reid and Lela do this made me cringe with pride. This is where Aussies go to “grow up” and my kids are here…
All goes well and our day ends at the falls. Ice cream awaits us in the tiny town of Maleny. This will be our GOTO town for the next couple weeks. Groceries, ice cream and beer can all be found in minutes by taking a roller coaster drive to town… Tomorrow is Christmas Eve! Seems odd that we are here for this festive holiday but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
December 24/2018 Christmas Eve
December 25/2018 Christmas Day
I will compile these two events into one as they consist of what I believe Christmas is all about. Spending time with family, rejoicing and giving thanks for what we have, not asking for what we don’t. A quick trip into town with Tecwyn for some last minute Christmas stuff, a haircut and pub stocking provisions is in order before the night’s festivities get going. It’s a good time to kick back and enjoy the scenery from the passenger seat. Still a bit weird though. As we crest hills and I spot cars coming directly at us though in the correct lane, it manages to continually send shivers up my spine.
Christmas Eve is spent conversing and learning a little more about each other, the journey we are on and where we all have been. Meeting new friends and catching up with old. Early to bed for the youngsters because Santa hits here first!
The innocence and belief in Santa still remains in Reid and Lela so we, as parents do our best to help with that. Since we are obviously traveling and space is an issue, small items are brought to our Australia digs by the big man in red. iTunes cards, pencil crayons etc… Small yet meaningful and useful gifts that we can pack with us going forward.
Christmas Day starts with a lovely BBQ breakfast by our resident chef, Tecwyn before the traditional Aussie style gift opening where everyone just hammers out the presents in front of them and thank yous, hugs and kisses are thrown about like beers the night before.
It is very special for us to see the gifts that we have picked up along the way appreciated and immediately put to use by their recipients. The rest of the day is spent milling about and laying in the pool while the Australian sun kisses our Canadian skin. It’s a green Christmas for The FlashPackerZ this year and we couldn’t be happier.
December 26/2018
Creighton and Tec have a tradition to host a Boxing Day Party for their closest friends and now their extended Canadian family. Here in Oz, it seems that friends and family really pride themselves or just plain enjoy taking the time out to spend with each other, help each other out and get to know about one another. Something that has slipped away back in Alberta to an extent.
As people start showing up at 11am, it starts to look like this will be a great time indeed. With all the different accents strewn about and genuine smiles on the faces of everyone, the warmth and love is felt from one corner of the house to the other.
As the night draws closer and the crowd thins, the group that is left, (10 or so) gathers on the deck for Boxing Day cheer. Stories are told and accents thicken. Two in particular stand out to us. Jimmy, originally from Scotland and Kieran who is exactly how I picture small town pub Australia keep everyone laughing hysterically as we slowly disappear one by one after the bottle of 43 and the mini beers are gone.
Mooloolaba awaits tomorrow. Gotta get some sleep…
December 27/2018
It is brutally evident that Australia is sucking the go, go, go out of me. I am struggling to determine whether or not this is a positive thing or not. Lazy mornings. Not as much of a sense of adventure.
Yeah nah… This is such a good thing! I haven’t relaxed for years! Any joint pain that I had is now gone. Patty is also seeing decreased pain. Stress, muscle and bone aches are virtually non-existent now. I have just chosen to be lazy. Lela’s stomach issues which was coined as “slight gluten intolerance” are also gone. This has started to make me think harder about the quality of food we eat in Canada.
Today we head to Mooloolaba and one of the most famous beaches in all of Oz. This beach boasts waves that are the most likely to cause spinal injuries. Big Dumping Waves that will hammer you into the sand and cripple you for life… YES! Let’s check this out! My best buddy Tom, back home has hooked us up with long-time friends of his, Adrian and Fiona. This country has been the most hospitable one that I have ever been to. We are briefly introduced at their home and kindly asked if we would like to borrow some beach stuff until they can make it down to meet us later. Boogey boards and a sun tent are welcome additions to our small arsenal of toys.
Its Christmas holidays here on the sunshine coast and the beach reflects that. Golden skin and butt-floss decorate the hot sand as others bob up and down in the amazing waves. It’s not long before the suns heat is felt so the tent makes for some useful shade. I have never seen beaches such as this, anywhere in my travels. It’s not hard to see what makes this a crazy tourist getaway. The locals come here much earlier… 6:30am starts their swim and beach day. Long gone when the flock of people show up in the heat of the day.Day turns into night and the stomachs are growly from the heat and exercise. Adrian and Fiona are taking us to one of the best seafood places in the area for a taste of Mooloolaba. Full stomachs and the hankering to get home before its dark forces us to make our way back tour car. We will be back Mooloolaba… Oh yes, we will.
