21st November Broadbeach on the Gold Coast

Another hot & muggy day, Brian got up at 5.45AM! He wanted to go for his walk before the heat of the day. Lucky me, allowed to sleep in. Mind you, he had a snooze mid morning!

The view from our balcony was marred by smoke from the bush fire by 'Water World' temp was 31 and 28 tomorrow. 

During the afternoon we went to a 'workshop' at another Accor Resort to learn a bit more about our use of Resorts.

Happy holiday.

17th November 2015 Broadbeach Queensland

Let me paint the picture of yesterday.

We arose early in Bellana & after our hearty breakfast of cereal and coffee we set off in the drizzle at 8.25. After all it was to be a BIG day! We had to drive 133 k!  Being diligent I phoned a Medical centre that I had found on the internet that would be close to our appartment, told them we were on the road & would be about an hour. This was to have my index finger re dressed due to 'Slicinging the tip off" a week previously. Appointment made for 10.45. Then we crossed the border into Queensland and magically the car clock and mobile phones went back 1 hour (they are not on daylight saving) So we arrived only a few minutes after leaving Ballana!! Oh well it was sunshine, we got our bearings, Brian went for a long walk along the beach, I sat and enjoyed the view and passing parade of people , running, power walking, exercising- you understand, all those silly things!

Now off to my appointment, couldn't see any free parking so went into a parking building, read all the signs, decided I had better choose  a 2 hour & paid my $4, put the ticket in my bag & feeling very flustered set of for the Bulk Billing Medical centre. Had to fill in all my details - looked like a spider had walked over the page, my writing is TERRIBLE, can't write with this silly finger bound up. Bother the Doctor & Nurse we very nice and the procedure went perfectly.

Not as neat as thr last dressing but I have to put up with it. Doing dishes is the hardest as a glove won't go over it. Shower time I put a plastic bag over my hand and a rubber band around my wrist, it works. 

Back to reception... That will be $55 thank you! So much for bulk billing, I obviously made the wrong choice.

Just out side Brian was phoning me to say he couldn't find the car, naturally not thinking I would use a parking building! In we went and there on the windscreen was a ticket........ A $60 fine for not placing the ticket on the dashboard!

I have submitted a heart rendering plea to have it dismissed, time will tell.....

As it was now only mid day we phoned and found we could get into our appartment. It's beautiful, 5th floor, stunning view.

We look down on 2 swimming pools, even have a spare room that has a sofa bed, but no window, we have never had so much room. Went out and did a grocery shop to self cater for a week. 

Lunch had, groceries away, then it started to rain again, we think that's the end of the rain for a week - hopefully.

Brian has booked the Izusu in for its 3000k complimentary check (only had it 2&1/2 weeks) 9 . 30 this morning. It's only for 1&1/2 hours so he will go walking. I will do a wash & settle in. Really enjoying my view sitting on the balcony. I planned to write my Christmas cards but this spider like writing makes it too difficult.

15th November 2015 Travels again.

This is a non caravan holiday.

We have driven via Narrandra, West Wylong, Forbes (where we spent a lovely meal and evening with Elaine Lill, my sister-in-law, who was there for a conference), Armidale, Ballina and tomorrow we arrive in Surfers Paradise for 10 days Freshwater Point Resort.

Being Sunday, we saw this beautiful Church...... The notice board said.....

"Our Daily Bread"           Restaurant .!

Driving down the  mountain in pouring rain and often in the clouds was quite an experience. Both Brian and the IZUSU handled it perfectly.

Coming into Grafton was quite a memory trip for me as I remember it from over 50 years ago as a place that was a sea of purple Jacaranda. They are passed their best just now due to season and storms but they are still there.

We had our lunch beside the mighty Clarence River, a highlight of the drive. Brian's favourite river in Australia.

The drive over the Clarence Bridge is spectacular.

Then I'm back to the highlight of our big trip earlier in the year.... Sugar Cane.... I just love it. Seeing it in all stages of growth is quite amazing.

Tomorrow, luxury Resort.... We are so blessed.

7th November 2015. A brief update.

Life continues to be full and interesting and we are both keeping very well. Still taking travel trips in the caravan. We had 4 days at Lakeside Holiday Park Big 4 Mulwala, it is a lovely place beside the lake just over the boarder into NSW.

From there we went to Bright for a week. Spring is the perfect time to be in the beautiful part of the world. Big 4 Bright is delightful caravan park and each year they are making great additional improvements. We have been going to Bright for at least 10 years and look forward to it every time. Feel we know all 'my favourite' shops a even some of the shopkeepers. Each year it is our special time with Linda & Rex Morton a we shared our evening with them each day.

A school class having rafting lesson on river directly behind our van.

Christmas card making.

