Today I chauffeured Jay to and from his mechanic and went riding.

I slept well last night and woke about 6:30am ish. Marg slept not so well and didn't feel like doing anything, so she just buggered about camp and had a nanna nap during the afternoon. Jay rang me at 7:30am and said to meet him at his mechanics about 8am. I picked up Jay and drove him home and returned to our camp.
I changed into 'cycleman' and headed north from camp to Land's End, did a U turn and headed back over the Nerang river bridge, past Southport YC and then Surf LSC onto Surfers, then along the 'beach roads' through Broadbeach along Hedges Ave to Miami Beach, past Robbie McEwen's Cafe, along the shared paths to the Burleigh Heads Lookout. Stopped and took some photos, the surf was up and the surfers were everywhere. I retraced my route, didn't stop at Robbies as it was full, then continued out to the end of the Spit. On the gravel track near the Spit, I saw a beard dragon, just sitting near a bend, so I stopped and took some photos. I continued to the end of the Spit and ate my 2 bananas and then stopped at Cafe Rockpool for a coffee and muffin, then back to camp.

My riding stats: Today's ride of 55kms gives me a total of 457kms for September, 1,262kms for August, 1,042kms for July and 946kms for June. My 69th ride at Southport brings my total to 3,568kms and 945kms at Dicky OR if you are really into figures, I have ridden 4,512kms since leaving home back on 3rd May.

After showering, Jay rang back to say that his car was finished, so I picked him up and took him to his mechanics, then I spent the rest of the arvo, just buggering about, incuding reading the Herald Sun on my iPad.

Dinner was the leftovers of last night's egg and bacon pie. It was still yumma.


Tomorrow is Bingo.

We slept well last night, finally woke up about 6:45am. We had brekky and got ourselves organised for Bingo and left at 8:25am. Arrived at the Sharks about 10 minutes later, the carpark was fuller than normal, there must have been a function on. I brought 2 full set plus 2 lucky numbers for $50, while Marg sat at 'our' table, as it was free. We marked the various games and were ready for the 9:30am eyes down with heaps of time to spare, so Marg went and ordered coffee and cake. And we started, during the 3rd Game, I let loose with a monstrous BINGO and won $75. You bloody bewdy. In the $1,500 game, I was only needing 75 to win the $1,500. There were at least 10 to 15 calls and then some bastard calls bingo and I didn't win. After the half time break, it's Marg turn to yell out and wins $45, so what a pearler of a day.

Our Bingo summary after our 18th week, paid $50 won $120 currently our holiday to Date losing $27.50 at Dicky and $104 at Southport bringing our total to a loss of $131.50. Our overall loss took a marked decrease today.

Back at camp, we had lunch and Marg settled in for a relaxing day, while I changed into 'cycleman' and headed north from camp to Land's End, did a U turn and headed back over the Nerang river bridge, past Southport YC and then Surf LSC onto Surfers, then along the 'beach roads' through Broadbeach along Hedges Ave to Miami Beach, past Robbie McEwen's Cafe, along the shared paths to the Burleigh Heads Lookout. Stopped and took some photos, the surf was very choppy and only a few surfers were out. I retraced my route, stopped at Robbies for a coffee and was served by Robbie's wife, then continued out to the end of the Spit. Watched a catamaran powering down under the Northerly which was gusting to 39kph and went out the seaway and headed south with the wind behind them. While watching the yacht, I sat and watched them and ate my bananas, then stopped at Cafe Rockpool for a coffee and muffin, then back to camp.

My riding stats: Today's ride of 56kms gives me a total of 513kms for September, 1,262kms for August, 1,042kms for July and 946kms for June. My 70th ride at Southport brings my total to 3,625kms and 945kms at Dicky OR if you are really into figures, I have ridden 4,568kms since leaving home back on 3rd May.

The remainder of the arvo was reading the Herald Sun on my iPad.

Dinner was Marg's famous 'Mini mes'. They were yumma.


Tomorrow we are having lunch with Jodi and little Mase and I am riding with Dad in the morning.

Riding with Dad and then lunch with Jodi and Little Mase.

