The Bureau forecast was for 20 - 40mm of rain overnight. Between 10:00am to 5:00am we received 85.6mm and then the clouds parted and the sun shone brightly.

We slept well and I woke about 6:45am and listened to Macca before getting up about 7:30am, while my 'child bride' slept like a log. Eventually, Marg woke and she laid in bed watching Weekend Sunrise. After she got up, we had brekky and the clouds parted, so I went riding.
My usual route, the highlight was seeing the waves crash over the end of the Spit caused by yesterday's storms. The spray from the waves covered the last 10 meters of the Spit, so I stopped about 40 meters from the end and took photos, when all of a sudden, I got drenched from behind, by the waves rolling down the seaway and breaking on the seawall. I was dripping wet, it wasn't a dangerous situation, I was drenched with spray, unexpectantly. I rode back to camp, without stopping for a coffee.
Here is the summary of my Gold Coast riding - today's ride 34kms - Total to date: after my 11th ride is 404kms.

We had a very pleasant and quiet afternoon at camp, with both of us having a nanna nap, then headed over to Jay's house to pick up my Hard Drive. Luke, Jodi and Mont were there having showers as their water pipe broke in their block of units. While there Dad rang, he and Mum are getting back to enjoying life.

Dinner was Chico rolls. they were Yumma.

Tomorrow, nothing is currently planned.

The rain has moved on and been replaced by wind with gusts upto 57kph.

We slept well and woke about 7:15am and laid in bed watching Sunrise before getting up and having brekky. As it was sunny and nothing planned, I went riding.
My usual route, the highlight was helping two tourists who were consulting a map. I was able to assist them and then rode back to camp, after stopping for a coffee.
Here is the summary of my Gold Coast riding - today's ride 34kms - Total to date: after my 12th ride is 438kms.

To celebrate our anniversary, we went to our 'club' for dinner. Usual routine, Marg plays the pokies, I sit in the lounge with a chilled refresher or two and update this website, then at 5:30pm, Marg leaves the pokies (with all her winnings) and we then order a mixed grill and garlic prawns, just for something different.
Well, we are back at camp and needless to say that our dinner was absolutely YUMMA.

Tomorrow is Bingo.

The weather is changing back to beautiful, still a tad windy.

We slept shithouse last night, both of us woke about 3am and tossed and turned, until we get up about 6:30am, feeling buggered. We had brekky and left camp about 8;25am and arrived at the Southport Sharks aka 'our other club'. I bought 2 full sets for $50 and didn't win any, got close but no cigar. Our profit at Sharks so far this trip is now $9. We have 4 more bingos to go.

Back at camp, after lunch while Marg had a nanna nap, I went riding. My usual route, the highlight was seeing the Georges waiting for their lunchtime feed at Charis Seafood, Labrador. The other highlight happened as I was unlocking my bike after having a coffee at Cafe Rockpool (about 50 meters away from the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre where the 2014 Pan Pacs start on Thursday). A guy asked me about my cycling top, which displays 'Bike Vic Forum riders' is it just me or a group, he was sitting with his mate just chatting and having a coffee. I chatted to them for at least 15 minutes. I didn't get his mate's name but this guy was called Don and he used to do a 'bit of swim coaching'. I said are you Don Talbot, he said 'yes'. What a very humble man. His mate, who I didn't ask his name is one of Sally Pearson's coaching staff, NOT the dude that 'hung sh!te' on her at the Comm Games. I was suitably impressed. Here is the summary of my Gold Coast riding - today's ride 35kms - Total to date: after my 13th ride is 474kms.

The remainder of the arvo was spent sitting in the sun gazing out over the Broadwater. Life is good.

Dinner was a beef casserole and was yumma.

Tomorrow, we plan to catch up with some friends for a coffee and chat.

We slept very well until 6:45am, Marg stayed in bed watching Sunrise. I had brekky and then went riding, as we had to be at Keith and Lucys for coffee at 11am.
My usual route, the highlight was just the beautiful weather. Here is the summary of my Gold Coast riding - today's ride 34kms - Total to date: after my 14th ride is 508kms. Back to camp, I showered and we got to keith and Lucy's home just after 11:00am, it was great to catch up and chat. We met Keith and Lucy about 3 years ago while travelling in Outback Qld and have kept in touch ever since. After leaving K&Ls we drove to Helensvale for some shopping, before coming back to camp. We spent the arvo just relaxing.

Dinner was macaroni cheese, it was yumma.

Tomorrow, we have tickets to the Pan Pacs swimming championships. We can't wait.