The drive home is not as bad as I had first thought. We didn’t see a kangaroo nor have we seen the mysterious koala bear that I am wondering if even exist… The cool nighttime Australian air practically puts us to sleep as we arrive back at our place. Bedtime comes quickly here.
December 28/ 2018
Another BBQ breakfast, some house clean up and we are on our way to Maleny to check out the tiny town as a family. Maleny is home to a brewery known as Brouhaha. Their line-up of craft beer is ready to tickle my pallet. This is also Patty’s first time driving the backwards mobile! I am both apprehensive and trustworthy as I hop into the wrong side of the car. The roads here are abnormally crooked. Every trip in the passenger seat of a car here in Oz makes for an amusement type of ride experience. Not relaxing in any sense of the word.
Note: This morning I was a tad bit more excitable than normal though. In Australia they have spiders. Not just small spiders or medium spiders. As was cleaning some old screens for the house, (too keep several of the 86,000 species of bugs out) I moved a screen in an old garage and out ran a rabbit… No it was a cat… No wait… It’s a SPIDER! Holy batshit… This thing has a bloody body as big as my fist and a total width as wide as both my hands extended with thumbs touching. YUCK! The Huntsman spider is not venomous and does not bite. It actually is great to have around the house because, true to its name, it hunts other small, venomous spiders. Whole lotta HELL NAHHHHH right here.
Patty gets us to our destination as promised and operation Brouhaha ensues. A nice little selection of craft beers and a lovely open area pub feel makes our frosty bevvy even that much more enjoyable. Now finished up in town after grabbing some ice cream at the local “fromagerie”, some more supplies and groceries and of course our beer, we head home for a dip in the pool.
Oh the rough life we lead…
Lying there, side by side, Patty and I are discussing what we should do for supper. Leftovers are top of the list but all of a sudden, there is no power in the house. Well the Bah-Bee still works but it is suggested that we head to
Kilcoy Pub for their steak night.
Round these parts, everyone has their “steak night.” You can basically run the gamut and get a deal every night of the week. The small town feel of this place is our first pub experience here in Australia. They are also kid friendly which makes the whole child care problem disappear. A beside the bar playground as well as pool tables and ping pong keeps the littles entertained while mom and dad have a frosty pint! A great night was had by all. Back home for some sleep.
December 29/2018
Mary Cairncross Reserve is a conservation park located on the Blackall Range east of Maleny, here in the sunshine coast in Queensland. The reserve overlooks mountain rainforests and the Glass House Mountains. We have had this view now for the better part of 2 weeks now and it doesn’t get old. It consists of 55 acres of subtropical rainforest and the main species of tree us the Australian Red Cedar which can reach around 60m (180 ft) in height and have a trunk that is 3m (9 ft) in diameter. These trees can often be seen engulfed in a maze of vines known as the Strangler Fig. At times, the host tree can die and leave the Strangler Fig to become a “columnar tree” with a hollow central core.
20 species of lizards, 139 different birds, 3 types of bats, 14 kinds of snakes and 14 different species of frogs all call this park home. To stop and listen is a treat in its own. So much can be heard in the rainforest if you take the time to pay attention. Another very interactive park for kids and adults alike.
December 30/2018
I have not seen a kangaroo yet. I am starting to think that they may be a made-up mystical creature that the Australians fabricated to bring in tourism. Creighton has a plan to out an end to my disbelief and books a tee time in Woodford for a party of three in the afternoon.
The morning will be spent exploring once more. Kondalilla National park is home to the Kondalilla Falls and nature walk. Kondalilla is an Aboriginal word meaning rushing water and that can be seen after an amazing 2.5km walk to the 80m high falls. Our time is limited here as golfing awaits but we take the opportunity to head down to the falls and check out the rock-water pools.
The walk back is quite the workout session. I am not sure the flight level but the temperature mixed with the incline made for 4 completely soaked Canadians once we hit the top. A stop for ice cream is definitely a must for the kids.
