SUNSHINE COAST. 22.02.10

SUNSHINE COAST
After arriving at Buderim on the Sunshine Coast 3rd Dec. we spent 1 week then drove down to the Gold Coast. Had 5 nights at the Crown Towers Resort then 2 nights staying with friends, Fiona & Peter. Our main aim for the visit was to keep drs. appointments for checkups, which was all ok and see family and friends. Gosh, when you don’t see grandchildren for a while you certainly notice how they have grown. Good to see Jackie, Paul, Taylor & Chloe again after 8 months. They have a new home, which they hadn’t moved into when we left, and they have made it very nice and homely. Lovely to visit and enjoyed seeing them.
Back to Buderim in preparation for Xmas celebrations and arrival of family. It was good to catch up with mum, who lives down on Bribie Island and daughter Kellie & Rory from Hervey Bay. New Year saw the arrival of Gary & Jan up from Leeton. Along with some of Darren’s friends we had a great New Year’s celebration at home.
Since New Year there has been a hatching of ducklings on the lake we face. There was 6 to start with, but after only 1 day that was down to 5. I have become very fond of them and for a some time they have been coming up under the fence to be fed. As soon as they see me they waddle up. This may be a few times a day. Sadly a couple of weeks ago 1 came up on its own and I discovered that it had been attacked through the night around the neck area. It couldn’t swallow very well. It waddled off, but unfortunately it hasn’t been seen since. The swans were nesting in the lake too, but due to the heavy rains the nest was almost demolished along with the eggs. They have re-built and nesting again now. I was hoping to see the hatching of baby swans. There is also another group of ducks, 4 of them, that stick to together. 2 white ones and 2 coloured. One of the white ones has a fluffy ball on its head, which I have named Snowball and a very distinct curl on its tail. I will add photos.
Son, Darren has settled here and has a very responsible position with Dolphin Marine as Manager and doing very well. He has made many friends and really likes it here. I have enjoyed being here for him and helping out with lots of household chores and cooking for him. I am going to be very sad when we leave here next week.
D’Arcy has made good use of our stay here, (3 months) by doing maintenance on the rig and building a foldable trailer for our inflatable Zodiac as well as helping son, Michael construct a new back patio at his house in Caloundra. Have also been able to visit with his family of girls, wife, Di, daughters, ,Jaimie, Charley & Gorgi, all growing up too.
Our plan is to leave here next Monday 1st March for a week on the Gold Coast. Because we have had a lot of rain here we need for the ground to dry out or we may get bogged.

Then it is down on through western N.S.W to S.A. then up through the middle to Darwin.
Will keep you informed.........

GIN GIN-HERVEY BAY

5TH NOV. 2009

GIN GIN-HERVEY BAY (a little late for this posting)
5TH November and we were on our way again along the Dawson H’Way east via Biloela to Calliope and the Bruce H’Way south to Gin Gin. A distance of 329klms. Rest area 119 2klms nth of Gin Gin we decided to stay 2 nights. As it was a little quiet, not many travellers, we thought going over the 20hr. limit would be ok. As we were due to visit a friend in Mundubbera on the 14th, which was not far away, we decided to visit other friends, Carol & Len in Bunderberg where we stayed for 3 nights. A visit to the markets is always good in Bundy, with lots of fresh produce. As it was 6 months since our last visit it was good to catch up with Carol & Len.
10th Nov. Left Bundy headed south to Childers then west on the Burnett H’Way which saw us travel through Biggenden, Ban Ban Springs to Gayndah. (159klms) Claude Wharton Weir, 3klms north of Gayndah, (#460) beside a lake where we stayed for 2 nights. Very relaxing, but only a small area to park up. I don’t think we would get in when times are busy. Because we were ahead of schedule by 2 days there was a rest area in Mundubbera, The Black Stump, where we stopped for a night. Was going to be a couple, but went into town and caught up with our friend Peggy who suggested we head out to her place the following morning. She has a lovely property ,“Bonnydoon”, on 30acres just outside of town where we were very comfortable for 4 nights. Like most of Queensland it is very dry and could do with lots of rain. Fortunately, on our 1st night a storm came through and produced a good downpour throughout the night. Follow-up rain is now needed as her dam is totally dry. Really enjoyed Peg’s company and had a lovely time. Thankyou Peg for the wonderful homemade quiche and mango, passionfruit cheesecake. D’Arcy’s mouth is still drooling.
17th Nov. And we were in Rainbow Bay at the Rainbow Waters Holiday Park. As we hadn’t been in a park for a couple of weeks the washing needed doing and the fridge needed a defrost so this was a good opportunity. Carlo Point is on the water, but the park is very sandy and lots of sandflies, which is a bit hard to take so after 3 nights there it was on to Tin Can Bay only a short distance (40klms.) We had a visit with some friends we made during our yachting trip across the top to Darwin, back in 1996, Jeanette & Don in their boat ‘White Rose’. Lovely to catch up after 13yrs although we had still kept in touch. As son Roger & partner, Helen now live in TCB we had dinner with them at the TCB Country Club. The Tin Can Bay Tourist Park was very lovely. It had been quite awhile since we had lovely green grass under our feet. It would have been good to be able stay a little longer, as the town has really improved since our last visit, maybe 12yrs. ago. Many new homes and improvements made along the foreshore. An outdoor gym has been added for the health conscious with walking tracks just about right around the town. Right up my alley....TCB also has quite good markets, although not a lot of fresh produce. We did a bike ride around the whole track on our arrival. If walking is on the agenda it is best done early. I found that about 5-5.30a.m. was the best before the sun is too high and hot.
After departing TCB on the 24th Nov. We stopped for 1 night only at rest area #138, Petrie Park on the Mary River. Situated 2klm. NW of Tiaro. There is toilets but no fresh drinking water. Limited space for big rigs also. Next day saw us back at the Pialba Caravan Park, Hervey Bay for 1 week. A good chance to catch up with daughter Kellie & husband Rory. Had a lovely night out to help celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary and also a friends birthday. Although we had a lovely site on the waterfront it was quite windy for our week there, so restricted any water activities. We just love the fact that it is easy for walking & bike riding along the Esplanade (7klms each way) to the Pier at Urangan, to which we done most days.
3rd December we left for the Sunshine Coast. Son, Darren is now living there at Buderim. We have a beautiful site, parked up next to his house, which overlooks a local lake inhabited with wild life, including swans, birds, ducks and the occasional pelican.
Here now till our departure on the 1st March 2010.
Till next posting........

