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Mount Isa trip – Day 1jawaproSun 20/01/2008 12:26 PM
Well – I finally got underway. My parents came through on Friday night and stayed the night to see me off, and to take my car to be serviced while I’m away.
Very nice of them to come through and see me off. Up until they arrived it all felt a little unreal still – but they helped me feel more confident that I’d packed everything etc.
Due to conditions of the Free of Charge (Staff Travel) policy, it was better to book Day Sailings – and this was my first Day Sailing across the Strait.
It’s defiantly different to the more common Night Sailings – and if I didn’t have a cabin, I don’t think I would have enjoyed it terribly much. The sailing was calm (disappointing as I’ve never struck a rough one), but the weather wasn’t very great – so you couldn’t see very far.
I spent most of the trip relaxing in my cabin. As the cabins weren’t very sold out (most people just buy Day Tickets, that don’t come with a cabin), I was upgraded to a Deluxe, which was very nice. Among other things – it meant I scored a bottle of Champaign.
I didn’t spent the entire trip hiding away though – I made use of a remote control helicopter with a camera attached, and took a photo of the Spirit from the outside.
Lol – just kidding. This photo was of the other Spirit when we passed each other.
So apart from getting a headache, I had a good trip.
When we got to Melbourne, Daniel (Trojen), Glenn (Vegitator), and Tahi (No nickname) were waiting to meet me.
They had left the car out of town, and caught the trains/trams into the Port, and so began the process of returning to the car.
But it couldn’t be that easy – could it?
First up we caught the Tram into town (and Daniel messed around with my camera). But once we got into town, Glenn said he had to go back to a shop he’d been to earlier in the day to buy some perfume.
So we ended up hiking around the Crown Shopping Complex – lugging my suitcase and backpack and things around – gaining disapproving stares from every security guard in the place.
Unfortunately Glenn didn’t remember where the shop was – so we had to walk all over the complex – although we did stop from a drink (which helped my headache a bit).
Apparently these fruit drink thingos are something you just have to try. They aren’t bad – but nothing to write home about (although, I guess I am).
Eventually we retraced our steps – and found Glenns perfume shop just around the corner from where we came in.
We thought it was somewhat amusing that Glenn was spending $80 on perfume (for himself), and took a photo to prove it. The guys at the shop thought it was all amusing too – and ended up chatting to us (although still glancing disapprovingly at my bags). Tahi had the bright idea to ask the bloke behind the counter where the good clubs where - but once the guy realised we were all straight, he struggled to think of anything. He did recommend a club - but fortuantly no one was in a hurry to take his advice (I dont do the whole clubbing thing - and especially not in clubs recommended by gay purfume sellers)
Eventually we got back on track, and caught a tram to the train station – where it became apparent that Dan and Tahi (who live in Melbourne) are hopeless at working out which train to catch.
We eventually made it on the train, and headed back to Trojen’s car.
Along the way, a chick crawled onto the train, and was obviously trying to keep out of sight. Apparently she was trying to avoid a “scary bald man” in the next carriage. She started talking to us - obviously deciding 4 larish young blokes might be able to help her if the "bald man" found her.
Glenn showed her his new $80 perfume, which she claimed smells like toothpaste. Glenn wasnt impressed - so we made sure to bag him out about it all the remainder on the night.
Man – I’ve got some strange friends….
Anyway we got to Dan’s car, and then to his house. We tried my free Champaign (which Glenn had been looking longingly at all night) – and quickly decided that none of us like Champaign.
The Great Geek Migration of 2008 has finally begun!
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The Journey Begins...jawaproSat 19/01/2008 06:57 AM
Well - this is it. Today I'm about to board the Spirit of Tasmania 1 and head to Melbourne. I'm staying there with Trojen until Monday morning, when I fly to Mount Isa (pictured). From there, it's the long drive back to Tassie with Klutz. Depending on the flooding, we'll make the call as to which route we take when I get up there.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and a sore foot.
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Change of PlansjawaproThu 17/01/2008 11:02 PM
Well, that was unexpected. I was lying in bed rapidly devouring the latest Matthew Reilly book (I want to finish it before I leave because its a large hardcover and I dont want to cart it with me). I leave on Saturday (2 days time), in case you didnt know.
And out of blue I get a call from Klutz. Well, actually I get an SMS asking me if I was awake first - which I probably would have been after the phone beeped anyway.
Klutz rang me up and said that they've started paying more attention to the news - and the route we were planning to take is right through the path of the flooding that's been on the news. I dont watch enough news to know myself - but apparently Winton and Longreach and places like that are rather wet at the moment.
So we are currently talking about our backup plan, heading west and then down the center through the Alice.
At the moment it's a little up in the air. It depends on the weather. We could still follow the original route, but chances are we'll head west instead. I'll keep you posted...
And in case you're completely confused because you havent been reading the blog lately - I'm travelling up to Melbourne by ship on Saturday, and then flying to My Isa on Monday to travel back to Tassie with Klutz in his car (yes, driving). Klutz is moving back down here to go to Uni, and I'm just acting as his co-pilot on the way down.
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Blat FatteryjawaproTue 15/01/2008 06:25 PM
Well, it seems my car has decided that I need some more exercise, and called in sick today with a bad case of Blat Fattery.
So I ended up riding my bike to work today. I was only slightly late. I'd been thinking about riding to work for a while now - but never got organized enough to do. Well, that changed today.
Now I either need to jump start my car, or else ride again tomorrow. Still not sure what made it go flat - nothing was left on that I know of.
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Breif RecapjawaproMon 14/01/2008 09:13 PM
Thanks to MartianLeader and his crew for another LAN this weekend. I had a blast. Yet more games of Savage under my belt (mostly defeats) - and some good time hanging with friends.
I'll have to invite you guys to Devonport for a LAN soon.
Anyway - in other news, it's less than a week now until I head for the mainland for my Mt Isa trip.
And Rogers has been sold! The local BP in Exeter has been sold, as Roger is retiring. Good luck in the future Rog, we'll miss chatting around the petrol bowsers. Apparently it's not even going to remain a BP - things are a changing in Exeter.
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