Looking down to the river, barb-wire to keep Brian from falling in!!!

The camping life.

While on this trip we became concerned that our car was on the boarder of being too light to tow our caravan. It was legal, but only just & if we had full water tanks & a bit extra luggage we could be over limit..... So...... The new car hunt began!

Result....... A new Izusu. It is Fiord Blue and can tow 3 ton, so we are now very safe.

This beautiful vehicle is easy to drive & we are driving up to Surfers Paradise next week for a 10 day 'Resort' holiday (no caravan). 

Next update soon.

26th August. Home after 10 weeks.

44/160 Springvale Road, Donvale 3111 Australia 

Every thing looks just great. The ground staff welcomed us at the gate to say could we park in the driveway of a vacant unit because there were big dumpsters in the caravan parking area. It suited us fine & it will sit there for a few days.

Our drive through Victoria was was all in fine weather which made driving so much easier. Huge trucks going both ways, North & South. We were home and sitting at our own table having a bowl of soup at 12.30. Collected the mail .......

No big surprises and no unexpected bills, yippee.

Off to the car wash after our muddy trip into the farm at Coonabarabran & the obligatory visit to the supermarket.

Unpacking is not a favourite thing but must be done, only essential things to day, the rest can wait in the van until it's on level ground.

Thanks to all who have shared this blog site. I have enjoyed every bit of this, the trip, the writing of this and now will look forward to the next trip.

25th August on the road homeward (correct date - previous entry should be 24th)

I'm not complaining- we left 10 weeks ago in rain, and guess what we are coming home in? rain! Over all the trip the only other we had was 2 nights where there was a light fall during the late night each time. Wow, what wonderful weather we had and how blessed.

The heavy rain at leased washed a lot of the mud off the car, but hooking up & unhooking is a messy job. Brian's a good boy.

The drive hasn't been too bad and we are at Tocumawall Big4 caravan park for the night.  Only 270.1k to Donvale tomorrow, so lunch at our beautiful Resort of Unit 44 Donvale Retirement Village.

We have moved a lot of things from the van to the car to make it a bit easier for unloading tomorrow afternoon. It was only drizzling here at the time and who knows what it will be like tomorrow!

Can't clean the van as every time you step in its mud, there has been so much rain, but nothing like poor Sydney. Well it gives me something to do on Friday- Thursday is booked, Christy & Ben are coming visiting (Christy says she has to touch me to make sure I'm back!) then Brian's appointment with his Heart Specialist which is the reason for being home on this date. Brian has had no ill effects so we are hoping and expecting a great outcome. We have both been wonderfully well all through the trip, midge bights were the only flaw while at Midge Point! What should I have expected?

Oh dear, I will have to visit the Supermarket tomorrow afternoon, long list in hand.

25th August On the road Homewards

What's happened to our sunshine trip?

As the road went through Coonabarabran we were able to call in and have a coffee with my brother Steve & wife Elaine. It was so good to see them. Because of the weather we weren't sure about taking the van into the farm so called Steve just as we were entering town & he said to leave it at his brother-in-laws shop. At that moment we saw it, gammed on the brakes, and turned in. It was a very good decision.

This is Main Street Coonabarabran 

Drive into the farm and our welcome 

Elaine had made a batch of scones and we has a very nice hour together. 

We have made a booking to spend 2 nights 13 & 14 November on our way to Surfers Paradise. It's Steves birthday on the 15th so we will have a party Saturday 14th. Great timing.

After the muddy drive back to pick up the van we we're VERY pleased we at left it at Shane's shop.

I went Ito say thanks and found both his wife (Elaine's sister) Eunice and their son both working there at that time. They are great folk and I got such a welcome because I had got to know them well during the 6 weeks we spent there after the Coonabarabran fires in January 2013.

On to Forbes for the night.

23rd August. Narrabri

We had another very good drive, away by 8.15 and a beautiful day. Interesting crops, and hard for me to recognise. There should be signs on the road side to tell us what the crops are. I must write to my MP and get a Members Bill into Parliment. Christy agrees with me , especially for young children and Grey Nomads!

Canola is glorious now, bright yellow and the young wheat is such a fantastic green - and the size of the paddocks are HUGE.

We want to the RSL for dinner to night, smorgasbord with very nice roast beef or/and ham and prawns as well as all the other expected things - dessert as well (naturally)

The dining room was dreamed up by and built by a local man and it was amazing as the photos show. At one stage there is thunder in the background and a few flashes of lightning then in a one meter area water runs down off the tin roof. Golly it fooled a lot of us as most of the patrons were just passing through.

First is the canola and then the restaurant.

22nd August The trip to Dalby.

We were on the road at 7.55.