We slept well last night, woke up about 6:00am. Marg stayed in bed watching "Sunrise" and probably 'nodded off' I got up and had brekky and changed into 'cycleman' and left at 7am, as I agreed to meet Dad at his apartment at 8am.
But first, I had to ride to Land's End, did a U turn and headed back over the Nerang river bridge, past Southport YC and then Surf LSC onto Surfers, then along the 'beach roads' through Broadbeach along Hedges Ave to Mum and Dad's apartment. Dad had just ridden through the front gate, SO it was brilliant timing. We rode back to Hedges Ave and headed to Miami Beach, past Robbie McEwen's Cafe, along the shared paths to the Burleigh Heads Lookout. Stopped and took some photos, the surf was choppy with only a few surfers were out. We retraced my route, didn't stop at Robbies and rode straight to Cafe Rockpool for a coffee and muffin, while Dad only had a coffee. We then rode out to the end of the Spit and sat and watched the ocean. Both of us were yachtsmen in our previous lives and absolutely love looking at the water. We left the Spit and went our separate ways when we approached the Southport SLSC. Dad headed home and told me that he should have ridden about 50kms for the day and I rode 62.2kms for the day. It is always a great time, riding with Dad.

My riding stats: Today's ride of 62kms gives me a total of 575kms for September, 1,262kms for August, 1,042kms for July and 946kms for June. My 71st ride at Southport brings my total to 3,687kms and 945kms at Dicky OR if you are really into figures, I have ridden 4,630kms since leaving home back on 3rd May.

Back at camp, I showered and once we were ready, we drove over to Helensvale's Gloria Jean, where we were meeting Jodi and Little Mase at 12:20pm for lunch and a chat. We got there early and shortly after, Jodi and Little Mase arrived. We ordered lunch and I ended up nursing Mase for awhile and he was very well behaved. After lunch, we did some food shopping and then ended back to camp. During the arvo, we BOTH managed to have a nanna nap and read the Herald Sun on our iPads.

Dinner was Marg's famous 'Mini mes' leftovers. They were yumma.


Tomorrow, Jodi and little Mase may be visiting us.

It drizzled ALL day, consequently, we were mainly Fiver bound.

We slept well last night, I woke up about 6:30am, thinking it was Friday (but that is old age). Marg didn't wake until 8:30am, as I let her sleep.
Jodi texted us at 7am to say that due to the increment weather that she and little Mase would NOT be visiting. A smart move, as today it drizzled nearly all day. Can you umagine Little Mase crawlling around the dirt in the annex and inside the fiver, NOT a good idea. We saw the sunshine for a maximum of 10 minutes before the gray clouds came back and stayed.

After showering and getting ourselves organised, we drove to Donut King at Aus Fair and had coffee and cinnamon donuts. Just to get out of the fiver. We were back at camp by midday, made egg sangas for lunch and I watched a couple of episodes of Revenge on my laptop, while Marg read before succumbing to sleep and had a long nanna nap, only to be woken by me at 3:45pm, as it is Thursday and as such, we have a very important appointment at our club (CSi Southport). About 3:55pm, we drove over to our club for our normal Thursday arvo entertainment of pokies, drinking and dinner. While Marg got her weekly fix on the pokies, I sat in the lounge on my laptop, updating this website. At 5:30pm, Marg wandered out of the pokies area and after packing up my 'gear' we walked over to the bistro and ordered dinner. On the way back to camp, we had to call into Jay's to pick up the rangehood for tomorrow's delivery.

We ordered a large pizza with 2 plates, as Marg eats one slice and we also get a free pancake, so Marg eats that.


Tomorrow, I am Jay's messenger, I have to deliver his rangehood to Burleigh.

It was sunny in the morning and drizzle most of the arvo.

We slept well last night, I woke up about 6:30am and listened to 92.5FM before getting up at 7am. I left Marg sleeping soundly. I showered, had brekky and put on a load of washing. I left at 8am and drove down to Burleigh to deliver Jay's rangehood to his builder's HO. We opened it and looked for any damage, there wasn't any. I drove across to the beach and followed my cycling route back to camp. It was a lot easier in the mighty Navara.

