I got a message from Fly Buys that I had expiring points so I headed to the Fly Buys website and found we had enough  points to go to Zingara at Jupiter's Casino,  we had to go to the Gold Coast anyway and had tickets for the Titan's game so we organised a couple of days at Kims - however we would have been very late in arriving after the show so we went to the Secret Rooms on lastminute.com and got a great deal for a night at The Pines resort. 5 star at bargain basement prices - we had a great time.

 

The photo on the right is taken from the 20th floor of a building at Bundall where we met the fellow who looks after our superfund.

 

So after Zingara we headed out to The Pines and stayed the night and after a soak in the spa and a swim in the pool we headed off to spend the day in Surfers.

 

We were accosted at Pacific Fair by one of the holiday companies and went to a 90minute presentation so that we could get a weeks holiday on the Gold Coast for $179. The salesman was not impressed when we said we wouldnt pay $30,000 for a lifetime investment in a holiday unit for two weeks a year. They successfully showed us how we would probably spend $250,000 in the next 30 years on holidays - then recalculated when we pointed out we would be 70 in 15 years and not likely to be wanting as many holidays - so they cut that back to $70,000 in 15 years.

 

Anyway we scored a week on the Gold Coast for $179 out of it - we just have to work out how we are going to use it.

 

We then met up with Kim, Alana and her friend Chris and headed off to Skilled Park for the Titans season opener. 30,000 people getting to a stadium on the Gold  Coast is a major exercise but we caught the bus from Palm Beach and home and had no problems at all. The stadium was great and the atmosphere was electric. We all had a good nite.

 

Home again Saturday for voting in the elections and the footy season has started so John was off to a game on Sunday.

In an effort to improve our non-existant social life we are looking into joining Caboolture 4wd club - so we went along on a weekend away with them to Janowen 4wd Park.

 

After packing up Kermit we headed off towards Warwick. We stopped at midday for lunch at Aratula, where Helen spotted Wayne Bennett (Bronco's coach) at the coffee shop. We moved on and arrive about 1.30ish. Once we got to the site it was easy to find the people we were joining and so we chose a spot and it was at that time I realised I had never put up a tent before. Once I said that, Sandi, the club secretary took over and within half an hour we had the tent up and were ready to begin camping. It became known that we hadn't done it before and some of the members took up posts in the peanut gallery to observe the goings on. Mary also came to help and the peanut gallery had nothing to gawk at as we had it up in no time.

 

Saturday afternoon was time for a bit of a rest while some of the club went out on a drive and we just fiddled around and set ourselves up. Saturday night was fun around a campfire after tea - then off to bed on our nice new camp stretchers - the dew on the ground in the evening was quite heavy and while the days were very hot the nights were very cold - I had luckily thrown 2 blankets into the bags as we left - just in case. We could have used our heavy wool quilt or a couple more blankets. It got very cold overnight and the blankets just did.

 

Sunday morning was bright and cloudless and after breakfast we headed off on our first run. We knew Kermit was limited both by his ability and ours. So when Ian told me it was rated as an easy run I jumped eagerly into the drivers seat and told John he could do the hard bits. However Kermit's lack of working handbrake caused some heart stopping moments when we tried to get up a grade to go on the run. Ian organised for Dave to tow us over the hairy bits and then we were fine but we are going to have to do something about the handbrake. Being such an old car we know that it will take quite a bit to get it going and even then it wont work that well - we were told that is why all old Landcruisers are parked with the wheels into the gutter - to stop them rolling. So once we got out of that bit John took over and I took some photos. However there are no photos of really hairy bits as I was hanging on too hard to worry about photos. We wont be able to go on any more runs until we get the handbrake fixed.

 

After the morning run we went down to the creek - which was running quite well - it had been crystal clear but the swimmers had stirred it up. However the water was beautifully cool in the heat of the day and we had a swim. One of the women got a small leech on her foot and we decided to get out - then John turned up and I went back in - next thing you know John got a leech on his foot. I got some salt from a camper and and it was quickly removed. A little first aid to the bleeding wound and all was well.

 

After lunch we got to go for a run in other club members' cars and were in awe of the capability of the trucks - we were only out for a short drive - one fellow tried to go up a couple of the extreme runs and we all stopped to watch. John cooked tea Saturday nite and we had another campfire. Helen had a go at making damper in a camp over and then off to bed early.

 

Overall we had a wonderful time but had to make some serious decisions about how much money to pour into Kermit. He's fine to go for a run on the beach but if we want to go really 4wd we will have to have a few things fixed.

Back to work on Tuesday for Helen and Wednesday for John

 

Snake is coming to visit on the weekend and Helen is going to Seaforth Apartments Alexandra Headland with Kim for 3 nights next week.

 

 

Jo and the kids came up to stay and I went down to Jupiters and stayed overnight with her. On the way I picked up some new camp stretchers at Wild Earth at West Burleigh - they were about $30 cheaper than anywhere else, longer and wider (214 x 84) and had a much higher rating for the weight they would hold (150kg).  

Spent the next day at Pac Fair shopping with Kim and then came home. Kim managed to get a nice outfit and I found a cheap tshirt.

 

Jo and the kids came up the next day and then spent the next 2 days driving down to the Gold Coast to go to theme parks.

