19 - 25 July 2010

19 July 2010

Last day at Deb & Steves so was mainly taken up with washing of sheets and towels etc and cooking 2 boiled fruit cakes and 2 weet-bix slices (1 of each to leave and 1 for us) Now who's the favourite mother-in-law? Lisa & Ross sparing no time in moving things from old caravan into the new off-road van. Need to leave quite a lot behind unfortunately. Luckily someone from Tamworth bought their old caravan that day and they arranged to take it back to P.M. tomorrow for delivery. Now that all fell into place! Deb seems much better last few days, so we all feel quite o.k about heading off.

20th July 2010

Finish packing, vacuum room and make up bed for Deb and finally said bye and headed for friends Linda & Arthur at Narangba, arriving at about 12.30 just in time for lunch of toasted sandwiches. Lovely to sit and talk for few hours relaxing before heading north again to more friends, Pat & Dick in Maroochydore. All headed out to local Club for lovely baked tea and then back home for drinks, talk & watch "Top Gear" on t.v. before bed (they insisted on us 'oldies' sleep inside!) STILL haven't slept in the 4x4 yet and we'd left home on 2nd July!

21st July 2010

Most of the morning was taken up with talking, eating, cuppas and more talking with Dick and Pat before leaving there about 3.30 and heading for Duck Pond Reast Area at Gympie arriving about 5 pm. We'd really enjoyed our last two stops and catching up with 'old' friends. Lisa & Ross wont be here till tomorrow now, so got into bed early and watched some dvds on our computer. Quite ackward, but we managed. Wow, this was our very first night sleeping in the 4x4 - had a few laughs amongst ourselves at some of the positions we got ourselves into trying to manouvre our not-too-subtle bodies into a very small space.

22nd July 2010

Getting dressed whilst still lying on the bed was almost as hard as getting into bed! Oh, to be young again!!! Whilst waiting for Lisa and Ross to arrive, we drove into Gympie and had a cuppa and look around the town. By the time we drove back to the rest area, Lisa and Ross were just driving in and so after setting up, had late lunch. The rest of the afternoon was spent learning how to erect their new annex for the caravan. Not too bad a job, eventually got it straight and had tea and sat out under the awning to watch dvd movie till bedtime. Much more comfy outside, than last night, can assure you.

23rd July 2010

After brekky, Lisa set herself up in front seat of their 4x4 to do her 'work' on her computer and boys set about altering the annex to fit properly. Left the rest area at noon, lunch at roadside stop en route to Miriam Vale where we went into visit our niece (Lisas cousin) Allison and Eric. Luckily we'd bought with us a cake and 2 bottles of wine, as found out it was Allisons birthday today, so she had to 'suffer' our birthday song to her. We enjoyed a beautiful bbq tea & vegies, followed by desert, then a very welcome hot shower and talk before bed reasonably early. Great relaxing night!

24th July 2010

Awoke to a beautiful morning, deep in the valley, sun shining through palm trees and low clouds nestling below the surrounding hills! We were so spoilt with such a beautiful sight! We thought we were in paradise! Eric had left quite early, so Allison spoilt us even more and cooked us bbq bacon & eggs, which we hungrilly devoured whilst sitting on veranda, still admiring our surrounds. Photoes of Allison and Lisa together, as they had never really met before and they enjoyed the meeting. Reluctantly we left about 10am and drove straight through to Rockhampton where we had lunch in a park in town then headed for our next camp at Carmila Beach at 5.15. Set up right on the beach, which was lovely, but quite windy, so put up wind breaks all round. Tons of campers right along beachfront, but also plenty of spots to accommodate so many people.

25th July 2010

Awoke to beautiful sunny morning, but still windy as ever. Had intended to stay put for the day, but not so pleasant with the wind, so decided to pack up and move on, leaving at 10.45am. Drove most of day with Lyn actually at wheel for couple of hours before arriving at Guthalungra Rest Area (about 45km north of Bowen) at 5.20pm. We were lucky enough to have found a fuel stop prior to the rest area where we all had a hot shower for $2 each. Guthalungra R/A is quite large, popular and very crowded. Awning out again as looks like rain and all sat outside again to watch another movie. We look like a lot of gypsies when we set up camp. Have heard they are having lots of rain up further north and most are heading west instead of north to avoid it.