10 - Wet, Wet, Wet

Good heavens, did we do something to upset "Huey the Rain God"!

Our camping spot has been awash for a fair part of our third week here at Hervey Bay. What a shocker!!!!!!!!!


We did have campers coming and going, however the weather up north was no better than what it is here.



We spent a lot of time just sitting and sitting, and anxiously waiting for the water to reach the floor of the van. Luckily the tap was turned off. Me and the bride have become experts at board games like, Dumb Ass & Smart Ass. Some of the card games also were very interesting. I also honed my pool skills.



Definitely over this rain thing and you watch it, come Wednesday when we return to do that gig in Brissy, it will be just fine and dandy.

Hope you enjoyed the photies, and stay toooooooned for the next installment.

09 - Another Week in Hervey Bay

Taking advantage of some nice weather, we ventured out from our camp spot, to do a bit of sight seeing. Although as we have said before, spent a few years around the Bay & Fraser Island, we went down memory lane on a glorious day. This first photo once you double click on is Big Woody island in the foreground with Fraser Island behind.


So why not walk the historical Urangan Jetty, all 800 plus meters of it. Taking a few photos you will see how long the jetty is, and a photo telling the history of this wharf.



More photos were taken from the end of the wharf looking back to the main land. I assure you a lot of that development was not there during our years from 94 to 98.



There are also some great shots in the Urangan Boat Harbour. A busy little port this one, and of course all the operators are gearing up for whale season.


When we worked on Fraser Island, one of our favourite boats was Kingfisher 1. Backward and forth from the island, this work horse did about 5 services a day. However in saying that, Kingfisher 2 came on line around 1996, and took over from Kingfisher 1. Kingfisher 2 a much bigger boat, became the work horse, with Kingfisher 1 specializing in Whale Watch, and a back up to Kingfisher 2 when 1 fell over.


Another photo which means nothing to anybody, the sign about “The Take Away”, was a haven for our son Michael while we lived on the island. Going to school daily on the mainland, this take away was Micheals' favourite hang out, till catching the 4pm service back to the island. At times he missed the 4pm service back to the mainland, so why not enjoy the goodies, while waiting for the 7pm service. Many a bill was thrusted in our face when we visited the mainland…….I think I am still paying it off!!!!!!! Na………. just joke’n. These folks in the takeaway were excellent to the kids who commuted every day, and we all knew they were being watched over and fed till the next service.



Our son Michael will get a laugh out of that one.

Stay toooooooned for more soooooooon

08 - Hervey Bay Leg - July 2008

Sunlover Retreat Recreation Room

We arrived in Hervey Bay at Sunlovers Retreat, just as the weather was starting to close in. As in previous posts we are here till end July before heading back to Brissy for a gig.

We had initial plans several months ago, to wander up the coast, say to the Whitsunday’s, then fly back to Brissy end of July. However when we weighed up the cost of fuel, then the airfares to and from the Whitsunday’s’, was just all too hard and expensive. So the better option was to stay in the Bay and just veggie out.

Hervey Bay is not new to us. Apart from being at Sunlovers Retreat, for a week last January & again at Easter, we just like the joint. Our familiarity is also enhanced by the fact we lived on Fraser Island, from ’94 till ’98, and during that time the Bay was a small coastal country town, basically Gods’ waiting room. We used to come off the island to do some shopping or just be a couple of tourists for the day. You know go to the pub, catch a movie, and of course had to feed the brides addiction of shopping. Of course while on the island, took advantage of four wheel driving and whale watching.


Of course we all move on, and after an absence of 10 years we came back in January ‘08, and man o’ man, what a culture shock! Shopping centers, development, high-rise, traffic lights, road construction, jet airport and the list goes on. Population wise it is one, of the fastest growing towns on the east coast….but still very evident of Gods’ waiting room.


