MAROOCHYDORE
Trip Start
May 08, 2008
1
6
65
Trip End
Jan 31, 2012
Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia
Friday, May 30, 2008
Well, have we been well and truly initiated into this lifestyle with a vengeance! Prior to leaving Ballina, we went out and bought ourselves sports towels (a body chamois) as trying to get our towels dry was a constant battle. These were a great idea, but are a very strange concept. Wrap them up wet, don't let them dry out! Not much chance of that here!
We thought we would head further up the coast to try and miss the bad weather. How wrong could we be! Annex came down dry - but then the rain pelted down again and we were rushing around trying to get everything inside and the van down in the rain.
We drove all day in absolutely torrential rain - managed 75kms/hour on the freeway and couldn't see the "Sunshine Coast" signs because of the rain and fog. Arrived in Maroocydore and it was still pouring. I did make the fatal mistake of suggesting a motel for the night but Kevin, ever the optimist would not hear of it. "We will be OK, stop worrying about it". Me - worry? Never!! I was worried that the river might flood!
We booked into the Maroochy Palms Caravan Park, got the key to the ensuite, and Kev started to get backed onto the site. Told him I needed to get to the toilet FIRST and then I would assist with the parking process. Not that I am at all qualified for this job yet either! Oops, we were on the wrong site - key wouldn't fit into the ensuite door - almost accident time for me! Tried to get Kev's attention to no avail as he was focused on getting the van parked and it was still p...ing down..... After much hand waving and gesturing managed to alert Kev to our error. Found the right site and finally got to the toilet. Whew! Meanwhile, Kev had a couple of attempts at backing up and parking onto the right site, but decided to try and drive onto the site instead of backing in. He took off around the block and tried to get onto the wrong site again - totally missed me once again waving to him as he tried to get settled......and it was still p...ing down!
Then, we had to put the van and annex up. Power cord wouldn't reach the power point - connection had to be taped and kept dry and off the ground - an ingenious method devised by Kev of pegging down a bucket over it solved this major problem (all in pouring rain of course) - the cement slab was too big for our annex so we couldn't peg it down (and it was also very windy with the rain). Had to go and get the handyman to find some bricks to hold it down.
However, we managed to keep everything dry except ourselves.
"Are we having fun yet?" a question which sent us into hysterics.
Have I convinced any of you yet that you want to rush out and buy a caravan?
We have booked into this park for a week and I must admit once again we have a great site, and there are not many people here. There is a beautiful man-made lagoon with wild ducks swimming happily on it and lots of water fowl wandering around. The park is almost on the river and there's a great walking track along it. There is a gym here also (if we get really bored), and a little café which delivered hamburgers to our site in their "Cuisine Machine" so once we had showered and got warm and dry we didn't have to venture out again. They were the best hamburgers!
May 31st 2008
We have been pouring (excuse the pun) over the tourist brochures which talk about pristine beaches, fishing, sailing, exploring the hinterland, wonderful seaside markets, etc, etc. Beaches are closed because of treacherous conditions and even though it has not rained much today, it is very overcast but quite humid. Let's hope the next few entries will be about the exciting things we are doing. We did go out for dinner again at the Duporth Tavern and it was a beautiful meal and we enjoyed getting out.
June 1st 2008
A fine but overcast morning, eggs on toast for brekkie and went for a walk for an hour along the river, until it started to rain again! There is a nice Scottish couple parked behind us and she popped over looking for newspapers as their van had leaked into their little "cubbyhole" as she called it, the storage at the side of the van. In a short space of time we talked travel, books, maps, crosswords, TV and back to travel. They were from WA and has crossed the Nullarbor several times - - "piece of cake" she said. They are heading up to Townsville. They are a lot older than us and made us just want to keep going - despite the rain.
It is very inspirational talking to the amazing people travelling around the country. I think half of the Victorian population is up here and a lot from SA.
June 2nd 2008
It has now been raining since about lunch time yesterday and during the night it increased in intensity and absolutely bucketed down and no sign of it easing yet. There is localized flooding, closed roads and treacherous seas. Flood warning for the Maroochy River! We have had 170mm of rain in the last 24 hours!!
We are off to the movies to see "The Painted Veil".