Arriving back at the house, a van has broken down by the side of the road and three young ladies look to need our assistance. We help as much as we can but both pay grade and a tee time force a call to the tow truck or what I can only imagine would be called a tow “ute” and we are off to the links! Arriving at the Woodford Golf Club the temperature reads a balmy 31C and I am beginning to question our tee time selection as the course is empty…
This feeling disappears very quickly as Creighton points out the mysterious creature that I have longed to see here. The ROO!! Not only one roo. There are multiple. These creatures are a nuisance and a pest to the locals and are far from an attraction but for this Canadian, I am like a kid in a candy store. It was probably a good thing that the course was dead. I spent more time taking pictures of kangaroos than I did looking for my golf balls.
The novelty did not wear off for the entire afternoon nor has it worn off now, a few days later as I write this blog. Amazing and fascinating creations indeed.
December 31/2018
New Year’s eve here in Oz and what better way than to spend it at one of Australia’s most famous attractions, the Australia Zoo and home to the late Steve Irwin better known as the Crocodile Hunter. The Irwin family still owns and runs the zoo located in Beerwah, Queensland.
This zoo boasts 1000 different animals and around 700,000 annual visitors.
Right off the bat, this was proving to be a day to remember. Hands on snake petting and live eagles greeted us immediately. Research had shown us that the crocodile show was something to look forward too but the whole experience leading up to it was amazing. The Zoo was set up so well for the animals and visitors alike. Viewing was perfect while the animals all had plenty of room to roam.
The Croc Experience did not let us down. An amazing bird show plus a crocodile feeding and lesson, heart pumping music and atmosphere, made for a very exhilarating yet emotional hour. The tribute to Steve Irwin had us watching many of his old interviews and really showed his passion for the animals and commitment to conservation. Hats off to the Irwin family for keeping this dream alive.
Totally gassed by the 8kms walked in 30C heat, we head back, inspired and amazed. Even though these animals are in captivity, Most have been born in this zoo and if not for the help from this organization, would never have been born at all.
The rest of the evening was spent with friends and new family. What a great evening indeed! Happy New Year from Australia!
I could have written everyday of the love that Patty puts into her passion. I chose the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019 to display something special that happened during our stay… Between our arrival and our departure from the Maleny area, Patty has found her “happy place” again. Never was she more content at home but in the basement, painting and whistling as she created her amazing works of art. We wont leave this place with just empty beer cans… Check these out! No she didn’t bring her own tools either. The lady is an artist and artists adapt… A rendition of the Glass House Mountains to one of her signature works, I couldn’t wipe the smile off of her face if I tried.
January 1/2019
New Year’s Day came in with a bang… Mostly in my head. We are so lucky and so blessed to be able to be here in one of the most beautiful countries in the world surrounded by incredible people.
The day was spent visiting and making calls to home as well as enjoying the back-yard pool. For toooooo long. Please remember your sunscreen before you fall asleep! Apparently, Patty, the kids, Sheridan and many others warned of great sunburns should one not lather thy skin. Well this proved true. I was red. Not just “rose” but CRIMSON. Nonetheless, good times had by all and my burn never did peel and since has turned into a tan on a Norse God’s body.
There isn’t much more to write. It’s hard to document the stories that were told and the people that you got to know. Our good byes were said to Paula and Gary as they left for home in Adelaide and soon to hop on their bi monthly cruise. That’s right. A cruise every two weeks. Boom. Living life right…
January 2/2019
Today we decided that it’s time for us to get off our asses and do some exploring. Brisbane is a cool, hip town with much to see and 2.4 million people and since parking sucks, we will take the train!
The kids need some culture and we need some kms on the Fitbit…
First stop is, well, basically the first building we see. The Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art. Surprisingly, this is absolutely free and will invoke both culture and excitement in our children. I have always been a fan of art. Patty of course has as well and both Reid and Lela are not afraid to splash a canvas when the opportunity arises. The museum holds exhibits both contemporary and modern. The hands-on activities for kids as well as the film programs that accompanied the exhibition were amazing. This was a very “intensely cultural” day mixed with some good old fashion fun. I would recommend this to anyone as a very inexpensive addition to the Brisbane experience.