A strange thing happened last night........it rained. We hardly knew what the stuff was! Hadn't seen it for 9 weeks! We were so glad we were fully packed, however we had no rain for our drive today and the temp was 27. We passed a place I hadn't heard of 'Craters of The Moon' , Philippa told me about it on Messenger last night and as it was only 500 meters from the highway, we turned in...... Ha ha, don'topen until 9am

 

Back to the highway an ever onward. The scenery changed and as we went inland I had to say goodby to sugar cane, sadly.

We have driven past huge paddocks of bright green about 7inches high. I asked at this caravan park and found it is Winter wheat, I've never heard of it. Dalby is quite big, a farming town, and today was a Food Festival here, but we didn't go. 

After the early start. TV schedule showing it would be but delayed but on at 3pm... Oh no, no football. We ended up going to one of the Clubs and they put it on for Brian to watch the last quarter. Richmond won by 91 points over Collingwood. If we had known he could have seen the whole game there.

This Pioneer Caravan Park is big, new ablution block and a notice on the door " choose a site and park" we will be back at 4.30" a great idea and it works because it's big and mostly one nighters.

On the road again in the morning.

20th & 21st August. Bundaberg

20th

I felt this was our last day of true Holiday/sighting. We went out to Bagara again and I tried to get a new pair of sandals at a Podiatrist type shop- he was so not nice told me I should have done something about my horrible feet 30 years ago! Ended up saying, you shouldn't be wearing those 'cheap' things (I pd $134.00 for theses CHEAP things) I should be wearing lace up shoes. I said they were too hot in summer and the reply was 'suck it up'! I walked out........

I enjoyed wandering around the shops and then to the water front to wait for Brian to finish his walk.

After lunch we went our own ways, Brian to do the Bundaberg Distillery - Rum, tour. The Polar Bear is the symbol and he's a beauty's 

While I went to the 'Ginger Beer Factory'. I expected that they would have some ginger products but only had the drinks. They do all sorts of flavours now and they are lovely. I particularly like Peach and one I have just tried, Pineapple & Coconut, they are both super. The price is better than at the supermarket so I have stocked up.

As I was driving, I went back to pick up Brian. As they finished their tour they had the opportunity to try 2 drinks. I looked at their shop and I'm so VERY glad he doesn't drink Rum. It wins world wide awards for their product and their prices show it. Very expensive!

21st -August 

Clean up, pack up, laundry day, prepare for 5 days on the road. We are only doing close to 400k per day so as not to wear my Chauffeur out. He has driven all the way and is wonderful.

I went out to the roadside a picked up some Macadamia nuts as there were 4 trees just on the roadside of the caravan park. I didn't get many, the owner had told me about them. There is a big orchard across the road but not a roadside stall.

All ready for an early start because Brian wants to be in Dalby to be able to watch Richmond on ztV at 1.30! Goodnight I have to hurry to sleep!

19th August. Bundaberg

I spent the morning on my Laptop, setting up the handover of The Phillip Is Card Camp, ready to hand over to to the lovely Gayle Andersen. I think it's all ready to put onto a USB stick and give it to Gayle.

Brian went for a 2 hr beach walk and after lunch I went to the Strawberry Farm at the next corner and picked 500g of the most beautiful berries. They have 250 working there, pick in the morning and pack in the afternoon. The area for 'pick your own' is separate with signs....do not eat in the picking area! Well....I didn't, so there!

We keep getting the maps out trying to decide which route to do next year, it's great fun. We have loved this so much.

We went to the Brothers Club for dinner, my 'roast of the day' Beef, was the best I've ever had. Found that they are cooked in steam ovens. I've never heard of steam ovens.

18th August. Bundaberg

We have been the luckiest travellers with wonderful weather. It looks as if we may strike some rain for the trip home by the forecast.

This park doesn't have a 'dump' spot....... So a trip across town to the public one is a necessity every few days! That accomplished we stopped at a caravan suppliers and bought a side and one end sun/wind/ rain screens. They are not solid annex type but make a big difference for card making when the breeze comes up.

We then went to 'Ferrymead house' in the Botanical Gardens which houses a museum for the sugar cane industry in this area. It was of particular interest to me because of my association with the Toft Family. There is a Toft Room and a Toft Theatre where we saw a 15 minute DVD on the industry.

The man whose home I stayed in invented the first cane loader, now it it all automated into one machine that cuts, picks up, cleans, pours into bins ready for transporting to the sugar mill and it must be done in 16 hours, that is from cut to mill! Amazing. One of Australia's largest exports.

In the afternoon we went out to the port, what looked like a huge Damm Wall turned out to be a sugar storage building ready to load ships for overseas.

Brian thinks it's the biggest building he's ever seen.

Its been another interesting & lovely day. Thank you Lord God.