You may have noticed a distinct lack of updates. Part of the reason for this is that I try to wait until I have some nice pictures before posting. For the last week, we’ve been living through some record setting storms on our drive down to Brisbane. Went to Rockhampton. Rockhampton was hit by major rains shortly after we left. As an aside, while there, I actually got to visit with a person I only know through video games – interesting world. Nearby, Bundaberg has had a bit more than a half metre of rain so far in October and is expecting more. Half of that was in a period of about a day shortly after we passed through. Sounds more like a snow report. We spent a day in Agnes Water – two days later it was cut off due to flooded roads. Then on to Hervey Bay – I count myself lucky having not had to traverse any flooded roads on the way out. Our stay in Peregian Beach consisted of staying in a very nice rental and catching up on our reading – too windy and rainy to go out most of the time. Almost all of the beaches have been closed. Normally these conditions don’t occur until much later in the season. I guess we got lucky.
With the lack of pictures, I decided to post on some miscellaneous topics.
Driving
Driving on the “other” side has been going reasonably well but we have had a couple of exciting moments. The worst of these came when I didn’t recognize that something was a roundabout and not a normal turn. Fortunately, there was no other traffic around in that case. I’ve also had a couple cases of confusing signage but I suspect the locals get caught by those as well. Other than those, the main problem has been confusing the wiper control for the turn signals. For some reason, Liane finds it hilarious. Unfortunately, I recall the same problems last time I was here (both the control and Liane).
Place Names
You see all these wonderful long names here and wonder how to pronounce them. I’ve finally concluded that the locals just don’t. Everything gets shortened. Rockhampton is Rocky. Brisbane is Brissie (pronounced as “z”). Bundaberg, yep Bundy. Even Tasmania is Tassie.
Gambling
It is amazing how much of the advertising here seems to be targeted at the gambling market. Melbourne Cup, a horse race and easily the biggest gambling event here, takes place in a couple of weeks so we’ve been seeing lots of signs for restaurants hosting large events for it. We stopped in a “Sports Club” when desperate for lunch one day and it was somewhere between casino and betting parlour. Pokies (poker machines) are available in any small pub. On average, adults lose $500 to these machines annually. As somebody with no interest in it, I find it a bit disturbing.
Expedia
We’ve used the Expedia booking site for most of our hotels and transportation. Have to say it has worked out very well. On occasion we’ve walked into our accommodation and gone “Wow!” Have to read the reviews and ratings but overall we are impressed.
We’re now pouring over weather forecasts and maps trying to figure out where we want to be next week. The “Sunshine Coast” doesn’t currently look like the place to be. Tasmania is a good possibility. At least we’d get to use our cooler weather gear.
Obligatory picture here. Canada has giant Nickels, Australia has the mega-Mango:
