The Wandering Chocoholic

Well, I’m now officially 26. Which doesn’t feel that much different from 25, except that I lose some of my travel discounts. Ah well, getting older sucks but it beats the alternative, right?

I can honestly say that this was the most unforgettable place where I’ve ever woken up on a birthday. I spent last night at a cattle station a few hours inland from Rockhampton, where we got to do cheesy things like muster goats on horseback, try timed rodeo events, and even ride a mechanical bull (or, in my case, fall off immediately… who’s surprised?). The ranch was out in the middle of absolutely nowhere, and it was really beautiful.

Before that, on Sunday, we drove up to Hervey Bay, stopping off again at Rainbow Beach, where we learned how to throw boomerangs and play didgeridoos. I wasn’t half bad at the boomerang throw. I might’ve been even better if I hadn’t been trying to throw a right-handed boomerang with my left hand. Where’s Ned Flanders and his Leftorium when you need him, anyway? Hervey Bay itself is the main jumping-off point for Fraser Island trips, but I went from Noosa instead, so I pretty much just overnighted at Hervey. Great hostel there, though.

The cattle station was fairly unique as stops go. Today was a long drive up to Airlie, though. We stopped along the way in Rockhampton at a botanical garden and zoo, where we saw more kangaroos, koalas, emus, and some cassowary birds. We also stopped in a small town called Sarina, where we got to try the completely bizarre and popular-among-old-folks “sport” of lawn bowling. It’s very popular here. I can’t quite figure out why. (For those inquiring minds, I don’t know how it’s scored, but I wasn’t the worst at it by any means, so I’m pretty sure I would’ve scored higher than a six).

Rockhampton is where the Tropic of Capricorn crosses, so I’m officially in a tropical climate now, and it’s fairly obvious from the very hot, humid weather. Tropical climates only have two seasons, so it’s no longer autumn but the tail end of “wet season” and start of “dry season”. They’re predicting sunshine for the next few days, which is good because I plan to go sailing in the Whitsundays for a few days while I’m here (the main reason anyone comes to Airlie). In the meantime, though, I’m off to the pub for some birthday drinks with the gang. Hope all’s well back home, and I’ll check in again in a few days.

P.S. Hang in there, Habs… it’s not over yet!