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Published: March 24th 2006
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Huntsman Spider
Protecting its nest. My heartrate was going when I took this pic! Of course nothing does go right. "Sorry mate, no diving for at least a week" is the verdict from my next port of call: Bundaberg. I decided to head there anyway... but first my adventure with Capricorn Dave.
Dave picks me up at 10:15. Short and relatively quiet for a man of such repute Dave has not bought a pair of shoes in 6 years. He only wears them when the law requires, and when on the pull.
First stop on our grand tour is to meet a field of cattle. In his shaky old nissan van (no 4x4 luxury here) Drive drives off road at about 80Km an hour straight up to the biggest baddest looking bull in the field. And then tells me to hop out and pet him. Of course I trust him and follow, and the biug brute turns out to be a very big softie.
"Shes not dangerous, but she is deadly. She can kill you, but she doesn't bite. Not normally"
Having harrased the bovine element of the Capricorn coasts population we are soon back into the deathmobile to go chasing a flock of emu running across a field. We get as far as Dave dare takes us into the wetlands (with 2 of us there is
little change of ever getting the stuck van out) and I jump out... coming face to face with the immense form of a Golden Orb Weaver. "Harmless! Not dangerous at all" I'm told as Dave picks up the oversize arachnid and gets her to walk across his hand. "Want to hold her?". I politely decline as Dave expands on his earlier "not dangerous" analysis of this spider. "Shes not dangerous, but she is deadly. She can kill you, but she doesn't bite. Not normally". Not wanting to become a part of an unknown spider lethality statistic I decline his repeated offers to pet this creature, but I do appreciate her docility and beauty. Well, the beauty she would have if she wasn't a f*cking huge spider being held a few inches from my face.
Next on the tour are the Capricorn Caves - touted as Australias first tourist attraction. The cave network is extensive, and with only an hour we are barely even scratching the surface of a system in which the explored areas take 3 days to traverse. The highlight for me has to be the "opera house", a high rock chamber decked out with seating and a
Landscape
I might not have seen this otherwise natural formed rock podium. "acoustic experts tell us this room sounds better than Sydney Opera house" the tour guide states confidently. "Bollocks" I think. Then he plays some music through three very small speakers. The sound is unbelieavably good to listen to. Its no wonder than musicians hire this room to rehearse, to record, and to perform.
I have seen 7 of the 10 deadliest snakes in the world round here. And other people have found the 8th.
After leaving the caves behing and grabbing a quick bite to eat we're off snake hunting - what any sensible person would do! "watch the ground, be sure of every step. Make sure that at no point you are going to step on a snake.I have seen 7 of the 10 deadliest snakes in the world round here. And other people have found the 8th." Our search is short, and soon we find a yellow bellied green snake hanging from a tree. Dave grabs for it, but it gets away. Next thing I know his shoes are off and hes climbing up the tree trying to shake the snake out! However the snake is having none of this and refuses to budge despite Daves good efforts. At times I thought the tea tree he was standing in would collapse... but
Golden Orb Weaver
Rather Daves hand than mine luckily it stood well the abuse it received. We continued to search, and soon I found myself holding another specimin of this beautiful creature. Once caught the snake was incredibly docile and I was able to hang it around my kneck for a good photo session no worries! Then beauty turned to stupidity as Dave eagerly said "ok... now lets try and get it to bite me".
The last few hours of the day were spent chasing Kangaroos, herding cattle, and poking around for spiders in deserted barns (which we found... and then prodded with a twig!?!?!?). The 'desert' of the day was the opportunity to lick the rear end of a 'lime ant', which had a strong citrus flavour, apparantly used by aboringinees as a source of vitamin C.
After a few rushed beers I was on the coach to Bundaberg, and was soon sitting in the bar at my chosen accomodation - the Cellblock hostel - an old police station where the guests (inmates) sleep in the cells. "I don't like travelling in Australia" said the glassy eyed gloucestershire brunette. "It's pretty, but all that anyone seems to do is get pissed" she slurred. I watched her stumble away holding onto tables for support, inwardly had a good laugh, then headed of to my cell.
And for the Wish You Were Here style bit:
Alex went out with Capricorn Dave, who run's day tours and overnight trips starting at $95.
In Rockhampton he stayed at the Ascot Stonegrill Backpackers, with beds from $20 per night.
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Jodie
non-member comment
Urgh!
Urgh that Huntsman spider is rank! My housemate said they found one in their tent when they were in Oz and it hissed at them. Did that one hiss at you?