Our week at Surfer's Paradise was cool and wet at times but we were able to enjoy the beach and amusement parks regardless. It seemed that we were just able to "time it right". That was true again as we packed up on the morning of Tuesday, January 17. It was wet and pouring rain (again) so we made that a driving day. After loading up on groceries and books, we headed north of Brisbane to Caloundra. It was only a couple of hour drive. As we pulled into the Visitor Information booth, I spotted a sign that advertised ice skating! It sounded like the perfect solution to our rainy day problem! First, we quickly found a beach, went for a walk (see Kent and Cody taking a stroll!), and had supper. Then we headed to the Rollerdrome for a 2 hour skate. We were quite surprised! Their skates were like downhill ski boots and there were LOTS of people there. It was like a rollerskating rink complete with music and disco balls. (Side note - Colt thought we should get a disco ball for our motor home. When I told him that Trent Dutchak really DOES have a disco ball in his camper, he almost fell over! That Trent is soooo cool!) Anyway, we all had to skate in an "anti-clockwise direction" and were advised to "not pick up speed". To our surprise, there were some very good skaters (who were not wearing rentals) and, no surprise, there were many very dangerous skaters. There were no helmets! After skating slowly (insert complaining here...) there was a "speed skating" challenge. We all left the ice while the 12 and unders skated around as fast as they could! You should have heard the comments!!! Of course, most were about Khye because of his size but still....they were all cute! Later, I showed them how it was done when the ladies had a turn and Howard carved it up with the men! During another challenge, we had to skate as low as we could and, at the end, Colt won a slushy when he was chosen as one of the two winners! We did come away with some sore limbs (but heads were ok) from a few spills. We are sure the skates had never been sharpened EVER and the ice was very bumpy/sharp. I was wearing a coat and cut my elbow anyway! Regardless, it was a great night!
Wednesday, January 18, we continued north to Mooloolaba. It is very close. We spent two nights here and the weather was challenging, as you can see. Luckily, we timed it right again and missed the rain as we spent Thursday and Friday at the Australia Zoo - Home of the Crocodile Hunter! (Thank you Christal for loaning us the videos!) It was the most wonderful zoo and amazing experience! We arrived 1.45 hours early (oops...problem with watches/I-pods...) but were so lucky that we chose to go that day! Terri, Bindi and Robert Irwin were at the huge Crocoseum to help feed Charlie the croc. Usually the show lasts 20 minutes but we were there on a special day! They fed Charlie a dead pig and we listened to the Irwins talk as we waited an hour while Charlie broke up the pigs' bones and then ripped him apart with violent head shakes. With 3 shakes he was able to rip off 3 limbs and swallow them whole! Crikey! I have included lots of pictures from the 2 days so please look under the heading "More/Summer Holidays". It was an amazing and inspiring place to visit and I'm sure it is both difficult and inspiring for the family and staff to work there after Steve's death because his face, voice and spirit are everywhere. During lunch at a quiet part of the park, I told Howard that it just felt like Steve would come walking down the path to meet every guest and shake their hands. He really is still the main man at the zoo even 6 years after his death.
Charlie and his lunch...head shake #1.
After Friday at the zoo, we said goodbye to the Sunshine Coast and began the long (but better make it quick!) drive south to Sydney. We had to make it to the motor home dealership by Monday morning. We traveled back a couple hours to our campground at Surfer's Paradise. We even got the same sight! We braved the wind and hit the beach for a short time and then headed back to the pool for a bit longer. Khye is getting so brave and was swimming in the deep end of the pool with only little water wings! Gotta watch that kid! Colt has been swimming across the pool with his face under the water too!
On Saturday, we continued our long journey. We stopped back at South West Rocks and checked into the Big 4 campsite again. We enjoyed the surf in the afternoon and had another movie night in the evening. That has been happening a lot lately! The campgrounds will often have outdoor movies and, in the rain, we have been renting movies from the registration offices. Tonight, we borrowed one from a fellow camper!
On Sunday morning, we intended to get a good start.....but were on Jackson time! The boys were up early to play mini-golf while we cleaned up, and then it started to pour! Just as we were finished up, so were they and look at the happy mess that was standing at our door! Gotta love those boys!
On Saturday, we continued our long journey. We stopped back at South West Rocks and checked into the Big 4 campsite again. We enjoyed the surf in the afternoon and had another movie night in the evening. That has been happening a lot lately! The campgrounds will often have outdoor movies and, in the rain, we have been renting movies from the registration offices. Tonight, we borrowed one from a fellow camper!
On Sunday morning, we intended to get a good start.....but were on Jackson time! The boys were up early to play mini-golf while we cleaned up, and then it started to pour! Just as we were finished up, so were they and look at the happy mess that was standing at our door! Gotta love those boys!
They played 3 rounds of mini golf in the rain! (Check out Khye's new Australia Zoo shirt that he chose for himself!)
Our Sunday drive led us (the loooonnnggg way around) to a town north of Sydney called The Entrance. The boys caught half of the Smurfs movie and Howard and I visited with the family camping behind us. The weather was very wet and cool all day and night again. Soooo glad we have the motor home!
They boys have spent their time with their DS' and I-Pods and eat, color and read too. They will be very quiet for a long time and then they get restless and the fighting and noise breaks out. After seat shuffling and more snacks, they usually settle back down and it all starts over again!
We made it to the west side of Sydney to drop off our motor home before noon on Monday and then Howard had the incredible job of packing our treasures into our new van (yah! It was still there!) He loaded 9 suitcases, 6 backpacks, 2 camera bags, a cooler, 5 boogie boards, a tent, 12 towels, birthday presents, groceries, a large bag of books, sand toys, ball gloves, a cricket set, 3 bags of dirty laundry and the 6 of us into that van!! It's amazing and so is he! We chose to leave the lawn chairs behind (actually, we had no choice!) Really it was unbelievable. I would have gotten a picture except....where was the camera in that mess?!
They boys have spent their time with their DS' and I-Pods and eat, color and read too. They will be very quiet for a long time and then they get restless and the fighting and noise breaks out. After seat shuffling and more snacks, they usually settle back down and it all starts over again!
We made it to the west side of Sydney to drop off our motor home before noon on Monday and then Howard had the incredible job of packing our treasures into our new van (yah! It was still there!) He loaded 9 suitcases, 6 backpacks, 2 camera bags, a cooler, 5 boogie boards, a tent, 12 towels, birthday presents, groceries, a large bag of books, sand toys, ball gloves, a cricket set, 3 bags of dirty laundry and the 6 of us into that van!! It's amazing and so is he! We chose to leave the lawn chairs behind (actually, we had no choice!) Really it was unbelievable. I would have gotten a picture except....where was the camera in that mess?!
The drive from Sydney to Leeton (before Griffith) lasted from 12:30 - 8:45 pm. It is usually a 6 hour drive if you take the short way and don't stop for countless bathroom breaks! (Apparently the boys like the motor home way of life!) We met Vince's sister Cathy, her husband Matt and 4 of their children at their home in Leeton. We had a wonderful visit and a late supper with them. Cathy and Matt led us to Boongarra Farm at 10:30 Monday night. We were exhausted but so relieved to finally be at our new home. We are very appreciative to the Dando family for their hospitality and for the groceries! After picking rooms, the boys fell into bed and I waited a little longer before calling home and giving Mom a wake up call.
It was been an excellent 3 weeks on the road and we loved it all! We missed so many things along the way but would need to spend years on the coast to take that all in. Whoever says you need 2-4 weeks to visit Australia must be joking! We have loved everything we've seen and feel like we haven't seen anything yet!
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