 

On Saturday we went to Bribie Island for a picnic and John took the kids and Jo on the beach for a run. Jo had a go of driving in the carpark and decided to wait until we were on a clear road before trying. We found out that Raymond's licence forbids him from driving a manual while on his P1 licence so he sadly didnt get a go of driving - Jo, Jess, Michele and I left John, Mathew and Raymond on the beach run and came home to get ready for a BBQ with Steven, Alicia, Priscilla & Bevan.

 

I sort of neglected to tell anyone Priscilla was coming until she was due and it was a lovely suprise - Steven said the last time he saw Jo was at his 21st in 1978 and the last time he saw Priscilla was at her wedding in 1984. Priscilla's baby, Mirakel, was lovely and is the image of Coby.

 

Sunday Jo decided that there would be no more driving to the Gold Coast and we had a quiet day at home. Raymond and Michelle went Chermside Westfield and then Evan turned up and took Matthew and Jess out in Kermit - they went to the forests up the Bruce Hwy near Caloundra and Steve Irwin Way and apparently both had a go at driving - how on earth Jess reached the pedals is beyond me - but Evan figures they didnt have a licence they could lose!! At one stage Evan rang and said they would be a while because they were lost but the ended up coming home and all was well.

 

On Sunday John and I worked out a way of putting some ply in Kermit as a false floor and Jo suggested we use it as a picnic table - so we devised a plan and went off to Bunnings to spend a kings ransom. A couple of days later I found some trestle legs and boot lining and you should see the back of Kermit now!!! We have a false floor over the wheel arches and under it we have channels for storing the sun umbrella, the stretchers, the jack, the snatch kit, ropes and lots of other stuff. I put 5 coats of estapol on the table part - 4 on the others and we now have a very handy picnic table built into the truck - see photos of Australia day weekend.

 

On Saturday, after the stint on Bribie I gave Kermit an underbody bath to strip the sand and salt and had a march/horse fly bite me on the arm - didnt think much of it till Sunday nite about 8.30 - after a trip to the hospital, the private doctors surgery next door and a dose of phenergan I went off to fairyland for 24 hours as the pain had become pretty bad and the bite was about the size of a small golf ball and so hot I could cook a steak on it.  Jo left at 3am and I slept for the next 24 hours.

 

John and I are going to a 4wd park this weekend with our newly gathered camping equipment with Caboolture 4wd club - we are looking at joining and improving our social life.

 

During the past week I have managed to find 2 more 2nd cousins who are from the Eve family in UK. Took a bit of detective work and the Times Digital Index but I am really pleased to have found them - I am still on a mission to locate all of grandfather Eve's brothers and sisters children. I have done it for all the other grandparents and just want to finish off that generation.

 

The mango tree is being attacked nightly by bats and in the morning there is always some mangoes on the ground with varying degrees of damage - from just a few scratches to half and even fully eaten - so I chuck out the really bad ones and save the ones with just a few scratches on them - the rest of the mangoes look ready to ripen over the weekend so I told Sandra the cleaner and Peter and Amanda next door to take what they could - by the time we get back on Monday there will probably be none left.  The mangoes are beautiful - there is no hint of stringyness and the flavour is wonderful - most are massive - probably due to the water they got- around September when the flowers came on we had a good lot of rain and then in October when it got hot I siphoned some of the excess pool water onto the tree and as it has been raining just about every day since the beginning of December the water has ensured the mangoes are sweet and juicy. I am hoping the 2 bunches of bananas will benefit just as well - the last bunches we got werent very big so hopefully this will help them to grow bigger.

 

Will add more once we get back from the weekend.

 

 

Here we are in a new year. The mango tree is loaded with fruit, the macadamias are the size of (small) golf balls and there is 2 bunches of bananas growing. It has been raining for two weeks the pool and the tank are overflowing and the grass is growing at an amazing rate.

 

We started out December by going to lunch for Max's birthday - Max was my team leader in 1999 in Melbourne and has recently moved to Brisbane - his friend Carol organised a suprise lunch and then a morning tea at work.

 

Finished up work on 18 December, had the car detailed, the washing machine fixed and the lounge steam cleaned and picked mum at the airport on 19th. Deb arrived with a flourish on the 20th.

 

Woke up Friday planning to have a nice quiet day prior to heading off the the hairdressers - however Deb had no intention of wasting her holiday in Qld so off we go to Chermside for a morning's shopping, back to the hairdresser. Garth arrived Friday late and headed off for a night out on the town - then slept for the next 18 hours or so. We put up the Xmas lights.

 

Saturday saw John and Deb off in Kermit and mum and I followed in the Subaru - they were to travel via a 4wd track to The Gantry in the Mt Mee forest park. Mum and I were to go by the normal road and meet them there. However Deb took one look at the track and decided mountain climbing was not for her. We had a lovely picnic in the day use area and then travelled to Woodford for coffee at the quirky little coffee shop we found. John and Deb then headed off to Bribie Island for some fun on the beach and sand tracks. Mum and I headed home. Garth slept as far as I know.

 

Sunday we prepared for a morning tea. I had a bright idea of inviting all the neighbours to come at 10am for a cup of tea, a sausage sandwich and a chat. The rain had started the night before and didnt look like letting up. Dave from down the street dropped in to let us know he had a family function and by 9.55am I was convinced no one else was going to turn up . About 10am some kids came up the drive and asked was the party on and I asked them to get their parents. Just after that people started flowing in and slowly the place filled up - the rain continued unrelentingly and the kids were all put in the pool (they couldnt get any wetter and it got them out from under our feet). Some people know 1 or 2 others but slowly we all got to know each other. About 5.30 I let the last of the stragglers out the door and put tea on for us all.