While i was changing into 'cycleman', Dad rang and said that he was at the Spit, so I rode directly to him. We then rode back to his apartment at mermaid Beach, where I stopped and chatted to Mum, before putting on my wet weather jacket and continued to push into the BLOODY gale of a headwind, before stopping at Robbies' cafe for a coffee and then decided to turnaround and head back home stopping at Cafe Rockpool for a coffee and muffin. Riding back I had a beautiful tailwind and 2 big rain squalls dumped on me. Big Time.

My riding stats: Today's ride of 42kms gives me a total of 617kms for September, 1,262kms for August, 1,042kms for July and 946kms for June. My 72nd ride at Southport brings my total to 3,729kms and 945kms at Dicky OR if you are really into figures, I have ridden 4,672kms since leaving home back on 3rd May.

After showering and getting ourselves organised, we drove to Donut King at Aus Fair and had coffee and cinnamon donuts, the same as yesterday and did some food shopping for tonight's curried sausages. Spent the remainder of the arvo just buggering about inbetween the rain squalls.

Marg made Roothy's curried sausages, they were absolutely YUMMA.


Tomorrow, we are meeting Jay and Bec for coffee at Helensvale.

It was sunny all day and blew like buggery, consequently, I wimped out and didn't go riding. We only had to meet Bec and Jay for coffee at 2pm.

I slept in until after 7:30am, Marg slept ratshit and was up during the night, so I let her sleep in and she didn't get up until after 9am. During the morning, we buggered around camp. Being school holidays, the caravan park is filling up with families and there are kids everywhere, which is great to see. We had lunch at home and left about 1:30pm and drove over to Zaffaras at Helensvale where we met Bec and Jay for coffee and a chat. We chatted for approx 1 hour before going our separate ways. Marg and I popped into Coles for some food items, I came out with a packet of snowballs and ice creams, they were YUMMA.

While at camp, I watched the last few episodes of Revenge, which I enjoyed and currently, I am watching some episodes of 'The Americans', this is another TV series that I enjoy.

Dinner tonight was made by 'Old' McCains who made a couple of pizza slices for us. They were yumma.


Tomorrow, weather dependent, I may ride and Mum and Dad are picking us up at 3pm and we are visiting their Great grandkids.

It was overcast and very windy for most of the day. I decided to ride early this morning, as it was sunny and not very windy. Mum and Dad were picking us up at 3pm.

I slept in until 6:00am, Marg was already up, she slept like a log until 5:30am, when she got up. We had brekky and while Marg may herself comfy and watched Sunrise, I went riding.

I rode to Land's End, did a U turn and headed back towards the Nerang river bridge. At the Broadwater Parklands, the Queensland Corvette Club were displaying their cars. I stopped and took some photos before continuing past Southport YC and then Surf LSC onto Surfers, then along the 'beach roads' through Broadbeach along Hedges Ave to Miami Beach, past Robbie McEwen's Cafe, along the shared paths to the Burleigh Heads Lookout. Stopped and took some photos, I counted nearly 100 surfers everywhere at Burleigh. I retraced my route, didn't stop at Robbies and rode straight out to the end of the Spit, before stopping at Cafe Rockpool for a coffee and muffin, then headed back to camp.

My riding stats: Today's ride of 57kms gives me a total of 674kms for September, 1,262kms for August, 1,042kms for July and 946kms for June. My 73rd ride at Southport brings my total to 3,786kms and 945kms at Dicky OR if you are really into figures, I have ridden 4,729kms since leaving home back on 3rd May.

We had lunch at camp and after a nanna nap, we got ourselves organised and at 3pm, Mum and Dad arrived and I drove us to Jodi and Lukey's house, as Mum and Dad were seeing Mont and little Mse, before they head for home leaving next Friday. We stayed for over an hour and Mum and Dad really enjoyed themselves, Mont and Mase were great. I drove us back to camp, where Marg and I got out and Mum and Dad drove back to their apartment.

We had KFC for dinner. It was nice.


Tomorrow, weather dependent, I may ride with Dad.

Today the wind eventually started to abate. Thank God.

