From Bribie to Brisbane

Today was our last day on Bribie Island. We rented kayaks for the morning and paddled in Pumicestone Passage. Within minutes, we were kayaking with a pod of dolphins. In front, beside and under our boats the dolphins swerved. For half an hour we followed the dolphins’ emerging path. We were thrilled … Delighted, excited, and at least mildly awestruck!

We carried on for another hour hoping to see dugongs (apparently similar to manatees), but did not. No worries! The Dolphins were treat enough. Savannah and Sierra also saw a stingray pass right by the side of their boats, scaring Sierra and confirming her fear that the water is indeed treacherous.

The way back felt like a different day, a different trip. The wind picked up and the tide continued to go out, leaving us navigating through wind, choppy waves and ever emerging sand bars. After 2 more hours of continuous hard paddling and a short lunch we dashed home to pack for Brisbane. As I write, my arms could pass for jello. Hersh is asleep at 9 pm (He hasn’t gone to bed that early as long as I have known him!) and Savannah is nursing her right arm with ibuprofen (she had the open single which didn’t track well). Sierra… well… she’s fine! She paddled valiantly for part of each leg of the journey, and slept for the other parts. Could be why my arms feel like jello as she was my double boat partner J

Somewhat to our surprise, we enjoyed Bribie Island -- a sleepy, beachy, spot an hour and a half away from Brisbane. One day we went to the Steve Irwin Zoo and the girls got to hug Koala Bears and have their pictures taken with them.

We prefer to search for animals in their natural habitat but we’d cranked our necks looking at endless eucalyptus trees without spotting success in our search for koalas, so we experienced completion here). On another day we walked along a cliff of houses and mangroves and the girls went tobogganing Australian style (on flattened cardboard boxes on grassy hills, or in other places on sand).

Tonight we are checking out the city. Having walked the bustling and lively Queen Street, we shopped and then settled on a Turkish Restaurant in the Southbank precinct area—(while not exactly Lebanese, it was close enough that I thought of you Lisa, and your great homemade Lebanese bread. For the record, your food is superior!).

It is 7 weeks into our journey and we are in the flow of it. There are many moments to appreciate being in family and just hanging out together. Mostly there is harmony, but being together 24/7 means everyone’s personal process surfaces once in a while too. Out of the workaday world, there seems to be space for that... A lot matters, yet also doesn’t, in the grand scheme of it all. Last week my father was rushed into hospital for a burst polyp, following a diagnosis of diverticulitis. I am sending him love and while traveling in family, recalling the outdoor and family time he spent with me when I was growing up.

Brisbane

Brisbane is a high fashion, upbeat city for the Australian late teenagers who want to get out of there boring hometown (writes Sierra). We loved Queen Street, a no-car shopping district with streams of people traffic. We caught an art installation/acrobatic drama show about juicing oranges,

ate at a great food court that would be an inspiration to our anemic Canadian mall offerings. ..on a foodie note, I have had enough pumpkin to last me a year. Aussie’s serve pumpkin soup, roasted pumpkin sandwiches, pumpkin pasta and pumpkin everything. Cream is hard to find without gelatin and stabilizers, food is generally expensive (maybe it is back home now too), there is less Kangaroo and croc on the menus that I imagined and asking for something other than full fat milk will get you odd stares in some of the smaller communities. If you want vegemite pizza, just ask me – I’ll tell you where you can get it!

“Brizzy” is awesome. There is a riverside trail/bikepath (26 km in length, sparkling skyscraper lights on the river at night, and al fresco dining.

Sierra and Catherine went abseiling at Kangaroo Cliff while Hersh and Savannah meandered down the river by boat, taking in busking and cafés.

Sierra rollerbladed along a divinely smooth pathway and others walked through yet another rather charming botanic garden (every city we go to we visit the botanic gardens).

We loved the Aussie culture—different slang, manner and people laughing at our accents. Our apartment building included a pool and hot tub which sat alongside a buzzing outdoor apartment dining and community barbecue scene with mostly Aussie Koreans. This meant that while Sierra and I enjoyed the bubbles of the hot tub and night skyline, we also shared in endless trailing breezes of wafting community barbee meat. Vegetarians are in the minority around here.

Aussies (generalizing for a whole culture, I realize) are admirable. They gather for barbecues which sit at playgrounds and public spaces and in apartment buildings like ours. They also value their downtime and playtime, closing many shops at 5 pm weekdays, 2 pm on Saturdays and not being open at all on Sundays, or again closing early. Alcohol flows freely, people are friendly and Aussie football and rugbie are fervently watched.

We all could have used another few days in Brisbane, but hindsight is like that. The longer we travel the more I learn what works for our family and the planning we did months ago doesn’t always fit with what our on-the-ground needs are. Sierra hasn’t taken up a love of hiking but is giving up the protest and instead fervently bargains for time limits to the walk (which we agree to). Savannah would love a younger vibrant scene , Catherine a yoga retreat or week long something and Hersh seems pretty content. And, we are, every day planning with more ease, and creating fun that fits for everyone. I have thrown out consensus and am going with the vote. Much easier!