Saturday 7th October 2006

After rising well after the sun and completing our mornings activities, 'One of Us' started a clean up of the caravan whilst the 'Other One' took the Patrol into Hervey Bay and went looking for a car wash premises that he knew was in there somewhere. After driving past it a couple of times, he finally located it and pulled in to the 'underbody' vehicle wash and after depositing $6, slowly went back and forwards over some high pressure water jets to wash any salt and grime off that was sure to have accumulated off the beach and in the sand on Fraser Island yesterday. Unfortunately he ran out of coins (or was that energy) before he could wash the rest of the vehicle and as there was a line up behind him, decided to come back later with the right change to finish the top of the vehicle.

Little more was achieved during the day until around lunch time 'One of Us' decided to do some more washing so that kept her happy (or busy anyway) for another hour whilst the 'Other One' used Skype to talk to brother Rex and make a few repairs to the www.micaddy.com.au web site. If you want a good electric powered golf buggy, there are some available at great prices... Just visit that web site (I wonder if there is any commission on sales leads????).

We then decided to go for a short drive where the first stop was outside a chemist shop that had some 'essentials' on sale, unfortunately it was closed so it was then off to Coles Store where we 'needed' a couple of things... $43 worth of things to be precise.... Next we were going to call in to a Camping and Caravan store, however as we drove up to it the signs were just being wheeled in from the road so we figured we were a bit late for that one as well.

At last we did have some success, we drove out to a Nut Factory.... not the bolt and nut type, it was the salted and spiced nut type and it was open so in we went. We were not there long but did come out with two varieties of spiced peanuts and also some honey roasted cashews. Right next door there was an Information Centre and 'One of Us' thought that would be an ideal place to find souvenirs so she was in there on the run, but the look on her face when she stepped inside said it all, there was not a single item for sale of any kind, just information! With that disappointment and the previous failed attempts to find things to buy, she decided it was time to return to the caravan so that is what we did, arriving back there about 3:30p.m.

Not long after our return, a couple from Busselton set up a karaoke centre and there was entertainment provided for the park guests, by the park guests, for the rest of the afternoon. As the 'Other One' is extremely considerate of other people, he did not join in the singing, which is sure to have contributed to the success of the afternoon.

Tomorrow is also intended to be a 'lay day' and maybe the Patrol will get the top half washed as well. Maybe a bit of a drive around the local area may be in order as well.

Sunday 8th October 2006

Not a lot of action today as it was declared another 'Lay Day', however 'One of Us' may have read a fair bit of her book and a few magazines, the 'Other One' didn't get to do much of the 'Lay' down bit. The morning started much the same as they usually do, then about 8:a.m. 'One of Us' started a spot of cleaning around the caravan and the 'Other One' started working on the last stages of a pamphlet for brother Rex's Mi-Caddy business. This lasted for about four hours on and off, with quite some time communicating over the computer 'Skype' voice program to sort out a few finer details. In the meantime 'One of Us' had graduated to her book and magazines as well as writing a 15 page letter to Aunty Lorna that included several photographs of our trip printed from our digital collection.

During this time we took two empty gas bottles up to the caravan park office to be refilled (at $22 per 9kg bottle the price was pretty good) and they were left there as the park owner stated he would return them to the caravan when they were full.

Around 1:p.m. we drove down along the Esplanade into Hervey Bay and on to Torquey, then on to Boat Harbour Drive where we pulled in to the car wash premises again and this time washed to top section of the Patrol, having given it an underbody wash the day before. We then found a Post Office to post the letters to daughter Jay and Aunty Lorna before heading back to the Esplanade where we parked for a short time to have a look at the foreshore and the jetty, However the jetty didn't go anywhere near the water at that time as the tide was out a long way further than the end of the structure. To have a swim there at this time would require good legs as it was a long walk out to the water, but there were a few people attempting it anyway, although most were sitting in the lounge section of the hotel across the road enjoying the view.... (and maybe a drink or three or more!)

After buying a paper and the obligatory ice cream, we then returned to the caravan park for the rest of the afternoon. As we are leaving Hervey Bay tomorrow the BBQ was packed away and when the gas bottles were returned in a full state, they were connected and all unnecessary items were stowed away ready for the move.

For dinner tonight Pammy will be roasting a chicken in the Easy Cook and we will have vegetables cooked "some way"! Nothing like a bit of mystery... Tomorrow we only have about two hundred kilometres to travel from Hervey Bay down to Maroochydore where we will be staying in the 'Maroochy Palms' Tourist Park and are really looking forward to meeting up with friends Graham and Sue there as they are coming up from their home in Brisbane to stay in a cabin in the park and join us for the next four nights. We might even crack a bottle of red wine whilst we are there... maybe... But you can guarantee that 'One of Us' will sample a bottle of white or two.

Monday 9th October 2006

It was time to move again and just as we were about to hitch up, 'One of Us' decided she needed some more shopping therapy, so into the Patrol we got and down into Hervey Bay to find the shop she was after.... arriving just before 8:a.m. and waiting on the doorstep for them to open. Fortunately for the 'Other One' there was a bakery next door so he was able to get into that shop and entice her out with the smell of food purchased there. (It was hard work so he had to have a couple of pies to restore his energy as well).

It was then back to the caravan park where we hitched up and started to pull out of the powered site by about 8:30a.m. Problem was we had to turn further into the caravan park first to get around and when half way around an internal road, we found that there were a few obstacles that wouldn't let us get around and back out of the park, so it was a matter of turning around which was not too difficult except for a small rose bush someone had grown near the roadway. After back and forward a few times it was just a case of running over the top of it (with permission of people in the park) and then after the tyres ran over the bush, it popped up just like we hadn't been there...... With that behind us we pulled out of the park and onto the road by about 8:45a.m.

We headed out through Nundathu and on to Maryborough which is quite a large place then we we found our way through and out onto the Bruce Highway once more. From here we continued South through Tiaro, Glenwood, Curra and Gympie and then on to the Motorway (Still Bruce Highway) south until the turn off to Bli Bli. after passing through Bli Bli we came to Maroochydore and drove onto Bradman Avenue, then into the caravan park where we stopped outside the reception office.

To our amazement, there was a white Pajero parked in the driveway in front of us and it was our good friends Graham and Sue who had also just arrived (from Brisbane) and were booking in at the same time, how about that eh!!. After a hug and kiss and a bit of fuss, we also booked in and then made our way to our caravan site, right oposite their cabin. It took quite a while to set up as there was a lot to catch up on and there appeared to be more talking that action most of the time (meaning the girls of course!).

After settling in Sue told Pammy about the great shopping centre in Maroochydore so there is no need to say any more.... Yes we went for a drive together and it was to the shopping centre. Not sure what Sue and Graham spent but it cost us over $170 before we returned to the caravan. This included another cask of white wine and three bottles of bubbly for 'One of Us' (but we won't mention the reds and the beer!).

Once back at the caravan we took a little time out to get organised before Happy Hour arrives. We will need a good long discussion tonight to work out our itinerary for the next three days. Obviously each night will require further discussions and decision making to ensure we manage our time efficiently.. (that is our story anyway and we will stick to it!!!!)