Our 3rd week in Australia, around Helidon

A very low profile Fascinator 

The days are flying by, we still enjoy having a house to ourselves, we try to get some planning done for upcoming places, we are so happy to be able to spend more time with our new friend Heather, we have been on fewer excursions than in prior weeks, but have found beautiful & interesting rides around here, and also walked around a couple of nearby National Parks (smaller than at home, with short, pretty walks), and were surprised by the steep, and rocky trail to the top of Mt. Tabletop near Toowoomba. We thought we headed for a quick walk in the park, with a short climb.

Link to the Helidon area pictures


One of the 2 cats we are taking care of, is very playful and affectionate, and even plays fetch with his favorite mouse toy!
In general, Queensland, and Brisbane remind us more of the USA, than of any place in Europe. The roads look like American roads, the small rural towns remind us of those at home, the suburbs are built in a similar manner. The trees are different, the spring time weather has mostly been wonderful, but they have had a very severe drought here we hear, so were happy to have some of the rain, and storms we had earlier. The architecture is different, at least residential homes. Some of the single family brick ones remind me of the 1970s one story brick homes in my hometown.

Craig was spooked, and might well have been 'warned/attacked' by a magpie, as in the picture in our last post - the bird apparently flew very close to his head when we were out riding. Our friend Heather cut small tree branches, and said to wave them overhead should the bird continue, but we went by it without difficulty. Some cyclists here put cable ties on their helmet so the ends stick out like so many antennae. The idea is to keep the birds at bay.

I had my first hair cut since we left home; only some 6 weeks overdue...The adventurous young woman who cut it had just returned from working in England, and traveling around Europe for 2 years!

Then I won the Melbourne Cup pot at Heather's house! Beginner's luck presumably - as I never watched a horse race in my life. Not that Heather & friends knew much either, but that does not seem to be the point.
She invited friends, had us all over for lunch immediately after work, and all this so we could experience this exciting annual event in Australia!
On our way there, we saw women all over Brisbane in their finest outfits, with Fascinators on their heads! Getting all dressed up, and having a party, seems to be the point.

Am finishing this our last evening in Helidon. We heard from my niece Melissa today, and hope we get to see her in the next few days. We have another house sit, also with 2 cats, starting tomorrow, just south of Brisbane. On Nov. 16, we fly to Tasmania.