Ballet, Brisbane, Buses and Friends

Brisbane   The Bolshoi 

The real reason for this trip wasn't to simply trip 'round the place, visiting picturesque or beautiful places and catching up with friends, new or old. We left our paradise at Ochre Ridge principally to see the Bolshoi perform 'Le Corsaire' at the Lyric Theatre in Brisbane's Arts Centre.  

Yes, it would have been quicker to fly. We already did that. It's expensive in terms of money, low in appreciation of the places in-between and wasteful of resources. So, as you might have already seen, we are in 'wander' mode, spending our valuable time looking more carefully at the places between stops and enjoying a few casual encounters with like-minded travellers. Now is  where we get to the point. We get to Brisbane, and we get to see the ballet.

We found the trip from Stanthorpe a genuine lesson; 'How to go through the Road Works of Queensland Without Falling into the Ditch' was the first title for this work.  Then came 'Down: A Direction of Peril For Those Who are Unwary.'

'Walking In The Dark' is another chapter.  'Finding The Plough on Southbank' is chapter three, or is it four?  Let me explain.

Queensland's conduits for road travellers today consist of extended periods of travel on single lanes, bordered on one side with witches' hats and the other newly-carved ravines. Entry to these conduits is restricted by the Luminous Orange Vested Envoys (LOVE) carrying sacred wands with 'Slow' on one side, and 'Stop' on the other, and one must travel at a reduced speed. Incidentally, that reduced speed is like 'Reduced' in shops; how 'Reduced' depends on whether one is being watched by Security or not. We found that being stopped for ten minutes or so every ten minutes or so was the  norm. The non-Roadworks conduits join together the Roadworks sections, and tend to look like roads in other states. Avoiding The Ditch is a skill that's vital to survival and we saw the result of lacking it when someone went down the Sudden Pit, causing a Disaster.

The road (beyond the Roadworks) from Stanthorpe leads 'Down' in any direction you want to take, really.  But heading for Brisbane is its 'Down-est' and for the Greys with Caravan, this is like sex. It's a legendary thing we all enjoy; we really know what it's about; it's the best thing around, according to some; it's dangerous, exciting and can be disastrous if attempted by the inexperienced, the un-informed, the unprepared and especially the ill-equipped. We who remember it well can't wait to try it again because we have had the exact opposite for so long. Cunningham's Gap, friends and readers, is the Down that really Does It.  Like the Adelaide Hills Freeway, it's not the height or the mere gradient that does it; it's the quality, the persistence.  It's the Longest and Strongest Down around. The brakes glow, the bends keep coming; the engine howls and the followers in Little Cars squeal like pigs. The best bit is that we used about 500 ml of diesel in ten kilometres, on over-run all the way.

Ken GPS led us safely to the Brisbane Caravan Park along the M2 (or M3 or something) after we left the winding entrails of the Roadworks, and we happily set up in what must be the best-managed park we've found so far. Designed by someone well-versed in Human Ergonomic Efficiency, the sites are laid out like Canberra, in five huge connected circles. Each has at its centre an Amenities block with loos and laundries; no-one has further to walk than the width of a road to reach one. No lines of cells, no vista of crowded sites; the van sites are set amongst cabins and two-storey villas, no more than four or five at a time, separating the sects. Three pools, spread around, a great convenience store at the third circle. Brilliant planning.

Note the width of the site!

Zan checked out our route into Brisbane, finding public transport nearby and cheap. The only drawback was that we'd be leaving the theatre at almost 11:00 pm and the buses would be tucked up in bed by then. We'd get a bus back to the terminal, 35 mins from Brisbane, and then have a kilometre walk to the park. In the Dark. We walked up it to see what it was like and found some...  guess what?? Roadworks. Yep, in Brisbane, the Roadworks STILL connect the roads. So a taxi would be in order.

The seats we had booked so long ago were front row, five left of the Fat-Headed Conductor.  Legendary!

We rang Michael B, now a local resident, for a spot for a drink pre-show, and he suggested The Plough. Zan accepted before getting detailed directions; we walked along South Bank (see below) and found it with ease.  Thoroughly enjoyed a drink of two with Micheal and caught up on all the Goss.

The arches of Bouganvilleas cover the curving promenade for much of its length.  Zan loved the wander.

 The Ballet has been reported in Other Places. I shall say I was impressed that they could fit so many people, all moving so beautifully, onto the stage, despite there being, in one scene, flower boxes and decorations all over the place. It was impressive, but very Russian. The folk dance inspired bits were the best, the programme being so long that one has to forgive the tradesman-like peformances of the main stars.

The next day we headed up the coast to Hervey Bay (the 'e' is pronounced 'a' but who cares?)
Here, the park is semi-tropical but the weather is still on the cusp. Zan almost felt warm enough today as we had a roll-up at the Torquay sited Hervey Bay Bowling Club.
Troy at the Pro-shop gave us the info required so we boought some goodies from him. Today we have had lunch at the RSL and I can tell you only good things about the whole place.

Hervey Bay Bowling Club - one of the four greens

What a jetty!  It must be only a smidgeon less than Port Germein , SA

That's all for now, Folks.

I'm going to pick out the witches hats from under Jethros's bull bar. 

Tomorrow, we take on the world as Mixed Pairs Contenders!