Got to Brissie all safe and sound!

Hey ya'll, just wanted to write a quick post to say I got to Brisbane all safe and sound after a long, exhaustive but shockingly easy 29-hour hitch from Cairns. I left yesterday morning and got my first ride before I could even set my stuff down; that guy dropped me at a servo where I immediately was picked up by this hare krishna guy who, we figured out after a few minutes, I had talked to in his veggie restaurant a few days prior. He was going to visit his sick grandad to try to save his soul, and dropped me at another servo in Innisfail. Within five minutes of landing there I got a ride with an old, crusty truckie who was going all the way to Sydney and gladly gave me a lift the rest of the way. He even bought me my meals, amongst reassurances that all he wanted was someone to talk to. I subtly let him know that that was good because I hate having to hurt people who try anything, but it was all good cause he really was totally harmless. He regaled me with stories of his dead wife, his dogs, his son and daughter-in-law, and all the different ways you can disguise the flavor of one kind of animal by using extract of another to make it taste better (i.e., oyster sauce on venison, rabbit cooked in chicken stock). He really didn't get the vegan thing but you can't win 'em all I guess. I rolled up to my friends' house around 3 this afternoon and I expect I'll be staying here for about a week or so before heading down to Sydney, so there you have it- here I am! I'm getting really excited about Queeruption in Vancouver too so I'll be having fun till I see ya'll again, wherever you are! Big hugs as always, Pike.