Thu 17th Jul.

Our first night at Broadwater and it was cool.
We did some shopping at Australia Fair, then on our way home we called into the NAB, to ask about the whereabouts of my Visacard.
Yippee, they had it, shock horror, I have my Visacard after 35 days. I am the first person NOT to hang shit on my former employer (NAB), BUT taking 35 days to replace my Visacard, is just plain crap customer service.

I setup the Sat TV and this time I realised that the LNB was in the wrong position. Shit happens to me again.

Fri 18th Jul.

Another cool night, but at least the days are warm and fine.
We did some shopping at Pacific Fair, and believe it or not, it has not changed since we were here in May.
The rest of the day was washing day. I am also trying to track down one of my mates who I sailed with and against in my younger years.

Luke came around to visit us after work.

Sat 19th Jul.

Another cool night, but at least the days are warm and fine.
We went to Luke and Jay's house about 10am, as Luke wanted the truck to pick up a new bedside table. Oh, it's good to wanted.
During the day, I walked around the caravan park and take some photos, I also went to the boat ramp, where there was a flock of pelicans waiting for the fisherman to throw them some scraps.
We were invited around to the boys for dinner, it was homemade mini pizzas. yumma.... Nearly as good as Marg's.
Jay is deeply involved in a new cycling computer game.
The weather is fine and sunny and about 24.

Sun 20th Jul.

Another cool night, but at least the days are warm and fine.
Marg has decided to make a wind spinner thingy (Photos to follow.)
Sunday morning about 9am, we went to Carrara Markets to buy the materials Marg needs for her new project.
The rest of the day was stressless and relaxing.
I watched the V8 Supercars on TV.

I am still recording the 6pm SBS Tour de France highlights on my laptop.
The weather is fine and sunny and about 24.

Mon 21st Jul.

Another cool night, but at least the days are warm and fine.
I wore tracky pants and top this morning, as it was cold, but by 10ish, I was back in shorts and t shirts again. Off to Pacific Fair for a coffee press but so far no luck. Marg wants a plastic barrel not a glass one, these are as scarce as hen's teeth. As I was studying the shopping centre info map, an old lady asked if I could help her (no, it wasn't Marg). She couldn't see the top of the map, so I used my disability of being tall and helped her. After a cold start, the weather is fine and sunny and low 20s.

Tue 22nd Jul.

Another cool night, but at least the days are warm and fine, well, they were.
Marg has a new found hobby called Lapidary, so today we went to Thunderbird Park at Tamborine in the Gold Coast hinterland. It was about 30kms from camp, up in the mountains and the views were superb. We will go back on a fine day and take heaps of photos. We arrived at Thunderbird Park and parted with $46 for a mining permit each and away we went, looking for Thunder Eggs. The mine was just a rock and clay face which you attacked with a pick, you were also given a bucket to put all your rocks in. It was bloody hard work, the ground was very firm and hurt my poor, delicate hands. Marg found a specimen and I spent an hour trying to free it. See photos. We got back to camp and were buggered. The weather is cool, damp and not nice.

Wed 23rd Jul.

It was cold and wet.
Marg is feeling a tad ratshit, she maybe getting a cold, so today was spent on the computers and watching TV.
We did goto Centro Shopping centre for some supplies, then when we got back to camp, Marg had a sleep and I watched the DVD The Firm by John Grisham.
I am re-reading all John Grisham's books, so far, I have read A Time to Kill and the Firm, next is The Pelican Brief. I usually watch the DVD of the book that I just finished. The weather is cold, wet and sucks.

Thu 24th Jul.

Ok. enough is enough, I am now officially over this rain. It now sucks big time.
It is 9am and so far it hasn't stopped raining all night, I am warm in the van with a little blow heater on and Marg is still asleep in bed. She looks so warm in bed, that I may have to join her. Nudge, nudge say no more.

Just to keep Simon P happy, pie count is quite a few and the doughnut count is even more. Consequently, my weight has not decreased on this trip.
I am having trouble with Broadwater TP's free WiFi Internet connection and that is why the photos are a bit tardy, uploading.
Well, I'm back, that idea of joining Marg, didn't last long.
The day went from awful to bloody awful, the breeze and rain continued all day and most of the night. I had to roll up the awning as the breeze was too strong and I would have worried about it all night.

