Let me start by saying I realize I am truly blessed and can never repay the kindness and good fortune that has come my way in life.
It's rare to have free time on my business trips but I had to stay the weekend in Brisbane, Australia before meetings the following week. I recently joined Overland Bound, which has a chapter in Queensland. I posted a simple question in the discussion forum: if they were visiting Brisbane and had one day, what would they do? I added that I had hoped to hire (as they say instead of "rent") a 4x4 and drive some trails but it's still the season there and the 5-day minimum rental wouldn't work with my schedule, so that's why I was asking about other activities.
They suggested I join their Facebook group and the question I asked morphed over time into an event for their chapter. Two of their members picked me up at my hotel - remember, these people don’t even know me! - for an incredible day exploring the rugged and beautiful Condamine River Gorge. My new friend Blake even insisted that I drive his Mitsubishi Pajero (as the Montero is called there) on the trail, which crosses the river no less than 14 times! My friend Luis cooked lunch before we hiked down to Queen Mary Falls.
The weather was picture perfect and this turned out to be the biggest event their chapter has ever had - 17 vehicles of every imaginable kind and over 40 people! That's no credit to me of course, I just happened to be the lucky American these kind people adopted into their chapter.
Thought the Toyota Hilux in its native habitat would be of interest to this group. It appears the Surf is no longer offered in Australia and I didn't see one during my visit. Something that really stood out is how many people drive 4x4s as a percentage of total vehicles - it's much higher than anywhere I've seen before and many are fully decked out with snorkels, bumpers, etc. I saw a truck exactly like this one, snorkel and all, that belonged to a city department in Brisbane.
I'm told the reasons include the incredible weather, so many trails ("tracks" there) ranging from beaches to mountains, and tax breaks on such vehicles that lead to many people buying them for work use.
Some of the scenery made me feel right at home in its similarity to the North Georgia mountains.
Yes, 14 awesome times.
Luis took this shot of me taking the wheel and the remarkably generous Blake in the t-shirt. What great people.
Hopped out and grabbed this shot of some of the rest of the group making one of the crossings.
Queen Mary Falls:
Proud to be an honorary member of their chapter.
Overall, an amazing and humbling experience I will remember forever, and this post is dedicated to OB Queensland with gratitude and appreciation.
- the Internet - the mother-ship of people who don't know much and aren't afraid to go public
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