June 2016

The weather has not improved. On Sunday it was very windy and it rained all day. From 6:00 pm Saturday until 9:00 am Monday morning we had a total of 70 mm of rain. I guess that the BOM Forecasters got it right when they said that we were due 70 mm of rain on Sunday.

By Monday the clouds had cleared although the wind was still with us. We decided to walk around Burleigh Head to lodge our vote in the elections. The Polling Booth was very busy with large numbers of early voters from not just the Gold Coast, but all over the country. Later in the day we headed over to the Talle Club for a meal - we both had steak with vegies.

For the first few days of the week, Di continued with her painting ambitions to improve the look of the van. We continued to use Brendan's bikes and ride around the caravan park while we gained confidence. Soon we will be out of the park and onto the bike paths behind the local beaches.

On Thursday night we made a one of our regular visits to CSi at Southport for a pizza special. Frosty and Marg did not join us this week but we hope to see them next week.

Friday and Saturday continued to be cool and windy, At reception David was asked whether he had any long Daks as it was so cold and he was still in his shorts. In the afternoon we walked around Burleigh Head for an ice cream at the Burleigh Surf Club. On the way we watched a couple of boats coming back over the bar-way into Tallebudgera Creek. Thankfully the bar-way was quite subdued but obviously it is not always so quiet,

On Sunday we decided to head for the Robina Shopping Centre - at least it got us away from the cold winds.

Monday's weather photo - the rain has gone but now it is windy.

The new look after the paint job.

The new look inside the van.

Results of the painting project.

Friday's weather photo.

Tallebudgera Creek bar-way - calm today.

An easy crossing on the bar-way,

This is what happens when you get it wrong on the bar-way.

The weather has been a bit of a mixed bag this week - most days have been partly cloudy with showers, but temperatures remain above 22 degrees. The weather bureau have been threatening the possibility of another East Coast Low next Sunday, but as it draws near the rain fall prediction has reduced from 100 mm to 70 mm, and the wind strength predictions are also being reduced from above 40 kph to below 30 kph. What ever comes I think that we will be on the edge of the worst of it. Here's hoping anyway!

On Monday we went to the Palm Beach bike shop for a helmet for Di, but as you will see she has not been wearing it because it will mess up her hair! Later in the day David spent time making some curved gutters and installing them over the front lockers. Hopefully they will keep water out of the lockers which we suspect seeps through under the slide-outs.

Early in the week we had a Police helicopter flying up and down the Creek and checking out all the canals as though they were looking for someone or something. Never got to hear what they were about.

On Wednesday the Gold Coast City Council had a truck and a large digger working the beach in front of our site clearing up the last of the rubbish from last weeks storm. So far We have both been riding the bikes but have yet to venture out of the caravan park until we have had a little more experience - neither of us have ridden a bike for at least 40 years.

A Police helicopter spent the morning working up and down the Creek and the Canals obviously looking for Something or someone.

Hopefully the rain is over.

GCCC digger back to clean up the beach in front of our site.

Improvements to keep rain water out of the lockers.

Di's back on a bike after about 40 years.

Its already raining in the mountains.

Friday's weather photo - rain coming tomorrow.

I think that Jack is taking the boss for a ride.

Cloudy with the chance of a shower, and a lazy breeze from the SE that made it feel cooler than the forecast 20 degrees.

Last week Colin and Louise from Australia Wide Annexes dropped off some extra tie-down hooks and straps for us to add to the bottom of our annexe and storage room. This morning David spent a few hours with a sail needle and waxed twine sewing the hooks on before re-pegging the annexe.

The photo shows the end result -

The day started cloudy but cleared to a fine sunny day with a temperature of 22 degrees.

Last night after we returned from our trip to the Caravan Show, David was walking back from the amenities block in the dark when a new arrival called out David - I've been sitting here all day waiting for you to come back. It was Nick and Christine from Hobart who are staying in the park for a few days on their way north planning to eventually get to Townsville.

During the afternoon David called up to Brendan and Lyn's place at Robina to pick up a couple of bikes that Brendan offered to loan us for about 3 weeks while they are in Hobart. We have Brendan's old bike for David and Lyn's bike for Di to use. Lyn has already gone to Hobart and Brendan leaves early next week. We have three weeks to get the feel of riding bikes again and decide whether we can justify buying a couple of bikes for our travels. Neither of us have ridden bikes for about 40 years, They say that you once you have learned you never forget how to ride a bike - so we will see if that is true or not!

Later in the day Nick and Christine came over for what became an extended Happy Hour, during which we were joined by Brendan. Between them they drove all the Dessert tracks again and compared notes on their adventures on the various 4X4 tracks in camper trailers and tents. They are all more adventurous than us as we have rarely been off the black stuff. We had a good night catching up and comparing notes.

Another beautiful day in paradise - sunny and 24 degrees.

Today we were up early for an 8:30 am departure from the caravan park to catch the train from Varsity Lakes for the Brisbane Caravan Show. Colin and Merle from the Site across the road came with us. Being a work day for those that still work we had to park in the over-flow car-park at the station.
We caught the 9:10 am train and changed at Roma Street Station for the Show Train to take us to the Ekka. All up it took about 2 1/2 hours to make the journey but it is loads better than driving yourself and trying to park in Brisbane. The best bit is that train travel is included in the entry price for the Caravan Show, which at $15.00 for Seniors is a bargain.

Once into the Show we split up and went our own way, planning to meet up for lunch, and then meet up again for the return trip to the caravan park. We had an excellent pub lunch of flat-head and chips with salad under the main Grandstand on the Oval.

We spent the day wandering around the Show looking at the latest caravans for sale as well as all the stands selling accessories. We resisted the temptation to buy anything, but Di was particularly interested in the latest bathrooms in the newer caravans, as she would like to replace our hand-basin and update the en-suite in our caravan.

One of the highlights was the Trailblazer stand where had a look at the latest 5th wheel caravan on offer as well as a slide-on camper and truck camper toy hauler. As usual Frosty was on the stand helping Phil promote Trailblazer products generally and 5th wheel caravans in particular.

By about 3:00 pm we had had enough and made our way to the Showground Station for the return trip to Varsity Lakes via Roma Street where we changed trains for the Gold Coast Line, eventually arriving back at the caravan park at about 5:30 pm. At 9:00 hours it was a long day.

Trailblazer's Truck Camper Toy Hauler.

What's the ATM Frosty?

Trailblazer's Display at the Caravan Show.

Frosty's display at the Trailblazer stand.

Trailblazer's latest 27 foot double slide-out Fiver.

Frosty hamming it up on the Trailblazer set.

Morris Minor Estate car.

Morris Minor Estate car with early caravan.

Woody - a 1922 T-Model Ford with a caravan.

A view across the Main Oval.

Any-one for a Dodge RAM.