Of course when in South Bank, one must hit one of the tallest Ferris Wheels, The Wheel of Brisbane. A ride on this wheel will take you almost 60 metres above the ground in air-conditioned gondolas and as sweet ass view of Australia’s “hippest” cities. If I were to do it again. I would recommend the champagne option. If you are going to be suspended 200 feet above the pavement, you may as well be drinking. All in all it was nice but we weren’t blown away. I wouldn’t do it again but it wasn’t a total disappointment.
The water taxis in Brisbane are free. The red boats cart patrons back and forth around the Brisbane River waterway, one side to the other for absolutely free. This is a very inexpensive way to see the city and saves you on walking when its 30C outside. Recommend for sure. Get there early because they fill up and you don’t want to wait in line twice in the Australia heat.
On our water taxi trip, we were taken within view of the famous Story Bridge. This is the longest cantilever bridge in Australia spanning 2549ft and connects fortitude valley to kangaroo point. You can book tours of the bridge where you can actually walk to the top with harness and lanyard. We didn’t have time but if we come back, we may have to check that out.
A long train ride home and a 45-minute car ride in the dark makes for a tired foursome. Its ok though! The FlashPackerZ are back at it and exploring Australia! Tomorrow looks like a local exploring day. Not much else.
January 4/2019
Since yesterday was not really discussion worthy besides heading into Maleny with the kids and enjoying the park then a pint at Brouhaha, I chose to skip it. Today we head to Gold Coast to meet up with an old but dear friend. As we make the drive to GC, Patty is always on the lookout for fun things to do with the kids. Along the beach in an area called Redcliffe there is an open water fun park called Aqua Splash. I believe there was an Aqua Splash in Sylvan Lake awhile back. I had never been to one.
This is basically a bouncy castle, slidey, balancing park that sits on the water. Life vests and headbands are mandatory and the suggestion of leaving your sunnys (sunglasses) at the front desk. I didn’t really know what to expect but was quickly schooled as to how friggin’ hard it is to climb on slippery shit in the middle of the ocean. The hour-long session was all we needed to completely exhaust ourselves. All in the name of fun. Both the kids had an absolute blast besides the belly-flops and knee scrapes.
I put a big check mark on recommend if you want some well-placed fun in the middle of travel. Inexpensive and a great workout. Being gassed and hungry all at the same time leads to one or more of the family losing their shit. This happens. We are around each other 24/7 but sometimes forget to communicate as we should. I forget that my kids are kids sometimes. I can’t make them love travel. They don’t hate it but it takes its toll. A couple of hours, full bellies and some hugs and we are all back to where we should be. We love each other and need to be respectful of each other’s feelings. This is a lesson that I am happy to learn.
I am so thankful that our hotel in GC is only a hop, skip and jump away. A nap is the first thing on the agenda. Picking up Jared at Coolangatta Airport at 9:30pm.
Jared Roberts and I worked together 18 years ago in Edmonton, AB and have kept in some sort of contact ever since then. We had built a great friendship and I hope to rekindle it with a visit from the Melbourne native. Nothing but smiles ensue as we all greet Jared at the airport. A nice cheese sandwich dinner and too many hours up reminiscing of old times sees us awaken for a fun filled day of bullshitting and some CRICKET!
January 5/2019
On our way past the Metricon Stadium in GC yesterday, we notice that The Sydney Thunder are playing the Melbourne Stars in a BBL (Big Bash League) cricket match this evening. I know nothing about this game and have never had any intention to go to as match but…
When in Rome!
I am choosing this as an opportunity to show my kids the sporting culture of the country. Other than cricket, rugby is the sport to hit but in mid-summer there is no rugby matches. The only problem with hitting this game is the time to get Jared back to the airport and us back to Maleny before the sun comes up. We all decide that half a match is better than none and at $20 a ticket, the price is right.
The day preceding the cricket match consists of a great breaky, and Bounce Inc. This is an indoor trampoline park with an American Ninja Warrior portion included. Both Reid and Lela enjoyed another grueling hour of sweat and exercise while we three took pictures and stayed cool. This was again, well worth the Australian dollars. Great entertainment at a very affordable price.
Onto the match to scope out parking. There is no parking available at the arena unless you buy a prepaid pass. You CANNOT purchase this pass on the “day of” the match. This means we either find parking somewhere else or park 15 minutes away and ride a shuttle.