 

Christmas Eve Evan and Carly came to stay the night and we all got up early, Carly had to work and Evan was heading to Carly's mum's for the day. Garth, Mum, Deb, John and I headed off to Surfers Paradise - however on the way we ended up in a 5k gridlock as some idiot had decided to ruin every one in Brisbane's Xmas day by running up the back of another car and jamming up the Gateway motorway. However we cleared the mess and made it to the Marriott and had a lovely lunch. We topped off the lunch with a visit to Kim Kennedy's and then to Deb's brothers place before going home.

 

Wednesay Bill from work came over for tea and we played "spics and specs".

 

Deb left Thursday and Garth left Friday. Mum and I had a quiet week and she left on 4 January. I am looking forward to a quiet week.

 

An electrician is coming on Tuesday to put in some lights as the flouro in the kitchen fell to pieces and so I had to buy a new light fitting - that meant I should get a new one for the dining room - it broke when I put the lounge in the dining room for Evan and Carly on Xmas Eve and that then gave me the opportunity to replace the tacky chandelier in the front entry. Then of course the broken light in the lounge room also needed fixing and now the cieling fans wouldnt match so I have to buy a new one to match the one in the lounge room with the one in the family room - so several hundred gold coins later we will have nice new matching lights (that all work) for the first time since we have been in the house.

 

Another fellow is coming on Monday to fix the spare dishwasher that Evan owns - if it has to sit here for the next 2 years till he moves then I am going to use it. Will come in handy for BBQs and wont need to carry dirty plates into the house.

 

Tomorrow I am having the 3rd windscreen replace that we have managed to damage in 18months.  30+ years of driving and we do 3 windscreens in 18 months. The Subaru wasnt even 12 months old. We were driving Kermit one Sunday and got a stone chip then on the way to work just prior to Xmas I got a stone chip in my car that has grown slowly across the windscreen.

 

Joanne is arriving on 14 or 15 January and I go back to work on 16.

On the way back we consulted our "Dirty Weekends in South East Queensland" book and went via Neurum Creek Bush Retreat which has another private park.  No 4wd tracks there but close to the state forest.  As we left the GPS pointed us to a dirt road - 10k's to Mt Mee Road - however we must have taken a wrong turn - and ended up driving thru the state forest for an hour and a half looking for the way out - we started to get concerned about 6pm and finally got out at 6.45pm.

When we purchased Kermit we knew we would be up for new tyres. Luckily Anthony Battin (Bob & Ree Battin's son) had some hanging around that we could use.

 

So off we go to Maclean for new tyres - on the way we heard about some car sales in hail ravaged Lismore - however as with most great stories it was too good to be true and I didnt score a new car.

 

Some yobbo recently decided I needed two big size 12 footprints on the doors of my car so proceeded to do so and leave some major dents in the doors. This, along with a dingle with the Commonwealth Bank carpark column, some sun damage on the bonnet and news that my expected timing chain job will require nothing short of a kings ransom to perform has made me decide to seriously think about what I am going to do with my Sirion. It has been the best car but looks like it is going to soon cost me a fortune - 3 cylinder cars are not easy to change timing chains on and require major mechanical stuff which costs lots of money. Apparently it's cheaper to put in a new (reconditioned) motor!!

 

Saturday morning we had a bit of a problem with a broken choke cable - but as we are on the path of replacing most major (and minor) components in Kermit we thought this was rather a considerate breakage - how dear can a choke cable be? (Kermit is in being attended to and we will know by the end of the week). We had to see the pool man and went for a bit of a drive which showed us that the decision to buy the tyres was a very good one - the handling of the car has improved massively.

 

Saturday arvo we had a bit of a kip and a look around the markets before going to the Argyle Hotel for tea which was very nice and where we found a brochure on a jazz cruise from Yamba on Sunday. I also had a fight with some green algae in Bob and Ree's pool but after masses of chemicals and 30 hours of running the filter it started to clear up - thank god for pool men. Remind me to never let my pool go green.

 

Sunday was a jazz cruise from Yamba and a bit of a drive around - back home early for tea.

 

Monday was back to Brissie and we met Ruth and Phil Church and their friend Dorothy and spent a pleasant evening in their apartment at the Aurora Tower.

 

Sadly when we got in the car to travel home Kermit has a dummy spit and refused to turn on his headlights - no amount of cajouling, pleading, fiddling, checking fuses etc would elicit even a tiny little beam - so we travelled home 'sans lumiere' - pretty awful on Narangba Road with no lights. 

 

So Kermit is now happily ensconced, once again, at Narangba Autos having some attention. Ian  the mechanic(my new best mate) has mentioned he knows of a nice muddy 4wd track for us to take Kermit to for an outing and so we are looking forward to that.

 

As Kermit is visiting the mechanics we dont have photos of his new tyres - yet!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pat and Katie came up for a holiday and I organised for us to go to Tangalooma on Moreton Island. Joanne came too.

 

We set off from Scarborough on Friday 7th and the weather was bleak and miserable - this was the 4th day of rain and it was not letting up.  However the weather forecast said it would get better.

