Riding with Crusty and Annie plus Jodi's baby shower - Southport - Day 43.
I slept very well until 6:30am, then listened to Macca until 7:00am when I got up and had brekky, while Marg slept like a log. I was meeting Crusty and Annie at 9:15am for a ride to The Spit and back to Labrador for coffee. I changed into cycleman and left camp at 8:00am and rode to Surfers and then back to Lands End before meeting Crusty and Annie in Labrador. We met as planned and rode along the shared paths to The Spit where we gazed out over the ocean and watched a very nice BIG boat power through the seaway into the Broadwater. It was another magic day in Paradise. We headed back along the gravel Federation Walk and back along the shared path to
their favourite coffee shop. It was great catching up with Crusty and Annie.
My riding stats: Today's ride of 47kms gives me a total of 482kms for September and my 32nd ride at Southport for a total of 1,201kms OR 3,501kms since leaving home back on 16th March.
Back at camp, I showered and about 1:30pm, Marg and I drove over to Jodi's baby shower, just near Lukeys, so I dropped Marg off and drove over to Lukeys, where we spent the arvo watching the Sandown 500 V8s. Lowendsy came 4th and Jamie won. We left at 6pm and bought
Maccas for dinner. Marg loved the baby shower and is now buggered.
Tomorrow, nothing is planned, I hope to ride.
Today's weather photo from Surfers.
Today's weather photo from Surfers.
The very BIG boat.
Riding and visting Lincraft - Southport - Day 44.
I slept very well until 6:30am, then listened to 92.5 Gold FM until 7:00am when I got up and had brekky, while Marg laid in bed watching 'Sunrise'. I changed into cycleman and left camp at 7:40am and rode to Lands End then to The Spit, down to Surfers stopping at Cafe Rockpool for a coffee and cake and then upto Lands End again, before heading back to camp. While riding the weather was superb, sunny with a light breeze.
My riding stats: Today's ride of 51kms gives me a total of 533kms for September and my 33rd ride at Southport for a total of 1,252kms OR 3,552kms since leaving home back on 16th March.
Back at camp, I showered and about 11:30am, we drove to Lincraft at Robina, as Marg needed some more 'Lincraft' wool, she is still crochetting baby stuff. From there, we drove over the road to the Robina Shopping Centre where I checked out JB HiFi and Marg checked out, actually she bought some clothes, I just looked at JB. We called into South Park for lunch at Michels and then did some food shopping. Back at camp, I rang Nissan and booked the mighty Navara in for 1:30pm tomorrow as my Cruise Control part has arrived. I couldn't book it in any earlier tomorrow, as it would conflict with our BINGO. We have to go to Bingo, it will be our last one until next year. The rest of the arvo was spent relaxing at camp. We also said our goodbyes to Ken and Rosie who leave early tomorrow.
Dinner was chico rolls. They were yumma.
Tomorrow is Bingo and the mighty Navara will have its Cruise Control fixed, hopefully, I wont have time to ride, unfortunately.
Today's weather photo from The Spit.
The surfers were out in force at The Spit.
Today's weather photo from Surfers.
This boat just makes it under the Nerang river bridge.
Today's weather photo from Labrador.
That our CP on the right.
Marg is a winner at last, Bingo - Southport - Day 45.
We slept very well until 6:30am, when I got up and went on the internet, while Marg watched 'Sunrise'. We had brekky and got ourselves organised for Bingo and left at 8:30am. Arrived at the Sharks about 5 minutes later, we still were one of the first to arrive. As this was our last Bingo for this trip, I paid $66 for 2 FULL sets and an extra 2 sets of jackpot, Marg went and ordered coffee and cake, then we prepared for bingo. At 9:30am it started, again there were a few new faces and some old faces not there. I didn't win a game, while Marg let loose with a monstrous 'BINGO' and won $20. That was it for us.
Our winnings at the Sharks this trip is now a LOSS of $75. Not bad for 7 weeks entertainment.
Back at camp at lunchtime, I had lunch, then drove the mighty Navara to Von Bibra to have its Cruise Control part, installed. I was booked in for 1:30pm, and arrived at 1:20pm, as the mechanics' lunchtime ends at 1:30pm. I sat by myself in the lounge and saw that the mighty Navara was moved at 1:33pm. I read my Kindle until 2:35pm, when Matt came and told me that it is ready to go. I was quoted $180 and paid $180, so I was happy. I tested the Cruise Control on 5 different occasions on my way back to camp, so far so good.
No riding today as I was busy.
Dinner: For a change I cooked poached eggs on toast, naturally, it was very YUMMA.
Tomorrow I am Luke's chauffeur. He is having something done to his car, so I will pick him up and drop him at home, as he will be working from home, and then pick him up when his car is ready.
Lukey's chauffeur again - Southport - Day 46.
