Sitting here in the humidity of Central Queensland that has been brought in by the surrounding tropical lows, I can't help but suffer post trip depression. Yes, it is a thing and can be even instigated by just a few weeks away. I don't know, maybe I just long for a life on the road. Except this time on two wheels instead of twenty-two wheels.
I'm trying awfully hard to get motivated. All the gardens that I had done prior to my trip need to be done again. Not only the weeding but with the storms Bundaberg saw, there are a lot of broken limbs that need trimming, and a lot of dirt that needs to be re-scraped off the driveway. Seeing what needs to be done versus getting out there and doing it seems to be a big problem.
The trip back to Bundaberg from Brisbane was good. The Spirit of Queensland was a much better train then the XPT on the New South Wales leg. Quiet, good food and much more spacious. The only annoyance was a couple having a domestic about half way home. It's funny, when you tell someone to shut up and keep it quiet, how you're told to mind your own business. I did reply, "I'd love to, but you're making it hard.
My wait in Brisbane before the trip was long. I was able to book my luggage in at around 10:00 am, and after a little drama, I was free to go and vote and enjoy a much needed real coffee at The Shingle Inn. The Shingle Inn is a place I frequented when living in Brisbane many years ago, some things never change, good food and great coffee. My wife was a little jealous when I reported where I was, it's a favourite place of hers.
After morning tea which comprised of waffles and ice-cream along with a strong long black, I wandered the streets of the city for a while reminiscing over familiar sights. Then back at the station I sat, and I sat, and I sat...waiting, longing for 3:45 pm to come around.
I decided that I had waited enough on the second floor eatery and headed down for Platform 10 around 2:30 pm. I hadn't had any sleep since midnight the night before so I thought I would head and park myself on a platform bench and catch some z's.
The Spirit of the Outback was set at the platform, people waggling about waiting for it to start boarding and railway staff busy loading food trolleys, drinks and pre-checked luggage. It didn't take me long to see the inside of my eyelids go black and drift off. It's amazing how one can sleep on a steel bench when one is dead tired.
The Spirit of the Outback pulled away from the station and it wasn't long before the Spirit of Queensland had taken her place. This was the train I was after, but it took what seemed forever to get to the point where passengers could board. But it did come around eventually.
Once seated I checked out the video selection and settled back in a comfortable seat. The carriage I was in was not that full and I had an empty seat beside me all the way home. I was able to spread out and relax, enjoy a creamy tortellini and a wine for dinner. With the exception of that young couple and them not liking my advice, the trip was quiet and subdued.
I haven't traveled by train for years, you know, since we as a society have become so car centric. As a family it can work out expensive compared to four wheeled coffins, but as a single person I think I have found a new way of travel along with my bike.
Even with the bike it was easy enough, although there were differing standards between New South Wales and Queensland. In NSW the bike had to be boxed and came to a total weight of 23.5 kg's. In QLD because it was boxed it was over 20 kg's, a no no. I had to empty some gear out of the bike box and move it to another bag. The QLD station staff said it wouldn't matter about the weight if it was not boxed. $12.50 in NSW and is included as luggage, $15.00 in QLD and is seperate to your luggage. Of course there are other luggage restrictions/requirement that change from state to state as well.
I finally arrived back in Bundaberg around 8:45 pm on the Saturday evening. It had been a long day and all I wanted to do was get home and have a shower. Walking up the platform I saw my luggage and as I strode up to get it I received one last sneer from the young couple that had caused a disturbance hours earlier. It's lovely when you make an impact on peoples' lives...lol.
Into the back of the Pajero the gear went, and off home my wife headed. Although saddened my my early departure from my trip, I was glad to be home.
This is the great thing, not just about touring, but writing about it. Writing your trip down afterwards helps you relive it pedal stroke by pedal stroke. Even though the trip ended early it was just a case of shit happens, but I get to do it all again in my head as I tap on the keys.
So now as I settle back into some kind of normality, rather lethargically, and attempt some skerrick of real life, my mind can't help but wander to the road and places unseen. Even though there are no major regrets of my early dismissal, I still can't stop imagining the Old Glen Innes Rd in all her glory, beckoning to come back, and return I will.
It may be Ole Angsign for this trip, but there are more on the horizon.
Cheers guys, and as always, ride safe.
No comments:
Post a Comment