 

Ploughing thru the rough seas on the Combie Trader was not pleasant. We had a taxi meet us at the barge landing point which proved to be a real bonus as we then had a very experienced local show is the roads to the resort - some of the creek crossings were quite hairy.

 

We arrived at the resort and found our villa - things were looking up!!! We just had to wait for the rain to stop. We were all pretty seedy from the trip on the barge and not real interested in much else than settling down a bit.

 

Saturday morning we arose to beautiful clear skies and sun beaming down on us so Jo and I set off to the jetty to meet Evan who had come over on the Tangalooma Flyer.  The day was beautiful and the water was clean and clear.  We booked to go Quad bike riding and chased up whale watching. However there was no whale watching available when we wanted it. Most of the paid activities were $58 each so quite reasonable.

 

The afternoon saw all 7 of us head off on Quad bikes for 1 hour tour - we had fun but the boys found it a bit tame as we had to follow single file and do what we were told.

 

Sunday was another glorious day and after Jo left we set off for Parasailing - Katie and I went up in a tandem and Ev and Carly had a single one each. It was amasing - John just went for a ride in the boat. It was a lovely hour on the water. Evan did some headstands which saw him dunked head first in the water (photos coming).

 

Pat and Katie headed home Sunday nite finding the place a bit tame for their liking but Evan, Carly John and I stayed till Monday and had a nice smooth trip home.

 

All up I can highly recommend Tangalooma Resort and have a contact for some good deals on the private villas. 

Evan took Kermit to Bribie Island and nearly go stuck however it all worked out ok and he will think twice about going fishing at the northern end of Bribie Island on a weekday - he never saw another car and it was well and truly dark when Kermit refused to start. However all worked out well and he came home exhausted and tired.

 

Phil Brunskill, John's friend from school, came and stayed a weekend and paid us by cooking the most magnificent Indian meal - he's welcome to stay anytime.  His cousin John also came for dinner and we had a nice night. Phil & I went to Redcliffe for breakfast on Saturday and Sunday - I took my bike on Sunday and found out that it was too packed to ride at Redcliffe as every other person in Brisbane was there also.

 

I went to Sydney to say goodbye to Cheryl and Ron who are going to live in Arabia - sounds much nicer than United Arab Emirates. Ron has a job there and Cheryl is taking some time before looking for one. Stopped at Deb Hongs for a night, then on to Cheryls at Gosford, which is really Mike and Bec Stalenbergs as Cheryl and Ron moved out 12 months or so ago when they went to Vanuatu to live. Went on to Sydney Airport on Friday to see Cheryl and Ron off and then met up with mum and went to the pictures at Broadway (old Grace Bros store) and saw "La Vie en Rose" - it was wonderful - even subtitled in French. Dropped in to visit Sue and Alan in St Clair on Saturday who drove me to the airport.

 

Back to Brissie on Saturday and  on Sunday did a run to the Ekka with 100 or so barrels of fairy floss - even scored a bag for myself, Evan and Carly. Johns aunt Sis and her friend Julie were slaving away making floss and I sat amongst it all taking photos and getting covered in floss. Was good fun.

 

Back to work tomorrow.

Our escape from Fraser Island proved to be uneventful - the dash along the beach was fine and the tide at Hook Point was favourable - the barge was there to pick us up and they welcomed us, remembering our worries about going over.

 

We took the car to the car wash and duly paid our tithe to clean the underneath of the car with a special $12 underbody car wash. The truck had a little hiccup and wouldnt start but as the RACQ was across the road that was quickly fixed. Old cars dont like having water in the distributor cap. We visited a fellow who makes a living rebuilding Jeeps and Toyotas and looked at doing some work on the springs for the car - he also builds bucket seats which have since become very appealing.

 

Our next stop was to be Calliope - just out of Rockhampton - it was said to be a pleasant place to stop overnight - a free camping area.  It probably was pleasant but when we got there it was dark and raining and we had no idea where to set up - the people we set up next to had a fire going but it went out because of the rain.  We got up early and got moving.

 

We had planned to travel to Mount Morgan and fill in the day before we arrived at Blackwater instead we went straight to Blackwater and spent a rainy afternoon in the laundromat doing washing and drying.

 

Ian & Caroline Hare invited us to stay the night and then we spent the rest of the time in a mine company house that had some room free. Bob & Ree Battin have their caravan parked in the backyard and we spent a few days there with them.

 

Ian arranged for us to visit the Curragh mines and we had a really good time doing so.  The size of the machinery and especially the drag line was just amazing. The weather cleared up but stayed cold - we had a lovely time and were reluctant to leave on Saturday. 

 

We headed off to Comet for a really good $8 breakfast and then to Roma.  However a bulging, split heater hose spraying water over John's leg caused us to lose some time and we only got as far as Injune, a small town about 80k's from Roma. On the way we passed some drovers with cattle feeding in the "long paddock" (the grass verge by the edge of the road). At one stage John thought he might have to do a Croc Dundee and hypnotise a cow who stood in our way.

 

"Injune in June" is a yearly event and this year's was quite good.  Some jokes, some songs, some bush poetry and dinner was a camp oven with beef stew, we missed the pumpkin soup, but had desert - damper and cocky's joy (Golden Syrup). You forget how good fresh bread, butter and golden syrup tastes.  We met a lot of people who were travelling around and had a really good nite.

