Week 20 – Family and Friends

Day 134 – Tamborine Mountain

Day being a somewhat sombre day since George’s sister, Lynette, passing, we decided to drive up Tamborine Mountain and explore the hinterland.

Tamborine Mountain sits on the edge of the escarpment behind the Gold Coast.   From Tamborine Mountain you can get a great view of the Gold Coast.   There are also some gorgeous waterfall including Cameron Falls, Cedar Creek Falls and Witches Falls.

The township is a lot like Berry in NSW, a nice stroll along a quaint country town where you can indulge in wine tasting, morning tea and shopping.   We spent most of the morning exploring all the shops and a couple of the cellar doors before heading office to explore the stunning waterfalls.

After a walk down to Cameron Falls, we ventured back through town to Eagle Heights for a cool ale, light lunch and view back over the Gold Coast.

Tonight, was spent with Jason Taryn Brody, Sienna and Jett remembering Lynette.  Was great to be with family again after so long.

Day 135 – The Gap (Brisbane)

Rise and shine in our beautiful camp spot with the cows lowing and the river flowing.   You would not think we are only about 30klm from Southport.

Today we headed up to The Gap to spend the night with my cousin Geoff and his wife Jane.   On arrival we were greeted with Jane’s catch of the day, a healthy look python who had decided to beat the heat and coil up in a bucket of water which had house some of Jane’s plants.    After a couple of calls to see if someone would rescue it (not) it was decided to leave it where it was and let it disappear into the night.

We had a wonderful dinner with Geoff and Jane.     We also got to sleep in a bed in a house!!    First time in 135 days.  

Day 136-137 – Oxenford and Guanaba

After heading back from The Gap the next two days were spent around Oxenford, Pimpama and Guanaba catching up on laundry, getting my haircut (yeeha), having the electronics on the car for the new van sorted and the best of all catching up with our long time friend (no not our old friend) Lorraine Mathieson.

What a great night we had with Lorraine dining at hers, swapping what we have been doing over the last 20 odd years, catching up on kids, grandkids, work, births, deaths and marriages.   Her quick wit has not changed, and George and she just slotted into bouncing off each other as they always did.  I certainly hope it is not another 20 years before we see her again.

Day 138 – Hinze Dam

Another catch up day with friends who once resided in Ulladulla.     Pat Collins and her two daughters, Vanessa and Rebecca.  Pat and I were work colleagues for about 15 years, her daughter Bec use to mind Jayden occasionally for me when he was a baby and I watch both her daughters Vanessa and Bec grown threw primary and high school.

Pat chose Hinze Dam as our lunch catch up and what a beautiful spot.   

We spent about 2 ½ hours catching up on each other’s lives since Pat and the girls left Ulladulla.   We really enjoyed our time with them, and it went by so quickly.

After getting back to our van, the owner had let the cattle into the paddock through which we travelled to and from the road.   Not a problem says George, of course we can open and shut the gate each time we leave and came back as one would do when on a property.    However, one forget to mention the bloody big bull with horns in the paddock and of course, George did most of the driving and I was the one that had to get in and out of the car to open and close the gate.      I am sure that bull lined me up every time!!

Day 139 – Springbrook – Mudgerabah – Nerang

We set off early this morning for a drive to the Natural Bridge and Glow Worm cave in the Springbrook National Park.   It was a short walk in and out of about 1.1klm round trip.   Well didn’t I have a grumpy faced George having to walk that far.   Really, he is such a sook.   It turned out to be a beautiful walk both in and out and not very stressful at all.

We took a further drive up the mountain to find a lookout which was on Wikicamps.    Luckily, George realised we were getting close to the Queensland/NSW border which had we ventured into Murwillumbah we would have had to wait three days to get a pass to go back into Queensland.   So, a quick U turn was made.   I was that close to NSW it felt weird to turn around and go back because of COVID rules.

We then headed into Springbrook for a coffee stop before heading down the mountain to Nerang for lunch with my sister Helen, her husband Terry and niece Julie.    

We had a lovely lunch and was nice to see both Helen and Terry looking well, especially Helen who has battled some health issues over the last couple of years.         Thanks, Julie, for fronting up again, you must be my favourite niece now!!   Sorry Deb.

Day 140 – A fond farewell

What a hot day.     Up until now the weather has been mild, warm but pleasant.  Nope not today.    I made George dragthe generator out as we were living off the grid so that we could fire up the air conditioner.       Mumble, grumble and with some grunting and wheezing away the generator went, and we managed to have some relief from the heat until we went out to explore Southport, the Fox and Hound for afternoon drinks and dinner with Jason and family at the Thai Restaurant in Upper Coomera.

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We bid them farewell tonight hoping that we will seem them all in the next couple of years.   The kids have already grown since we saw them in December last year.    

So that is it for another week.   We are heading south Monday back into New South Wales.  Will have to catch up on NSW COVID-19 rules.     

We have more friends to catch up with before heading further south into Victoria.   Have plans to stop in northern NSW for awhile before heading down to the boys in Victoria.

We are both well, safe and happy little (not as little as when we left) campers.    We love the new van, travelling, catching up with people we haven’t seen for so long and meeting new people.    It is so good for the sole, can’t image anything will replace that feeling of being free of the routine, stress and household chores.      It takes less than 15 minutes to make the bed, washup, sweep, clean the bathroom and be out the door.    

Hoping you are all well, counting down the days to Christmas, being allowed to visit family and friends freely and enjoy that wonderful Christmas break.

Love to all.   See you in NSW/VIC sometime soon.