Tomorrow can only get better.

Fri 25 Jul.

The rain is easing.
I don't think that I told you, my brake controller started displaying E.r, Marg naturally said that stood for Everythings right. I emailed the manufacturer in USA, who told me that I should take it back to the dealer that I bought it from. Only problem is I am over 3,000kms from my dealer. So emailed the yank again to find the Australian distributor, happens to be in Dandenong, Vic about 15kms from home, only problem is I am in Queensland. I sent an email to the Australian Distributor, who gives me a contact opposite the Brisbane airport, I ring him and book in the car for today at noon.
About 10am Marg and I leave, I drop Marg off at the Broadbeach casino for some relaxation on the pokies, while I drive to Brisbane. Arrived at the towbar specialist and he tests everything and re-wires some of the wires. In the end everything is now testing correctly, they don't charge me anything, so I gave the guy $20 for a beer.

Coming home is when the fun started. I am heading south on the Gateway, which is Brisbane's main highway to the Gold Coast, it starts to slow down and then stop and start. I switch on my UHF radio and listen to the truckies, I find out that a couple of kms in front of me, a B Double truck has run into the back of another truck and that the road is completely blocked. This is great news on a Friday afternoon about 1:30pm. I have my great friend TomTom the GPS navigator with me, so I manage to exit the Gateway and start touring through Mt Gravatt and other places that I normally wouldn't visit. Thank God for TomTom, he got me back onto the Gateway after the crash and away I went. h6

As I approached Surfers, I rang Marg who at this stage has left the casino and walked over the road to Pacific Fair, to do some shopping, so I arrange to meet her there for a late lunch, which we do.
Leave Pac Fair and fill up the mighty Navara with diesel, another record $124.52 to fill it up. (69.99litres at 177.9c)
The weather is improving the clouds parted and the sun came out in patches. It was good to see it again.
Broadwater TP's free WiFi Internet connection is not working today. I don't want to use my Internet to upload photos when I can use the free one, if it works.

Sat 26th Jul.

Very cold night, but woke up to brilliant sunshine. Well actually, cloudless sky, because at 6:30am it is still dark.
While Marg slept, I setup the awning again, did some washing and put the heater on to warm the van. It was 10.2 inside when I got up and went and showered, but 3 outside. I met Garry Dryden on his way to the dump point and chatted for a couple of minutes. We are the centre of the universe located next to the Dump Point (this is where you empty your shitter).
Marg surfaced about 9:30 and didn't hear any of my working.
We are off to Centro shortly to buy Marg some clothes and I need some food. Tonight we are supposedly having dinner with the boys at Varsity Lakes pub, but we haven't heard from them yet. Luke did go to the Rugby last night, so I don't expect him to be to fit today. We will see.

The boys rang and we took the boys out for dinner and it was a nice family affair.
The Broadwater TP free WiFi is still unavailable, my photos to be uploaded are increasing in number.

Sun 27th Jul.

Another cold night, but it was cloudy today with the sun breaking through now and again.
After last night's dinner, we invited the boys around for dinner tonight. Marg is cooking homemade pasties, the cooking process is taking a lot longer then it usually does at home. You can only fit 7 pasties in the microwave and they take an hour to cook, instead of 30 minutes and 3 trays in our home oven. But Marg persisted and eventually fed us all. We have decided that the van is too small to cook for the 4 of us in future, so we will go out instead, less mess.
I stuffed up taping the 20th stage highlights of the Tour de France. Not bloody happy at all. Cadel and his team just were not good enough.
We went to bed early and watched Rove in bed, his interview with HG was very good.
I set my laptop to record CSI Miami and 2 CSI NYs and then 3 hours of Live Tour de France.
I did wake to the sound of rain overnight.
The Broadwater TP free WiFi is still unavailable, my photos to be uploaded are increasing in number.

Mon 28th Jul.