 

Next day it was up and at 'em.  However Kermit decided he had had enough. We had lost the dash lights a couple of days before and now we had lost the blinkers - a quick call to the RACQ and all was fixed - however more work would be needed once at home.

 

We left Injune for Roma and decided we were too tired to set up the tent again and on a lovely moonlit night we continued on our way home to Narangba.  We came home via Dalby, travelling north on the New England Highway to the D'aguilar Hwy and onto Blackbutt and Kilcoy. We were astounded by the number of roos on the side of the road that were in various stages of decay.  John wondered if he could get a job disposing of the carcases.  We must have passed several each kilometre.

 

 

Emboldened by our 4WD lessons we decided to head off on a trek to Fraser Island and Longreach. We had 2 weeks and would take a nice leisurely drive.

Kermit, our intrepid 1974 Landcruiser, had a stint in the mechanics at Narangba Autos for which I paid the standard kings ransom. I have become best friends with Ian there and he recommended some necessary maintenance and improvements – such as working brakes and new hoses on the radiator, among other things – and $1500 later we have a nice safe truck.

The truck was nicknamed Kermit by the 4wd class and this was emphasized when we hitched up the off-road camper-trailer as he looked like he was going to leap forward eager and ready to take off or, alternatively, he was overloaded and straining on his leaf springs with his bum dragging on the ground and the front end sorely needing the weight of the bull bar we had left off.

Delays in getting Kermit to a safe level of operation caused us to leave on Tuesday morning – first stop was lunch in a nice park at Burpengary some 5ks from home – we had to stop at Supercheap and get some stuff for the trip and as it took us till nearly midday to pack and get on the road we were now due for lunch.

After that false start we headed off to Rainbow Beach.  We had planned to travel up the beach from Tewantin however my new best friend, Ian at Narangba Autos, told us it was too heavy for a trailer and we should travel to Rainbow Beach via Gympie and do the trip from Tewantin, without a trailer, once we have had some experience. He also mentioned he had done some silly things in his time and he considered we were very game for what we were intending to do.  However he couldn’t see that we should have any problems as long as we took it easy and didn’t push the truck too much.

Kermit cruised along the Bruce Highway up to Gympie at an easy 80 to 100 kph.  He preferred 80 and surprised John with the power he had pulling a trailer.  We took the Rainbow Beach turnoff and not long after that the GPS lost all tracks – there were no maps loaded for that area. 

We called in at QPWS and got our camping permits no problem – they have them all there for you to fill out and put up – honesty system prevails.  Onto our campsite about 10ks the other side of town – there were 4 to choose from and we promptly turned into the wrong turnoff where I got stuck in the sand and had to engage low range – that was pretty scarey – we hadn’t even got off the mainland and I had us stuck – John was fuming – he had told me not to do it. However I was able to drive out without too much straining by Kermit and with a little resistance by the trailer.

So now we decided to move down the peninsula a bit and took the 1^st turnoff to Sarawak campsite.  The sign said “No 2wds or caravans”  - no problems we didn’t have a caravan we had a trailer so on I ploughed despite John telling me in no uncertain terms I should not continue.  We came up to some soft sand and I engaged low range and ploughed on through – except I ploughed on and the truck stopped dead!!!  I tried again and ended up bogging us up to the axles. Luckily the 4wd lessons had taught us to carry a long handled shovel and not the cute little ones they sell for 4wds.  With some heavy digging by John, Kermit screaming and straining, rocking back and forwards and all the campsite now watching us we managed to gradually get the truck over about 10 metres long of extremely soft, trailer devouring, sand.

Some women came to tell us how many other people had got stuck there and how many caravans had got stuck for several hours, one fellow called Barry kindly came with his little 4wd shovel and did some digging.  Overall it was an awakening of what we may encounter on Fraser Island.

It was just about dark by then so we set up camp and I set off to find the toilets.  On the way back a fellow asked me was I the lady driving the green Toyota.  He then proceeded to tell me I was a legend – a bloke wouldn’t drive a truck like that – I should have been stuck there for at least 2 – 3 hours with much more digging – he had never seen anyone get out of a fix like that so quick – I asked him to make sure he told my husband how much of a legend I was. 

He told me the whole campsite was waiting to see if they needed to come and dig us out but I had done such a good job they just kept on drinking – however they would have come if we had been there too long as the tide would have swamped us if we hadn’t moved. He also told me I was amazing as I had the engine screaming, was coming out of the bog and I changed gears – which is a pretty amazing feat when you are sand bogged.  

The golden rule of 4WD is: He who hesitates or changes gears is lost.

In order to get to Fraser Island from Rainbow Beach it is best if you go at low tide and travel on the beach around Hook Point within 1-2 hours of low tide – otherwise you have to use the inland track which is pretty rough – if you go on the beach you can engage 2wd and do 80kph no problems.  The approach to the barge at Rainbow Beach is legendary for people getting bogged in the soft sand and you can usually make an afternoon of it watching them.  On the Fraser Island side you have to bolt around Hook Point before the tide comes in and swamps you.  Once you have done that, it is easy till you have to access the inland tracks.