Yeah Nah…
As we head around back to see exactly what the whole area is about, we are greeted by parking attendants already in place. Shoot! As we draw closer, I kindly ask Jared to mute his Aussie accent. I am going to pull out the helpless tourist card
How are ya today eh? I say…
Genevieve, politely asks what we are looking for. I plead our case that we are Canadian tourists taking in the game but do not know where to park. She motions towards the south an explains that we may have to take a shuttle to the game from about 20 minutes away. Again, I reason with her asking if there is any way I can slip her a twenty for a premium parking spot at the game as we will be needing to leave early to head to the airport. Jared needed to catch a flight back to Melbourne. Gen was not wavering. She explained how she cannot take bribes. Hahahaha. I retorted. You aren’t a cop, are you? We all had a good chuckle which was obviously a great way to break the ice because Gen changed her mind and declared primo parking for the Canadians! Come back later and see me. I will have a spot for you.
Small acts of kindness do not go unnoticed in my world.
Back to the beach for a bit until game-time. The sun is BLAZING hot and we are all in dire need of a shower or a pint. Since showering naked on the beach is not advised, we let the kids play a bit and head for a frosty one. Our spot awaits us when we arrive back at the Canadian checkpoint. We hand her a card and let her in on our trip. I am writing this several days later and since then Gen has put a shout out to us on Instagram! We truly appreciate what you did for us my dear. Thanks again!
Never being to a cricket match and unknowing of its rules, this should be a good chance for all of us to learn something new. Jared of course is keen to the rules and the game so he fills us in on a bunch. Fours, Sixes, wickets etc… Confusing but we start to get the hang of it. The seats we have are right at the dugout of the Sydney Thunder. Technically the visiting team but since we are also visitors, it seems fitting that we cheer for them. Reid is fast on the autographs and I am fast on the pints of draft. What is an outdoor sporting event in 30C heat if you can’t drink beer? Just as we get into the game and start to understand its purpose, halftime hits and we must go. We have to get our Aussie mate to his plane and us on our way.
Until we meet again Jared!
The long drive home in the dark is tiring but all goes well and we return to our pad for the last time. The morning brings our exit from hotel Lund/Lamb.
January 6/2019
On this day we head north to one of the Natural Wonders of the World, The Great Barrier Reef. Spanning roughly 2300km along the Australian coast line from north to west, this phenomenon is the only living thing that can be viewed from space.
Our drive is a four-hour scenic tour from Maleny to Bundaberg. Bundy is best known for its famous rum distillery. Upon arrival in Bundy, it is a Sunday and unbeknownst to us, basically a shutdown day for this coastal town. No worries though, we find food and drink so all is good to go when we hit our cool, two-bedroom Air B&B for a good night’s sleep. We found Bundaberg to be rather chopped up. No flow whatsoever to this town. A quaint little place nonetheless but didn’t have a real homie feel to it.
January 7/2019
REEF DAY!! How can you visit Australia and not see the reef? The only way to do it is to book a tour. The Lady Musgrave Experience is a huge catamaran ship that takes you on a 2.5-hour trip from Bundy to Lady Musgrave Island and the surrounding reef.
This is where it gets good.
Awakening form our slumber, on time but not early, we board the ship not knowing what the day has in store for us. The previous evening, an email was sent out to make sure and take some motion sickness tablets as the sea was to be a tad rough on excursion day. This sounded cute. Cute was not the word for this experience. As we left the calm confines of the bay, the sea became a bit rough, yes. Have you seen The Perfect Storm? Having never been in a situation like this, it felt exactly like we were in that movie. Within 45 minutes, half the ship had their faces in puke bags. Lela included. This was not fun at all. Not even remotely. My coffee cup was splashing coffee all over me and it had a friggin’ lid on it. Patty wanted me to take two bags of puke to the garbage but I kindly placed them on the floor because I was not confident in my walking abilities. Holy shitballs!! We have 2 more hours of this???!!
The sea did not calm down. If anything it got worse. All you could hear in the cabin was the sound of retching. With around 1 hour remaining, we head outside to take our chances with fresh air and a better look at the horizon. Lela has now puked the equivalent of her body weight and Patty is now feeling queasy. Reid and myself are holding up surprisingly well as we sit outside at the very beck of the boat on a bench holding on for dear life as the ship gets battered by 3 METER swells. Friggin’ nightmares are made of this shit.