This is a regular occurence now, it is cold at night, I am using my sleeping bag, so I am as warm as toast.
Over the past week, we have ordered a centipede from the USA for our grey water pipe to lay on, also ordered a set of steak knives from Sydney, as well as an altimeter from deal Direct. The joy of the Internet.
Well, the centipede from USA arrived first last Thursday, Marg has been tracking the altimeter and noticed that it was delivered to Broadwater Tourist park on Thursday but then returned to the Australia Post Distribution Centre, just up the road from the Treasure Island CP in Harbourtown. So today was investigation day, we drove to the Distribution Centre and was told that it was returned from Broadwater CP because the office did know that Marg Frost was staying there. We are booked in under my name.
Next we were off to Burleigh Heads Truck shop, I want to buy a DO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLE sign, they don't have any and don't know where to buy one. Looks like I will buy one from the Internet.

I don't know if you have heard on the news that today the truckies are stopping deliveries as a strike over the increasing price of diesel, so we are off to Centro Shopping centre to panic buy some food. I bought 4 cans of food and a large packet of Weet Bix.

Back at camp, the knives have arrived and Marg is on the internet sorting out the altimeter stuff up. All sorted, so we went to the Office and informed them that Marg is actually staying with me and that we are expecting a parcel again and don't bloody well return it.
The weather this morning was overcast with the sun peeking through the clouds, now it is fully overcast and we are expecting showers with an afternoon thunderstorm.

The Broadwater TP free WiFi is still unavailable, my photos to be uploaded are increasing in number.

Tue 29th Jul.

It is still cold at night.
Up bright eyed and bushy tailled, I tried the free WiFi and it worked, yippee, so I immediately started uploading photos to my photobucket account, until I used the space limit.
We went to Helensvale shopping centre today, to buy some tablets and on the way, we called into Gibbs Truck spares and finally bought the DO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLE sign. Now the drama starts, why is the legally correct position to place the sign. It is becoming bigger than Ben Hur. I have been on the caravan forums trying to get some guidance on the placement of the sign. I am still confused whrer to place it.
It appears that my panic buying yesterday was in vain, as the shopping centres are not running short on supplies at all.

I spent most of the afternoon in the sun, reading wait for it The Pelican Brief - John Grisham, my obsession with Pelicans continues.

Big News: Marg and I extended our stay here by another week, we are now leaving Broadwater on Wed 13th Aug and expect to arrive home on Sunday 24th Aug, so please keep the Welcome Home crowd to a minimum.

Wed 30th Jul.

It is still cold at night.
The WiFi is up and going, so I uploaded more photos. Nearly finished, only 4 folders left to upload.
We went to Robina Shopping Centre today, as Luke wanted 3 stable tables and we haven't been to Robina since May, so it may have changed and we needed to see if it had.
Mid afternoon, I walked down to the boat launching ramp on the north side of the caravan park to watch the Pelicans, I counted a max of 23 of them just basking in the sun, it was probably in the low 20s.
Tomorrow I will go back there, to take more photos, they are so beautiful.

Thu 31st Jul. - Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

It is still cold at night.
The WiFi is up and going, so I uploaded the remainder of my photos.
If I haven't told you lately, the weather has fined up, it is now sunny, no clouds and low 20s for the past couple of days.eg Tomorrow is meant to be sunny and 25.
Mid morning, Marg and I left camp and went to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, it was lovely, different in its own way to Australia Zoo and Billalbong in Townsville. My highlight was the 2 Wedge Tail Eagles, they were in an open enclosure without a roof, after reading the plaque, it turns out that these 2 Eagles had both been victims of road accidents, and had been rescued and now can't fly, so they have been at Currumbin for the past 2 years and they are very spectacular. I also loved the miniature train ride around the park.

As I said earlier, tomorrow's weather in going to be 25 and sunny, I know it's hard to put up with this crap weather, but again, Marg and I will do for the team.
Saturday is meant to be better, so Marg and I are off to Seaworld and I believe that our 2 little boys will be joining us.

I visited the pelicans this afternoon at the boat ramp and took some more photos.

Fri 1st Aug.

