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Published: March 22nd 2009
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Last night in Noosa
w' Mark, Danni, Jay, Lou & Angie I had spent a fantastic 6 months in Noosa, its been amazing watching Eva grow and spending time with Kate. I have also made some awesome mates who I miss but it was definitely time to move on. Having planned this thoroughly I set off to buy a car. I gave myself a budget of $2000 and started looking. It turns out its not so easy to buy a car in Noosa for so little so I ended up spending $3000, with help from the UK credit card, on a Ford Laser (Escort to the English). Having purchased my transport I quit my job at Sierra and packed my backpack. Having the massive sum of $150 in my bank, I set out down to the gold coast. I spent my first night there at the Good Vibrations Festival with Lou, Allison and Mark. I had soo much fun dancing in the rain to fat boy slim - awesome.
My next couple of days in Surfers Paradise where spent looking for work, my funds where now seriously low (ok I had no money left). I moved down the road to Coolangatta where I was able to crash with a friend. Thanks
Good Vibes
w' Lou & Allison so much to Tommy & Ryan for letting me invade the bachelor pad. I spent most of my time looking for work, I applied at restaurants and bars and several hotels along the coast. Everyone was saying the same thing, no work for at least a couple of weeks as it’s the off season. I swallowed my pride and rang my parents for a loan - thank you mum & dad for bailing me out. With the financial drama over I concentrated on finding farm work as this count’s towards my visa extension. I managed to score some raspberry picking work in Stanthorpe after lots of looking as there are not many farm jobs available either. Bloody global financial crisis!!
I drove out from the coast stopping at the Border Ranges National Park. The views from the lookouts where stunning and the gravel roads shock all the lose parts of the car! I arrived at the farm in the evening and moved into my room. The following morning I started raspberry picking at 7am. It is not too bad, it’s not a job that’s very friendly to your back but it is not physically very hard like climbing up
ladders to pick apples or citrus. The family who own the farm are nice and I have made my room my own. I generally finish early in the afternoon so this has left me free to explore the local area. I spent an afternoon Girraween National Park where I walked up Castle Rock, it has fantastic views of the surrounding country. I really enjoyed the walk as it freed up all my stiff muscles. I was lucky enough to be around for the local rodeo. It was great fun, the bull riders are mad and cowboys & girls know how to party. There was a fantastic live band on afterwards so I got to have a bit of a dance with Jo. I have been down to Boonoo Boonoo falls which are stunning and the sunset on the way home was fantastic.
For my day off I went out to the Main Ranges National Park and spent a night camping. I was very proud of myself, getting my little 2 man dome tent set up by myself. I am not sure it would have survived any kind of wind as I could barely get the pegs into the hard
Good Vibes
w' Mark & Lou ground. I went for a short walk that evening before cooking myself some dinner and having a nice glass of wine to watch the sun go down with. The following morning I went out to Spicers gap and walked out to the stunning Governors’ Chair lookout. I then went to Cunninghams Gap and did the walk up Mount Cordeux stopping at the Fassifern Valley Lookout on the way up. The views from both were amazing, it was definitely worth the walk. From there I did the Fall Scenic Drive from Boonah to Warwick, I stopped at Carrs lookout on the way and then did the walk at Queen Mary Falls which was awesome. The falls were gorgeous and you could see rainbows in the mist from the lookout at the top. I stopped briefly at the lookout at Daggs Falls which were also stunning.
This week I managed to get back out to Girraween National Park and do the Pyramids walk which is up another rock similar to Castle Rock but bigger. The climb definitely got the heart rate going and the views where amazing. The walk back down was a bit scary!
I am in Stanthorpe until
Good Vibes
w' Mark, dancing in the rain ;-) the end of March so I am hoping to make the most of the 4 local national parks and 80 local vineyards whilst I am here. I am then off to Perth to take a research agronomist’s position. I am looking forward to the drive across from Queensland to WA which should be a challenge. The poor little Laser is going to prove its worth as it is a staggering 4500km if I go by the short route! Anyone know a good mechanic I can kidnap????
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