The trip to...and....Tin Can Bay

When we left the grey nomad get-together we followed Beth to her sister's place in Tin Can Bay. Beth asked us if we wanted to go on the main highway or take the scenic route. We opted for the latter. Here is now Brandt described what happened:

We were following Beth along, had to stop for some roadworks, and heard a scraping noise as we started off, which then turned to a squeal every time I accelerated, then I smelt rubber burning and all the warning lights came on on the dash and I realized the fan belt had broken. Coasted down the hill and the Lord must have been watching over us because at the bottom there was a nice grassy driveway to pull off into. Lifted the bonnet and belt was broken but looked at the alternator pulley with all black rubber on it and it was frozen solid. But the car behind me stopped to,see if I was OK or needed help and then a little while later one of the trucks carting dirt from the roadworks also stopped. He had seen Beth waiting for me down the road. All in all about five local people stopped to see if we were OK. That says something for the rural people. The people whose driveway we were in offered us water or anything else we needed as did a neighbor just up the road.
When I got the alternator off, the rear bearing was really munted and had totally seized with the outer race gauging into the housing which necessitated a new one.
One of the locals said that was the only suitable place on the whole stretch of road to be able to pull off.

I can't understand why the alternator was not squealing like mad when we left Cob N Co, and I did have my hearing aids in and they were turned on




So two days later we arrived at our intended destination.
Wednesday morning we went to Tin Can Bay marina to see the baby dolphin and watch others feed the adult dolphins.






The baby was about eight weeks old and still suckling from his mother. He was playful and often stopped for a rest by lying over his mother's back.



Next day we went to Rainbow Beach and on the way called in to Seary's Creek. The water colour as amazing. It is tannin from the run off from tea tree surrounds.






On leaving Tin Can Bay we headed north, travelling 375 km. We wanted to stop near Gladstone to make contact with the son of our best man.
We chose the free camp, turned in off the road and were looking for a spot when we noticed familiar faces - two couples we had met at the get-together last week. Have had two good nights here with campfire, music, and laughter.

Grey Nomad Get-together

We were expected to join the Grey Nomads at the get-together on Monday, but Brandt had bought a generator on eBay and that did not arrive in Brisbane until Tuesday. It would have cost extra to have it redirected so we waited to collect it before proceeding to the get-together.
On our arrival we were asked for our "late note". And so began a week of relaxed company, good music, sharing of travel experiences, good advice etc.



Every night there was a fire to sit around. The fire was Absolutely necessary as the temperatures plummeted once the sun went down. After lack of sleep due to the cold a trip to Gympie was necessary in order to purchase some winter pyjamas for me as well as another duvet (which we will need when visitors come). Now I am reasonably warm at night. (looking forward to getting further North where it will be warmer at night).
The days have been filled with sitting around talking.
We have been able to put faces to "user names" from the grey nomad forum and have made new friends.



Some people travel knowing exactly where they are going, others decide as they go. I couldn't resist taking the next photo as I thought it typical of the grey nomad lifestyle



I have named this photo "where to next!" one person in the photo has said he has come to an intersection and tossed a coin to decide which way to turn.
I don't think we will be quite like that, but you never know.
We do know where we are going tomorrow but not how long we will stay there.

Location:Near Gympie

The Interlude

Returned to NZ on April 11. Back to the cold rain for a couple of days. Then it was lovely Autumn weather. Brandt busied himself with work around the section and even succumbed to the offer to go hunting. He returned home with a fallow deer. That gave rise to the excuse to have a venison dinner party (as a final farewell).

The main purpose of our visit to NZ was for Donna's graduation. The culmination of three years of hard work.




Parking was at a premium that day. We eventually found a park on the side of the road 10am to 3pm.

Next day Donna took part in the heart stopper challenge - the challenge was to spend five minutes in icy water. One of the children at her day care centre was a heart patient last year so the staff have supported the challenge last year and this year.




Yes, she is actually adding a bag of ice to the water - and some one is trying to put ice down her back.

Returned to Brisbane on May 11 and on Monday will pick up our caravan and then begins our experience of the Australian Nomadic life.

Location:New Zealand