We left the Bunya Mountains and headed south east in Toowoomba's direction. As far as I could remember, I had never been to the "Garden City" in spite of living on and off in Queensland for over ten years. Here was our chance to explore the Darling Downs en route to Brisbane.
Toowoomba is high - nearly 700 metres above sea level in a basin on the side of an extinct volcano. The surroundings enjoy the benefits of all that volcanic soil, along with a temperate climate. Actually, the morning we left Toowoomba was a tad cooler than temperate. We were encased in cloud until we descended from the mountain onto the fertile farming locales away from the mountains.
Toowoomba is a city, with traffic lights and traffic snarls. Although I have often cursed Google Maps due to my Luddite tendencies, I was grateful for the technology as we navigated our way into bigger and bigger population centres.
Our Airbnb in Newtown was on a busy road, causing quite a few heart-in-mouth moments as we attempted to reverse Romeo into gaps in the traffic. I spent our first afternoon navigating my way to a nearby laundromat, in order to lessen the amount of dirty clothes we would otherwise add to our luggage. I had not been in a laundromat since Adam was a boy and the experience was different from entering the laundromats of old. Gone was the dark and dingy interiors with the ever present odour de sweaty body associated with earlier times.
We ate at a local Thai restaurant the first evening and had Indian delivered the second. The Thai restaurant had been recommended by our host. Unfortunately the premises was cold and drafty and my duck curry was disappointing (the Julia Creek pub provided the best duck curry I have ever tasted!). The Indian takeaway was reasonable but we have since been asked to pay again...Scam? Not sure. Will wait and see.
What was absolutely fabulous were the Makers Markets at the Mill Precinct, followed by a wonderful afternoon at the Spotted Cow pub. As we approached the end of our journey, we wanted to rush less and chill more.
I bought a bath bomb from 13 year old market veteran Lexie, earrings from Kobo Magnolia (Mai), Hunny. T Design (Hanneke), Thea and Chief (Hannah), windchimes by Artistic Creations (Debra), whilst Michael was wooed by a marvellous Indian head and shoulder massage by Aroma Magick (Jenny). After some very satisfactory retail and body therapy, we adjourned to the Spotted Cow pub for a late lunch which turned into an exceedingly lazy afternoon.
The Spotted Cow has held a liquor license since 1892. Beautifully refurbished, we lingered longer than originally intended. My prawn and chorizo linguini was beautiful and Michael declared his burger was scrumptious. We gravitated between watching the Rugby League (much to our surprise) and the AFL on different tellies. We had no desire to move on. I think that's an issue as we age - we prefer not to be in a hurry anymore.
We returned to our digs to repack as best as possible. Sporting two jammed suitcases and two stuffed carry-on bags along with a few additional shopping bags (!), we needed another suitcase. After an action packed drive to our hotel at Brisbane Airport (low bridges on back roads eventually defeated us and forced us onto the hair-raising motorway), we returned Romeo with an affectionate farewell, before adjourning to a huge nearby warehouse called DFO on a hunt for another bag. I survived the labyrinth, finding Strandbags and purchasing another suitcase, before having our cheerful taxi driver Sunil drop us back at the hotel.
After an early dinner, I embarked on repacking all the bags. Again. We fell into bed, only to be rudely awakened at 5 o'clock (!) in order to get to the airport on time.
Flying home was exceeding trying. This marathon over fourteen hours involved lugging enormous bags in and out of airports, taking belts and shoes off, paying for excess baggage, losing my debit card (which turned up later at the bottom of a bag), having to collect and re-check in our bags at Sydney airport and walking for kilometres around Brisbane, Sydney and Perth airports...The only upshot was the three glasses of wine I consumed after leaving Sydney, which resulted in a lovely afternoon snooze. This action gave me the energy to drive home when Michael's stamina had fallen.
All was forgotten as we welcomed two dogs, one cat, a mad bird and one exhausted housesitter. Paula had performed above and beyond the call of duty. The day before we came home, she had discovered our beloved black cat Suey deceased in our wardrobe. She was understandably distraught and followed our wishes to place Suey's body in the freezer at the Gallery. She was an absolute Godsend and we will be forever grateful we had such a wonderfully loving person to look after our domain whilst we were away.
As for me, I am never, ever flying again.
Seems about right.
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