We both were very quiet that night, tired and a bit overwhelmed. I suggested that instead of trying to make low tide at 7am the next morning we should take a day and get some confidence (or dutch courage) before tackling the approach to the barge at Rainbow Beach. Several people at the campsite had made allusions to how risky it could be to approach Hook Point at the wrong time and how we could have some problems.  A day’s wait would bring low tide just that bit later and we might be able to pack up and make the dash around Hook Point just in time.

So next day we did some shopping, had a look around and headed out to the barge.  Once we got there we were the only people and the barge captain was waving us on – however we pulled off just short on the wet sand and walked over to talk to them about the tide for the next day – they asked us would we like to take a run over and look at what we had to do.  There was a car needed bringing back and they were going over empty.  So we had a nice trip on the barge to Fraser and back and got a good look at what we were in for – it didn’t look as scarey as we imagined and we got some of our confidence back.

Early next day we headed off to the barge – the approach to the barge with the trailer was slow but steady – cardinal rule of sand driving – do not lose momentum!!! Keep going – he who hesitates, or changes gear, will get stuck!!!  Once on the barge we were quietly confident we could handle the other side – however I didn’t tell John we were on the tail end of the short time we had before Hook Point would close off and we could get caught – there was a moment when things got a bit close but we managed to get around Hook Point and plough on to Eurong – a nice 45-60 minute trip on firm sand in 2wd.

We pulled into Eurong resort and duly let our tires down – however we had managed to escape the bogging at the campsite, the entry to the barge and the beach access road to Eurong without, so it was probably not necessary however everyone else had baggy tyres – who were we to be different. 

We headed off to Central Station following the only road out – by now we had encountered about 10 troop carriers with backpackers – we found out you can pack 11 backpackers in one and they pay about $150 each for 2 nights camping necessities. The island is crawling with them.

It was 9k’s and about an hours drive, with the trailer, to Central Station campground where we set up camp for the night – in a beautiful spot among the trees. It took 4 hours from the barge exit until we had the camper trailer set up and ready.

After lunch we headed off to Lake McKenzie – I had planned to do a few things but the travel time to go 10ks is about 1 hour – 2 if going inland so we made it late in the afternoon as everyone was leaving – the road was passable but rough and we had an enjoyable time.  The lake was beautiful and we were the only ones there.

We headed back to camp and got there around dark – which in the middle of a rain forest is pretty dark – just by chance I had purchased some little miners’ lamp lights for our heads and they proved to be a real bonus as the $100 lantern I had bought for blackouts at home was impossible to charge on the cigarette lighter fixture. However it is excellent for blackouts at home when charged on electricity.

Next day we headed down to Kingfisher Resort to have a look around, have lunch out and then off to Lake Wabby. The road to Lake Wabby saw better days back in the 20’s when it was built – it does not appear to have been maintained since and was quite hair raising driving.  John was getting more confident by the day and we made it there and back without incident. We caught up with a young Israeli fellow, Nimrod, who we had seen the day before at Lake McKenzie however we had been concerned at the encroaching darkness and had raced off. Nimrod was walking the Great Walk and had walked from McKenzie to Wabby. We had a pleasant cup of coffee with him and moved on home.

Travel on the inland track is extremely slow and deliberate. Most of the tracks are well traveled and many of them are one way – occasionally you have to give way and the smaller vehicle has to give way to the bigger so poor Kermit being a shortie (short wheel base) was generally the smallest except when traveling with a trailer. We got quite confident at finding places to pull over.

Next day we took off for Indian Head and the Champagne pools, right up the northern end of the island.  However the tides were not very kind to us and if we didn’t cross Eli Creek at a decent time we wouldn’t get very far.

I had not told John about Eli Creek and its volume of water so once over it I told him.  We were now stuck up north until the tides went out again – he was not impressed.  However we moved onto the Maheno shipwreck and met some more backpackers – the number of troop carriers on the beach at any one time is impressive – someone has a very lucrative business.  We spent a good couple of hours traveling north on the beach quite comfortably.  We passed the Pinnacles and Indian Head and moved onto Orchid Beach where we bought some ice and petrol ($1.80 a litre).  I then planned to spend a leisurely 2-3 hours waiting for the tide to turn but John got a bit of a bee in his bonnet and we headed back – only getting as far as Indian Head. We did stop off at the Champagne Pools and have a walk around and cup of tea.

Once we got to the south side of Indian Head there was not much beach left and it was getting smaller – however some cars were still making the dash south.  We decided to wait with some backpackers until the tide turned.  One of the guides from the Kingfisher Resort buses came over and gave us a load of fresh fruit and lovely fresh bread rolls which was a bonus. The resort bus said we would be fine going down the beach after him but we decided to wait for the tide to turn and be sure – so we whiled away an hour and a half talking to the backpackers checking out the cars etc. We had initially parked up off the beach but the ranger came and pointed out we had parked in a no parking zone – blocking the “no parking” sign so we moved onto the beach – after an hour or so John noticed the waves were getting quite close to the car so he pulled it up the road a bit and I sat and started this log.

While waiting here for the tide change we saw our first dingo.  The ranger came along and accused the back packers of feeding one of them who appeared to be playing coy in the sand – however they weren’t and the dingo was just a bit too close for comfort.  The ranger was quite rude to the backpackers and it was a bit disconcerting to see someone treat overseas visitors, who were not doing anything wrong, with such disdain.  He then took out his slingshot and scared away the dingo.  They do not want the dingoes to get ‘habituated’ to humans and like to keep them at a distance – however we did not have the knowledge to scare off the dingo and were not encouraging it. I suppose the sight of 13 people intently watching it did encourage it.