Patty and Lela retreat back into the cabin because of the chills and Reid and I wait it out in the open air. I take this as a chance to bond with my boy. A cuddle session of sorts. Patty decides that her breakfast needs to be regurgitated inside and Lela somehow manages to fall asleep.
Soon, land is on the horizon, the seas calm and the reef appears. All has not been forgotten but it most definitely filed away for now. We are humbled by its beauty and are amazed by the amounts of living things this organism sustains. I do not have enough knowledge of the reef to get into the whole “the reef is dying” speech but we did see first-hand how certain parts differ from others which is called bleaching. Still overall, the sheer size of this massive coral structure is enough to make us see how small we are in comparison to the world.
Lady Musgrave Island itself was a thing of beauty as well. An island made completely of coral, this island is home to many species of bird as well as several species of sea turtles. These birds migrate here from Papua, New Guinea and if they can survive the Pisonia tree or “bird catcher” which is the tree that they ironically nest in, they will inhabit this island until making their way back to the mainland. The Pisonia tree produces sticky seedpods that entrap insects, lure birds in for a free lunch thus killing them as well in its sticky clutches by basically starving them to death.
All of us had to constantly be aware of falling bird poop. Reid and I were both lucky enough to get our hats painted by white splatters. Yummy! A quick tour around the island and a glass bottom boat ride exposing the different corals, fish, turtles and other living organisms brought us back to the ship for our GBR snorkeling experience!
f there was two things that I was not aware that I sucked at, they were quickly revealed to me here. Snorkeling and underwater photography.
My video and picture quality of this natural wonder is by far less then excellent and most of the pacific ocean was in my mouth and stomach but it was truly enjoyable for all of us. Flippers also suck. Ha!
I don’t know how to explain the next feeling. As we finished our snorkeling and prepared to embark on the ride back, a kind of “oh geeze, here we go again” came over me. Luckily, I enjoy learning about people and decided to start a conversation with a fella overlooking the whole scuba/snorkel fest. He would shout out to the crew if there was a turtle to show the tourists or let others know if someone was venturing a bit too far. We told him of our trip and he asked how we liked it so far. I asked about the waves earlier and he started to explain different tricks on how to get by “the feeling”.
Little did I know, this was none other than the Captain of our vessel.
Captain Brett was now our ticket to “no pukey pukey town.” He explained that to achieve this, we must head outside, to the very front of the ship, directly in front of him. No one ever goes there he says. It’s the best seat in the house! Whaaaaattt????!!! To be front and centre on the craziest ride I have had to date was not my idea of “best seat in the house” but we had to trust in Brett.
The seats were indeed the best seats in the house! Together with the fresh air and pieces of tissue in our ears, we were enlightened as to how the seas were navigated. There were times that I thought the boat would throw me off but most of the time I witnessed the swells being missed with such precision as to not hit the valleys beside and avoiding a collision or a ride up a wave that would most certainly make someone inside yak!
It was both an entertaining and stressful ride yet something I will most likely never experience again. I stood for the most part, hanging onto the handrail as the ship ran up and slammed down into the sea. It was what kept me from getting sick myself, I am sure. Reid withstood the storm and came out on the other side unscathed as well.
Safely arrived and docked, Captain Brett wishes us a fair-well by letting the kids into the captain’s deck, sit in the chair and press a few “sign off” buttons. Another great experience for them. Of course it’s the FlashPackerZ that make friends with the captain! That’s how we roll…
The Lady Musgrave Experience was very much an “experience” we will never forget. For this we are thankful.
January 8/2019
The drive to Kingscliff will be a long one. Around 6 hours or so. Tonight I spend some time in the tattoo chair at Absolute Tattoo. These guys have been outstanding in putting up with my schedule changes and our date screwups. Getting situated in our hotel in south Kingscliff, we are pleased to see a beautiful art gallery in the lobby and garden area outside. The beach is a few-minute walk through the rainforest path and our room is like a five-star resort. All of this, if you can imagine, pristine 3-5 years ago until the hotel changed hands. We could see the beauty of it though unkempt. It was our oasis for now.
Arriving at 5pm on the dot as agreed on by myself and the tattoo parlour, I am met by a rather blocky bloke with roughly 3 square inches of open skin on his body. Rady is to be my ink master today.
My hope is to get the Norwegian Triskelion of Odin’s horns (from our previous overseas excursion) plus a rainbow serpent to represent Australia. I chose this parlour to do my Norway tattoo because of their reputation for good work and because, well, the triskelion is absolutely SICK!!