Sunlovers Retreat Pool & Spa

But luckily Sunlovers Retreat being a naturist retreat, we feel we are a million miles away from the population squeeze. We also had intentions of doing the Fraser Island tours and whale watching again, but all in all, been there done that, ten years ago. Sooner save the bucks and do something different once we come back from Brissy 1st of September.

So what have we been doing.......not much really? We have taken the advantage of some early not so good weather, to stock up the RetroLiner and just do nothing. During the fine spells just soaking up the winter sun and working on the all over tan, and just recharging the batteries. From now till the end of July we will be doing much of the same, so our blog will stay a little quiet unless something exciting happens, or when we get to Brissy.

So as usual stay toooooooooned


Our camp spot

07 - Bribie Island / Rainbow Beach

Wendy, Paul & Geraldine

Venture forth straight onto the beach in the Krooooooozer, we found a magnificent spot, where we made camp, and just lazed in the sun, fed our bellies, in our little part of private paradise. Peter tried a bit of fishing, but has about as much patience as me, and lasted about 10 minutes.

A perfect day at Bribie Island
Of course like all things the day started to come to an end, quicker than we all wanted it to….so as it happens, we broke camp and headed to Pete & Geraldine’s house at Bribie for a nice hot spa. Then the pizzas were made and settled in for a big night of State of Origin rugby league. Yes much shouting and cheering, and of course Queensland won the game and the series, much to my bride’s disgust who was and always does barrack for NSW……….traitor. However after two days we were already exhausted…..but so much fun was to be had….but it was time to move forth to our next stop, Rainbow Beach.


Having not being there before, so why not! Now not being a great lover of packed caravan parks, we sure did find one. “We now have a full house” was the greeting! We were directed to our site and progressively squeezed into a spot where we had a Britz Campervan not a meter from our drivers side of the van, and maybe only two or three meters from the other side, were move vans. The decision was then made that an overnight stay was about all we could handle in this environment. Yes the park was picturese, with the beach across the road. The amenitities were spotlessly clean, and all the visitors within our proximity were very friendly and helpful. We did notice that like all these parks, they are a haven of many who go to the same place from year to year, and all meet up year after a year. That’s cool, but we like the challenges of doing something different, and meeting new folks. I have no doubt this park would not be so crowded, out of season, when all the grey nomads return to their southern homes.


We went for a quick walk around the village, and although not large area, it was evident of a lot of building in the way of two storey apartment style complexes. It seems to me that the park we stayed in was being slowly eaten up by development, and I believe the park will no longer exist after the next five years. The park is actually surrounded on three sides by development and work in progress. It is a little off putting to hear first thing in the morning, cranes and the drone of construction. Naaaaaa time to move on!


But I will mention the Rainbow Beach Surf Club. This establishment provided us with a sensational evening meal at a good price. Highly recommended!!!!!!!


We had intentions of staying at Rainbow Beach for two days, and then head to Poona for a couple more, before arriving at our special camping area at Hervey Bay. As the weather was starting to change, we moved our plans forward and headed to Hervey Bay. This will be our home till the end of July, before heading back to Brisvegas for all of August to do a relief management gig.

More on Hervey Bay next episode.

06 - The Journey Begins

Yes all packed up and ready to go on our adventure of a life time. After a final goodbye to the owners of the motor inn we have been managing since March 2007, the mighty Mopar Muscle car and the RetroLiner was already to go.

Then it was done the highway to Bribie Island for the first of our two nights stay with our dear friends Peter & Geraldine. Arriving after an hour of traveling down the range, we met up with Pete & Ger and instantly celebrated our new freedom with a couple of quiet beers, a hot spa, more beers, a great Chinese feed, more red wine…..and you know how the rest of the story goes.

Waking the next day, and a little worse for wear, the day greeted us with picture perfect weather. A good brekky of healthy bacon and eggs, then it was time to load up Pete’s Kroooooozer for a trip down to the beach at Bribie Island. What was to greet us was a picture postcard scene of dazzling white sands, crystal smooth seas, and although being school holidays, hardly a soul to be seen.


Wendy, Peter & Geraldine