Agnes Waters

Our next stop was Agnes Waters, unfortunately we could only book in for two nights as QLD School Holiday were starting and us Grey Nomads needed to make way for the tents and camper trailers. We would have loved to stay longer as this park is in a great location only have to walk down the track and you are on a lovely beach, it wasn't much good for me with this stupid broken toe/stitches I couldn't go walking or swimming anyhow!!

Our friends Sue and Mike who are our neighbours from home were also at the park so it was great to catch up with them and hear about their time away. We did manage to try out a couple of eating establishments while at Agnes the first being The Getaway Garden Cafe where we enjoyed coffee and lush cakes we must have a return visit sometime. We also made little piggies of ourselves when we went to The Green Turtle Restaurant sharing a couple of Seafood Platters, another place that we must definitely revisit!

Once again our time there went much too quickly the beautiful weather that we have had this year just keeps on keeping on.

Baz, Sue & Michael at the Getaway Garden Cafe

Baz, Denise & Michael at the Getaway Garden Cafe

Getaway Garden Cafe

Agnes Waters Beach

Glamping at Agnes Waters Caravan Park

1770

The Lark 1770

View to beach from van at Agnes Waters

Seafood Platter for Two at The Green Turtle Resturant

Three Little Piggies at the Green Turtle Resturant

Cooroy

We had planned on heading to Carnarvon Gorge after leaving Bargara to meet up with Alison & David, but unfortunately they were unable to get away. As we wanted to catch up with them we headed south to Cooroy which is about 18 klm east of Noosa. Once again we enjoyed our time together popping into Trewantin, Noosaville enjoying a coffee on the Noosa River along with the campfire cooking and a shopping trip to Costco for Al & I, Baz declined the hour drive down to Costco electing to spending a relaxing time at the campground.

A good thing we had an anti slip mat covering our glass cook top, as when Baz was preparing my breakfast he turned the gas knob the wrong way, instead of turning the gas off he turned it to the low setting!, Then he put the glass top down not realising the gas was still burning, sometime later there was a very loud bang when the glass exploded at least the mat kept the glass pretty much contained. Baz said it was the fastest he has ever seen me jump out of bed.

We left Cooroy Friday morning heading north once again, as we were close to Tin Can Bay where Baz's cousins live we decided to pay Judy &  Derek a visit. We were very spoilt with Derek supplying us with home brew Scotch & Southern Comfort also Judy gave us a quantity of frozen fish & Redclaw that they had caught up in the Gulf & dams.

 Things went down hill later that night when I was putting the caravan TV on the bracket, I thought I had it right unfortunately for me it fell off with the corner smashing my fourth toe! I was bleeding heavily leaving pools of blood as I jumped around the van, poor Baz was mopping up with paper towel, eventually the blood flow was under control with ice packs strapped to the foot with shopping bags. I had hoped the next morning we could pull the toe back together with steri strips, no such luck, Judy took a look & said it would need stitches 😱. Our next stop was the Maryborough Hospital where after waiting a couple of hours finally got to see a Dr then an X-ray, finally after four hours I was told I would need to go into Hervey Bay Hospital to see an Orthopaedic Surgeon. Fast tracked at Hervey Bay thank goodness 😅 was then admitted, in surgery at 10 pm, now have sutures & the toe pinned as I had broken the tip off  and it would not of mended. Sutures out in two weeks, pin removed in six no more swimming this trip! All I wanted was a couple of sutures!

Enjoying he campfire at Cooroy

A couple of Old Farts waiting for their coffee fix

Enjoying our coffee & hot chocolate on Noosa River

The Big Pelican at Noosaville i

Glass cook top went off with a BANG !

Oh no an open fracture! Off to theatre!

My lovely footwear for the next six weeks!

Bargara Beach

Monday 4th Sept we left Bargara Beach, once again the time there flew by, where had six weeks gone? The weather that we have experienced this year has been just delightful, most days on average have been 25 degrees, at times we have even enjoyed temps up to 29 degrees. I am sure rain would be very welcome to settle the dust, at the caravan park the grounds are really dry, any grass they have is struggling to survive, they say they haven't had a good rain since Cyclone Debbie. Baz was watering an area behind our van hoping we will still have grass when we come back next year, as once again we have booked the same site.

