Nox Detox

We decide to stay on at Toogoolawah for a while as a jump course from the British army is due to start the next week and besides we have some jump tickets left over so it would be rude to go just yet. We settle into a pattern of jumping in the morning (up early as the sun heats you up in the caravan like an oven), then bouncing rain in the afternoon so off into town to the café for thickshakes and to pick up some videos for an afternoon/evening of watching videos. Much the same can be said when the army guys arrive, giving one of their instructors Aidy a bit of a shock as he didn’t expect to see quite so many familiar faces so far from home. Eventually after being on the DZ for 4 weeks we decide its about time we got “off drops”. First of all we need to acquire some transport, so after a lift in the crab wagon into Brisbane, we leave Andy wandering round the art museum and venture off round the shops, spending more time in search of a “bop-it” game which the ozzies don’t seem to have heard of. Finally we go out in search of a van, look over a few “wicked” campers with their lurid paintwork and unfortunately leaky engines and cracked windscreens before spotting an ad for a van at a garage some way out of town.

We pick Andy up and head off to the garage, they have a couple of vans available but time is getting on, so we send Andy and Shaz homeward, figuring we can always stay for the night with Rob’s friend Howard if push comes to shove. The garage owner lets us borrow a car while we go get a bite to eat and think it over and we decide that the more expensive van is the way for us to go, even though it doesn’t leave us much to fit it out with (it’s a bare van with nothing inside). Returning back to the garage its getting on and Howard isn’t answering our calls so we’re thinking we’ll have to taxi it back into town for a hostel which is a long trip. We can’t take the van as it need a new rego which we can sort out in the morning. The garage owner very kindly says we crash out in the house on the back of the office, where he had been living until quite recently so a bed and bedding was still there. With the company of two friendly cats we think it’s the ideal solution and we’re locked in for the night. Before long Rob looks down at his feet however and notices little black specks, I examine mine and sure enough they are covered right up to half way up my shins and calves. Fleas. We’re being bitten all over. More frantic ringing round, its past 9pm but there is no way we can sleep here, if we lie down we’re likely to get bitten all over. Finally Rob manages to find a motel down the road and a taxi firm that will take us there. We get there after 10, our skin crawling and get a much needed shower before bagging up all our clothes to be washed at the earliest opportunity.

Next day we make our excuses about Rob’s allergy to cats as to why we didn’t stay the night, pick up the van and get a new rego. We pass a furniture place and come away with a mattress, a table and four chairs for less than 50bucks (20 quid), bargain! We can manage with the mattress on the floor for the moment, we’ll build a bed later when we’ve been away for a week as its about time we had some proper time off drops and Rob and I plan our trip the following Monday to Fraser Island.