Day 5 - Brisbane re-visited

Yet another early start for Chaggie. However, it wasn't to be an early departure from Daisy Hill. After deciding what to do with their day, Chaggie, after suggestions with Graeme and Lorraine, were to again venture into Brisbane, but this time explore South Bank (a man made beach alongside the Brisbane River).

Chaggie left Daisy Hill to catch the 12.10 bus to head into Brisbane. Yet again however, we didn't make the journey easy for ourselves. Staggie was aware that we could get off at Griffith University bus station, as the Uni was very close to South Bank. However, we weren't aware of the fact that this particular Uni isn't one campus, it's separated. So we actually got off at the Sports campus, which looked as if it was no where near South Bank. It could never go smoothly. After walking around the campus for about 10 minutes, Chaggie decided it would be wise to go back to the bus stop and hopefully get on a bus which went to South Bank station itself. Fortunately, we only had to wait 5 mins before it came along.Chaggie arrived at South Bank at about 13.30, and with it being a Saturday, mid 20's temperature wise, it was absolutely rammed with people. Considering the time, Chaggie had become very hungry, so it was Lunch time, and whilst we were eating lunch, we were supplied with some entertainment by a Kiwi stunt man, who was juggling fire, knives and babies... on a unicycle! A lot of respect for that. However he was bascially begging the crowd for their money, I doubt he got much, but he was pretty skillful.
After lunch Chaggie decided to again go on the City Cat, but this time explore the other end of Brisbane river. This lasted for about an hour, and got us back to South Bank at about 15.30. For some reason, Chaggie had totally forgotten about the huge, London Eye, type wheel that over looks Brisbane, next to South Bank. As the City Cat arrived back at South Bank, it suddenly hit us.. Why on earth didn't we plan to go on it?! So, we did! It's smaller than the London Eye, but an awful lot quicker. We went round 4 times, which took about 20 minutes! Very enjoyable, an excellent view of the city.

After the wheel, Chino had a quick dip in the man made beach whilst Staggie watched, Chaggie then proceeded to wonder through the market which was behind South Bank. At around 16.00, Chaggie decided to return back to Daisy Hill, however, yet again, it wouldn't go smoothly. After getting to the Logan Hyperdome (our main stop before catching the bus back to Daisy Hill), we got on the bus, we thought was going to take us back to Kinloch Road bus stop (the closest to Graeme and Lorraine's). Staggie even asked the bus driver "are you going to Kinloch Road mate?" he replied, "errrrr, yes mate". Automatically you think, he's the driver, he can't be wrong!? Well, this one was wrong. We ended up back at a bus station we had already been through, "Springwood". Chaggie were not impressed with this bus driver. However, luckerly, Graeme and Lorraine were driving back from their day out, and were only 10 minutes away from Springwood station.

Chaggie had already decided they would go in the pool when they got back, and stuck with that plan. After a cracking pool session, Graeme and Lorraine cooked a lovely Barbeque, our first since being downunder, after which we finished off our evening by watching New Zealand beat Australia in the Rugby League World Cup Final! What a way to end day 5 in the land downunder!
Tomorrow we leave Daisy Hill to spend 5 days on the Gold Coast, then up north to Cairns before we return to Daisy Hill on the 26th for the 1st Ashes Test!

Chaggie x