On the evening of June 26th we arrived at the Port of Brisbane. Everyone was itching to get off after watching land pass for hours as we transited up the Brisbane River. It was a beautiful day and we were missing it being cooped up on the ship like eager chickens awaiting the door to open. The sun had well set by the time we got off the ship. Liberty buses were the only way into town and we were short 5 to start the evening the Navy way. The ride into town was nearly an hour and took us through the outskirts of the city. The skyscrapers just beyond the horizon came as a welcome surprise as we actually entered the main hub of Brisbane.

Everyone I work with was going to meet at Friday's, not to be mistaken with T.G.I. Friday's, for dinner and drinks. The place was alive withmusic and dancing when we arrived around 8 o'clock, but food was our main concern as almost no one had eaten in lieu of catching up on sleep from the recently departed Sydney just over 30 hours before. Everything was delicious and the drinks flowed like water. Over the following few hours we made our way through the city to a few different clubs and bars, but none were as festive as Friday's so we ultimately returned. As things began to pick up for some for others things began to wind down, me included.

A couple of our more talkative members had met up with some local girls and were headed off to breakfast. I and another joined along the way. Perhaps to keep the numbers even or maybe by blind fate two of their friends were waiting just outside the club. It was like something out of a movie, four couples headed off for pancakes at three in the morning after a fun night on the town. During our short walk through the mostly deserted streets I was surprised to learn that all of the girls were 18, still living at home with their parents, and going to school at the local college. Even as the youngest American in our group at 23 it was a bit awkward and I was curious of the ambitions of my colleagues. I, after all, was just along for the ride. Everything went off without a hitch though, limited to conversation, not so great pancakes, a desperately needed glass of water, and some coffee. After breakfast we made our way to the casino to kill an hour or so before the first liberty bus of the morning came by at six to take our sagging bodies home.

The next day (or the same day really) was spent drinking copious amounts of water and sleeping for unreasonably long hours. Is it possible I'm getting old? I remember pulling a similar line of action a couple years ago for almost three days straight on only a couple of hours of sleep and loving every minute of it until reality started to set in. Such is life I suppose. The day was wasted, but well needed.

The following day five of us hopped on a bus with 7 others (4 Marines, 2 sailors, and a Boeing contractor) and headed north deep into the heart of Queensland for overnight camping and horseback riding. Within an hour of arriving we were already mounted up and heading through some of the most beautiful countryside I have ever laid eyes on (pictures to come later). We rode till near sunset before arriving back in camp a little sore, but loving every minute of it. Our hosts prepared dinner while everyone sat around drinking local brews and telling stories of the day and day's past. Being the only former boy scout of the group I was assigned to building a campfire which was aided by the owners children who seemed more interested in burning things than actually getting the fire started. Everything lit up quite nicely in the end. Over three courses we enjoyed a light pumpkin soup, steak and potatoes with all the fixings, and finished everything off with a hearty sticky date cake that was "sticky and tasted like dates." The remainder of the evening and into the morning was spent around the campfire telling stories and jokes with only a couple minor mishaps. The lesson learned was that fire and drunkenness do not mix well. Apply ointment as directed.

We awoke the next morning to the sounds of Australia's various birds trying to figure out what all these people were doing laying on the ground in swags around a fire. Sunrise was magnificent and breakfast a godsend. After everyone had eaten their fill and cleaned up the best they could (no running water) we mounted up the horses again and headed back out on the trail. We hadn't been out for more than half an hour before we reached a spot that was suitable for running the horses fast. J.B., the largest of my co-workers, had a rather pesky horse. In fact he had to switch horses because his previous horse from the day before was no better. His horse got up to speed and decided to make a turn while J.B. continued straight ahead taking a stirrup with him and collecting a nice selection of the local flora along with a host of nasty scrapes and bruises. To be honest he came out of the ordeal rather lucky. Our guide for the day had spent six months in a coma after a similar incident a few years before. J.B. walked back to the camp as his horse had run off and had no intention of being ridden any longer that day. Even the owner had a bit of trouble getting him to settle down. The rest of the day went by with out any further serious injury. Tree branches simply cannot be avoided and the scratches will heal soon enough.

That final night was spent out in town enjoying a final meal and a few drinks before heading back to the boat for some much needed rest for our aching bodies. My rear is still a bit tender, but the rest of me has done well in the recovery.