The Kronikles of Tony and Ruth
Day 25 - Monday 24 July 2006
Up at 6 AM and the weather looks fine. It’s worth noting that even though the Sunshine Coast received heavy rain, Brisbane, only 120 KM away, was left dry. Heavy water-use restrictions are in place and provision of water to the City is becoming an election issue. State premier Beattie is proposing to dam up the beautiful Mary River Valley where the locals are pissed off.
Time again to thank our friends for their warm hospitality. So, thanks Liisa, Mervyn, Craig and Brad for sharing your home and time with us. Kirsten, good to see you again, the “Naked” coffee was aromatic, fantastic and not bad either.
All the Byrnes and we leave at 8AM. I take the ramp off Coronation Drive at Elizabeth St to park the car at the Myer Centre. After what seems an endless climb up some stairs we emerge into a food court reeking with Mackers and KFC. Disgusting! To flush this vile stench out of our systems we take coffee at the “Naked”. Ahhhh – much better.
Aimlessly wandering around the city we come across a refreshing sandstone glade in a forest of glass and steel. The St Stephen’s precinct is an absolute highlight of the CBD. So easy on the eyes. The Chapel, the oldest church in Queensland, contains a powerful wooden sculpture of the blessed Mary McKillop hidden behind heavy shards of wood. WOW!!! I can’t describe it – check the www for pictures.
Another WOW! when we walk around the cathedral proper. Inside the traditional church architecture are striking contemporary sculpture works. We explore this quarter further, returning to our car for another wow! The parking fee for approx. 2hrs is $17.50!
Leaving Alice St we enter the F3 that turns into F1, bypassing the towers of Surfer’s Paradise. An hour into out trip we get off the freeway at Currumbin to drive along the coast. Life begins at the off ramp. Enjoying a white at the North Kirra Services Club we gaze back on the Manhatanised skyline of Surfer’s
The surf at the breakwater mouth (Durambah Beach) of the Tweed River is huge and for a while we admire a couple of brave souls who try to position themselves for the mountainous shifting peaks.
Following an estate agent’s directions Coolangatta, Tweed, Chinderah, Kingscliff, the newly minted Salt slide past and the being minted Casuarina Beach hoves into view. Here the big smile of Marion greets us. Noel, Anne and Rex are golfing so we celebrate reunion with some champagne.
They return and there is much wisecracking, animated discussion and gales of laughter.
We devour steaks and prawns that Noel BBQs and wash the lovely food with great reds provided by the Armstrongs. Out come photo albums, scrapbooks and the trip down memory lane begins with music, wine and a lot of spontaneous skylarking. The girls put on a Supremes act. Ahh, friends. A wonderful night. Ruth is asleep by 11.PM. I’m not far behind her.
Rain all night.
Sculpture - Mary McKillop | 
Marion |
The Supreemes - Anne, Marion and Ruth | 
Noel |
