Last day at Bargara - Nov. 22, 2013

FRIDAY – NOVEMBER 22, 2013

BOTTOM LINE:

Bike ride to Mon Repos, computer work

BACK STORY:

Bruce headed down to the beach first thing in the morning to try a little surf fishing. When he returned I told him that I’d really like to check out a couple of bikes and go for a ride.  With helmets on and a lock in the backpack we headed down the bike path along the ocean toward Mon Repos. I loved the retro bikes that the resort had for us.  I never got sore from the seat and the high handlebars were great for posture.  There were no gears to change just squeaky brakes, which easily warned people of our approaching!  

Rough and "Reddie"

...As for our helmets, they seemed normal to us in shape and color until we began noticing other people had 6 inch plastic zip-ties protruding out at all angles from the tops of their helmets.  We felt like we were missing out on something.   It turns out that people rig their helmets this way to deter testosterone crazed Magpies that during mating season aggressively swoop down and attack the heads of unsuspecting bicyclers!!!  Luckily the mating season had passed or it might have been an short ride!

Helmet with fierce combative design!

The salt air had a light breeze, but provided little relief for the heat and humidity.  Luckily there were areas along the path that had beach showers that we could use before hopping back on the bikes.  The ride was lovely both in the view and to get some good exercise. The ride was an easy 7 miles round trip.

Mon Repos means “my rest” in French and was the name of a family home which once sat among the sea grasses at the oceanfront. The property is now a very elaborate turtle education and research sight. During the day it is visited by the curious.  At night people can pay for a nighttime experience at helping researchers protect turtles that may be nesting or eggs that may be hatching. 

Turtles circle of life

Female Loggerneck, Green and Flatback turtles migrate to this, their birthing area to repeat the cycle.  The center reminded us of others in Florida, Puerto Rico and Grand Cayman that all have put great effort to educating the public on the serious threat to these wonderful reptiles. Gumbo Limbo Center in SE Florida was always a destination that we would take visitors too.  

Each time I read about turtles I learn something new…or maybe I knew, but just forgot!??  One thing that impressed me this time was that the sex of the baby turtles are determined by the temperature and light in their sand nests.  The turtles from this area are mainly female because the sand is warm and dark.

Turtle nesting

One of the things that I observed on our ride was the friendliness of the people.  Old or young, joggers or walkers all people would acknowledge us as we approached them with a “goo-day!” People seem genuinely happy.

The ocean pathway wasn’t just a paved surface to enjoy a ride but was dotted with plaques having historical or environmental facts.  In the 1930’s this sleepy little town of Bargara hosted the annual railway picnic that drew some 15,000 visitors yearly. 

Surf rescue teams are very important to the ocean front towns.  Many of the beaches have buildings near the parking lots that house the teams and training facilities.  Across from one such building I found a huge metal adult play swing.  It wasn’t the typical sit on a sling and pump the swing to a desired height.  This was a hanging kind of swing.  Bruce and I tried and I got to laughing so hard that I almost fell off!  What a fun thing to put up for we older kids!!!  We need playtime too! 

Preparing to launch!

A good swim followed the bike ride when we returned.  After a little lunch we headed down into town to find someplace to hook up our computers.  Two hours later and a $25 bill for use, we finished what we each needed to do.

The kiss of a fresh rain ended our week in Bargara.  Tomorrow we begin working our way down the Sunshine coast to the Gold coast, which is south of Brisbane.  We have another week reserved as a timeshare trade at Halliday’s Beach beginning this next Friday. We are expecting that our pace will pick up a bit.  Pictures look very much like the strip between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami Beach.   

Our time on the Gold Coast unfortunately coincides with “schoolie week,” which is similar to spring break in the US.  The biggest difference is Australian "schoolies" are high school age, not college and the legal drinking age is 18, not 21! I'm not quite sure why a parent would foot the bill and give permission to send their high school kid away unchaperoned to some resort with friends for a week.??? Am I missing something?