Friday
7th May 2004
Our first job this morning, after the usual chores
such as getting out of bed...., was to back up all the photographs
that we have taken on this trip (4,538 of them). This was the result
of the computer playing up a little which although fixed for the
time it
was enough
to cause us to make sure we don't loose any of
the photographs if things fail completely. How could we bore people
to tears with our slide show if we lost our photographs?
After lunch we then set of for the hills, heading
for Springbrook. This was via Southport, Nerang and Mudgeeraba and
on to Springbrook Road. This road would have to compare well to some
that we have driven on in Tasmania, as it wound
it's way up into the mountains through thick foliage, ending up
in some great rainforest territory.
Around Springbrook there are a number of waterfalls
and lookouts that provide views over vast valleys all the way to
the high rise buildings along the Gold Coast. We stopped at the Purlingbrook
Falls lookout and walked to both the viewing points. This on it's
own would have been worth the drive up to Springbrook, but wait,
there is more.
Yes, there was more than just those falls, we visited
Canyon Lookout which has magnificent views across a very deep valley
and into steep cliffs on the other side, this included a couple
more waterfalls in the distance as well as views right down to the
Gold
Coast high rise buildings. From
here
we diverted to 'The Best of All Lookout' (Yes, that is what it is
called). This lookout gave views across a large valley where small
farming areas could be seen in amongst the thick forest timber. Once
again the Gold Coast high rise buildings could be seen clearly in
the distance. It was overcast all day but the views were great
anyway, if it had been a clear day it would have been even more magnificent.
We returned to the Caravan Park via the Nerang
Murwillumbah Road which travels through the Lamington National Park.
It was just another great day, we seem to having a lot of those on
this trip.
In the meantime a parcel has arrived and is addressed
to Pam Bentley - Maybe Mothers Day will be the right day to open
it, that is if I can keep her hands off it until then. Tomorrow
we intend to visit Movie World if we can, but right now there are
more
important
things
on
the agenda,
it is
after six o'clock and 'one of us' is calling for a cold drink. |
Purling Falls - Springbrook
Part of the view from Canyon lookout
|
Saturday 8th May 2004
The Gold Coast, Beautiful one day, a little humid the next, then
raining the next, but warm all the time, day or night . It is not
much wonder
the surrounds and mountains are so green and lush. It started raining
about midnight last night and did not stopped since.
This caused a change in our plans for the day as we were told
that a large number of the events at Movie World take place
outdoors and that would mean getting very wet, not such a great
idea for oldies like us. It would have been a great day for Wet
& Wild, but that doesn't appear to be our scene either. So our
decision was to try Movie World on Monday instead.
We did go out for a while in the morning to visit Pacific Fair,
the largest shopping centre in Queensland, but after a while
'one of us' couldn't find anything to buy and as it wasn't all
under the one roof, we decided we had had enough shopping for the
day, as it was still raining, we headed off back to the caravan
park.
During the afternoon 'one of us' did our washing and naturally
enough dried it in the drier. When I went to see if my assistance
was needed, I found her chatting up a young fellow in the laundry
(says they were talking about football...). The 'other
one' completed the extremely strenuous
activity
of reading
the
paper, all whilst it continued to pour.
Then it was a matter of relaxing in the caravan and getting mentally
prepared to cook the roast lamb for dinner. Hopefully it will be
fine tomorrow for our visit to Les and Patti Nash's home in Brisbane.
|
The Days activities
Preparing to cook the Roast Lamb for dinner! |
Sunday 9th May 2004 Mothers Day
Mothers Day today and it started off with 'one of us' staying
in bed whilst the other one made the cup of tea and biscuits (Have
to admit that was a change of roles!)
After a good long chat with the people next door that were leaving
the caravan park today, we finally headed off for Brisbane to meet
up with Patti and Les Nash for the day. Thanks to some pretty good
directions provided by Patti we arrived at their house around 11:30am
and were made extremely welcome. It was great see them after almost
thirty years and to find they haven't really changed.
After a cup of coffee, we all set off in Les's new Ford Sedan
that had all things that open and shut. We drove along the ocean
front
then to a local workers club (although non of us work!) where they
shouted us to lunch. We then drove into Brisbane and up into the
hills where we we able to look out over Brisbane City and most
of the surrounding suburbs, right through to the mountains in the
distance. From there we drove back into the city and stopped at
the Casino. While Les tried his luck on the pokies, Patti took
us on a very informative walking tour of the city centre. We then
returned to the casino where we viewed Les's luck and unfortunately
it was all bad, before they shouted us to dinner in the Casino.
It was then time to return to their house where we said our goodbyes
and set off back to the caravan park in the Patrol. We didn't
arrive back at the caravan until about 8:15pm. This was too late
to get the web site prepared and uploaded in our free mobile phone
time, so for those looking for the update, sorry it is late, but
as the saying goes, better late then never.
'One of us' was very pleased to have heard from all three of her
babies (well they were once!) over the course of the day. Tomorrow
we intend to make our postponed visit to Movie World.
|
Les, Pammy and Patty |
