Sunday we took the 199 bus to the West End to find Mick's Nuts. It's a tiny shop filled to the rafters with nuts, dried fruits, flour, beans, crackers, coffee and a million other things. We had a heaping bag of dried fruit, chocolate covered almonds, chocolate covered espresso beans, black beans and a trio of berries. I'm sure I'm forgetting something cause that bag was heavy!
Ugh....Tuesday I woke up with a screaming headache and just could not go to French. Then Wednesday I was on my way to meet Dave and some friends at the Green Beacon Brewery and as I was walking down the boardwalk my shoe was all weird. I took it off to fix it and when I was putting it back on, I fell down! How utterly embarrassing! I popped up, but my nail had bent back and was bleeding and my hand started puffing up like a puffer fish! I went back to the apartment, applied a big bandage to my hand and found different shoes. An hour later I was at the bar and having fun. Just for the record here because I know that Suzanne is going to ask....I had not been drinking, nor did I have my contacts in or even just one AND I had one earring in each ear with just one backing. Lol. Three days later I can now move my pointer finger but not so much my thumb. I also cannot grip anything with my hand without it aching. Badly sprained is my diagnosis and I'm sticking to it.
Anzac day here on Thursday. It's like our Memorial Day and a public holiday with lots of dawn ceremonies and parades. Anzac biscuits are a hot item and they taste like oatmeal and coconut.
Dave went a half day to work on Friday. On the way home on the CityKat he saw dolphins in the river. The ocean water must be going up river and they came to see what was happening here. Very cool.
Today is Saturday and the New Farm market. We walked about 2 miles down there purchased a bunch of fresh fruits and veg and then had to reward ourselves with a 2foot long bockwurst smothered in kraut!.....but of course since we shared there was room to share a flat white and almond croissant......we had a lovely time. On the way back however disaster struck. Halfway home on the boardwalk and my flip flop broke...bloody hell. So threw them in the first trash can I saw and had to walk barefoot the rest of the way. The sidewalk is gravel in cement, so you can imagine the foot massage I was getting!
Late this afternoon we went down to the boardwalk and sat on the bench to watch the river traffic and the setting sun. Lovely....
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
April 20th
Decided to take the train to Caboolture and then a bus to Bribie Island. Dave had said we were going to hike and I was all prepared for that, but somehow we ended up on Woorim Beach. We ate at the Crab Pot Fish and Chips then headed over to the surf shop so that I could get some flip flops. We spread out one tiny beach towel and started to hunt for cool shells and relax. I was wearing capris that got wet up past my knees..but they dried out by the time we headed out on another bus to explore the rest of the town. Not much there and we headed back to the train station to catch the last train back to Brisbane.
Friday, April 12, 2013
April 11 & 12
Found a pizza place that tastes like USA pizza. Obviously a big deal to me if I'm blogging about it! Lol. Found it in Fortitude Valley and it's called Soul pizza. Dave even found a bottle of wine for a BYO that had the name PAXTON. Priceless!
Today we caught the bus to West End to check out a place called Mick's Nuts. Teeny tiny place and the owner who is 81 years old still works there with his family. Line out the door and the store is literally packed to the rafters with goodies. Here's what we could not walk away from...dark chocolate covered espresso beans, dark chocolate covered almonds, dried figs, dried apricots, mixed fruit and nut blend, banana chips and dried black bean which is quite a rare find here. Lovely....we will be going back.
Today we caught the bus to West End to check out a place called Mick's Nuts. Teeny tiny place and the owner who is 81 years old still works there with his family. Line out the door and the store is literally packed to the rafters with goodies. Here's what we could not walk away from...dark chocolate covered espresso beans, dark chocolate covered almonds, dried figs, dried apricots, mixed fruit and nut blend, banana chips and dried black bean which is quite a rare find here. Lovely....we will be going back.
Sunday
Up early to check out with Marge. Dave mentioned the sheet issue and she told him they were still working out the kinks with the new detergent. We just shrugged and headed down to The Coffee Club for a hearty brekkie. Mmmm, poached eggs with toast and a mocha. Little did I know this was the last time I would have an actual meal for the next 12 hours!
