Up on Crystal Creek

Week 3!:

Paluma

I've noticed that it is much harder to "Blog it up" when traveling with friends. Its not that I don't do as many blog-worthy activities, but that more of my time is spent in conversation and I have less chance to meander through my thoughts (though some may debate the merits of my "thoughts"). Of course thats not to say I wish I was flying solo. Far from it, just that a personal day here and there helps me to speed up on the blogging. Something has to amuse my regrettably employed friends in Atlanta, even if it is an "Adventure in Complaining" (Yes Aj, I did see that).

Saturday's inauspicious start had me a bit apprehensive about the rest of the day. With a long drive ahead and a late departure at high noon, I had my doubts on the worth of this trip. Thankfully all my misgivings were unfounded; the small Little Crystal Creek NP was well worth the time.

Set back ~20 km from the main highway by twisty hairpins and avalanche warnings, the road wound up into the tropical mountain rainforest. At the NP we were greeted not only by a nearly full car park, but a convoy of military "Utes" on vehicle training exercises. Being the observant fellow that I am, it didn't take long to notice that nearly all the trainees were of the female persuasion (no, not by their driving habits). Having driven a commercial landscaping rig (a good old Detroit steel behemoth with a 20 ft trailer) around the tame roads of Central Mass., I can appreciate the nerves it would take to jockey the Utes with trailers on such a precipitous road.

Little Crystal Creek should be high on the list of any suicidal daredevil. With a single deceptively deep-water hole for diving, and "platforms" from 2 ft - 32 ft, it reminded me of the Looney Toons diving into a glass of water. Our late start found us as one of the few groups staying on into the afternoon, and as such, I was free to stand on the various rock ledges unpressured while contemplating a variety of painful landings. I opted for one of the slightly lower platforms, content to survive (albeit as a chicken) for a few more days.

Sunday was a lazy day, as every proper Sunday should be. Even my first practice with the team that is heading to coed Australian Nationals was lazy, which was just about the only thing I accomplished all day.

Monday, though, was a different story. Shortly after waking, Chris and I took a bus into the city. Noticing a "Salvo" (thrift store), we hopped off the bus a few stops early for a little bargain sleuthing. This wasn't just a flight of fancy, I was on a hunt for an over-the-top get-up for the themed Pajama party at Nationals. I don't know who bought some of this stuff to begin with, or the others who thought donating a used pair of underwear was a humanitarian act, but on this rare occasion, I was actually glad to be perusing the skivvies in the Nightwear aisle. Words can not do justice to the outfit I found. You'll have to wait and see.

A quick lunch (a turkey, cheese, avocado, cranberry, tomato sandwich sounds good, but may well be an acquired taste) and we were off to the Tropical Museum of Queensland. Chris was lucky enough to participate in the cannon demonstration as part of the gun crew; he even scored a certificate for his training. It was part of the larger Pandora/ Bounty (as in the Mutiny on the Bounty) exhibit- a tale of British Navy's harrowing attempt to bring the mutineers to justice. Then there was an exhibit of WWII Japanese attacks on Australia. Did anyone else know this happened? Sydney was torpedoed twice, and Darwin bombed 43 times! Either the Japanese were fervent creationists, or just hell bent on claiming worlds most diverse marsupial populations for themselves.

After exploring the rest of the museums offerings, we caught a ride back towards campus with the Ultimate team captain. It was the big night for the team, it was the first time the we had a chance to scrimmage anyone, though our competitors were not at Nationals levels. For the first part of the game, its seems that we were not at the Nationals level either. Plagued with turnovers and miscues, the other team lead us for most of the game. Nearing the end we managed to overcome a 4 point deficit and squeak out a win. Rest assured, unless we come together, Nationals is going to be a lesson in futility and pain. I'm looking forward to it though, I think we can step it up.




Chris on the high jump. Its a long way down.



















Carrie considers the jump.


















ps- I've added a picture of the Captain in the "Magnetic Island" entry.