LONGREACH-EMERALD

LONGREACH-EMERALD
After our few nights stopover in Winton it was time to head off towards Longreach, 180klms, Friday, 16th October. As we had visited there before many years ago, our plan was to just stay 1 night so we could visit the Qantas Museum and the 747 that is on display. Because we were too late for the last tour of the day booked the first one the next day before continuing our journey along the Capricorn Highway towards Emerald. Our stop for the night was rest area #338 Camps 5. after travelling 265klms for the day from Longreach through Barcaldine and Alpha. It was called the Belyando River Rest Area. We were the only van there, but it felt safe. It was the most beautiful stop as the sun went down and the traffic stoped flowing the quietness was deafening with millions of stars. The next morning we witnessed the most magnificent sunrise due to large fires in the Rockhampton district. Our only neighbours were the cows in the paddock.
After a trip of 145klms to Emerald we did a bit of shopping before heading south, 18klms to the Fairbairn Dam, Lake Maraboon. We stayed there back in June. This stop ended up being 2 wks. As the weather was warming up the redclaw crayfish were in abundance. As we had our Zodiac inflatable it was easier to place the pots and done really well. Were fortunate to have really good neighbours, Lorraine & Barry, and thoroughly enjoyed their company. They let us borrow a trailer so we could load the Zodiac on and drive down to the lake, which made it a lot easier for us. As well, on our arrival they presented us with a lovely feed of redclaw. Monday nights in the park is Sausage Sizzle night with a gold coin donation going to charity, Careflight. Because our lovely friend Tania Kernaghan had been to the park on the day we arrived, (yes, we did cross paths ) and left a CD & Poster for the boys to auction they raised $100, won by our friend Barry. The weather deteriorated in our 2nd week so we were unable to put our pots out, but when we were leaving Barry & Lorraine gave us a bucket full of frozen green redclaw, as they were semi-permanent they had plenty of time to catch more. Also, during our stay it was our 16th wedding anniversary and the park hosts, Geoff & Andy gave us dinner & wine in the restaurant, which was really appreciated. Thankyou guys.
Sunday 1st Nov. It was time to move, again to a place we had previously stopped at. 284klms to Moura along the Dawson Highway and just 7klms west of town is the Dawson River Rest Area. (430 Camps 5) Beside the river this park is beautiful. Facilities include toilets, showers (hot with a dollar coin) but no drinking water. Enjoyed it so much we stayed for 4 nights which included Melbourne Cup Day, our first away from home. Although we are not regular punters, Cup Day is the only time. As Moura was close by our bets were placed in the morning and the day enjoyed with the company of our neighbours in the park, Heather & Col, Alan & Jean. By the way, it is still hard to pick the winner. D’Arcy tried fishing in the river, but only managed to lose a few lures by getting snagged.
Till next post........