Tuesday 28th July 2015 - Hawks Nest

Off to explore the surrounding area and haver managed to find Myall Lakes National Park where there was a couple camped all by themselves at Mungo Brush.  Stopped and spoke with Roy & Noreen from Sydney and found out that you can book these sites on the internet and it is a really lovely spot right beside the lake, an easy walk and you are on the surf beach.  Think we may have to stay here on the way north next time.

 This spot where Barry is looking out is called "Hole in the Wall"

Back into tea Gardens and had fish & chips at Mumm's Cafe in Anzac Park right beside the Singing Bridge crossing the Myall River.  Lovely spot and had a huge pelican staring at us waiting for a chip or two, no luck today, I think he would have taken off a finger or two by the look of him. Very tame which I think is a real shame.

 Our table & chair for Fish & Chip lunch

 

Lots of Pelicans waiting at the boat ramp hopeful of a fisherman returning with a catch.
Barry took himself off fishing this afternoon and managed to catch a nice sized Flathead and a Tailor on his surf rod.  Haven't cooked Tailor before so that should be a nice experience.

 

Monday 27th July 2015 - Erins Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIN

Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter Erin, hope your day is full of nice surprises and the family spoil you rotten.  Today we arrived at Hawks Nest after a reasonably long drive down from Tallebudgera.  We are staying for 2 nights and the beach and caravan park are very nice. Sunny but the wind is a little cool.  Tomorrow we will go exploring around the Myall lakes District to see what we can find. Contacted Sandy & Wayne to see if we could catch up as they have an on-site caravan here but unfortunately they are arriving on Thursday and we leave on Wednesday....better luck next time.

Sunday 26th July 2015 - Tallebudgera

Maree & Paul left this morning and we managed to have a bit of a sleep in for a Sunday morning. Have started to pack up a bit and I have rearranged a few cupboards in the caravan so they are more functional for me. A nice quiet day and only a few showers. Leaving tomorrow and heading to Hawks Nest for 2 nights.

Saturday 25th July 2015 - Tallebudgera

Decided this morning to go to the Caravan & Camping Show which is being held at the Gold Coast Turf Club. Lots of caravans but nothing that jumped out at us as being better than what we have got.  Barry is now on a mission to get shade cloths and an awning out the front for our caravan, so that will be good. Tonight it was off to Coolangatta to the Hogs Breath Cafe for dinner so that Paul could try out the "ribs". He has been wanting to do it for a while so he was really looking forward to trying out the Ribs which apparently have been slow cooked for 18 hours. Maree thought we may have gotten something for nothing if she said it was Barry's birthday, but unfortunately not so, and at least they didn't sing Happy Birthday to him.  Still, it was nice to have a late celebration with balloons on the table. Finiished the evening outside our caravan with a drink to say good bye to Maree & Paul, they head home tomorrow morning so wont see them again until we catch up for Mum's birthday on the 3rd August.

Friday 24th July 2015 - Tallabudgera

Went for a drive up to Currumbin Beach Vikings Surf Life Saving Club for a coffee this afternoon.  We saw whales just off the beach and climbed the stairs at Elephant Rock to watch them.  They were very close to the shore and we were a bit worried that they would get tangled in the nets that are not far off shore. All good, and managed to get seats next to the windows for a hot chocolate and cake for afternoon tea.....yummy.  The best was yet to happen with both Barry & myself actually winning on the "Pokies".  Barry won $40 and I won $75 after starting with nothing and having to get $5 from Barry.  Great afternoon. Then in the evening we went to Max & Carol's for a seafood night.  Starters were Oysters Kilpatrick followed by Sashimi then it was onto Chilli Mussels (which were not Paul's best unfortunately) and finished the seafood dinner with Thai Green Curry Seafood. Very nice with chocolate cake, cream and icecream to finish...another Yummy.....

Monday 20th - Thursday 23rd July 2015 - Tallebudgera

RAIN, RAIN, RAIN........

I think we may have brought the rain with us, very miserable weather and rain every day. Tuesday Carol picked Maree & I up and we went "Booteek Shopping" which was very lucrative, bought a couple of bargains and had a lovely time shopping with the girls. Tuesday night Barry went fishing and caught a Bream which I cooked for his breakfast on Wednesday morning. Wednesday and we went to Harbour Town for a look and then to Robina for a little shop before heading to Top Noodle for lunch for Barry's birthday. After lunch we went across to the Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club to have a nice hot chocolate and put a "Lazy $5" into the Pokies.  (Didn't win a thing!!!) Thursday and it is raining again and rained very heavily during the night.  This morning Maree, Paul & I went up to Trade Centre for a shop and heading up to Elephant Rocks for a drink this afternoon as there is nothing else to do.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BARRY

Sunday 19th July 2015 - Tallebudgera

Today we went for a walk into Burleigh Heads. Another very pleasant day and a challenging walk across the top of the bluff into Burleigh Heads.  Haven't walked for a while so it was a bit of a test for me, planning on getting better with each day that we are here.  Lunch today is a BBQ at Max & Carol's which was very pleasant.

Saturday 18th July 2015 - Tallebudgera

Went to Kirra today for a nice walk along the boardwalk into Coolangatta with Maree, Paul and Carol.  Stopped at a little cafe for a coffee and then walked back along the boardwalk and called in to see the Boystown Raffle apartment.  Maree & I think it is very ordinary so if either of us win we will take the St.Kilda house as a better option.  Lovely sunny day and very pleasant walk. Photo below is the view from the Boystown Apartment back towards Surfers Paradise...lovely.

