I took a night flight from Adelaide to Brisbane where I am setting up for the next few days at least.
A lot going on in Kristin and Dave’s lives, including a move to a new house.
Which works out for me because I need a few days to regroup and just… figure things out.
So, the next few days will be moving things, but today we got on the “City Cat” water ferry and Kristin showed me around.
Brisbane is interesting because it has a river zig zagging through a good part of it. It is a coastal river, in that it flows to the coast and it reverses the direction of flow 4 times a day with the tide, which kicks up a lot of the mud and such on the bottom that makes it appear ‘dirty.’ It is also muddy right now because they had a cyclone here a couple of weeks ago.
Honestly, everything that isn’t the pure, clear, ocean around here when speaking of water, is ‘dirty.’
Because the river essentially flows through the middle of town, they use it for transportation with a very active ‘city cat’ ferry system.
The latest kids show is called Bluey or something, and it started here in Australia. Which means some of the boats are painted up with the cat character from the show, and others have the dog. And it is a thing to spot the different boats.
Today we took one of those ferries and got a great view of the city and the many, many bridges.
The ferry conveniently stopped right next to a brewery, where we conveniently stopped for food, or more specifically drinks.
Kristin got me to drink. An espresso ice cream martini. Not what one orders at a brewery, but it was a very good. At this particular brewery, you can sit right on the shore, under the bridge and watch the world go by.
The other cool thing about this brewery is they have a lot of old barrels around, and they paint them… and invite people to sign up their ideas for paintings on the barrels. It gave me ideas I will never act on, but I can suggest the idea to others and perhaps they will.
We eventually moved on from the brewery and continued up the river eventually getting off around the Queen’s park area.
This sculpture, almost hidden in the park while being entirely obvious if you looked at it… was… interesting.
I really needed a sign to tell me what this was about… and when I found a sign, this is what it said…
To celebrate the centenary of the Pioneer Sugar Mill, the company had this sculpture made by Lindsay Daen and gave it to the Queensland Art Gallery as a gift to the citizens of Queensland. It is on permanent loan to the Gardens.
The subjects are a sailor, Jemmy Morell, who lived with the Aboriginals for 17 years after being shipwrecked on the Great Barrier Reef cc.1840, and Brolgas, an Australian stork often referred to as a native companion. Lindsay Daen liked his work to reflect man, animal and flight. He has successfully combined all three in this work of art.
I still don’t understand it, but that is fine. Most people don’t understand me, either.
This one I did get. Probably all the time I spent in SE Asia. I almost got down on my knees and offered prayers. Then I remembered where I was, and if I got down, I probably wouldn’t get up. Darn hip.
The gardens have some really a nice areas. I’m sure it is full of photographers when everything is in bloom. I could see taking senior pictures in this area. Good thing I don’t need to worry about that anymore. Cousin pictures will have to do.
This is one of the lorikeets that are regular visitors on Kristin’s balcony. I wanted to get a picture before she moved because to date, I had only heard them in the area, never seen them.
Not a great pic, but at least I know she didn’t have a sound box on the deck to mess with me.
Really beautiful… and loud birds.
Night views from the old balcony and dinner at Fishy’s to celebrate the movers getting all the big stuff moved today. I have no idea what this wine is, but it was a cute bottle, and I have been slacking on my ‘putting John’s out there’ past time.
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