Mountain Magic

Well, our trip to Sydney didn't pan out, but we had a great weekend anyway!

Jon and I decided to head into the Blackall Range & Glass House Mountains to explore what lies to our west. So, we set off in our rental car and drove along the Glass House Mountains Tourist Drive (now Steve Irwin Way) for an afternoon in the Australian countryside or hinterland as its known here.

The "travel guide-esque" description of where we went:

The Glasshouse Mountains are volcanic crags along the coastal plain that were first discovered by Captain Cook. The story goes that upon seeing the unusual shapes of the moutains he was reminded of the glass factories back home.

However, the mountains are deeply seeded in the life of the Gubbi Gubbi Aboriginal peoples. According to Aboriginal legend, the Glasshouse Mountains are a family of mountain spirits including father Tiborgaran (the father of all tribes) mother Beerwah, and Coonowrin, the eldest son. As the lore goes, Tiborgaran was anticipating a flood and became fearful for this family's safety. He called on his eldest son to look after his wife, while he assisted the other children. As he ushered his other children to safety, he looked behind only to find his wife abandoned. Coorowrin had fled. Tiborgaran picked up his nulla nulla (club) and struck his son in anger, dislocating his neck and leaving him permanently disfigured. When the flood waters retreated, his brothers & sisters made fun of him relentlessly for his odd look and he sought forgiveness from his father. Tibogaran wept tears of dispair and begged his son to explain how he could abandon his mother. He then told his son that although his mother appeared large enough to take care of herself, it was because she was pregnant. Then, the whole family cried and created the streams that lead to the sea. Tibogaran, then, turned his back on his son for all eternity.

Today, as we saw it (and the well placed national park placard explained,) Mt. Tiborgaran faces out the sea with his "back" to Mt. Coorowin, which as you will see from our pictures has a rather unusual shape. As for Beerwah, as the legend goes, she's still pregnant. Can you imagine?? Thank goodness mountain aren't real people!

After a short stint of exploring the Glasshouse Moutains National Park, we decided that this area deserved much further backpacking, climbing & time. So, we tabled it for another day and continued onto the Blackall Range Tourist Drive through the towns of Maleny & Montville. Both are rather artisty communities with lovely rows of shops filled with hand-crafted goods & uniquely Australian wares. We just stopped quickly and picked up two more beautiful tropical plants for the new unit. I'm sure we will spend much more time in the shops, wineries & restaurants as time permits.

Our final destination was Kondalilla National Park to vist the Kondalilla Falls, which is supposed to be a beautiful 90 meter waterfall set on a backdrop of subtropical rainforest. However, the word of the day in Queensland is DROUGHT, so that falls were less than impressive. It was more like the Kondalilla trickle. On the upside, it was a short hike out the the "falls" and on an extremely well maintained path. The rainforest foliage was quite a sight as well! At the end of the path, there was a large rockpool where many families had gathered to go swimming. Although the signage warned against it, the kids were all jumping from the rocks above (up to about 30 feet high) into the mountain pool below. Jon thought it looked to good not to try and had a great time.

We returned home just in time to get cleaned up for a small barbie at one of the other doctor's home in Bli Bli. It turned out to be an intimate gathering with our host & hostess from the UK, a young woman doctor from Aberdeen and her boyfriend, an Aussie couple & ourselves.

I was informed at this gathering that the Huntsman spider (see previous blog entry) will chase you. Although, the teller of the story did mention that this has only happened to her when she has come home from the pub. Still, not good. Phil, our kind new Aussie friend, has offered to loan me his copy of "Australian Creatures That Can Kill You," and take me pesticide shopping! Yay!
We had a great time and hopefully the next time we all get together it will be at our beachfront unit at Surfair!! Move in day is February 2nd!

Signing off from the melonoma capital of the world, good night.