Travels Down Under:
Following Captain Cook’s Footsteps …

Thursday, April 28, 2011

* Brisbane, Queensland, Australia *

Early to rise, Sir Thomas Leaf arose after a semi-restful night’s sleep on an air mattress in his Couchsurfing host’s home in Brisbane’s Artsy West End. It was a nice day and a good morning for his walk to work. A brief snack of his host’s gift of Tim Tams and a stuffed pastry from a stand along his journey as he took on a 30 minute commute to volunteer as a tour guide for the HMB Endeavour while in Brisbane. He enjoyed people-watching and the artistic scenery as he made his way across Victoria bridge and through Brisbane Square to the Eagle Pier where the HMB Endeavour was docked. He met with the staff and crew checking in for his schedule for the next 10 days as Tour Guide and Deck Hand. He was given orientation and a crash course on the History of Captain Cook, the Endeavour, while being issued a vest, hat, water bottle, and script. His first duty station was to greet the school kids coming in on the buses at a pre-determined drop off location in the city center. Of course, communication went awry somewhere between the Maritime museum and the schools – leaving a very dazed and confused Sir Thomas wondering where the kids were. As he headed back to the ship, he spied they were dropped off elsewhere and caught up with them at checkin. Each guide was to rotate every 15 minutes to a half hour from each section of the ship where they would guide visitors aboard, teach them the history of a specific section of the ship, answer questions, and move them briskly through both decks. 15-30 minute breaks were scheduled in on occasion, but often missed because someone would miss their station or relief throwing the whole rotation off. By the time his 1/2 hour lunch hour came around, Sir Thomas was completely exhausted. Luckily he found down the street Sushi Kim’s sushi stand where he could grab a couple rolls for lunch to eagerly scarf down before heading back to his duty stations. His favorite station was the captain’s chambers and room where Captain Cook, Joseph Banks, and the scientists did much of their research, navigation, and cartography. He enjoyed the company of his fellow volunteer tour guides and mates, then around 5 pm headed back home to his couchsurfing hosts. A walk through Brisbane Square and Reddacliff Place provided some nice photoshots. Just after dark, he met up with his hosts, exchanged downloaded movies, and watched Dexter with Kristina.

Remainder of the Story, Photos and videos below the cut:

Photography is copyright 2011 by Technogypsie.com as photographed by Leaf McGowan, Thomas Baurley, and other Technogypsie photographers. Photos can be requested and/or purchased, on a individual per photo basis, as well as permission for reproduction can be granted by enquiring at http://www.technogypsie.com/photography.html. All content of this web page is copyright Thomas Baurley / Leaf McGowan / Technogypsie.com.

Adelaide Street

Queen Street Mall

Colorado Group

Sushi Kim’s

HMB Endeavour, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Captain’s Cabin / Main Cabin:

Officer’s Cabin:

Main Deck:

 

Kitchen & Main Cabin/ Sleeping Area:

Main Deck:

Captain Cook

Pig n’ Whistle

Fountain by Eagle Pier

James Cook University

Brisbane

Reddacliff Place Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Brisbane Square

Victoria Bridge