Another perfect day in paradise, after a cool night.
I dropped Marg at the Casino and then continued onto Johnnos for a catch up and coffee. I hadn't seen Johnno since we were here in May. Picked Marg up from the casino and we went over to Pacific Fair to have lunch. Marg had to buy some more supplies, as she is going to build another Wind spinning thingy. Spent the afternoon just relaxing in the beautiful sunshine.
After dinner we watch the RV movie starring Robin Williams, a top movie, especiallly emptying the shitter scene was excellent.
Tomorrow we are off to Seaworld with our little boys.

Sat 2nd Aug.

Another perfect day in paradise, after a cool night.
Luke arrived about 9am without Jay. Jay wasn't upto joining us for Seaworld, as Damo had arrived yesterday from Melbourne for the weekend and the boys had been out on the turps.
Marg, Luke and I arrived at Seaworld at 10am, opening time and after parting with $207 ($69 each) we went inside.
First show to see was the Dolphins, this was very good, there were 7 dolphins doing various tricks.
Second show were the seals, this was to a theme of cops and robbers and was very disappointing, there were only 2 seals and the highlight was the guest appearance of George the pelican. Third show was the waterskiing show and this was set to a 50s theme and not bad, but the dolphins were by far the best.
The highlights were the Polar Bears, the Shark bay area which included heaps of tropical fish, the various dolphins, the 20+ pelicans in the Seabird rehabilitation centre and the penguins. We left about 1pm and Luke stayed for lunch back at camp.
During the afternoon I watched the V8 Supercars which were at Winton, Vic.

Sun 3rd Aug.

Another perfect day in paradise, after a cool night. It is still true, every morning I get up to a cloudless sky and brilliant sunshine.
It's Jay's birthday tomorrow, so today, Marg and I are off to Hardly Normal to buy a camera bag and to find an ice cream cake for Jay. We are calling in at the boys' house to get a copy of the photos that Luke took yesterday at Seaworld.
During the afternoon I watched the V8 Supercars which were at Winton, Vic.

Mon 4th Aug.
Happy 27th Birthday, Jay

Another perfect day in paradise, after a cool night. It is still true, each morning I get up to a cloudless sky and brilliant sunshine.
It's Jay's birthday today, he won't be home tonight, so Marg and I will be visiting him tomorrow night.
I rang Dorro this morning and went around to the Southport Yacht Club and had a coffee and a catch up, after all, we had not seen each other for 27 years. He has been living on a 50ft 1940 motor launch, he restored it over the past 5 years and it is absolutely beautiful.
We both decided that we have not changed over the time, except that I am fatter and have less hair. Oh yeah Dorro, you are also fatter and less hair. :)

During the afternoon, Marg and I went to Australia Fair to buy a book for Marg.

Tue 5th Aug.

Nearly another perfect day in paradise, after a cool night, it is verging on overcast, but the sun is casting a good shadow.
Marg and I did a large shop for Jay's party tonight. Well not really a party, there will Luke, Lisa, Jay, Marg and I at the boys' house for cake.
It is another terrible day sitting in the sun and reading. The Pelican Brief by John Grisham is getting interesting.
Arrived at the boys' house around 6:45pm, everyone was at home, we took an ice cream cake with us because Jay loves them and each birthday he gets one.

Wed 6th Aug.

Back to another perfect day in paradise, after a cool night, it is fine and sunny, no clouds and 22. Bloody hard to take.
Marg and I went back to Tambourine Mountain to take photos of the view in the Gold Coast Mountains and use our new toy, the altimeter, it maxed at 1,831ft above sea level. We had coffee and scones and jam at a cafe in the main street, which was a normal 2 storey house converted into a Cafe downstairs. We walked up and down the main street, it reminded me of Olinda in the Dandenongs, with all their arty and craft and eateries. There were lots of arty shops, we did buy another 4 Georges (pelicans) we are sick people. There were 2 Fudge shops, $20 later we had a bag full of fudge, consequently, last night I felt sick after pigging out on the fudge. (Why am I not losing any weight, stuffed if I know). Another interesting house specialised in German made Cuckoo clocks, we went in there for a look, they had all sorts of clocks ranging from absolutely magnificent Grandfather clocks costing $16,000 down to $50 clocks. It had several hundred clocks on display. You guessed it we left the shop with a Cuckoo clock that cuckoos on the hour and has a light sensor that stops the monster from cuckooing during the night. It is going to hang in the van, can you imagine what people will think when they hear a cuckoo clock cuckooing every hour in a Caravan park.
Now for something completely different, I sat in the sun and read my book during the afternoon.
Life is tough, but we have volunteed to do it for the team.

