Anzac Day - 25/4/12

Anzac Day this year was alot cooler and no humidity and or screaming sun for those who had to march. We arrived in plenty of time for Brian to get to the assembly point for the start of the Anzac Parade that is held each year in Caloundra. I dropped him off and went to find a park for the car before making my way up to the assembly point and then down to the esplanade where I waited with the camera. This year would have been the largest parade that we have seen since Brian has been taking part in the Caloundra parade. This year Brian marched with the Navy guys & gals and actually met up with a guy who used to sail on the Otago from NZ the Otago is the sister ship of the Taranaki that Brian was on.

Time to return home 22/4/12

Well this is our final day here infact we have to depart by 1000am. Carol & Alesha came to say bye to us around 9.15 they were heading to ward Bundy on their way home and Vicky & Jamie had already left. We had most of our stuff packed up and away by the time Carol & Alesha arrived so we only had the last minute stuff to do once they left. We left on time at 0955am and made our way home with no traffic issues thankfully along the way. We made a cuppa tea stop half way between Bargara and home at a place called Tiaro, we stopped at a nice spot off the main highway and in actual fact it is an overnight caravan stop, we found a nice shady spot under a Poinciana Tree, we did the usual comfort stop and rested for around 30mins before making the final push for home. We arrived home to sun and fine weather around 3.30pm better than the previous Sunday when we left. Our next trip will be a weekend away to "Worrium" at Bribie Island as Terry and Patricia are almost due to arrive over for their winter escape from the cold Christchurch winter.

Breakfast @ "Mira Cafe" & "Burnett Head's"

Saturday 21st: Other than the waves crashing on the shore and the birds chirping the only other noise I heard upon waking - well I was awake first was the lad saying to me "cuppa tea" haha Today met up with the girls and Carol said follow us and we will go for Brunch to this amazing place that does pancakes -!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as we don't normally do breakfast like that I decided I would have a small bowl of cereal which I did. We were told on Friday night by Carol we will come down to you in the morning between 1030 & 1100am and you can follow us, at 1015 Vicky text and said Carol is still asleep - Dad says well wake her up then. The girls arrived around 1045am and off we went to find this place it was amazing, located in a residential area I thought we must have been going to someone's house, I had French Toast with Bacon, Brian had Scrambled Eggs & Toast the girls all had Pancakes with cream & ice cream, we all had a coffee and it was just delicious.On the way back we decided to go to Burnett Heads where there is a camping ground near the lighthouse and a harbour for all forms of boats, had a walk & drive around then decided it was time to leave - we got lost and the reason why I am told was because the Sugar Cane was so high hahahahaha. Finding our way back via Vicky's GPS we went back to their accomms where we had a swim in the pool and a cuppa before coming back to "Poppy' where the lad had a snooze and I did the washing. For tea we had pizza at our van with the girls along with Jamie & Alesha we had a great night and to top it off we saw a "Tawny Frog mouth" this is a bird for those of you that do not know, it is nocturnal like the kookaburra, it was sitting on a pole directly along from our van, waiting for bugs and insects around the light, so it was out with the camera's and while doing this the guy in the van along from us said oh there is a possum sitting on top of the fridge in the kitchen, so once again armed with the camera's and kids off we went through the dark to find the kitchen - it was so tame therefore one can only guess it is well fed by the campers.Back to our van to tidy up and do the dishes, once this was all done the girls and the kids left, leaving the oldies in peace, showers for us a bit of TV watching then bed as we leave tomorrow to head home.

Bargara Wildlife

We along with the girls and the grandkids got to see a bit of the wildlife while we were there, here are a few photos. We saw the noisy old "Miner Birds" - "Scaly Breasted Lorikeets" - "Rainbow Lorikeets" they were so tame as you can see Jamie standing among them, On our last night we saw a "Tawny Frogmouth" this is a relation to the Kookaburra and the same night in the camp kitchen sitting aloft the refridgerator a sweet and very tame "Possum' it was a brushtail.

The wonderful old Pandanus

Pandanus grow into massive dence bushes/trees they have amazing root structures and incredible flower/seed heads.They are not affected by the heavy salt laden winds that dump salt spray onto them, these ones were right on the water's edge. When out riding the bike one day I took some photos so you will see what I mean.