While Colette and Dave were picking up hot cross buns at the bakery, Bill asked me if I wanted to drive....yes! No people or animals were hurt, so sit back and relax when you read this next part....of course they drive on the opposite side of the road and the windshield wipers and turn signals are switched and then this....everyone is in the car and I've made sure I've heard the click of seat belts being put on....and I put the car in reverse. Or what I thought was reverse until the three of them with great urgency said to me...Lori! You're in drive!! Okay, note to self, this is also reverse in cars here. I calmly corrected my mistake, looked in all mirrors and backed up. Driving is not so hard! Lol. Down the nearly deserted street and out of town to the highway. I should note here that highways, unless they are 4 lanes, are bumpy, uneven, potholed and otherwise look like they have been laid by people who are just learning this trade. I know it sounds a little harsh, but true. So I'm cruising at 100km (60 miles an hour), and Bill is in the front seat with me. I'm going good and even start chatting along with everyone, when we hit the road to the Bunya Mountain and hiking. This road is about wide enough to handle 1 1/2 cars and obviously I'm going a lot slower although Dave would like me to drive even slower. A few cars pass and I move over in the tall grass...no shoulder here either! And then.....came to a guard rail and was probably in the middle of it and a car comes from the other way and not stopping. So I move over to have us both fit in the road and I have never seen anyone jump faster than Bill! Let's say he cringed and balled up and got really close to my side of the car. And I heard Dave make a sound in the back as well. Lol. Due to my excellent driving techniques and abilities I did not hit or scrape or otherwise harm any part of the car or people inside the car. But I guess I was really, really, REALLY close to the guard rail. I drove on, parked us at the hike we wanted and felt a sense of accomplishment..
We hiked all the trails in the area, 15k in one afternoon. It was beautiful with all the waterfalls, paths, scenery when we were on top of the mountain and the fern covered landscape. There were 48 kinds of birds and 19 mammals that live here. We saw a lot of birds, but only one kangaroo in the parking lot! I looked down a lot for snakes which never materialized, thank goodness! The paths were strewn with some big rocks and dead leaves. We came to a few spots that were muddy and we had to figure out a way around. At one point it looked like the trees and vegetation had grown into a tunnel for us to go through. Very cool! One of the paths even took us through a huge tree. We did munch on some granola I had made, so Bon apetit!
Just as we were coming out of this dense semi tropical hiking path, it started to sprinkle. We were hungry so we decide to head for the cafe and all of a sudden the heavens opened up. This was some serious rain!! Non-stopping, pouring down flooding rain. We are looking at the cafe menu and you know when you're super hungry and nothing sounds good...that's what was happening. So Bill decides to dash for the car and almost wipes out. We wait until he pulls the car closer for our dash.
It's Easter and a Sunday and that's two strikes against finding a restaurant open, but we are hungry and start driving. Nothing, nothing, nothing and the granola comes out again. Nothing, nothing, then the Stanley Hotel. This is a old place, two story, and has slot machines in one room and a dart board in the other. We go in and ask if they are still serving dinner and the man says they have pizza tonight on the menu. Great....although the pizza here is not really what anyone in the States would call pizza, we are used to it by now. We order two pizzas to the tune of $40. No surprise. We go to the back room to wait and order a beer. When the pizza comes out we just look at each other....think about Tony's pizza, the kind you can buy 10 for $5. That's what we got and the sad part is that we were so hungry we didn't even care too much at that point!
Drove on home with Bill finding ticks on him and Colette freaking out. Dave and I were free and clear of ticks.
While Colette and Dave were picking up hot cross buns at the bakery, Bill asked me if I wanted to drive....yes! No people or animals were hurt, so sit back and relax when you read this next part....of course they drive on the opposite side of the road and the windshield wipers and turn signals are switched and then this....everyone is in the car and I've made sure I've heard the click of seat belts being put on....and I put the car in reverse. Or what I thought was reverse until the three of them with great urgency said to me...Lori! You're in drive!! Okay, note to self, this is also reverse in cars here. I calmly corrected my mistake, looked in all mirrors and backed up. Driving is not so hard! Lol. Down the nearly deserted street and out of town to the highway. I should note here that highways, unless they are 4 lanes, are bumpy, uneven, potholed and otherwise look like they have been laid by people who are just learning this trade. I know it sounds a little harsh, but true. So I'm cruising at 100km (60 miles an hour), and Bill is in the front seat with me. I'm going good and even start chatting along with everyone, when we hit the road to the Bunya Mountain and hiking. This road is about wide enough to handle 1 1/2 cars and obviously I'm going a lot slower although Dave would like me to drive even slower. A few cars pass and I move over in the tall grass...no shoulder here either! And then.....came to a guard rail and was probably in the middle of it and a car comes from the other way and not stopping. So I move over to have us both fit in the road and I have never seen anyone jump faster than Bill! Let's say he cringed and balled up and got really close to my side of the car. And I heard Dave make a sound in the back as well. Lol. Due to my excellent driving techniques and abilities I did not hit or scrape or otherwise harm any part of the car or people inside the car. But I guess I was really, really, REALLY close to the guard rail. I drove on, parked us at the hike we wanted and felt a sense of accomplishment..
