I pulled up stumps at the Mullumbimby Rugby Leagues Club campground pretty early Friday morning. I would definitely go back there if I needed a stop over - either short or long. A top spot right on the Brunswick River. I left the car and van parked behind the club rooms and hitched a lift with Karen to the local markets. We browsed the stalls listening to three excellent musicians performing in different areas of the showground location and soaked up the somewhat grungy organic/sustainable/alternative/hippy atmosphere. You'd go broke if you were a hair dresser in this neck of the woods! We then found a spot to park beside the Mullumbimby Creek and took James and Ellie for a walk, ending up doing a loop of the town which promotes itself as "The Biggest Little Town in Australia". It has heaps of character and judging by the prices of houses in the real estate windows is quite well sought after.
It was sad to bid Karen farewell. It wouldn't be for long though. She is going to head back to Melbourne when her house sitting stint is over at the end of June, sort out a few things, hook up her van and meet me somewhere in Queensland - wherever I might be - and travel with me for a few months. I'm looking forward to that - it will be a hoot!
The short 115 km run to my daughter Shelley's place in Canungra, Qld took just under a couple of hours and I arrived at two. I hadn't seen her for almost a year, so very exciting to catch up and meet the new addition to the family, a cavvy/jack russell cross puppy named Chibi. He's so cute. James, however, did not think so, nor was he happy being near the cat either. Probably understandable given Boston is bigger than he is! While Shell went to pick my grandson Lachy up from school I unhooked the van and set up for my two week stay in front of her saddlery workshop overlooking the lovely gardens of her and partner Adam's small acreage.
Lachy, now 10, had certainly grown up since I had last seen him. He was very keen to show me how his new flying fox worked, how fast he could speed down the hill on his go-cart, somersaults on the trampoline and his latest project, a bunker he was digging out. Such a gorgeous, energetic, enthusiastic and creative young man! I'm very proud of him. That evening we enjoyed a family dinner at the local pub to celebrate Shelley's 44th birthday.
A weekend of housework (caravan work?) followed. It was actually quite cathartic to give the van and jeep a thorough clean and do my first loads of washing in over two weeks. The car in particular was disgusting, the interior covered in James' hair. I engaged Adam's help to clear the partially blocked drain in the kitchen sink. He blasted it with high pressure air, which appeared to help. It was pretty funny when some time later I opened the door to the shower/toilet only to find the entire cubicle covered in coffee grounds. It seems the blockage exited at the nearest point, which unfortunately was not the pipe coming out under the van. Mmmm...a couple of obvious lessons learned there.
Sunday arvo I made a lovely big fire by the van. In the warm sunshine Shell and I sat and chatted, watching Lachy and the neighborhood kids playing on the flying fox. What a life!
Shelley and Adam's property is located on the lower, west-facing slopes of Tamborine Mountain, a very touristy spot with amazing views out over the Gold Coast and the hinterland. There is a beautiful golf course on the mountain, so I made inquiries and found ladies comp day was Tuesday....and I was welcome to play. Fantastic! I joined the group of about 15 delightful and friendly women, teeing off around 8 am in stunning weather. The pretty 9 hole course (18 composite) is very lush and well maintained but very hilly, sloping up and down as well as side to side. I found it challenging after spending the past five years playing the relatively flat Murray River courses of home. I did have a little luck though winning Nearest the Pin.
It was sad to bid Karen farewell. It wouldn't be for long though. She is going to head back to Melbourne when her house sitting stint is over at the end of June, sort out a few things, hook up her van and meet me somewhere in Queensland - wherever I might be - and travel with me for a few months. I'm looking forward to that - it will be a hoot!
The short 115 km run to my daughter Shelley's place in Canungra, Qld took just under a couple of hours and I arrived at two. I hadn't seen her for almost a year, so very exciting to catch up and meet the new addition to the family, a cavvy/jack russell cross puppy named Chibi. He's so cute. James, however, did not think so, nor was he happy being near the cat either. Probably understandable given Boston is bigger than he is! While Shell went to pick my grandson Lachy up from school I unhooked the van and set up for my two week stay in front of her saddlery workshop overlooking the lovely gardens of her and partner Adam's small acreage.
A weekend of housework (caravan work?) followed. It was actually quite cathartic to give the van and jeep a thorough clean and do my first loads of washing in over two weeks. The car in particular was disgusting, the interior covered in James' hair. I engaged Adam's help to clear the partially blocked drain in the kitchen sink. He blasted it with high pressure air, which appeared to help. It was pretty funny when some time later I opened the door to the shower/toilet only to find the entire cubicle covered in coffee grounds. It seems the blockage exited at the nearest point, which unfortunately was not the pipe coming out under the van. Mmmm...a couple of obvious lessons learned there.
Sunday arvo I made a lovely big fire by the van. In the warm sunshine Shell and I sat and chatted, watching Lachy and the neighborhood kids playing on the flying fox. What a life!
Shelley and Adam's property is located on the lower, west-facing slopes of Tamborine Mountain, a very touristy spot with amazing views out over the Gold Coast and the hinterland. There is a beautiful golf course on the mountain, so I made inquiries and found ladies comp day was Tuesday....and I was welcome to play. Fantastic! I joined the group of about 15 delightful and friendly women, teeing off around 8 am in stunning weather. The pretty 9 hole course (18 composite) is very lush and well maintained but very hilly, sloping up and down as well as side to side. I found it challenging after spending the past five years playing the relatively flat Murray River courses of home. I did have a little luck though winning Nearest the Pin.
I stopped on the way home to take a photo of the view from the top of the hill above Shell and Adam's place.
Over the next few days I tended to some outstanding business which included a trip to the dentist (with a follow-up booked for Monday) and a visit to the optometrist. Thank goodness for private health cover....a new pair of specs and two fillings would not send me totally broke! Thursday morning James and I headed west for a picturesque drive through the Scenic Rim to Aratula. Brian had been visiting his daughter in Yeppoon and was on his way back to Yarrawonga, so we met him en-route for brunch. James squealed with delight when he saw him. It will probably be quite some time before we see him again.
Friday was a delightful day in all respects. In 26 degree sunshine we explored the nearby tourist attractions. Hinze Dam, only half an hour away, was a great place for a long morning walk which took us through the bush and along the spillway wall. From there it was only 25 km down the road to the Springbrook National Park. A stunning drive through the Numinbah Valley toward Murwillumbah, the national park is part of the world heritage listed Gondwana Rainforest. It's a spectacular area of waterfalls, escarpments and rock formations. It would take a few days to see it all, so I opted for one relatively easily accessible site, The Natural Bridge. The circuit walk from the carpark takes a bit less than an hour on a well-formed track that meanders down into a valley through the sub-tropical rainforest that is millions of years old. The bridge itself forms a cave (that has glow worms in it) and a waterfall pours down through a hole in the rock to a pool below. Its just gorgeous.
In the afternoon I drove up the mountain to pick Lachy up after school. He was starving of course, and I wanted a photo of the view out to the coast, so to kill two birds with one stone we called into the Eagle Heights hotel. On the way I told Lachy about my morning adventures and he insisted we stop at Curtis Falls on the way home. He'd been there on a school excursion and was very excited at the prospect of showing it to me. His guided tour was fun. Another lovely spot to visit.
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