There is usually little coaxing necessary to convince the two of us to indulge in a few evening drinks, mid-afternoon beverages, or even cracking open a couple (borderline late morning) before lunch. When you’re on a year-long trip there is never really a bad time to kick back, relax, and reward yourself for all that hard work you’re not doing. But occasionally we do actually have a justified reason to celebrate something of significance.
In this case, just under two weeks into our time in Australia we had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate my mum’s 60th birthday. With the family being all together for the first time in four years, it was the perfect opportunity to do something special for mum.
Our good family friends, Bruce and Lyn, graciously suggested we head to their weekend/holiday house on Russell Island. The weekend before the celebration a group headed out to the island to stock the bar. I don’t mean a well stocked shelf or one of those ridiculous hollow globes you buy out of Sky Mall magazine. This was 12 feet of refrigerated beer space, granite top, liquor holding, ass kicking bar! The stage was set for the perfect birthday celebration.
Early Friday afternoon we boarded their boat and headed for the island. Forty-five minutes later we found ourselves picking bugs out of our teeth because our jaws had dropped to the floor. It wasn’t so much the beautiful boat that had brought us safely to their personal jetty. Or the gorgeous five bedroom house that comfortably slept the twelve of us. It was the addition to the house with the infamous bar, pool table, ping-pong table, lounge, and deck that put us in shock and awe.
Bruce and Lyn bought the house six years ago. They designed and built an entire level below the original house to include four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a fully loaded bar, lounge area, games area and a large deck with a hot tub. All overlooking Moreton Bay.
A quick set-up of sleeping quarters and it was time to relax on the deck with a few drinks. We started out strong and as the night went on, everyone was tipping back the drinks, dancing, singing (at times with improvised microphones), enjoying the hot tub, and competing in both intense and not so intense games of pool and ping-pong. The slow start on Saturday morning was evidence of a successful celebration of my lovely mother and her 60 years of life.
During our time at the island we did manage to do more than just drink ourselves stupid. Though we did kill the weekends supply of beer on the first night! We spent some time fishing, crabbing, taking the boat out to one of the many bays for a swim, and walking along the sand at low tide.
Around The World Tripping 