Zelma’s Trip

I woke up at Beaches in Hervey Bay, faffed online for a while and then headed to a shopping centre near the long distance bus terminal.  I had actually meant to go to the shops near the bay but miraculously (I should so be used to this by now) got lost and ended up on a mammoth mission of a walk.  I did walk down part of the beach first actually, albeit part I didn’t mean to, and saw a guy cutting up fish and feeding it to a pelican.  As I walked towards him to take the obligatory photos and video a positively huge shadow passed overhead and another pelican arrived.  I eventually got to the out of town shopping area (having visited a few on the way).  I had a couple of things I needed to buy and ended up buying a few things I thought I needed but arguably didn’t. 

In the evening I chatted to a few people in the room and spent the evening in the bar with two Irish girls who were sharing my dorm.  After an early night I woke up and headed into town where I posted yet another parcel home, used t’internet, successfully avoided buying several handbags and had lunch.  I then headed back to the hostel which is where you find me now – so to speak.

I’m here until 8pm this evening when I get a lift to the long distance bus terminal to get an overnight bus to Airlie Beach.  I’ve really enjoyed my time here and have been pleased to see some of the bright birds around that I saw in the West.  Yesterday at the shopping centre I spent a good few minutes under a tree, gazing up, mouth aghast at the numerous pairs of lovebirds above me.  This was until a local pointed out I may not want to stand in the position for too long lest I receive something I had not wished for.  Actually he said it in a slightly more Australian way, i.e., “You’d better watch yourself there love or one of those little blighters’ll shit on yer head”. 

One night while I was having a cigarette outside my room with another girl I saw a strange silhouette running towards me a bit like a drunken cat.  As it got closer she said it was a possum.  It got so close that it actually sniffed my toe but I was reliably informed that they are friendly and not rabid.  Although arguably that may have been the case -before- a deep intake next to my feet!