I got up at 6:00am, Marg was still asleep, so I didn't wake her. I had brekky and left camp just after 6;30am.

I rode to Land's End, did a U turn and answered my phone, it was Dad, he just got up and we agreed to meet somewhere between Surfers and Broadbeach. I headed back towards the Nerang river bridge, then headed past the Southport YC and then Surf LSC onto Surfers, then along the 'beach roads' towards Broadbeach. Just as I approcahed the new $900m construction site in the Old Burleigh Rd, I noticed an old fart riding towards me. Yep, it was Dad. We headed off to the Spit. Now remember that it is school holidays and the Surfer shared path along the Esplanade is bloody chockers. We made our way around many walkers without 'killing' any. We sat at the end of the Spit and watched a whale boat and a catamaran under full sail exit the seaway. After about 10 minutes, we rode down to Burleigh Heads and watched the surfers off the Point. Yesterday, I counted over 100 surfers out there and being Sunday, I thought that seems fair. Today there was an equal number if not more and it is Monday, don't these dudes have a job? We then headed back North stopping at the the KSTF cafe for coffee and then we rode back to Mum and Dad's apartment, where I had a quick chat with Mum, before stopping at Cafe Rockpool for a coffee and muffin, then headed back to camp. A long ride of 67kms.

My riding stats:
Today's ride of 67kms gives me a total of 742kms for September, 1,262kms for August, 1,042kms for July and 946kms for June.
My 74th ride at Southport brings my total to 3,853kms and 945kms at Dicky OR if you are really into figures, I have ridden 4,796kms since leaving home back on 3rd May.

We had lunch at camp and later drove over to Woollies at South Park, stopped at Michels for a coffee and some food shopping. The remainder of the arvo was spent back at camp, watching the kids having a great time.

Dinner was Mrs McCain faamous pizzas. They were yumma.


Tomorrow is Bingo and Mont is staying with us for 2 nights.

We slept well last night, finally woke up about 6:45am. We had brekky and got ourselves organised for Bingo and left at 8:25am. Arrived at the Sharks about 10 minutes later, the carpark was fuller than normal, there must have been a function on. I brought 2 full set plus 2 lucky numbers for $50, while Marg sat at 'our' table, as it was free. We marked the various games and were ready for the 9:30am eyes down with heaps of time to spare, so Marg went and ordered coffee and cake. And we started, same as last week during the 3rd Game, I let loose with a monstrous BINGO and won $75. You bloody bewdy. Marg let the team down and didn't mutter a sound.

Our Bingo summary for this trip was at Dicky Beach we lost $27.50 and we lost $79 at Southport for a TOTAL for this trip of $106.50. Not Bad for 19 days of Bingo.

After Bingo, we drove directly to Mont's place, she was ready and packed. We arrived back at camp, set up Mont's 'reading tent' in our annex. During the arvo, Marg and Mont went to the park's pool and after approx 2 hours, they wandered back to our site, a tad buggered. Later during the arvo, Mont and I went to visit George and his mates at the park's boat ramp. Mont was on her scooter, so we continued onto the Office, where we both had an ice cream. Mont amused herself, by watching TV while Marg made her famous macaroni cheese.

We had Marg's macaroni cheese and some choccy ice cream for dessert. It was yumma.


Tomorrow, the three of us are off to watch Oddball at the flicks.

We slept well last night, finally woke up about 6:45am. I was absolutely surprised that Mont slept well in her tent inside our annex despite the noise of the wind and the banging of the annex. We had brekky and got ourselves organised, as we were going to see the movie "Oddball" at Australia Fair. It was an absolutely magnificent movie. I also shed a tear during it. After the movie, we walked through Oz Fair to Maccas, we did some food shopping and then returned to camp. During the arvo, Marg entertained Mont by showing her how to do some tapesty stuff. I took her to the Gamesroom and she played a couple of games of the car racer. She came 32nd out of 40 in both races. Later, Marg took her to the bouncing pillow. The weather is windy, overcast and threatening to rain, so it limits what we can do to keep Mont occupied.

Dinner was last night's macaroni cheese leftovers and some choccy ice cream for dessert. It was yumma.


