The Glasshouse Mountains

Sunday 29^th October

Daylight began at 5.00 am, very sunny and already very warm. Queensland does not believe in daylight saving so our clocks changed as did UK this weekend, so we are still 10 hours ahead of GMT.

We decided it would be prudent to register the van for a temporary Toll charge Pass for Brisbane as it's virtually impossible to pass from one side to the other avoiding toll roads. In reality we only encountered a toll when going under the city through the Clem Jones Tunnel, virtually under the whole of the city centre. This did help make the driving for Peter a somewhat easier task even though it was Sunday traffic.

We headed for the suburb of Albany Creek, which is where our friend Louise's sister, Elizabeth and her husband David lived. It was lovely to meet them, also Louise's sister, Mary Anne with her niece Becky and great niece Lily. They all made us very welcome and we spent a couple of hours chatting. David was born in Wanstead and emigrated with his parents when he was five years old.

After Brisbane, we took the Tourist Drive to the Glasshouse Mountains. Back in May 1770, they were given their name by Captain James Cook who, as he sailed by, thought they resembled the glass kilns and furnaces of his native Yorkshire.. These domed, conical, granite structures, rising out of the plains to heights of about 556 meteres are old volcanic plugs and are visible from as far away as Brisbane.

These two are called the Twins!

To the Kabi Aborigines, these dramatic, isolated pinnacles jutting out of th flat plain, are the petrified forms of a family fleeing the incoming tide.

Depending on the guide book you read, there are either 9, 13 or 16 peaks!!

We eventually arrived at Lansdsborough Pines camp site, where a refreshing dip in the pool was most welcome. From now on, every campsite must have a pool!

Air conditioning in the van has packed up again, but hopefully Peter has temporarily fixed the problem using a bread knife to release the fan! Let's hope it  still works tomorrow.

Highlights of the day:

Meeting up with Louise's family and watching two goannas having a stand - off in the camp kitchen while Peter was barbecuing the sausages this evening.