Dec 2008

Woke around 6am (not sure if I even slept) to heat and covered in sweat. Had a nice breaky with Brodie and he showed us his new Apple Mac toys including large screen computer with boom box attachment. He was setting up for his girlfriends birthday party on the weekend.

He then offered to take us out to Rainbow Beach through the 15km of 4WD forest track through the Great Sandy National Park (runs from Rainbow Beach all the way through to Noosa), to the longest section of Rainbow Beach – only accessibly by 4WD. It was the most amazing trip. Something we would never have done on our own, and it was an amazing trip. After we reached the beach, we headed the several kilometres up the beach to lighthouse on the point. We stopped and let the dog have a swim and then took the arduous task of climbing the very steep hill up to the lighthouse. It was a breathtaking view. One way up Rainbow Beach, and the other way looking North over Fraser Island and the bar (entrance point for boats) (generally a very dangerous point where the land mass interferes with the seas and the tides) which has flipped many a boat on the East coast.

We had to get back quickly as the tide was starting to come up and we had several kilometres to travel before reaching the turn off back through the forest. As we turned the well churned path to the entrance of the forest we got bogged. It was burning hot on our feet and we got covered in sand, but luckily a lovely soul stopped and with snatch strap in hand, towed us to the smaller rutted part of the track. After another minor bog, we were finally on the way and getting hungrier by the minute after our huge hill climb followed by pushing efforts. So we continued on to Rainbow Beach township and after a quick tour of the town, followed by a couple of cold beve’s at the Rainbow Beach Surf Lifesaving Association, we headed up the hill to the nicest restaurant in town for a fabulous lunch, watching the Para Gliders drifting backwards and forwards in the gentle breeze.

It was a great way to end our time with our new friend Brodie. We had a great time with him. He returned home to his great shed he’d owner built that had been turned into a great house.

We were finding the humidity a little draining after so little sleep, so we headed out to Inskip Point that we were suggested we spend the night. We were a little concerned as it’s a national park and we past sign after sign saying a permit was required to camp out there. We past site after site with a sign indicating a permit was required (which of course we didn’t have) and then eventually found the very last site didn’t have a sign. Don’t actually know if all the signs had been removed. Enjoyed the cooling drizzle that hit during the evening. It made for a lovely stroll on the beach.

A 6:30am rise due to the van heating up, forced us to relocate to the beach and under some shady tree to relax by.

Sat around enjoying the fresh cooling breeze. Steve continued his new book and I caught up on blogs. It’s a really pleasant spot. Lots of large yachts relaxing in the protected inlet of Tin Can Bay. Its lovely. Have been listening to much thunder. Sounds like storms around but none to be had. Really hot day and reading a book by the water under a shady tree is the only place to be on a day like this!

Midget had a ball. She kept cool by swimming around as the tide came in and looking endlessly for fish. Walking round and round in circles and then when she tired of that, she came and laid on her cushie under the shady tree or sunbaked, then repeated it all again.

We stayed till 5pm when the world famous Tin Can Bay Yacht Club opened for business. This is the cheapest yacht club in Australia. With a $10 joining fee and $40 annual fees for full, yes, FULL membership, it’s a steal!

What a great place. We’d read about it in Cruising Helmsman and its always stuck in our minds. We’ve always wanted to come here. Steve was elsewhere at the time and I was waiting around so struck up a conversation with a guy there on his own. He was recently retired to Tin Can Bay and was the soon to be Commodore of the Kayaking section of the yacht club. We enjoyed hearing about all his stories of the town and how he came to be here. He had lead an interesting life, least of all for being a Vietnam vet, but had found his peace in Cooloola Cove, just 5 minutes up the road.

Steve eventually joined us and we stayed for a few round and a few more. Then Brodie invited us back to his place for a BBQ. We took him up on his very kind offer and had a most enjoyable evening at his house. We camped in his driveway after a restless and rather sleepless night in the still and hot weather that is up here.

Decided it was time to move on. The weather is getting a little too warm to be heading north, and we really wanted to get up and spend another couple of days with Deli before we started heading south. Drove about 110kms north of Noosa and stopped at Tin Can Bay. A very cute little spot. A sleepy little fishing village. The only place we could find open for dinner was the fancy restaurant and the pub. We chose the pub. The dog had a difficult time adjusting to being back in the van. I think she spent the whole drive up requesting to be driven back to the airconditioned comfortable house where she’s fed titbits from dawn till dusk as well as taken for walks and drives and other activities on demand. We failed to oblige. She soon perked up when we were out of the van and walking around the town and letting her sniff the delights of a new spot she’d never been to before.

A very hot night made for an uncomfortable sleep. Well in fact, not a sleep at all really…

Three in One Tree - A Morton Bay Fig, Forest Red Gum, and Cupania all in the one tree. These are really old and thriving in the main street of Tewantin.

Spent the next week or so slowing down in the hotter weather. Have had the airconditioner on during the day its been so warm. Our exercising has also slowed as its just been too hot to do anything. We get up so late in the morning that its too hot to do too much. We have managed a couple of bike rides, and have found a great 1.25 hour walk into Tewantin along the walk paths and creeks and involves only a short walk along busy roads. All the rest is along these gorgeous treed walk paths and the dog has a ball.

Mum’s Birthday today! Happy 65th! Went to the Kabi Organic Golf Course for an amazing breakfast! What a great way to go! Their food is amazing and all organic. The golf course was also really busy – the first time we’d seen so many people out enjoying the organic course. The course is surrounded by natural bush, and they’ve planted a huge array of stunning fruit trees throughout the grounds which are used in most of their recipes they cook including their delicious cakes and deserts – yum!

Ended the day with the Sunday roast at the RSL for dinner. A great day all round.