We slept very well until 6:00am, where I listened to Gold FM and got up about 7:00am, while Marg watched 'Sunrise'. We had brekky and I left at 7:45am and drove to Lukey's mechanic and then dropped him home and drove back to camp.
At 9:00am I changed into cycleman and wanted to ride over 50kms as I didn't ride yesterday, so I rode to Lands End then to The Spit, down to Surfers back to Lands End before heading back to camp. For the second day in a row, the weather was superb, sunny with a medium breeze. A major drama at The Spit, I sat on the concrete boulders and I had to undo my bumbag to get my bananas out. As I stood up my bumbag fell to the ground and fell down one of the holes in the concrete boulders. I looked down and my bumbag had fallen about 6 feet down the hole. I was absolutely .
I climbed down the boulder and crawled through a gap and managed to get my bumbag, but I was shit scared that the boulders could have fallen and crush me. My bumbag had my wallet in it. If I remember, tomorrow I will take a few photos of where it fell.
Riding on the ocean side of Sheraton Mirage resort, I spotted a Police Quad on the beach, upon further investigation, there were some new recruits being trained in driving Quads along the beach. They had witches hats to zig zag around and when I left they had bogged a Quad and the trainer was about to tell them what to do when I continued on my ride.
My riding stats: Today's ride of 53kms gives me a total of 588kms for September and my 34th ride at Southport for a total of 1,306kms OR 3,606kms since leaving home back on 16th March.
After I showered and changed, we had lunch and then drove over to South Park, where we dropped Marg's Dell laptop into Aust Post, as it has a problem. The postage was paid by Dell and we had to buy a box and bubble wrap, then walked to Michels for a coffee. About 4pm, Lukey rang to say that his car is ready and I drove to pick him up and drop him at his mechanic.
Dinner was McCains pizza slices. They were YUMMA.
Tomorrow nothing apart from a ride is planned.
Today's weather photo from The Spit with all the surfers.
Today's weather photo from Surfers.
What are they making here. We will have to wait and see.
A part of the Gold Coast 600 V8s started construction today.
The cops were being taught Beach driving in their Quads.
The cops were being taught Beach driving in their Quads.
The cops were being taught Beach driving in their Quads.
The cops were being taught Beach driving in their Quads.
The cops were being taught Beach driving in their Quads.
Another beautiful view across the Broadwater.
Another view of our Caravan Park.
I rode 60km and dinner at our club - Southport - Day 47.
I had a chaff cutter sleeping beside me last night. I slept like a log until 4:30am and that's when the 'chaff cutter' fired up. I tossed and turned and eventuaally gave up and listened to Gold FM, before getting up about 6am. Marg woke soon after I was up (all refreshed after a good night sleep), she laid in bed and watched Kochie on Sunrise.
The weather was absolutley beautiful, sunny with a very light breeze, I changed into cycleman and wanted to ride over 60kms today. I headed North to Lands End, then out to The Spit then to Surfers before heading back to The Spit, where I took photos of yesterday's life threatening drama, then back to Surfers and then past cafe Rockpool, but it was chockers, as the weather was so nice, I didn't stop and continued back to Lands End before going back to Cafe Rockpool but it was still busy, so I gave the coffee a miss and headed back to camp.
My riding stats: Today's ride of 62kms gives me a total of 650kms for September and my 35th ride at Southport for a total of 1,368kms OR 3,668kms since leaving home back on 16th March.
After showering and having lunch at home, we drove to Helensvale for some shopping and a coffee at Michels. We buggered about at camp until 3:50pm when we drove to our club for our normal Thursday afternoon's entertainment (Marg plays the pokies, I sit in the lounge with a schooner or two and update this website, then at 5:30pm, we order the $10 pizza and beer specials.
David and Di, we hope that you are enjoying yourselves in Melbourne, BUT those pizzas are still magnificent.
Dinner was the $10 pizza and schooner of beer, Marg had a soft drink, we still managed to eat the 'free' pancakes. Dinner was very yumma. That was our last club meal until next August.
Tomorrow nothing is planned, apart from I hope to ride.
Today's weather photo from Labrador. It was a magic day.
At Surfers, 'we' are watching what this will be.
Today's weather photo from Surfers.
Today's weather photo from Surfers.
The Catamaran missed these 2 guys that were buggering about.
That hole is where I dropped my bumbag yesterday.
Life or Death. I had to crawl under there and to the right.
The concrete boulders are about 7ft x 7ft x 7ft. Big enough to crush me.
Today's weather photo from the Spit.
A close up of the boulders.
GC V8 Supercars - Grandstand at The Narrows is coming along.
Mum and Dad osprey, I haven't seen any babies yet.
I rode and then we had a quiet day at camp - Southport - Day 48.
The chaff cutter didn't appear last night, so we both slept very well and didn't wake up until after 7:00am. Marg laid in bed and watched Kochie on Sunrise, while I had brekky and changed into cycleman. I need to ride 100kms in my last 2 rides to get the Internet award for 750kms ridden this month.