We have been lucky to have sightings of whales even though they are probably 2 klms offshore they just seem to be thoroughly enjoying their migration putting on a show,  breaching slapping their tails & fins as they head south to cooler water.

Jason, Neat & grandkids came to stay for a couple of nights, it was their first time into Bundy & Bargara, they arrived with all their camping gear. Unfortunately on their first night there was very strong wind from about 2.30 am, Baz was up checking on the gazebo hoping Jase had it peg down OK. We were all a little tired the next day, luckily the wind had eased by daylight, it was the first strong wind we had encountered on this trip. Just unlucky for them it was that weekend. We all still managed to have a great time Liv & Archie loved the playgrounds along the waterfront & the Woodfired Pizza in the park on Saturday night. Sunday we all went to the market in Bundy then headed out to the Port for fresh Prawns, Fish & Chips then it was time for them to head home to Tannum. Next time they will have to stay for a longer time, so much more we could have done.

 Baz & I managed to get a few games of bowls in while we were there, the competition was strong with us only winning a couple of the games, it was a little demoralising sometimes let's hope we play better on the slower greens at home. We also enjoyed our walks along the waterfront & the occasional bike ride, we did manage a 17 klm return ride from Bargara to Burnett Heads before we left!

Hosting a Happy Hour

Carpet Python sunning itself along the
waterfront walkway

Mother & calf

Dog sitting Milly for Denise & Vern

Family invasion

Happy campers

Liv & Archie enjoying the playground

Baby Chino time

Great chair Gran

Mobile Pizza Van

Lunch at the Port

Archie having a chat with Grandad 

Pre dinner drinks, farewell to Ruth & Ian

Farewell meal with our Bargara family,
until next year!

Burrum Heads

Our stay of 2.5 weeks at Jason's flew by it didn't seem any time at all and we were saying goodbye to Jase, Neat, Liv and Archie. Liv had a lovely 6th Birthday Party with Neat excelling herself with the birthday cake, everything went to plan, no dramas this year. We also spent an enjoyable day at the Mount Larcom Show with the family, it is a great agricultural country show with it's many animals and demonstrations to be enjoyed by families.

Baz's burn was healing nicely with daily dressing changes, I was still having problems with my foot and my blood pressure was still on the high side. I ended up having to have a 24 hr monitor which was rather uncomfortable as it was taking my BP every 30 mins in the day and during the night hourly. Yes it came back as being rather high, had thought it may have been The White Coat Syndrome, no such luck, so now on yet another keep me alive tablet.

We arrived here at Burrum Heads on the 3rd July the day after Liv's birthday, it was sad saying goodbye to the family but it will only be for a few weeks as they will catch us for a weekend at Bargara Beach. We will be going back to Tannum at the end of September for a week before leaving the car and van and flying home, then coming back for Christmas.

 Since being here at Burrum Heads I have again been running to the doctor this time hoping for answers in regard to my painful toe and ankle. I think between doctors at Tannum and here at Burrum I have had every blood test possible, also had xray and ultrasound of the foot before they finally gave me some tablets for GOUT! That is what I thought it was when I started taking the anti inflammatory's that then sky rocketed my BP and put me on the Merry Go Round, at least now I am finally able to walk ok again.

Baz was very exited a few days ago when he finally caught his first Bream then again the next day another one, he has only been trying without success for three years so two fish in three years is really putting his average up. He can be down at the river for hours with other fisherman either side of him catching good size Bream and he comes home with nothing.

We have experienced our first rain since Hay, lucky for us it was just overnight which helped to keep the dust down, with days here on the coast averaging between 22 -25 daily, nights down to around 10 just a little hard to take. We have travelled the 30 klms into Hervey Bay a few times to do our shopping and also to catch up with our friends Carlene and Rex also we had Leonie and Richard there as well that we needed to catch up with and relieve them of our caravan cover that they had kindly picked up from the Gold Coast for us.

Once again our time here at Burrum has flown it will be three weeks on Monday since we arrived, and now it is time to move onto our next stop Bargara Beach. It has been a busy time with going for meals, markets, shopping and enjoying many Happy Hours with our friends Maree, Brian, Christina, Eddie, Judy and Merv we never seems to run out of something to talk about and of course there is always a good laugh usually at someones expense.