We hiked all the trails in the area, 15k in one afternoon. It was beautiful with all the waterfalls, paths, scenery when we were on top of the mountain and the fern covered landscape. There were 48 kinds of birds and 19 mammals that live here. We saw a lot of birds, but only one kangaroo in the parking lot! I looked down a lot for snakes which never materialized, thank goodness! The paths were strewn with some big rocks and dead leaves. We came to a few spots that were muddy and we had to figure out a way around. At one point it looked like the trees and vegetation had grown into a tunnel for us to go through. Very cool! One of the paths even took us through a huge tree. We did munch on some granola I had made, so Bon apetit!
Just as we were coming out of this dense semi tropical hiking path, it started to sprinkle. We were hungry so we decide to head for the cafe and all of a sudden the heavens opened up. This was some serious rain!! Non-stopping, pouring down flooding rain. We are looking at the cafe menu and you know when you're super hungry and nothing sounds good...that's what was happening. So Bill decides to dash for the car and almost wipes out. We wait until he pulls the car closer for our dash.
It's Easter and a Sunday and that's two strikes against finding a restaurant open, but we are hungry and start driving. Nothing, nothing, nothing and the granola comes out again. Nothing, nothing, then the Stanley Hotel. This is a old place, two story, and has slot machines in one room and a dart board in the other. We go in and ask if they are still serving dinner and the man says they have pizza tonight on the menu. Great....although the pizza here is not really what anyone in the States would call pizza, we are used to it by now. We order two pizzas to the tune of $40. No surprise. We go to the back room to wait and order a beer. When the pizza comes out we just look at each other....think about Tony's pizza, the kind you can buy 10 for $5. That's what we got and the sad part is that we were so hungry we didn't even care too much at that point!
Drove on home with Bill finding ticks on him and Colette freaking out. Dave and I were free and clear of ticks.
Easter weekend
On the road again...with Bill and Colette. This time we decide to go to the Bunya Mountains to hike. We start out and I have challenged Bill to find me some things along the way...koala, vineyard, yarn, etc. We drive through a town called Blackbutt and we are commenting on how it is spelled black butt and chuckling about it, then we see the shop called Butt Art. We decide that no one will believe us if we don't take a picture of the sign. As we are taking a picture, I spot a fabric store and Colette and I get out of the car to investigate. It's a small shop and while Dave and Bill were looking at fabric (who knew that they had a crafty bone in their bodies!), we looked for yarn. One small plastic bin filled with what was the ugliest, cheapest yarn was sitting on the floor under a table. Not quite what I was looking for and we left. We then passed the Bun Pub....there's a theme here!
Found the Oceanview Winery and had a small tasting, however not a view of the ocean. False advertising. Sigh. They had a lovely vineyard and what looked like a nice restaurant though.
On to Dalby where Marge checked us into the Dalby Manor Motor Inn. This was a certified clean hotel mind you. It was what I would imagine a 1950's hotel would look like. Clean, concrete walls, somewhat industrial. Colette immediately started looking for bed bugs, which seemed like a good idea to me, certified or not you always want to check! Well, the good news is no bed bugs and the bad news is our sheets had a yellow stain on them. Sorry to those that are squeamish .... The sheets were crisp and clean though. So Dave and I took the sheet off the smaller bed and used that instead. The chairs were also stained and looked dirty, but "a little dirt don't hurt" right??! Our standards have gone the way of the dinosaur. This room cost us $130 and Dave talked them down from $160!
We walked about a mile to dinner where Dave and I stayed with the theme and had rump roast. Hahahahahahahahahahaha. It was good and the mashed potatoes were not too bad. Walked back and played a game before going to bed.
Found the Oceanview Winery and had a small tasting, however not a view of the ocean. False advertising. Sigh. They had a lovely vineyard and what looked like a nice restaurant though.
On to Dalby where Marge checked us into the Dalby Manor Motor Inn. This was a certified clean hotel mind you. It was what I would imagine a 1950's hotel would look like. Clean, concrete walls, somewhat industrial. Colette immediately started looking for bed bugs, which seemed like a good idea to me, certified or not you always want to check! Well, the good news is no bed bugs and the bad news is our sheets had a yellow stain on them. Sorry to those that are squeamish .... The sheets were crisp and clean though. So Dave and I took the sheet off the smaller bed and used that instead. The chairs were also stained and looked dirty, but "a little dirt don't hurt" right??! Our standards have gone the way of the dinosaur. This room cost us $130 and Dave talked them down from $160!
We walked about a mile to dinner where Dave and I stayed with the theme and had rump roast. Hahahahahahahahahahaha. It was good and the mashed potatoes were not too bad. Walked back and played a game before going to bed.
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