Thu 7th Aug.

Back to normal, another perfect day in paradise, after a cool night.
Marg and I went shopping at Pacific Fair for supplies for Marg's wind spinning thingies.
Spent the afternoon sitting in the sun and reading, then wandered down to see George and his mates, a bit disappointing only 10 of them there, as there were no fisherman cleaning fish, so only a small number of pelicans.

Drama in camp, Marg is making her wind spinning thingies and she has just dropped a tin of glitter everywhere. We are cleaning up at the moment.

Fri 8th Aug.

Another perfect day in paradise, after a cool night.
Today, I decided to hang the Cuckoo clock, 2 large prints and 4 small tropical fish in the van. Off to Bunnings to buy the goodies, dropped Marg off at the casino on the way back to camp. While she was WINNING I was drilling holes in the wall and bolting the prints and cuckoo on the walls. At 2pm, I picked Marg up and she won today, she also commented that the Casino was chockers today because it was 8/8/8, the Asians lucky numbers. Well it was lucky for her.
This is becoming boring to write, but I spent the afternoon sitting in the sun and reading, then wandered down to see George and his mates. There were 20 Georges standing and sitting around in the sun.

Sat 9th and Sun 10th Aug.

Both days were perfect days in paradise, after the normal cool nights.
Saturday
Marg is busy building her wind spinning thingies. I was very busy today also, I sat in front of the TV and watch the Olympic men's Road race.
The boys came around at 5:30pm and we went out to Hog's Breath cafe in Southport, just near the Marina and Yacht club, for dinner. We were home with an hour of the Raod race to go, so the boys stayed and watched it with us. It was a very nice family affair.

Sunday
Very similar to Saturday, but we did goto Pacific Fair in the morning to do some shopping, I needed food, which included a slab of VB and Marg needed more supplies for her wind spinning thingies.
I also watched the Women's Road race in the afvo. I am becoming a Norm from Life be in it fame, watching the Olympics on TV.
During the afternoon, when I went outside to get my daily Vitamin E fix (sit in the sun), I noticed George flying above me, so my next challenge is to take photos of George in flight.

Mon 11th Aug.

A beautiful sunny day but with a strong breeze, so it was cool in the wind and beautiful out of the wind.
Marg and I cleaned the inside of the van today, so I could take some photos.

I have outlined our route home.
Wednesday, we are stopping overnight at Casino because there is a Caravan park called Casino Village which originally was established by the CMCA (Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia), we are a member of the CMCA.
Thursday and Friday, off to Coffs harbour for 2 nights. On Friday we plan to visit the Porpoise Pool and then off to the Big Banana to have a banana split.
Saturday morning, we are calling in to Pat and Cheryl's place at Suarts Point for a catch up and coffee, then off to Port Macquarie, where we will continue onto the Oxley highway to go over the mountains to the New England Hwy.
Saturday night, we may free camp, it just depends where we are.
Sunday, off to Coonabarabran.
Monday and Tuesday, stay with Leighton at Peak Hill, on Tuesday we will visit the Dubbo zoo.
Wednesday stay at West Wyalong.
Thursday stay at Jerilderie.
Friday and Saturday stay at Shepparton and visit the SPC factory if open, also meeting Ray to show him our rig.
Sunday arvo. Home. we hope.
Tomorrow (Tues), we start to pack up ready for Wednesday's departure.

Tue 12th Aug.

Thank god, we are leaving tomorrow, I can't stand another day of blue skies, low 20s and sunny with a cold start. Nah. I will really miss this weather it has been magnificent, except when it rained.
Today, we just buggered around camp and in the afternoon, after the swimming finals on TV, I started packing up outside for tomorrow's departure.
Marg is still busy building her wind spinning thingies. I had to empty the shitter. I have all the luck.
I did take some photos of the exterior of the fiver.