Trains and Planes and Automobiles

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We were rapidly approaching a double-up of house sits, which required both Roger and I to be present for separate houses and pets. Up in Queensland, someone got sick and the window of opportunity for me to visit them before the double ups was small, so I found myself on an aeroplane as the sun rose on a clear Adelaide morning.

I've never seen men with big guns in an Australian airport before. I certainly didn't expect to see them in boring little Adelaide airport.

Sunrise.

We took off with a fine view of Adelaide City, and then flew over a rumpled carpet of cloud until well over NSW.  Once the clouds had gone the day was fine, if hazy, and a roaring tailwind sped the plane on its way. I followed progress on Maps, identifying the town's and rivers and mountains and roads over which I'd driven so often. Indeed, I had a grand time taking lots of photos and generally being very happy that I had a window seat.

Rumpled clouds gave way to rumpled hills.

River lines.

I was treated to a fantastic view of Moreton Bay as we came in to land.



Big ships dwarfed on a bigger sea, waiting to come in to port.

Low tide.

Brisbane airport was decidedly busier than Adelaide, but with no big black guns to be seen. I caught the Airtrain to Eagle Junction, where I had just enough time to grab lunch before jumping on the train to Nambour.

Mt Tibrogargun from the train. Very kind of it to be so photogenically close to the train line.

During all this jumping on and off trains I wasn't game to use any of my three Go cards in case they were out of date/out of money/otherwise not a good idea. In Nambour I finally found someone who could check these things for me. She slid the last Go card back to me: "This one's in negative to the tune of $1:50." I immediately felt guilty. 

"Can I pay that now then?"

"Oh no! Just top it up next time you use it."

Not that I'm a bad person or anything but that wasn't going to happen. I took my two positively loaded Go cards and bolted for the bus, tossing the negative one in the bin and condemning myself to an eternity of owing $1:50 to Translink. If anyone from Translink is reading this, I promise I tried to pay and she wouldn't let me!

The bus, driven very roughly by a very nice driver, dropped me at the hospital. When the visiting was done my brother, his wild man beard plaited neatly, dropped me to the little mountain dwelling where I'm lucky enough to stay. I made a cup of tea and appreciated sitting in a seat which was not in a train, plane, or automobile. Currawongs called goodnight in the forest.

Then, at the esteemed hour of 7pm, I took myself off to my cosy bed. It had been a very long day.

Home for a couple of days.


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