August 2013

Another magic day on the Gold Coast - forecast 13 to 23 degrees and sunny.

We were packed up and ready to go by 9:00 am so we decided to wander over to Frosty's camp on the other side of the park to say goodbye, but they were not in residence. We found out later that they were on the road at 7:10 am to watch their grand-daughter's Gym session - the things you do for your grandchildren. We should catch up with Frosty and Marg again next year at Dickys Beach and Southport.

After a visit to the dump point we were on the road at 9:45 am for our short hop of 18 kms to Tallebudgera Creek at the other end of the Gold Coast. We arrived at 10:30 and were allocated site 292 for 7 days - a very spacious corner site with a north-easterly aspect - we can put up with that. By 12:15 we were all set up and enjoyed lunch in the shade - it was actually too hot in the sun!

Later in the afternoon Brendan and Lyn picked us up as they had a friend with tickets for the Gold Coast Suns match against the Melbourne Demons. We caught the train at a nearby station for Nerang, where we caught a bus to Metricon Stadium - would you believe that the train and bus is free if you are going to the footy. It was Garry Ablett's 250th AFL game, however the crowd was somewhat disappointing - no doubt because the opposition was Melbourne. Gary Ablett had a quiet game with only 19 possessions as Melbourne were double teaming him with a couple of taggers, which he found quite frustrating. In any event the Gold Coast won by 13 points.

Pre game - Brendan, Lyn and Di with a resplendant Suns supporter

Game on

Game over

Gold Coast Suns by 13 points

Another beautiful day on the Gold Coast - forecast 12 to 22 degrees and sunny - as they say beautiful one day, perfect the next!

Today we walked around the caravan park to check on Frosty, but they were off playing Bingo. We continued on through Broadwater Park to Australia Fair for papers and a coffee. Broadwater Park is being redeveloped for a new Gold Coast Aquatic Centre for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The Centre will be finished next year for the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.

Georges enjoying the sun near the boat ramp

No action today at the Coast Guard Station

Diving Pool at the new Aquatic Centre

Main pool at the new Aquatic Centre

During the afternoon we spent our time commencing the pack-up process as we are moving on to Tallebudgera Creek at the other end of the gold Coast - a grand distance of 18 kms - a big day at the wheel. In the evening we went to our club for a few drinks and dinner. We started with one serve of garlic bread and cheese (which turned out to be a full pizza), then we both had Roast Pork and vegies - huge platefuls , followed by free pancakes - which we did not really need. The lot costing just $35.00 - it was an excellent meal.

Southport Workers Club

Another wonderful day in paradise - 13 to 24 degrees and mostly sunny.

After a slow start to the morning we drove to Southport Park Shopping Centre for groceries from Woollies, and a new batch of scripts from the pharmacy. While we waited for the scripts we bought a paper and had a coffee at the local café. David found some casual shoes that had been marked down 50%, then had a further 25% discount, at $20.00 they were a bargain. We headed back to camp for lunch and to ponder what we would do for the rest of the day.

We decided that we would drive to Mount Tamborine, via Sanctuary Cove for a look see. Sanctuary Cove turns out to be a gated community with no access to non-residents. Well if they don't want us to see what is so special then we wont! We continued on past Coomera, to Eagle Heights, North Tamborine and Mount Tamborine. After stopping for a few photos from the top of the mountain, we returned to the Gold Coast via Canungra. The road up to Mount Tamborine was very steep and winding - 12%, 15%, and 14%. 15% is very steep at about 1 in 6. It was very windy on the Mountain with gale force winds from the west.

The Gold Coast from Eagle Heights

Southport from Eagle Heights

Surfers Paradise from Eagle Heights

Looking west from North Tamborine - hazy and smokey

Once we started the descent to Canungra we came to a sign suggesting that the road was not suitable for Trucks, Buses, Trailers or Caravans. Soon after we came to a section of single lane road controlled by traffic lights and a descent of 14%. Strangely at the bottom of this hill we came to another steep descent, 13%, that suggested that trucks and busses should engage low gear - perhaps they had backed up the hill!

Another beautiful day in paradise - 13 to 24 degrees and sunny.

Today was clean-up day with Di cleaning the caravan inside and out, while David cleaned the Navara inside and out. David also spent time re-organising our sullage hoses using the Cam-lock connectors that we managed to find yesterday at Yatala on the way into Brisbane. In the midst of our clean-up Frosty rode past to say hello - he was on his daily bike ride. After we had finished our chores David drove to a nearby caravan accessory outlet for a couple more hose bags.

No photos today.

This weather just keeps getting better - forecast 13 to 24 degrees and sunny!

Today we took the opportunity to drive into Brisbane for the day. On the way we took a short detour from the Highway to Yatala Plumbing and Irrigation Supplies for some Cam-lock Hose Connectors, which are often a bit hard to find.

We parked on South Bank near the Information Centre so we could get a few maps and brochures - 2 hours max at $4.00 per hour if you don't mind. We decided that we would try and do the river sightseeing trip on the ferry but needed to find longer parking. Most of the City car-parks have a 2.1 metre height limit and we knew that we were 2.15 metres. While driving around looking for a car-park we did see one with a 2.3 metre limit but it had the FULL sign out.

We settled for 2 hours on a meter again and decided just to walk along the South Bank Promenade and back. We also had a look at a Nepalese Temple dating from the World Expo in Brisbane in 1988, the Brisbane Wheel with next to no passengers, and the artificial beach, which I guess is a must have if you live on a mangrove swamp. The Promenade was very busy with lunch time joggers and bike riders getting their daily exercise. After our walk we found lunch at the Plough Inn - we both had Calamari, Chorizo and Chick Pea Salad with a drink or two.

Nepalese Pagoda built for the World Expo in 1988

The bell at the Pagoda

Brisbane Wheel

A view of the Brisbane River

Old Buildings surrounded by fly-overs and high-rise buildings

Di at the Beach

The Beach on the Brisbane River

The Plough Inn

While walking back to the Navara we saw Council workers removing old fronds from the palm trees. We also noticed an old car with a lowered suspension - they would have no trouble at all in the car parks.

Removing old fronds from a palm tree

This car would have no trouble getting into a car park

Perhaps we need to lower the suspension

While having lunch we decided to do the Southern Moreton Bay Tourist Drive on the way back to Southport. The drive took us to the coast at Wynnum, then through Manly, Wellington Point, Cleveland, Victoria Point and Redland Bay, before turning inland to Mount Cotton, and through the Venman Bushland National Park, before joining the Pacific Highway at Loganholme. At Manly we stopped for a look at what must be one of the largest Marinas in the country - thousands of boats on an enormous marina as well as dozens of cruisers stacked on shore.

Wynnum Foreshore - what happened to the water?

Power boat storage racks

Boats on the Manly Marina

More Boats on the Manly marina

Marina launching ramp