Thursday we took the train to Wynnum to see Jill. Over an hour-long ride there was very little evidence of the flooding as we travelled east of Brisbane - it is the inland and west where the inundations are - the rest carry on as near normal suffering only an occasional shortage in the shops.
Jill had arranged for us to do an official tour of the Port of Brisbane - a very impressive new and ongoing development reclaimed from the sea. Some very large enterprises there - coal, grain, woodchips, cement, cars etc with big ships, container depots and lots of automation. We were fascinated by the automated straddle carriers which raced around picking up and depositing huge loads with no sign of a human. Here’s a few ships for you Paul – British Osprey, Hoegh Xiamen, Medi Bangkok and Corona Infinity. Some very good wetland areas too and a smart Visitors’ Centre for a good lunch after which we went to visit Auntie Marjorie who is looking marvellous for 101! A good yarn about times old and new. A lovely day. Thank you Jill.
Friday we decided to visit the Toombul shopping Centre, a big Westfield shopping development a 15 minute (still) free train ride away, for some bits and pieces and saw things we decided not to buy! But Saturday, after a morning’s local run on the bikes we weakened and went back!
Firstly, our ride took us along the shore - what a difference a bike makes - and on an exploration of the locality! The sea was high, as predicted for the King Tide, but did not flood the sea front - just a few splashes. Lovely sunny weather, 28c and a cooling sea breeze made it a perfect morning complemented by the fillet steak we cooked for lunch back at the ranch! Mr Motivator and I then jumped up for the trip back to Toombul where a indoor bicycle trainer and other great cycling things from K-Mart called! It’s quite a big box but we will worry about that later! But Kate! I lost my lovely hat! Happily I called in at Salvos on the way back and got a Mumbimbo Aussie bowling hat for $2 to wear at Playa Blanca!! I will need it as we are forecast sun and 28c-30c for the next 8 days.
Afterwards I did some washing and was transported back to Te Kauwhata with my Hill’s Hoist and nappies that dried in 20 minutes on a good day!
For those of you who have missed them the photos are piling up below at the bottom of the blogs!