Price already agreed upon and the decision to scrap the Vietnam tattoo because of time constraints, we finally get to work around 5:30pm. This was 6 hours of great conversation, Australia history, building new friendships and agonizing pain. I had never gotten a multi coloured tattoo nor had I ever been tattooed so close to my neck. Frickin’ chicken!! All good though. Pain only lasts for a moment. The work Rady did was incredible as you can see from the photos. I am very happy with what he did. Well worth the money and I highly recommend anyone in the eastern shore area of Australia to look him up. Great fella and a master of his craft!
January 9/2019
In the morning I awoke to what looked like a murder scene in my bed. Pillow and sheet, colored beautifully with a salve/ink/blood mixture that I was for sure would cost me extra when checking out. Crisis averted… Washed out easily. Rady is a believer in the breathing of his tattoos. The first couple I received in China and Japan both had a second skin applied. Not these ones. They took a bit more care and as I write this, 3 days later, both are looking very vibrant and healthy.
Originally my tattoo date was to be today but we figured out last night so that left us with a day to fill. A hidden gem of this area are the Fingal Head Causeways and Cook Island. What an incredible sight! The most notable causeways in the world have to be the Giant Causeways in Northern Ireland. These towering hexagonal Basalt structures are beautiful and amazing indeed. Formed by super slow cooling lava rock, these towers are monstrous! Here, at Kingscliff are one if the few collections of these wonders. Together with the crashing of the waves upon the shore and the Cook Island in the background, this made for a spectacular day in Australia. That’s for sure. Getting back to our oasis, we head out to explore our backyard beach and are met with a deserted paradise which we enjoy for a moment before heading back in for some dinner and some sleep.
January 10/2019
Today marks our last day in Australia. Saddened at the thought of our departure, we still manage to get our car to the rental shop on time so as to catch our 2:30pm plane to Auckland, New Zealand. Or at least that’s what both Patty and I thought was our flight time. Looking at the clock and seeing 10:30am when your flight leaves at 11:30am and you are still standing in the car rental shop is not a good feeling.
Nobody’s fault but our own, we subsequently miss our flight to NZ.
Note: Travel has its ups and downs. Even the most seasoned traveler is bound to miss a flight. Neither of us held any ill will towards each other although it made for a very stressful time on the family, unsure of the future when the future was sure only moments ago. Lesson – the future is never sure.
This was a great learning curve. Patty and I have travelled extensively but by no means are “seasoned veterans.” Booking with discount airlines has its perks. The biggest being much cheaper if you are on a budget. They also have their flaws. We did not research the missed flight policy of Air Asia.
Normally, the big-name airlines have small unwritten rules and loopholes that would have allowed us to get on the next available flight at no charge or for a small fee based on the “tow hour rule” or the fact that we actually called ahead of time notifying them of our tardiness.
Not this discount airline. I truly thought we could meet in the middle with perhaps Airport tax, baggage fees, processing etc, refunded but it was a no go. I was disappointed in the lack of leeway but also realized that they are discount for a reason and it was 100% our mistake.
No bashing of Air Asia at all… ON PAPER.
DO BE AWARE when booking that if you miss your flight, you are responsible for the entire ticket and will be forced to rebook and cover the entire cost of that ticket as well. If we had connections or any added flights with that airline connected with that ticket, they would be void as well.
Lesson learned. Expensive $1600 lesson but lesson learned nonetheless.
Another day in Australia ain’t so bad is it?
Finally booking our one night stay close to the airport for tomorrows rebooked flight with Virgin Airlines, we look for water. The stress still being felt by one or more members needs ocean and beach. A short walk takes us to a dog friendly beach that provides the kids and my lovely wife with swimming and myself some entertainment watching the planes overhead as well as my handstand challenge with a young beach body fella…
He didn’t see this coming, chuckling as I announced my challenge. 3…2…1… Go! He lightly and efficiently jumps up into a full handstand for some 10 seconds or so and comes crashing to the ground laughing as this crafty old Canadian is still “standing on his hands.” Literally. Game, set, match…
A lovely Domino’s pizza supper by the hotel pool and wine on the deck sees us melt into our hotel beds ready for an early morning wake up as we double check our flight time. For the 5th time…
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