Brisbane
Keen to see a bit of the Gold Coast before we drove into Brisbane, we wanted to make an early departure from Binna Burra. We got a bit of a shock when we couldn't open the boot of the car (everything's electric with no easy manual override). Worse still when we couldn't start the car. The upside was that we got to make use of our RAA roadside assistance insurance. By 11am, the wonderful RAA/RAQ network had us up and running again. Diagnosis? Our battery was flat after three days of inactivity and cold nights.
Back on the road we had more automotive concerns that totally thwarted our visit to the Gold Coast. Our brakes were making a grating sound as we pulled up at traffic lights and the brake warning light had been coming up on the dash for the last week. The people who changed the brakes in Ballina two weeks earlier had assured us that the warning was most likely just a broken sensor. But with the new grating noise we felt it prudent to get them looked at. So rather than take a dip at Surfer's Paradise we made a quick drive-by of Dad's old school in Southport, then headed straight to a mechanic in Brisbane. We were glad to learn that our bakes were in good working order, just a bit dirty and that yes, the sensor was faulty.
Our next 48 hours in Brisbane were very full. My main focus was to spend some time with my much missed friend Bel and her family as well as my godfather Ewan and his wife Helen. Helen and Ewan were very kind to put us up for the two nights, despite them suffering from jetlag and illness respectively. We enjoyed two great evenings catching up with them.
12 hours after arriving late at Helen and Ewan's, we were sneaking out quietly to go to the Saint Lucia parkrun. Hugh was brimming with pride to be wearing his milestone 10 t-shirt for the first time and shot off like a greyhound. At around the 2km mark the novelty had worn off and he turned to me with a dark face and said "whose idea was this!?". But he picked himself up, transformed into his latest imaginary character, and we galloped over the finish line together.
A long brunch with Bel after parkrun was a tonic for the soul. Matthias is a wonderful companion but I've been craving other adult company! Plus, Bel and I had lots to catch up on. The kids and Matthias spent the morning at the Powerhouse markets and at the New Farm playground; THE best playground in Brisbane.
I joined Bel and the kids at their local Community Fair in the afternoon, which was brimming with fun activities. We could have easily stayed for hours, but having learned the day before, not to underestimate Brisbane traffic, we dragged ourselves away early. Matthias got his soul time and went solo to the museum and art gallery on the south bank. He misjudged the navigational challenges presented by the Brisbane River and made it home sweaty and leg-sore after choosing to run home from the city.
On our way out of town the next day we made a quick visit to the Sherwood Arboretum and then the Mount Coot-Tha summit lookout. Brisbane remains top of my list for Aussie cities that I could call home. I made a mental note that I must visit again soon and for longer than 48 hours!