 

Friday 17th July 2015 - Warwick to Tallebudgera Caravan Park

On the road nice and early and plan on being in Tallebudgera Caravan Park by lunch time today.  Last night was minus 1 degree in Warwick and the day didn't improve until we passed over the top of Cunninghams Gap and there in front of us was some lovely sunshine which was a joy after 3 days of rain and miserable weather. Arrived at the caravan park around 12.00 and now looking forward to some nice warm weather and a relaxing 10 days. Barry had a very colorful bird join him while he was setting up the caravan and of course Barry had to feed him some biscuits crumbs. Tonight we went to a really nice Vietnamese restaurant up at Tugan with Maree & Paul, fantastic food and we all enjoyed our meals. 

Thursday 16th July 2015 - Gilgandra to Warwick

Another raining and freezing day to continue our journey up to the Gold Coast. Brunch stop at Narrabri and then straight through to Warwick for our last night before going into Tallebudgera Caravan Park and catch up with Maree & Paul tomorrow.  Looking forward to some warm weather.

Wednesday 15th July 2015 - Nagambie to Gilgandra

Up very early this morning and left Nagambie while it was still dark.  No nice sunrise and was hoping for a pleasant day so we could do a big day.  No such luck, weather is absolutely revolting, raining, freezing and miserable, but still managed to do a big day.  Stopped at Strathmerton to collect some pies for our dinner tonight and a hot chocolate to try and warm up a bit.  Lunch stop at West Wyalong on the side of the road and the rain eased off for a short time.  On the road again and more rain as well as a truck rolled over on the side of the road.  Not sure how that would have happened, maybe the weather.  Have gone past Dubbo and stopped for the night at Gilgandra in the Caravan Park right beside the river.  Would be very pleasant except for the rain continuing to fall. One good thing has come out of the weather and that is that the Caravan certainly doesn't leak.....

Tuesday 14th July 2015 - New House for Erin & Trevor

This morning we left Warrandyte Caravan Park and headed over to Paramount to get our power fixed.  As we already knew, it was an easy fix and Barry just needed to hold the button down for a little longer, never mind, we also had a small leak in the bathroom window so got that fixed while we were there. Then it was over to Erin & Trevor’s to wait for settlement and help unload the truck. Really nice house they have purchased, with 4 bedrooms as well as an office and a huge area for Trevor’s pool table to be inside instead of the garage.  There is also a huge covered pergola area outside with a door at the back of the garage. They are very happy. Unloading all finished by 3.30pm and then headed up the highway to spend the night at Nagambie Caravan Park for an early start tomorrow morning. Raining and miserable on the way up the highway and is freezing, so we are tucked up in the caravan with the heater on.

Monday 13th July 2015 – Warrandyte

During the night we had a problem with the solar and lost all the 12volt lights. We have arranged to take the caravan back over to Paramount on Tuesday morning to get it fixed. Not thinking it will be too much of a problem. Today I went over to BUPA and signed all the paperwork for Mum to go permanent.  So glad she likes it there as it makes it so much better for everyone.  Went over to Erin & Trevor’s house this afternoon to help load the truck in preparation for their shift tomorrow. Lucky we did or they would still be packing into late in the night and would certainly not be ready tomorrow.  It is a rotten day, raining and very cold so lucky the truck could be backed down the sideway and we were protected by the pergola to pack. 

Sunday 12th July 2015 - Warrandyte

Staying in Crystal Brook Caravan Park at Warrandyte for 3 or 4 nights, not sure if we are taking the van out on Tuesday and heading north from Erin’s new house or not yet.  Will decide on Tuesday morning, Erin & Trevor have settlement on their old house at 12.00noon and the new house at 12.30pm so I will be doing lots of cleaning but not until after lunch. Off to do some shopping today and pick up a few things we need already for the van. Lunch at Greensborough and then a visit to Mum at BUPA, so thankful that she likes it there, and is starting to join in with the activities.  Tonight we are meeting up with Erin, Trevor, Chris & Eric as well as Hayley & Jake for dinner at Manny’s which is a dumpling restaurant in Bundoora. It is the most miserable, raining, cold day today and I think it is all being caused by an “Antarctic Vortex” at least that is what the media has labelled this weather pattern. 

Saturday 11th July 2015 - Paynesville to Warrandyte

Up bright and early to enjoy a magnificent sunrise, kids all organised and on the road by 9.00am to deliver them back home to Erin & Trevor. Stupid stupid people on the road today, first there was a 60 year old lycra clad geeza on a push bike that decided to just put out his hand and then veer right in front of us, no concern that there is a car towing a 3 tonne caravan right behind him (hate cyclists). Lucky he didn’t end up splattered on the bull bar.  Then the next stupid old geeza, oblivious to the fact that he wasn’t the only person driving on the highway,  passed us on a straight stretch 400m before the passing lane, and forced the car coming the other way off the road, then with lights flashing and horns beeping he just goes on his merry way…aahhhhhhh!!!!! Next lot of stupids are the cars that park in the “long vehicle” allocated parking at the rear of the shops in Yarragon, a book fair was on so heaps & heaps of people around and all the parking allocated for caravans was gone. So Yarragon missed out on our lunch orders and we headed on.  Enough whingeing for now.  Have travelled up to Warrandyte and put the caravan on site before going to pick up new towing mirrors in Ferntree gully and then taking the kids home. Freezing here in Melbourne at the moment as there is a cold snap affecting the whole country. The new heater is getting a real work out, the bed is cosy and warm and extremely comfortable.