Day 77 – Monday 7 August 2023 – Hervey Bay Day 14
Overnight scattered showers (again) seemed to fizzle out as the sun rose. The cloud hung about in the east, but not bad enough to prevent sheets and towels hitting the washing machine.
We did not do all that well in the Ashes cricket, but we won the netball World Cup, beating England easily in the final. With another Carlton win it was a good night.
After a few housekeeping duties Darryl and I dropped Shirley and Kay off at "the shops". I think they were having 'shopping withdrawal'. Dags and I headed to Bunnings, me to return a faulty gas bottle and Darryl to return unwanted goods.
Darryl was successful, and I learned how to correctly attach a gas bottle with a black 'tap'. We shouted the ladies a coffee at 'Enzo's On The Beach'. The view was pretty good.
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| View from Enzo's |
We drove the long way back to camp, checking out Point Vernon and some of the great sights from there.
Just to make sure that the gas bottle now worked I toasted a couple of rolls for lunch - with tomato, cheese & avocado.
Not long after Shirley and I went for a drive to find a good place to meet up with friends for lunch, on Saturday. We decided on Bayswater Bar and Grill, overlooking the ocean and the Urangan pier.
It was now time for rest, so we did. It was 21 degrees.
Around 5:45 I lit the Weber and cooked some (bowls-club-raffle-winning) sausages and some veggies. The snags were superb.
Day 78 – Tuesday 8 August 2023 – Hervey Bay Day 15
The now regular pattern of light overnight rain continued. This time I was more alert at the right time and could be optimistic that there would be clouds around for a sunrise photo.
At 5:55 am I slipped out of bed and donned my tracksuit and headed to the beach. It was fresh but, with no wind, it was not overly cold. Maybe 14 degrees. It was worth the effort. As usual, the rain seemed to have cleared away.
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| The sun rising over K'gari (Fraser Island) and below the Urangan pier |
I moved to the other side of the pier and took more photos..............
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| The sun rising over (near) low tide |
By 6:45 am I was back in the caravan quietly updating the blog. Shirley slept on.
By 9 am we were both showered, dressed and had completed breakfast - ready for a new day.
After morning coffee we headed off to do what we love to do when near a Queensland coast - walk on the beach. Our walk today was 4 km return from Pialba to Torquay, under the Scarness pier.
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Scarness Pier - in both photos |
On the way back to camp we bought a couple of excellent pies, for lunch.
There was plenty of relaxation all afternoon as the weather was trying to decide on rain or sunshine.
Shirley found a piece of Goldband Snapper in the freezer, so fish and chips was the choice for dinner.
Day 79 – Wednesday 9 August 2023 – Hervey Bay Day 16
As it was Wednesday Darryl and I headed off at 8am to play bowls. We played a local husband and wife team and the score at the end after 21 ends was a tie, 17 - 17. We enjoyed our morning.
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| Our bowls are black, our opponents are blue |
Shirley made a salad bowl for lunch and then we went and did a bit of shopping, at the chemist and BCF.
It was a quiet afternoon. Happy hour was in Kay & Darryl's caravan annex with a glass of Guinness.
Dinner was a BBQ'd pork chop and some veggies that needed to be cooked.
Day 80 – Thursday 10 August 2023 – Hervey Bay Day 17
Another day in Paradise. Another walk on the beach - that was something special. It was not just the 3.75 km stroll through the shallows, or the 23 degrees. It was also what we saw as we walked.
First, a guy on a paddleboard that had a milk crate strapped to it - to sit on. Not all that special. However, the fact that he was using a $1900 Samsung phone while on the paddleboard was a bit different.
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| A great spot for privacy while using your phone (in his left hand) |
We admired the view as we walked on further.
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| Torquay Beach & Pier |
As we approached the pier we were passed by a lady with a sulphur-crested cockatoo on a lead (maybe 2 to 3 metres long). The bird alternated between flight and a free ride.
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| Sulphur-crested Cockatoo & Handler |
We headed back to camp and relaxed.
Around 2:45 pm we headed to "Enzo's on the Beach", to catch up with friends Julie & Al. It was Happy Hour and so were we, well before we headed home. It was a pleasant two hours.
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| Julie, Al and Shirley |
We headed back to camp and had spaghetti bolognese with a bacon and olive damper that I had cooked earlier.
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| Bacon & Olive Damper |
Day 81 – Friday 11 August 2023 – Hervey Bay Day 18
Another early start with the washing on the line before 8am. I then headed off to River Heads (20 km away) to learn a new skill that I can apply to my wood working. It was fun. Stay tuned for updates on that.
Around 11am I met Shirley at Woolworths and gave the Mastercard a fair workout.
We relaxed over lunch for a while then went for another beach walk - this time at Pialba. Another pleasant stroll.
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| (Boat adverse) Shirley on an island without using a boat |
We headed home and relaxed (just to be different). Around 4:30 I headed into the nerve centre to prepare pizzas for dinner.
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Kelly Nerve
Centre during pizza preparation: |
We dined and we enjoyed.
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| Pizza. Before & After Cooking. |
We are prepared to conduct training courses as to how you can live like this.
Day 82 – Saturday 12 August 2023 – Hervey Bay Day 19
First real job of the day was to deliver Shirley and Kay to the market, then start pre-departure jobs. However Darryl and I chatted instead. No jobs were complete by the time the ladies returned.
So we had a coffee, then I did a couple of jobs.
Soon it was time to don 'glad rags' and head to the Bayswater Bar and Grill for lunch with David & Wendy. The six of us enjoyed an excellent lunch of barramundi, parmas and pork belly.
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| Chris, Shirley, Kay, Darryl, David & Wendy at the Bayswater Bar & Grill |
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| The view from our lunch venue |
After lunch I did those jobs and then relaxed for the rest of the afternoon.
The day finished on a high with the Matildas winning their quarter final in the FIFA World Cup. The day went one better when Carlton beat second-placed Melbourne later on.
Day 83 – Sunday 13 August 2023 – Hervey Bay Day 20
Our last full day in Hervey Bay started with a cleaning job - the top of the awning - which nearly always needs a clean before being packed away. The job was made that much harder by the local bats who left their 'mark' on the top.
That job was completed, and so was a coffee and a chat with a neighbour from Warrnambool.
After that it was time for our last stroll on a Hervey Bay beach (this trip), this time near the pier. I counted about 60 people on the pier enjoying the magnificent weather and views. Our stroll was a mere 2.5 km. I was able to catch one of the many small fish on camera. It was maybe 10 to 15 cm long.
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| A Local in the shallows |
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| Shirley and Chris and the Pier |
Lunch was a hot dog.
After lunch I made plain and date scones. David and Wendy joined Shirley, Kay, Darryl and myself. We shared the leftover scones.
Shirley, Kay, Darryl and I enjoyed a balmy late afternoon with our last Happy Hour in Hervey Bay for this trip. Shirley cooked chicken fried rice for dinner. It was excellent.
This chapter is now Complete.
Over 82 days we have:
- travelled 8860 km
- spent $35 per day on diesel
- spent $32 per day on accommodation
- had scones or damper 13 times
- had many beach walks.
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Last updated at 7 am on Monday 14th August 2023.
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