Two nights in a row, that we slept very well, until 6:45am, we stayed in bed watching Sunrise. We had brekky and then left home about 9:15am and walked approx 1 km to the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre to watch the Pan pacs swimming championships. We were scanned at the entry and had to give our bottle of water to security, as we are not allowed to take it in. We followed the clear directions to our seats. K 45 & 46. That was about 10 rows from the front, a good view, but the temporary grandstands were that steep that all seats would have had a good view.
They say it holds 3,500 people, well if that is true, for today's heats there would be maybe 500 - 700 spectators. We both enjoyed it, it is something that is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us. We are also going to the Day 2 heats, weather dependent. As I am writing this, the finals are on and we can hear the PA system and it has rained off and on, now bear in mind, there is NO roof. The heats finished about noon and we walked over (about 100 meters) to Cafe Rockpool and had coffee and cake, before walking back to camp.

About 5:30pm, we drove over to Mont's place and gave her a heap of pressies, we stayed an hour or so and she was very happy with her pressies. Her party will be Sunday week. Happy Birthday, Mont, we love you.

Dinner was a scratch meal, I had cereal while Marg had jam and cheese sangas.

Tomorrow, we are off to the Pan Pacs again.

We slept very well, until 6:30am, we stayed in bed watching Sunrise and listened to the rain on the roof. Marg decided that she would definitely NOT be going to Day 2 of the Pan Pacs, I said that I still want to go and see Michael Phelps swim, even if it rained, I would go. About 9:40am, I changed into old runners and shorts, put on my 'old army raincoat' put a poncho in the backpack, grabbed my camera and brolly and walked over to the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre. There was continual light drizzle, I was comfortable in my attire, got my backpack searched and my ticket scanned, I had booked the same seats as yesterday. I walked to my aisle seat (K45), I had a couple sitting in K47 & 48 and Marg's seat (K46) was empty. Before relaxing, I took off my raincoat and put on my poncho and straw sun hat (to keep the rain off my face). I looked an absolute dickhead, as I saw myself on the big screen as they panned across the audience, but I wasn't fussed at all.
The drizzle continued for most of the 2 hours of heats, but it didn't upset the swimmers or spectators. I watched Missy Franklin (US), Bronte and Cate Campbell (Aus) in the Women's 100 freestyle and Michael Phelps (US), James Magnussen and Cam McEvoy (both Aus). I was going to leave after watching the 100m Free, but as it was only light drizzle, I stayed until the end.
As we left the Aquatic Centre, it pissed down. I took off my poncho and put on my raincoat and brolly and walked back to camp without getting drenched.
In between showers, we drove over to Australia Fair, as their carpark in undercover, to do some food shopping, Aus Fair was chockers. We spent the remainder of the arvo in the fiver watching 'The Amazing race' and 'bringing Sexy back' and some other TV shows. Naturally, there was no riding today and doesn't look good for tomorrow. The Bureau is expecting a further 80mm of rain over the next 2 days.

Dinner was leftover macaroni cheese. It was yumma.

Tomorrow, nothing is planned, so we will probably bugger about in the fiver.

Between last night's website update and 7pm, we have had 41.4mm and the wind stayed around 40 to 50 kph with gusts to 70kph, thankfully, it has now decreased.
It has rained continuously since 7:00am yesterday morning and hasn't rained since 5:30pm tonight. The forecast is for rain until tomorrow, when it should moderate to isolated showers. These are the 'worst times' for caravanning. We planned to stay home all day and watch TV and on the internet, thank God that the V8s are on this arvo.

We slept very well until 6:30am, when we laid in bed listening to 92.5Gold FM, before switching over to 'Weekend Sunrise'. We even had the heater on at various times, Marg started cooking a 'slow cooker' meatballs casserole for tonight's dinner. About 10am, the rain eased to drizzle, so we visited Spotlight and while there it pissed down again, so we cancelled going to Michels at South Park and headed back to camp. The rain squalls continued off and on all day. While I am watching Lowndesy (3rd), Marg is doing a great job having a nanna nap, despite the noise of the rain beating on the roof.

I felt sorry for the spectators at this morning's Pan Pacs heats, there were some very decent rain squalls go through. We will watch the swimming on Ch10 tonight at 7:30pm.

Dinner was meatball casserole. Bloody yumma.

Tomorrow, we plan to have lunch with Lukey and family at a hotel in Surfers.

I could not be stuffed taking photos of the rain squalls coming across the Broadwater, SO there are no photos.