Liv's Birthday Breakfast

Party friends and one little Batman brother

Family photo and cake

Welcome band at Mount Larcom Show

Baz and I trying Jason's and Neat's Love Seat
Prefer my own space!

Tannum Sands night markets and bands

Baz taking it easy at Burrum Heads

Check out that grin,
 didn't have to get him to smile for the camera!

Sunset Burrum Heads

Lunch at Hervey Bay delicious Seafood Chowder

Celebrating Brian's Birthday at the Tavern

Lara Wetlands - Tannum Sands

I think I must have relaxed too much at Lara Wetlands as I have found it hard to get around to updating my blog. Now need to rely on my memory!

It was certainly a tranquil camping spot surrounded by Wetlands abundant with Birds & Wildlife, we were able to enjoy the clear nights star gazing sitting around our campfire. On our last night we had a communal campfire with our neighbours from either side of us, it started out as just a drink or two but after two bottles of bubbles that Fay & I drank, then Baz raided our van bringing out the White Port also the bottle of Bundy Royal Liqueur we were all feeling a little happy if not a little sad to be moving on. Baz accidentally brushed against the fire pot and burnt his leg, he said at the time it didn't hurt, I say no sense no feeling! Will elaborate more later in the blog............
  
We left Lara on Sunday 11th June after a very enjoyable 5 nights, we travelled  just 41 klms back  to Barcaldine, I think this is the shortest ever journey we have done. Baz was determined to clean the van & car as we were feeling a little dusty and dirty after the road leading to and from the campground.  The showgrounds had taps accessible that we were able to use to wash the van, it was great to see it reappearing from under the red dust. We then headed to the Barcaldine Tourist Park where I was able to strip the bed and catch up on our washing as this was the first opportunity I had since before heading out to Birdsville. Baz was also able to give the Paj a spruce up, we were again feeling a little more human with all our smokey clothes washed, a clean bed, van & car washed, also extra long hot showers for us.

Leaving Barcaldine we headed to Saphire for an overnight stop before our next stop Mt Morgan. This is the third time we have called into the Silver Wattle Caravan Park and each year we see the improvements Sarah & Mark have made. We were so looking forward to the free range eggs that you receive when checking in, I was being ever so careful transferring them from the car to the van when I tripped and smashed all four, a big disappointment no fresh eggs for breakfast. We had two nights here resting up before heading to the coast to two very excited grandchildren.

We have now been at Tannum Sands for a week, a very busy week with many activities to attend to see what Liv and Arhie have achieved in the 9 months since we last saw them.

 Friday we had a big day Jase, Baz, Archie & myself left home at 7.30 am  to meet up with Jason/s friends Dave & Lisa to head out to Kroombit National Park about 100 klms from Tannum Sands to see the crash site of an American Liberty Bomber. The Bomber came to grief in 1943 and wasn't discovered  until 45 years later, laying to rest the mystery of The Beautiful Betsy and her crew. You walk amongst the wreckage that is strewn over a large area, it is only accessible by 4WD. The 35km (2 hrs) 4WD loop road has a few creek crossings, it is steep & rocky in places with some spectacular views along the way from approx 900 metres above sea level. It was a great day enjoying a bbq lunch along the way and not getting back home until 6 pm, some  very tired people.

Saturday night I found myself in the Emergency Dept at the Gladstone Hospital as my daughter in law Anita became worried about my blood pressure, upon arrival at the Hospital it was 212/110 I was soon whisked off for a CT Scan and ECG. Some four hours later with all tests being OK and the blood pressure coming down after popping a pill, I was able to go home. It seems the anti inflammatory tablets I was taking for my sore foot had caused the spike in the BP, still having follow up with the local GP.
Anita has once again had to use her persuasion skills as the burn on Baz's leg was starting to look mighty unhealthy, with a phone call to the local Dr's and a shove in the right direction Baz has now been receiving treatment on his leg which requires daily dressings. Poor Anita has a couple of old crocks for in laws.

Farewell Lara Wetlands

Barb Wire Sculpture Jerico

First clouds we have seen in weeks heading to Emerald

Young Peacocks at the Silver Caravan Park
Mount Morgan

Plane wreckage Kroombit National Park

Lunch break Kroombit National Park