Picnic at Hoffman Rocks

No not picnic at Hanging Rock - but Hoffman Rocks. Hoffman Rocks is about 5mins from Bargara 3-4kms and right on the coast, it is a very popular place for scuba diving. Last time we were at Bargara we came round to the rocks for a drive and they were diving and there were no houses there at all, well this time it had changed so much you would not think it was the same place apart from the view that is the same. Houses are all around and it has become very trendy with massive holiday homes and also regular dwellers. We took a picnic cuppa with us and sat and just enjoyed the view and peace and quiet, as it was no longer holiday time we had it all to ourselves, we set up our chairs and sat in the sun, then the lad decided it was time to make the cuppa so he did that while I took a few photos. After our cuppa we headed back to the van park and just enjoyed the rest, peace and quiet.

Bargara - April 2012

We have biked and walked most days and also went for a drive through to Bundaberg one day it was pretty warm that day, had a nice walk around the main CBD then a coffee and back to the van, on the way back we stopped for some sweet potato at a roadside stall, nice and fresh they were also $2 for a 2kg bag. We have not done much really except relax and take it easy. Packed a picnic another day and drove out to Hoffman Rocks - just out of Bargara it is a very popular spot with divers although the day we went being a week day there was no one there so we had to the place to ourselves set up our chairs and sat in the sun for a while watching the yachts on the horizon, sea birds diving for fish and then landing on the rocks to dry their wings, moving up the bank slightly to where there was a picnic table and seats we set out and had our cuppa and nibbles. Brian's younger daughter and granddaughter live not too far north up in Gladstone and had decided to come down for Fri & Sat night staying in a room at one of the holiday accommodation places right in Bargara, it was grandaughter Alesha's 13th birthday the previous week so we brought her birthday present with us to save postage, upon hearing that Caroline and Alesha were coming to stay older daughter Victoria decided she would come also as the kids were to go to their dad for the weekend, however it turns out only Olivia went to dad's and Jamie came with mum grandad soon told him there was to be no nonsence or else and he has been pretty good he is only 6 and being a boy likes to cause trouble hahaha. They are all down one end of town and we are at the other end so far enough away. We had tea with them on Friday night and a chat and then we came home to the comfort of our little "Poppy" van, we will be going to catch up with them on Saturday morning for brunch at some place Carol knows about. (Today Fri would have been my dad's birthday, he would have been 98yr old - luv you dad RIP)

Just a big fellow

While out riding on my bike I came across this fellow, at first when I saw the head I thought oh hell - snake!!
however when the neck became taller I thought NO it is a Sand Monitor and or either a Goanna. I was so amazed at how wonderful he was I culd not help but take some photos, hope you like them and when he finally moved he moved like grease lightening.

Bargara - April 2012

A week off work and time to relax, we have decided to bring the caravan away to Bargara which is 15km east of the Bundaberg CBD.Bargara is considered by some to be a satellite town of Bundaberg with only cane fields separating the two centres. Between 1912 & 1940 a railway connected them. Bargara has grown significantly over the last decade, becoming a popular tourist and retirement destination. The Esplanade runs along Bargara Beach foreshore and is lined with high - rise apartments and homes. The famous Mon Repos turtle rookery just north at Mon Repos Beach is the location for a wall dating back to the very early days of settlement and constructed using the Kanaka labour and rocks taken from the nearby sugar cane fields. The name Bargara is derived from the names of two adjacent localities, Barolin & Woongarra. We are staying at the caravan park at the end of the township, it is very pleasant being mostly retired "Grey Nomads" and just today we met a couple who are originally from Auckland Nth Island - NZ but we wont hold that against them. We are loving the new moderfications that we had done to the beds it has worked out great and has given us so much more room. We arrived here Sunday arvo driving most of the way in rains showers and have had a good shower of rain each arvo however not cold and the rain only lasts 5mins. Today Tuesday we went for a drive into Bundaberg for a change of scenery. I have been riding the bike most days and yesterday came across a young monitor lizard and I was fascinated by this amazing creature decided to take some shots - will show you those later. We have a great spot and so far have no neighbours other than the birds, Galahas and the lovely colourful lorikeets, we have a view of the ocean from outside the van and we are lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks - simply wonderful and relaxing and just what one needs. Will be hard next week when it is back to reality for us both - meantime we will make the most of it.