¾ hour after the high tide time we started our trip down the beach at 3.45pm – it took us 2 hours to get back and some more hair raising driving over the creek outlets and avoiding the waves trying to drive on the wet sand and not get salt water all through the car. We were too intent in getting back to the inland access road before it got too dark and did not stop at the Pinnacles and Eli Creek as we planned. It was a bit daunting and very heavy driving for John – keeping the truck steered was a major effort and he did it for 2 hours.

We arrived back at camp well after dark, had tea and met the next door neighbours Jim and Liz who we had a chat to for a while until we were sent to bed by the ranger who was enforcing the 9pm noise deadline.  I had not imagined that we were infringing it but apparently we were, as was our MP3 player that was quietly playing music.

I had told John that we had no rush to leave on Sunday as we would have to travel the inland track for the last part of the trip to the barge as the tides were against us – big mistake – we did not leave camp till quite late and by the time we stopped at Eurong, paid $1.90+ per litre for petrol, got a coffee, had a toilet break and moved on it was very late and the tide was not kind to us.  There was little beach left and what was there was very soft and hard going.  I knew we only had to get to Dilli Village, 11k, to access the inland road and was not too concerned – however Kermit was not coping well and was giving us a lot of reason for concern.

We arrived at Dilli Village and asked how we got to the inland access road and they said it was closed from there and we had to go another 6k down the beach – we then decided that giving up would be the much better option and took a cabin at Dilli Village for the night. Not until we got into the cabin did we realize we had electricity and mobile reception. 

As John has cheap rates for mobile to mobile calls on a Sunday we decided to catch up with a few people and let Bob and Maree know we had been delayed, yet again.  We now knew we would never reach Longreach and decided on only going to Blackwater to visit them and home again.

Kermit and the trailer were left to their own devices for the night because we had running water, flush toilet, electricity and a fresh clean bed.  The lights kept fading irregularly during the night – we had so many things on charge it’s a wonder the fuse box didn’t blow.

More to come from Calliope, Blackwater and Injune

After going to Straddie and stressing out about the Subaru we went out and bought a real 4wd!!

 

We are now proud owners of a very cute 1974 FJ40 Toyota Landcruiser SWB - John was really dubious about it until today- we went to Kooralbyn Hotel Resort and had 4wd lessons from www.australian4wd.com.au

 

We first went to Bribie Island and John wasnt game enough to go in puddles - says he knew something - I reckon he was just playing coy.

 

Evan and I went to Bribie Island and we went thru lots of puddles - the truck died a couple of times and we still got home.

 

During the week the truck died and we sent it out for some work and VOILA!!! it goes like a beauty.

 

This weekend we went down to Tamborine Mountain and Brett Cleary cooked a beautiful meal for his father Pat who turned 77 today.  We got invited along and had a wonderful nite.

 

Up early and off to Kooralbyn - had a great time and highly recommend the course.

 

I will never look down my nose at Suzuki Vitara's again - the one that went thru the course with us today was amazing - our truck took the course dead easy with some hairy bits that gave us time for thought and the Suzuki just kept going.

 

As usual everyone who saw our truck thought it was great - it is really cool to have everyone tell you how cute your truck is and how much they would like to have one... we know it takes a special person to appreciate our truck but we all love it.

 

We had lots of rain last week and the pool is full - means I can use the Gerni to clean the cars - the truck is full of sand. The water tank is full, or nearly full, and the grass is green again for the time being - we are not expecting follow up rain so that means all will be nice and clean for a few weeks and then the plants will all die again - it is really nice to drive to work past clean trees - everything has been so dusty and dry that the landscape is pretty depressing.

 

Next Monday we pick up a campertrailer and set off to Fraser Island, Blackwater to visit Bob & Ree and then across to Longreach. We are taking the truck and fully expect to have some sort of disaster or breakdown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well Easter is over and we are moving onto winter - the pool is too cold to swim unless you have been for a hour's ride on the bike and then it is nice to cool down in.

 

Tafe is going well.  I have drawn a really convincing galah - will put him up except that John has just dropped a cup of coffee on the laptop and I cant access the hard drive anymore - shame I just bought a new hard disk drive - I think the laptop is dead. It is in pieces on the dining room table - John fell asleep with a coffee in his hand - he has to stop this god awful job he has - it is killing him.

 

Evan and Carly are coming for tea tonite and Garth is at the pub.  Sunday is warm and sunny - what's new? we were so looking forward to rain but it never happened - I think the tank is just about empty so the new plants in the garden will just have to die.

 

 

 

 

 

I set out out to update this now and then and keep a log....

 

Well since Xmas I have signed up for an intensive web design course at Brisbane TAFE - figure I might meet some like minded people.  Have missed one day already as I went to Sydney for Mum & Pat's birthday.

 

It's now Easter - how time flies - I got a cold a few days back and was laid low for 2 days - slept about 18 hours 2 days in a row. So I have had a loooonnnggg weekend.  

 

Cheryl and Ron (http://www.candrvanuatu.blogspot.com) came over from Vanuatu to look for some property to buy and had a flying visit.

