YeeHah- Big Ride Here I Come!
Well quite a Saturday! Currently sitting at the computer of Spanish Redneck aka Matt (see link bottom left sidebar) - camped at his place for the night with my bike prepped and gear sitting ready in the hallway downstairs ready for a 4.30 am rise and rapid departure.
David and Kay picked me up from home around 8 am. My bike had already sprouted wings and left for Brisbane Tuesday per kind favour of Kirsti. We made a speedy trip to Brisbane with no stops and I was here by around 11.30.
Matt was busy for a while creating a mounting on the rear tray of his ute to carry the two bikes (pics below) and I busied myself with a natty cassette style chain cleaner removing several pounds of Central Queensland bulldust from the chain.
Mid afternoon we drove into the Brisbane CBD to drop off a parcel. What a trip down memory lane! Driving through Chermside I discovered that my old PMG tech training school of 1969 has vanished entirely- the big open space complex being completely built over with extensions from Chermside shopping centre.
Later in Elizabeth St I found the City Training School of Hesketh House had also disappeared replaced with St Stephen's Cathedral facilities. Of course Central Exchange built in 1920's and loaded with memories from my training days has long since gone replaced with some modern low building.
Down in Fortitude Valley the old Light St bus depot has been replaced with modern complexes- change everywhere. Doubtless the Repatriation Department Sisters Quarters has also been demolished down there- couldn't see.
Matt asked me when I had last been to Redcliffe- goodness only knows- decades. Well at least one and some years anyway. So over the new Hornibrook Highway taking a Cook's Tour through the Peninsula suburbs. Sutton's Beach with its memories of childhood seaside holidays. Some of the old houses remain.
When we reached Scarborough we dropped in to Morgan's Seafoods. What an establishment! The fresh seafood area had refrigerated counters ranged around in a huge square- I prowled the entire circuit noticing seafoods I had only heard of. Down the fish'n'chips area huge volumes of orders were efficiently processed in a minimum of time in a small space. It was mindboggling watching the speed and organization!
We took ours out to a picnic table by the seaside. Trawlers rocked in the water only feet away. Further out in the marina lay the pleasure vessels. I'd never eaten calamari like it- so fresh! None of this breadcrumb-coated-rubber-band stuff out of the freezer! Tea was definitely worth waiting for!
Heading back to Matt's place we found Trevor's old home at 175 Scarborough Rd. More memories. Trevor and I trained together in the PMG tech school in 1969 and we have kept contact on and off ever since. Later we passed North Lakes where Coral and I had turned for Trevor's place at Mango Hill a year or so ago. I have vowed to ring Trevor again next week- must be a year or so since we have talked. My heart had really been set on attending his son's wedding soon- until a family engagement party turned up. Perhaps a visit is in order again before too long!
Time for bed- 4.30am rise for the Wilson HTM Brisbane to Gold Coast ride- all 100ks of it. Leaving South Bank at 6am! Pics tomorrow all going well- if I can stop long enough to take some!
David and Kay picked me up from home around 8 am. My bike had already sprouted wings and left for Brisbane Tuesday per kind favour of Kirsti. We made a speedy trip to Brisbane with no stops and I was here by around 11.30.
Matt was busy for a while creating a mounting on the rear tray of his ute to carry the two bikes (pics below) and I busied myself with a natty cassette style chain cleaner removing several pounds of Central Queensland bulldust from the chain.
Mid afternoon we drove into the Brisbane CBD to drop off a parcel. What a trip down memory lane! Driving through Chermside I discovered that my old PMG tech training school of 1969 has vanished entirely- the big open space complex being completely built over with extensions from Chermside shopping centre.
Later in Elizabeth St I found the City Training School of Hesketh House had also disappeared replaced with St Stephen's Cathedral facilities. Of course Central Exchange built in 1920's and loaded with memories from my training days has long since gone replaced with some modern low building.
Down in Fortitude Valley the old Light St bus depot has been replaced with modern complexes- change everywhere. Doubtless the Repatriation Department Sisters Quarters has also been demolished down there- couldn't see.
Matt asked me when I had last been to Redcliffe- goodness only knows- decades. Well at least one and some years anyway. So over the new Hornibrook Highway taking a Cook's Tour through the Peninsula suburbs. Sutton's Beach with its memories of childhood seaside holidays. Some of the old houses remain.
When we reached Scarborough we dropped in to Morgan's Seafoods. What an establishment! The fresh seafood area had refrigerated counters ranged around in a huge square- I prowled the entire circuit noticing seafoods I had only heard of. Down the fish'n'chips area huge volumes of orders were efficiently processed in a minimum of time in a small space. It was mindboggling watching the speed and organization!
We took ours out to a picnic table by the seaside. Trawlers rocked in the water only feet away. Further out in the marina lay the pleasure vessels. I'd never eaten calamari like it- so fresh! None of this breadcrumb-coated-rubber-band stuff out of the freezer! Tea was definitely worth waiting for!
Heading back to Matt's place we found Trevor's old home at 175 Scarborough Rd. More memories. Trevor and I trained together in the PMG tech school in 1969 and we have kept contact on and off ever since. Later we passed North Lakes where Coral and I had turned for Trevor's place at Mango Hill a year or so ago. I have vowed to ring Trevor again next week- must be a year or so since we have talked. My heart had really been set on attending his son's wedding soon- until a family engagement party turned up. Perhaps a visit is in order again before too long!
Time for bed- 4.30am rise for the Wilson HTM Brisbane to Gold Coast ride- all 100ks of it. Leaving South Bank at 6am! Pics tomorrow all going well- if I can stop long enough to take some!
posted by aussiewriterdave | 4:54 AM
1 Comments:
Hi Dave.
I was at Chermside Training School in 1961.
Joe Maranta (now deceased ) was the Principal back then.
Some of the Instructors included -
Mr.Flaskas, Mr.Maurer, Mr.Robertson (or Robinson ), and a lot of others whose names I can't remember.
In 1962, I went into the Radio section, and did my block training at Newfarm training school, which was demolished in the early 1980's (or late 1970's ).
John Barnes (john3380@bigpond.net.au ).
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