13 - 25 October - Iluka to Hawks Nest

We have settled into Iluka but it has been very hot and windy today. We went for a walk to the seafood coop in the morning, along the path near the water. Lovely scenery and walk. It blew a gale all day and we ended up taking the awning down in the afternoon. Very hot (for us anyway) - our new weather station confirmed 32 outside, 31 inside. The van rocked and rolled, and two ducks took refuge under the back of the van. At 5.30 we went back to the coop and bought fish and chips for dinner. There are three bunnies that live at this park and they hop around all day in and out of various sites.

On Wednesday the wind started up again mid morning.

We went for a drive to MacLean – the Scottish town of Australia. They have 200 poles with Scottish tartans painted onto them. We round the Robertson and Macfarlane ones and took a photo.

Into Brooms Head, checked out the caravan park –it goes right along the beach, with lots of tents. Then into Yamba and had lunch and did some shopping. Lots of houses for rent here; it is a real tourist haven. The wind blew like mad all afternoon and stopped finally about 6pm. There are big fires at Brooms Head tonight.

Thursday the wind dropped away and everything is real calm. I went for a walk along the walkway, Ian resorted the van’s boots. After lunch we went into Yamba on the ferry, walked around Yamba then back on the ferry. No wind this afternoon it is calm and quiet. Lovely. Bbq dinner on the bbq near our site. Fires at Brooms Head are under control, but there is smoke all around mixed with the dust haze.

The fires at Brooms head flared again overnight and the campers were evacuated.

Saturday we packed up and drove to South West Rocks. Tried the Horseshoe Bay caravan park but it looked crowded and with small sites so we left there and went to South West Rocks tourist park, picked a site down the back under the trees, not many vans around and it faces onto a creek. Its a bit of a hike to the amenities but the walk will be good for us.

Over the next few days we visited the various tourist attractions. One day it was Trial Bay gaol which was built to house the prisoners while they built a breakwater – they weren’t successful after 17 years and the gaol was closed. Opened again in WW1 to house internees. Then closed again to rot away with the weather. We shopped of course, We went for walks along the beach.

We found the wrecks of the three former Sydney ferries on the beach and in the water. They were beached in 1972 while under tow to the Philipines. Hard to believe it was only that long ago. The Kalang and Koondooloo were built as car ferries prior to the Harbour Bridge. When it opened, Kalang, after a number of variations, became the Sydney Queen showboat. Koondooloo was moved to Newcastle to ferry traffic across the Hunter. Meanwhile, the Lurgurena was built for use in Hobart, then moved to Newcastle. When no longer needed, they were sold off. For many years they have been covered by water and sand, but a storm in Aug 09 uncovered their remains.

It is still a bit windy and cool at night outside, but the days are lovely. I read another book.

We visited the maritime museum at South West Rocks. Wednesday we drove to Hat Head and then into Kempsey for lunch. Smaller than we thought and spread out quite a bit into east, west, south, north Kempsey. Took the car to Toyota for 5000 oil change and waited while they did it.

Thursday we packed and moved onto Hawks Nest for a week. No more long walks to the loo. Decided to stay at Hawks nest cp rather than Jimmy’s as the write up for Jimmy’s was a bit suss. They gave us a grassy site on request and we changed it after looking at it under the tree. There are lots of holiday vans in the park but well kept and spread around the edges of the park. In the afternoon we went for a drive – glad we stayed where we did as Jimmy’s is crowded and lots of holiday vans that are not well kept. That evening we went into Tea Gardens pub for dinner. Met a couple who used to live in Canberra and have retired to Tea Gardens. After dinner went for a walk along the water then home. We can hear the surf from our van when it is quiet.

More walks along the beach, the life savers closed the surfers beach because of a shark siting - we wont be going for a swim in that water. Sunday it rained most of the day, Ian watched the car races and I read some more books.

2-12 October, Gympie - Brisbane

We arrived in Gympie early in the afternoon on Friday. The road into Gympie wasn’t too bad, bit rock & rolly. there was lots of road works near the Caravan park and the address in molly (GPS) wasnt the right one. After we set up we went into the info centre, drove around the streets, lovely old Queenslanders, very very hilly. Over the next few days we went for a drive around Imbil, - Kenilworth to cheese factory, and the other smaller villages around there. We called into the Mary River "Stop the dam" protest information centre and bought a sticker for the car and got a copy of the protest letters to stop the dam. It doesnt make sense to build a dam where they plan to. One afternoon we met up with a couple that we met on the forum and had coffee at their home.

Another day we went on the valley rattler. Wonderful old train, goes from Gympie to Imbil, stopping at Kandanga for some small markets, then to Imbil for 2 hours, where we had lunch and they had more markets. On the way back the train stopped at Dagan and there was wine and cheese tasting, bought some chocolate port and mango slush.

Monday we left for Brisbane and arrived at Morse's place 12 ish, and put the van up the side of their house then spent the afternoon with her. Russ came home from work and we had champagne before going to Scott’s.

Ian’s birthday Tuesday. We visited Scott’s new house and viewed from the outside. Jordie and Lachie came after school to help celebrate Ian's birthday; Jordan is nearly as tall as Ian now.

Wednesday we visited Ann and Harrison. A little fatty he is and a beautiful boy. And Annie is a natural born 'Mum'. Thursday evening we went into South Bank to a Turkish restaurant and met with Jane and Jason for dinner, then went for a walk around South Bank. It has changed since we were there last.

Shopping day on Friday with Karen, Emma, Matthew, Moureen and we went to North Lakes. Ian went for a massage at Albany Creek. Lovely day, Morse and Karen know where the bargains are.

On Satuday Scott picked the boys up to spend the day with us. We went to Brett’s Wharf and onto the city cat to South Bank. Had lunch then a walk around, although the guys made sure we missed the markets that were set up. Back on the city cat and to New Farm Park. What a great park, it also has a banyan tree like Maryborough, but much bigger and with walkways built around for the kids to climb on, plus a big rope puzzle for climbing. There were lots of people in the park, playing drums, hurling, soccer, and having parties. Late afternoon we jumped on the city cat, back to the car at Brett’s wharf and home. Curry night tonight and Moureen and Russell came over. Lovely night, we all ate and drank too much.

Gael and I went back to North Lakes to change some of Scott's birthday present. The lady was very vocal about my having destroyed the shirts by taking the price tag off them. It rained today and they really need it here. Scott and Ian watched the Bathurst race while we went shopping.

Monday we got up early to say goodbye to Scott and co, 6:45am - yawn. We packed the car with all our stuff and went to Morse to get the van. Coffee and cake with Morse and left Brissie time 9:45, (NSW time 10:45), stopping for lunch at Ballina. The road out of Brisbane was good via the gateway. Into Iluka and picked out our site on the water. We had some trouble parking as there was a shed opposite which wouldn’t allow Ian to swing properly. Power finally on at 4.00 NSW time. Bit windy here, so Ian has tied the awning down securely. Light dinner as we have done nothing but eat and drink all week. We met a couple here that we were next to at Agnes Waters and had drinks with them beside the water, they are leaving tomorrow.