 

We went to Carly's sister's 25th party on Easter Saturday which was nice.

 

We are to have a BBQ with Cheryl, Ron, Evan & Carly on Sunday.

 

John is still lollypopping as a traffic controller and I am still working away as a public servant - both wishing to win the Golden Casket and live a life of leisure.

 

I have recently decided that as John doesnt like the radio on in the house I will use his "you beaut" MP3 player I got him for Xmas and have loaded it up with John Williamson, Neil Diamond, Neil Sedaka, Rita Coolidge, Willie Nelson, Arlo Guthrie and a few chosen others and walk around like a teenager in my own world.  I can understand why people do it - you are off in your own world with no one annoying you and you just get on with it and do what you do.

 

Hope it's not another 4 months before I remember to update this.

 

Helen

 

 

Well life is settling back into normal after my operation and THE TRIP TO SYDNEY.

 

The birthday party was wonderful - thanks to everyone who came.  The reunion was fine - I didnt go to St Mary's High so it was not a high point for me but it was great to see John have such a good time.

 

My leg is just about fully healed - I have some residual swelling and stiffness. Otherwise I am able to walk fairly well - Terry at work said I look like a penguin but I told him I would never make a nun!!.

 

I have kept up the swimming but given up the idea of the tax office sports carnival next March - I am training for the raft race in Market Deeping in 2008 - should we be the the Wiggles or Steve Irwins?  http://www.deepingsraftrace.co.uk Alan Eve's business (Deeping Direct Deliveries) puts an entry in each year and this year they won the best dressed raft

 

I ride on the exercise bike at night and do aerobic steps so have lost some of the 10 kilos I have put on in the last couple of years - the weigh in at the hospital on the way to the operating theatre was a big shock.

 

I said thanks to Evan and Carly for keeping John sane and organising the party by sending them to the Marriott at Surfers Paradise (photo on the right).  They had a really good time.

 

John, Deb & I are off to Carols at the Myer Music Bowl on Xmas Eve - so there will be no-one home for Xmas.  We fly to Melbourne on Xmas Eve and fly back on the Wednesday.  Any hints for how to get Deb on the plane will be gratefully accepted as John and I are going regardless and if she escapes the sack we put her in then Deb will miss out - we are stocking up on chloroform and valium just in case.

 

We still have no idea of how or where Jack is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well life is settling back into normal after my operation and THE TRIP TO SYDNEY.

 

The birthday party was wonderful - thanks to everyone who came.  The reunion was fine - I didnt go to St Mary's High so it was not a high point for me but it was great to see John have such a good time.

 

My leg is just about fully healed - I have some residual swelling and stiffness. Otherwise I am able to walk fairly well - Terry at work said I look like a penguin but I told him I would never make a nun!!.

 

I have kept up the swimming but given up the idea of the tax office sports carnival next March - I am training for the raft race in Market Deeping in 2008 - should we be the the Wiggles or Steve Irwins?  http://www.deepingsraftrace.co.uk Alan Eve's business (Deeping Direct Deliveries) puts an entry in each year and this year they won the best dressed raft

 

I ride on the exercise bike at night and do aerobic steps so have lost some of the 10 kilos I have put on in the last couple of years - the weigh in at the hospital on the way to the operating theatre was a big shock.

 

I said thanks to Evan and Carly for keeping John sane and organising the party by sending them to the Marriott at Surfers Paradise (photo on the right).  They had a really good time.

 

John, Deb & I are off to Carols at the Myer Music Bowl on Xmas Eve - so there will be no-one home for Xmas.  We fly to Melbourne on Xmas Eve and fly back on the Wednesday.  Any hints for how to get Deb on the plane will be gratefully accepted as John and I are going regardless and if she escapes the sack we put her in then Deb will miss out - we are stocking up on chloroform and valium just in case.

 

We still have no idea of how or where Jack is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well life is settling back into normal after my operation and THE TRIP TO SYDNEY.

 

The birthday party was wonderful - thanks to everyone who came.  The reunion was fine - I didnt go to St Mary's High so it was not a high point for me but it was great to see John have such a good time.

 

My leg is just about fully healed - I have some residual swelling and stiffness. Otherwise I am able to walk fairly well - Terry at work said I look like a penguin but I told him I would never make a nun!!.

 

I have kept up the swimming but given up the idea of the tax office sports carnival next March - I am training for the raft race in Market Deeping in 2008 - should we be the the Wiggles or Steve Irwins?  http://www.deepingsraftrace.co.uk Alan Eve's business (Deeping Direct Deliveries) puts an entry in each year and this year they won the best dressed raft

 

I ride on the exercise bike at night and do aerobic steps so have lost some of the 10 kilos I have put on in the last couple of years - the weigh in at the hospital on the way to the operating theatre was a big shock.

 

I said thanks to Evan and Carly for keeping John sane and organising the party by sending them to the Marriott at Surfers Paradise (photo on the right).  They had a really good time.

 

John, Deb & I are off to Carols at the Myer Music Bowl on Xmas Eve - so there will be no-one home for Xmas.  We fly to Melbourne on Xmas Eve and fly back on the Wednesday.  Any hints for how to get Deb on the plane will be gratefully accepted as John and I are going regardless and if she escapes the sack we put her in then Deb will miss out - we are stocking up on chloroform and valium just in case.

 

We still have no idea of how or where Jack is.