When flying over the Outback, we saw thousands of kilometers
of red sand dunes with dry river beds, mountain ranges, and mainly worn
unsealed road. Some people would say that there's nothing in the Outback.
However, others, those travelling with 4WDs that ventured
beyond, found unlimited space to roam, saw camels and emus in the wild. We were
more limited, but hiked interesting highlands and gorges; saw kangaroos, range
cattle, wallabies and lizards. We got a feel for the strength of the sun, the
heat, the dryness, the struggling vegetation, the sand and barren rock.
We felt vulnerable in the Outback, as we thought of the what
ifs. What if we blew a radiator hose in the extreme heat while hundreds of
kilometers from help. Even the failing campervan electrical system provided
adventure. On the last night, we ate dinner by the glow of the dome light when
the system went from intermittent to failed. For us, living in the Outback was
another experience of a lifetime.
But now, we've moved on. In a matter of hours, we were transplanted
from the Outback to a cabin in a macadamia nut orchard, north west of Brisbane.
Or, Brissy as the Aussie's call it. It appears, we're likely to find adventure
here too. In flying east a couple of thousand kilometers and shifting time zones, we misjudged nightfall, and got lost in the dark. In the end, a
friendly Aussie stopped and asked if he could help, then led us several
kilometers through the back roads of the Glass House Mountains to CrookNeck,
our cabin in the orchard.
Our hosts are a friendly, happy and enthusiastic young
couple, Brett and Megan. They welcomed us with information about the hiking
opportunities in the area, a bottle of Australian wine, and a bowl of macadamia
nuts with cracker, on the veranda table.
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