north straddie weekend

Last weekend (Sept. 8-10), a lovely someone called David took me to North Stradbroke Island for the weekend. It was a really nice getaway from the Gold Coast - kinda like leaving the city to spend a weekend at the cottage. My heartbeat slowed a bit. I didn't blow dry my hair and went barefoot nearly the entire time. We went for drives just taking in the different views from the island. David's family's property is in the area of Straddie called Amity Point - not joking. And it is the real deal - very sharky apparently. So much so that he wouldn't surf in this one area. A girl was taken from Amity Point in 2004 by a large tiger shark, so needless to say, I didn't go swimming although it was beautiful weather.

We spent most of Saturday fishing off a rock jetty in Amity. It was a good day even though we only caught one fish worth eating - a Brim. Being island bums, we went back out to fish at sunset with some beers and were joined by a family of dolphins as the sky turned pink. It was gorgeous. The tiny baby dolphin was just adorable.

The next morning we went to check out the surf at Lookout Point but according to David it was shite. So we just drove to this point and watched the whales play around. It was beautiful as it started to rain a bit. They were breaching all over the place - jumping right out of the ocean and exposing their gigantic white bellies. Just spectacular.

I'm so glad I'm meeting the nicest people and the sweetest company in Australia. Sharon's taken me on a day trip. Greta and her mom have done the same and David's taking me camping a couple hours south of here and to the island, so I'm really getting to see this area, even if I'm not travelling all over Australia. I am going to try to get to Melbourne and maybe Tasmania in December but otherwise, I've just really been enjoying making lasting relationships with the Aussies I've come to know. I'm going to miss all of them more than the actual place.

But I'm trying not to think of my departure just yet. I'm finding myself thinking very in the moment - trying only to think about today and tomorrow instead of weeks and months at a time. I knew it would be hard to leave but I'm getting used to coming and going. I think I'll be doing that for the rest of my life.

don't put the camera down your pants

So, a couple of weeks ago now, G and I decided to invite a crowd to go bowling at this new swank bowling bar called Strikes in Surfers. We only live a short walk across a bridge so all congregated at our place and we prepared for the evening with a few cocktails. The photos of this evening explain what a time we had. Too bad I didn't get snap shots of the break dancing that went on in the lobby...

Greta and Simone at the beginning of the night.














Sharon, (Frank), Greta and Steve ready to bowl.














Chris checking out the action or striking a hollywood pose. I don't remember.



















Ken found an Elvis ball to bowl with.
It was the mascot for the evening.

don't put the camera down your pants - part 2

Me and the boys. Chris, Blain, Sean. Or Scarecrow, Tinman and Lion...















I think Mark was really fed up here. He took his bowling really seriously.















Blain is forever trying to prove that this is his best side.
















We all agree that Sean looks a little creepy in this picture.

don't put the camera down your pants - part 3

Of course we ended the night at the Chop. Everyone was pretty silly at this point. Don't ask me why Ken and Blain are holding statues and books in this picture. They were all excited about something and asking me to take photos of them.







































I think Mark actually need to hug this pole to stand upright and I don't know how Greta manages to look fabulous at 2am after a night of drinking but this pic proves it again...

Thank god what happens in the Chop, stays in the Chop.