Gold Coast - Home

Since my last update we travelled 900klms from Dubbo to Nerang on the Gold Coast in two days, as Fred has had a minor stroke and we thought we had better come home to see what needs to be done for him.
On the trip from Dubbo we experienced a variety of different scenery, from flat massive pastures to rolling hills then into rain forest with winding steep descents before reaching the coast. Once again the weather was not wonderful, but as we were on a mission to arrive on the Coast by Tuesday so we could fly out Wednesday, we were not too worried by it. We would have liked to have been able to spend some time exploring some of the little towns that we passed through but maybe another time when we travel that way.
We spent Tuesday night with are friends Alison & David who have just moved into a fifth floor apartment at Emerald Lakes. Their new home is very impressive, in the French Quarter of a new housing and lake development. We were sitting out on their balcony having breakfast before our flight home and had a good view of two hot air balloons drifting past.
We have put the caravan into storage not far from their unit for $25 per week and Alison and David had an extra parking spot in secure undercover parking at the French Quarter where we were able to leave the Pajero.
We have been to see Fred since arriving home, seems to be picking up again with only slight loss of functions. We are hoping to be returning to our travels sometime next week if all is still going well. We will most likely have a change of plans for the rest of our trip, as need to be within a couple of days travelling time if we need to come home again. Looks like outback adventures will have to wait a little longer.
Will return to this blog when on the road again....................

Dubbo cont......

We are about to spend our third night here at Dubbo, after deciding to stay on an extra day due to the inclement weather. It has cleared a little this afternoon after a couple of rainy days, so hopefully the worst is over, has not been too bad compared with other parts of the state.

Since we have been here we have caught up on all our washing, thank goodness for dryers ! To relieve our cabin fever we went for a meal at the Bowls Club where we were joined by some fellow Tasmanian's Brian & Pam Bennett who just happen to be staying in the same caravan park as us. Barry's father (Fred) used to be Brian's boss at Telecom and I also knew him from being a director at the Credit Union. We also went for a visit to the Old Dubbo Gaol, where a reenactment was taking place of a prisoner trying to escape. Bazza was chosen from the group to help with the escape, but after enlightening the performer that he was a retired Prison Officer and his conscious would not allow him to assist, he was able to wriggle his way out of playing the part. Later the actors discussed that he was there as a spy so he did not get out of it that easy. The gaol is very well preserved and the interactive displays are very good, the main entrance to the goal is in the main st of Dubbo, the town has been built around it.

When we leave here we were to head out to Bourke, Charlieville and to Longreach but after a phone call back home we think it is advisable for us now to go to the Gold Coast, as Fred is not doing too good and we may have to fly home.