Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Billai Dhagun Circuit, Boondall Wetlands, Queensland

I was up at 7am today, packing for the flight home. It's hard to believe that this was my final day. After going through the whole holiday thinking "I've only been here for..." and "I've still got this..." it finally hit home that it was all coming to an end. I suppose I should be really pleased that it took until the last day before it crept up on me and I guess that was all just down to the fact that my days were always packed and I really never got the chance to think that far ahead.

Once again, it was a bit of a struggle to pack everything into the suitcase. Looking at all the clothes that I hadn't worn, I realised I'd gone a wee bit over the top in what I'd brought with me. Well, it was my first holiday in a long time, so I've learnt a few things for the next one, wherever and whenever that might be. Keeping a change of clothes out for the flight, the zips finally got shut at the back of eight and I was ready for the off. Except my flight was not until nine o'clock that evening and I still had a full day ahead of me.

It was just coming up for 11am by the time we were all ready to face the outside world and had formulated a plan for the day. To be fair, it was D who came up with the plan, with lots of "dunno" and "sounds good" coming from J and I. Heh, very helpful! First stop was breakfast down the end of the street. A huge plate of bacon and eggs awaited me, with a glass of freshly blended fruit juice. Mmmm... The perfect start to the day.

The plan in the end, was a simple one. A nice and relaxing final day. J had to be somewhere at one, so she dropped D and I off at the University campus ferry stop. We were going to take the cat from one end of the ferry route to the other, something D hadn't done either. I'd used the river ferry quite a lot while I was here. It's a really handy way to get about town, especially one as spread out as Brisbane. It took about an hour and a quarter to make the trip through the city, passing by all the sights I'd seen over the past couple of days from the river and then further beyond, to see parts I hadn't seen. Towards the bottom of the river, another P&O liner Pacific Dawn was tied up between Bretts Wharf and Northshore. J was waiting for us as we pulled up. End of the line perhaps for the cat, but not for me. We stopped off for lunch before jumping in the car and heading out to the Boondall Wetlands to the north of the city.

The wetlands contain a mix of tidal flats, mangroves, salt marshes, as well as various wetland, grassland, open forests and woodland within the boundary of its 1500 hectares. Oh, and the largest concentration of spiders I'd seen on my journey. Yes, on the last day of my holiday, I finally came face to face with one of my nemesis. To be fair, what we mostly saw on our walk around the trail was a mass of webs flowing between the trees that lined it. However, we did see a few arachnids too. Full of confidence, after D identified one specimen as a non-lethal Golden Orb spider, I approached to take some close ups. Heh, it was only later I discovered that the venom of this creature is still quite potent. Time to move on. Our circular walk took us out towards the banks of the Cabbage Tree Creek. We took the boardwalk down to the bird hide located on the banks and spent a few moments looking out over the water. It was only when we turned to leave that we spotted the snake. Up in the rafters of the hide, this innocent looking coil lay unmoving. Not wanting to disturb our unknown host (which I later discovered was the non-venomous coastal carpet python) we made a hasty exit, after I took some shots for identification purposes of course. The remainder of our wander went without incident and soon we were back at the car and heading back towards the city.

Back at the apartment, there was time for a quick shower and change of clothes, a cuppa and another couple of episodes of Parks and Recreation, before we had to make tracks for the airport. My journey was finally coming to an end. J and D, thanks so much for everything. I had just the best time.

I don't want to go home yet. I'm not ready to leave this place.

But end it must and end it has. I leave with a heavy heart, yet one that is also full to brimming with the joys I have felt and the wonders I have seen over the past four and a bit weeks. The camera cards stuffed full of the images I have taken will serve as a reminder of those days. The memories of those I couldn't capture, I take home with me and they will remain with me always.

When I started planning this holiday, I really wasn't sure what to expect. It had been a long time since I'd been away at all and never so far or on my own. Of course, I was never more than a few days away from meeting the most wonderful group of people. I return now having had the most amazing time, something of which I hope to have conveyed a little through the pages of this journal, and something I have promised myself I will repeat again soon.

To my Australian friends and the Brissy Internationals, I know I've thanked you all personally and within the pages of this journal already, but I can't end this record of my trip without doing so once more. How can I thank you all for your wonderful hospitality? I have been touched beyond words with the kindness you have shown me. I am now about to do you all a great unkindness. I generally only mention people by name if they have used it in the pages of their own journal and I have stuck to that principle up to now. I hope you will forgive this little transgression, just this once.

So, to Jason, Mun, Dylan and Bella, to Jenny, to Sandy and Alan, to Gitama, Jaiya and Flynn and to Jane, Dan and Christine, from the bottom of my heart I thank you all. You have truly made this holiday more special to me than I can say.

Peter x