Brisbane

I spent the first night of my stay in Bunk which I wouldn't recommend to anyone unless you are planning to be out at the attached bar until it closes around 3:30 am. Chill backpackers was a much better option as given away by its name. During the weekend on the south bank there was a festival celebrating the birthday of Buddha and they had several performances the most impressive of which was the world champion Chinese yo yo. He was dealing with three of them at the end of his act which was amazing.

A great lookout over Brisbane was Mt. Cooth-tha where you got to see the whole city. Australians evidently are not worried about urban sprawl.

After spending a few days in Brisbane I finally made up my mind to fly up to Townsville and dive the Yongala wreck which took a bit of doing. Of course as soon as I made plans they had to change. On the plane ride up to Townsville I met a wonderful woman named Sally Stacy who owns Ranmoor cattle station with her husband Steve Stacy. She heard that I really didn't have much in the way of plans and said that I should come out and stay with them on the station and see what ranch life is like in the outback so I hopped in the car with her to drive out to near Richmond which is nearly 5 hours driving west of Townsville.