Friends and Family

Wednesday 20 August

Before we left our cabin we decided to take a walk to the beach. This proved to be a pleasant walk across the headland then over the dune system. Then we came out to a very long beach with some lovely piles of shells.

Once our steps were well on the way we drove out and continued south again. At Maryborough we missed the Tin Can Bay road ending up back on the highway. At Gympie we then turned east arriving at Helen's in Tin Can Bay around mid-afternoon.

It was great to see Helen again. She is living in a beautiful house. After a cuppa we had a lovely walk along the marina then around the bay.

Back home for chats and dinner then after some TV I collapsed into bed.

Thursday 21 August

Our first job today was a large load of washing. Then it was a day for doing our own thing. Kathy went out for the day with her friend Barry who lives in Caloola Cove. Helen and I went for a long walk to Crab Creek and back. We saw a whistling kite and nest and lots of other birds. It is a pleasant well-used path. On the way back we called in at the shopping centre and I actually bought some fabric at the craft shop.

Back at home we had a quiet day of talking patchwork and swapping ideas and inspirations. One thing new to me was 'waste canvas' for doing cross stitch on plain fabric.

Luckily I got the washing in by lunch time as the weather closed in during the afternoon and by the time Kathy and Barry arrived home it had started to drizzle.

We all went to the pub just across the road for a delicious dinner then called it a night after another chat.

Friday 22 August

It rained all night and was still raining when we got up at about 6am.

The weather cleared just a little for us to pack the car so we decided to take our chances and go down in Helen's car to watch the dolphin feeding at the boat ramp.

As it was still raining we went straight home to have a coffee to warm up then left Helen, doing some shopping before we left Tin Can Bay at about 9:30am.

We headed to Neusavale about an hour away to visit Surrey's cousin Sally and husband John. The rain was really set in! We arrived mid morning and after lunch had a quick tour of the farm in the rain – cattle, sheep, dogs (Harvey, Ishtah, and Moglie), chooks, geese, donkeys, a miniture pony and fruit trees and kangaroos.

It was great to catch up again and find out about the family and all the granchildren.

Rain, rain, rain accompanied our wonderful fish dinner but soon after I was ready for bed. I do hope we are not flooded in. It does tend to happen around Gympie.

Saturday 23 August

Rain, rain, rain – 30mm overnight.

Today we decided to all drive to Noosa to see the sea and the Noosa house.

John drove us all and it teamed. We went down via a lot of “scenic routes” but could not see a lot with the low cloud and heavy rain.

Back for lunch then spent a while discussing shed construction.

Dinner was pizza cooked in John's special galley. It was like going to Underhill without the two hour drive down then back again. It was wonderful.

Once we had returned to the house Sally, Kathy and I played Take Two before bed. In all a wonderful day despite all the rain.

Sunday 24 August

It was fine when we got up this morning so after breakfast we said our goodbyes to Sally and John and headed for Yandina.

We arrived at Nutworks just as they were opening and, at last, I was able to buy some Macadamia chips (pieces). I'd been looking for them for years. Then we went over to the Ginger Factory and I found factory seconds of ginger pieces for jam making.

We enjoyed a bit of a wander there and had morning tea before heading on the Maleny. A quick stop in the rain for milk and other supplies then on to Kilcoy, where it is fine, in time for lunch.

The afternoon was spent unloading, sorting, washing then repacking my things to see if they fit.

Overall our North Queensland holiday of 32 days cost us less than $5000 total and took us 5700km from Kilcoy to Kilcoy.