December 22, 2024 to January 6, 2025
Having been away from Brisbane for around 20 months we decided to fly back to Brisbane for a 2 week visit with family. As the day we left was 44 degrees and we were in the storage area of the Advent Park Caravan park with no aircon we headed to the airport early and had a light lunch in the Food Court.
As we might have expected there was a fight delay, finally leaving the gate about an hour late at around 6pm; clearly visible before we flew into darkness was the lake system North of Lake Grace including the lake itself as the largest to the top of the image.
Finally arriving at around 1.15 am Brisbane time on Christmas Eve we were picked up by Renee and taken to Zoe’s, the chosen residence for our family gathering, a little after 2am.
Christmas Day at Zoe’s:
After a few days at Zoe’s we moved on Saturday to Olivia’s close to the Brisbane RIver at Seventeen Mile Rocks, we walked over the ridge to the Riverside Park which was developed from industrial land where Queensland Cement and Lime Company (QCL) set up their operations in the area, as the site was a good source of fresh water, gravel and sand. Dead coral was brought up the Brisbane River from Moreton Bay as this was found to be a good substitute for lime. In 1995, the Queensland Government decided not to renew QCL’s licence to remove coral from Moreton Bay. The last shipment was received in 1997 and most of the coral used in 1998, resulting in the closure of the plant in 1999.
The park was opened on 7 December 2003, and features industrial artefacts from its previous use.
On New Year’s Day the local Parkrun was holding a special run (last year we participated in the one at Kalgoorlie):
Our final 3 days were sent at Laura’s with an opportunity on the Saturday for another Parkrun at Harris Avenue (Narangba):
Our final day, and day of departure, was spent at a lovely lunch organised by Olivia at Stratton in Newstead with almost everyone present:
Following lunch we drove down to New Farm Park for a bit of fun and photographs
..and so at the end of Sunday it was farewell Brisbane and hello Perth, late again getting back to the caravan at 2.15 am