Again the weather was absolutley beautiful, sunny with a very light breeze, I wanted to ride over 50kms today. I headed North to Lands End, then down to Surfers, the Marquee that they have been erecting is for Kids Week starting today. I then headed back to The Spit, where I saw the dolphins about 100 meters off the end of The Spit. I ate my bananas without losing my bumbag, I also said 'Goodbye to the whale counters'. I stopped at Cafe Rockpool for a coffee and mudcake and just as I was leaving, I met Travis who is a Lazza lookalike aka a 6year old golden Labrador, after asking his owners for permission, I gave Travis many hugs, he reacted identical to how Lazza our Lab did. Obviously, I still miss Lazza, heaps.
To make up my 50kms rider, I rode back to Lands End and back to the Southport YC and then back to camp.
My riding stats: Today's ride of 52kms gives me a total of 702kms, only 48kms to go, for September and my 36th ride at Southport for a total of 1,420kms OR 3,720kms since leaving home back on 16th March.
After showering and having lunch at home, we planned to drove to Helensvale for some shopping and a coffee, but decided that we didn't have to go, so we stayed at camp and had a lovely afternoon, doing bugger all.
Marg made her 'world famous' sausage mince meatloaf and it was absolutely YUMMA.
Tomorrow I plan to ride in the morning at least 48kms, then lunch with Jay and Bec and then do some tip trips.
At Surfers - It is nearly finished.
At Surfers, it is the Kids Week Marquee.
Today's weather photo from Surfers.
Today's weather photo from Surfers.
The Esplanade at Surfers is setting up for Kids Week.
Big Brother's throne.
It is all happening. There will be kids everywhere soon.
A pod of dolphins about 100 meters of The Spit.
Today's weather photo from the Spit.
Lazza?? Nope. It is Travis who I met today.
The murals on the walls of the Nerang River bridge.
The murals on the walls of the Nerang River bridge.
That maybe the baby osprey in the nest.
The new 'shared path' bridge opened earlier this year.
The miniature ponies next door at the Webers Circus.
Our last active day on the Gold Coast - Southport - Day 49.
We both slept well until 5;30am, I looked outside and it was dry, as I need 48kms to be awarded my 750 kms achievement award, I got up and went riding, leaving Marg in bed to watch 'Weekend Sunrise'.
Today the weather wasn't that flash, it looked threatening for the whole ride but it didn't rain. Thank God. I must be still a bit competitive, as I wanted the monthly 750kms award. I still needed 48kms to pass my target, so I rode to Surfers twice and to The Spit 3 times and then stopped at Cafe Rockpool where I had my usual (coffee and choccy mudcake), I said my goodbyes to Emmanuel and Gavan as today was my last day of riding.
My riding stats: Today's ride of 51kms gives me a total of 753kms for September.
This is a summary of my riding this trip.
- Gold Coast - March to May - 872kms.
- Hervey Bay - May - 98kms.
- Townsville - June - 466kms.
- Dicky Beach - July - 863kms.
- Gold Coast - August/September - 1,470kms
Total ridden while away - 3,770kms
Back at camp, I showered and changed and at 11;30am, we drove to The Pacific Pines Tavern for lunch with our eldest son Jay and his partner Bec. Lunch was
very yumma, Jay and I had chicken parma, Bec a steak and Marg fish and chips. It was a great time and we got all the up to date info on their new house that they are building.
After lunch, we drove to our other son Lukey, as he needed the mighty Navara to take all his crap to the tip, which we did. Dads do come in handy sometimes.
The remainder of the arvo was spent back at camp, just buggering about.
After a good lunch, dinner was a scratch meal, we had cereal.
Tomorrow we will be packing up camp for our departure on Monday.
At Surfers - This grandstand is nearing completion.
Today's weather photo from The Spit.
Today's weather photo from The Spit.
The sky looked threatening.
It looked threatening but blew over without raining.
Swimmers training at the GC Aquatic Centre.
Packing up camp - Southport - Day 50.
We slept very well until 7:00am, then listened to Macca until 7:30am when we got up and had brekky. We buggered about camp until 9:30am then drove over to South Park for some shopping and a coffee at Michels. On the way back to camp, we topped up with diesel and air. Back at camp, I topped up the fiver's tyres. Tomorrow morning, I will lower the pressure on all tyres to their normal travelling pressure (Navara front 40, rear 45 and fiver 50psi). We spent most of the day packing up slowly, I was in no hurry. In the morning, I need to pack up the Sat dish and fold up Marg's chair then hitch and hopefully be on the road by 7am.
Maccas for dinner, so we didn't have to wash up. That's my excuse and I am sticking to it.
Tomorrow we plan to drive to Moree about 530kms. It will be a long day.
*2014 - Index page*
NEXT
Heading to Moree.