Tomorrow, we drop Mont back home and of course, dinner at out club.

We slept well last night, finally woke up about 7:15am. Again, I was absolutely surprised that Mont slept well in her tent inside our annex despite the noise of the wind and the banging of the annex. We had brekky and took Mont over to the pool, Marg didn't go in today, as the wind chill was cool, but that didn't stop Mont. Mont made a new friend Annabelle, and they played in the pool, at Annabelle's cabin and back in our fiver, as well as riding their scooters around the park with the 000s of other kids. While all this was happening, I packed my bike away and packed up the awning, walls and side, as the forecast was for rain and we wanted it packed up dry, so we did.
About 2pm, we dropped Mont back home, and I setup her tent in their spare room. She loved staying with Grandma and Grandpa and we loved having her here. For the remainder of the arvo, we both managed a nanna nap, as it is quite tiring looking after a 9 yo.

We drove over to Charis Seafood for fish and chips. It is dearer than our normal fish'n'chip shop at home, but they were bloody YUMMA.


Tomorrow, the only thing planned is to go somehwere for a coffee and cake.

We slept well last night, finally woke up about 7:30am and laid in bed watching "Sunrise". We eventually got up, had brekky and drove over to South Park. I had ordered new cycling shoes - size 50 and they were TOO SMALL, Bugger, so I had to post them back. It cost me $10 at Aus Post, we then had a coffee and cake at Michels and finished with some food shopping at Woollies.
Lukey and family were coming over tonight to walk over to the Parklands for the food festival, SO I walked up to the Office to ask for a guest pass to allow Lukey to park on our site, considering the annex has been rolled up, we can fit his car and the mighty Navara on our site easy. Kim the managress said "No". Ok, there is more than one way to skin a cat, SO I parked the mighty Navara out in the public carpark and gave Lukey my gate code. He entered the code and drove and parked onto our site. A bit of commonsense would havee been nice.
During the arvo, while Marg managed to have a nanna nap, I planned our trip home and updated our Tom with some new POIs (Point of Interest) and added the 4 days 'Favourites', which included where we stop for fuel, rest stops and Caravan parks.

Lukey and family arrived about about 5:30pm. Mont's friend Annabelle who met each other yessterday, was here when they arrived and as soon as Mont was out of the car, they both hugged like they were long lost friends. They only met yesterday. As Annabelle was here Mont stayed here and played, while Lukey, Jodi and Little Mase walked to the Food Truck Festival, they rang to say that the queues were so big, that they would give it a miss and were coming back. They stayed and chatted for awhile and then left. Mont and Annabelle exchanged names and emails and facetime info. Ahhh kids of today.

Dinner was one of Marg's lasagna and it was yumma.


Tomorrow, the only thing planned is to go somehwere for a coffee and cake.

We slept well last night, I woke about 6am and got up and showered by 6:45am, not many in the amenities at that time. Marg woke about 7:45am and laid in bed watching "Weekend Sunrise". We were in no hurry as we plan to do a shop mid morning and finish packing up during the arvo.
We left at 10:00am drove to Helensvale, had a coffee and muffin at Gloria Jeans, did some food shopping at Woollies, before stopping at Bec and Jays to say "Goodbye". It was sad to leave them but at least we should be back up here about 18th Dec. On the way back to camp, I topped up the mighty Navara with diesel and air. We packed up in between the passing rain squalls, not enough rain to register (well 0.4mm) BUT enough to be a real PITA.
Lukey and family are coming back about 4:30pm, as the mobile Taco truck is in our park today between 5 and 7:30pm. They love their tacos. The mighty Navara managed to get a parking spot out the front,so Lukey will drive in and park on our site. They arrived about 4:30pm and we walked down to the Mexican Taco truck, it was preparing food and didn't open until 5pm. Lukey, Mont, Little Mase and I walked over to see George and his mates at the boat ramp, there were 11 Georges, by the time we got back the girls had placed our orders and were sitiing at a table. All organised. Our tacos arrived and were yumma.

Tomorrow, we leave the Gold Coast and drive to Moree for an overnighter.