Chapter 5 - Sunshine Coast - Week 1

Day 13 - Monday 2nd July - Maroochydore

We said goodbye to Lynn about 9:30 and headed north.  It was a great road all of the 170 km to Maroochydore - apart from the obligatory roadworks.

We arrived at the caravan park and established camp.  It took a little longer as we had to do the things that only happen when we stay a bit longer, such as TV antenna, BBQ, awning up and braced.

After a coffee we did a decent shop and stocked the cupboards.

It was then time to check out the beach.  We have a beach access gate about 20 metres directly behind the van.  The two photos below were taken about 15 metres passed the gate.

Looking East, Out to Sea

Looking South

We were now ready for 3+ weeks of bludging, and the taking of sunrise photos.

Around dinner time gentle rain started to fall and drove the numerous happy hour groups in-doors.  However the temperature hovered around 18 degrees.

Day 14 - Tuesday 3rd July - Maroochydore

I had a great night's sleep and was on the beach to take the following photo at 6:40 am. The sunrise was slightly later than forecast, thanks to the low clouds above the horizon.

Man & Friend at Sunrise at 6:40 am - Maroochydore

Although the plentiful rain ensured that everything was wet, the sun was shining - the start to a lovely day.

My next task was to head to the laundry and load the washing machine - the first person to do so today.  The wash completed as scheduled and all clothes were on the line at 7:35 - as the first rays of the sun reached the clothes line. Shirley was still asleep.

After an update to the blog it was time for fruit and cereal - and a good coffee.

It was a quiet day. Reading, sudoku and a trip to Bunnings - as our waste hose does not reach it preferred designation.

As the BBQ had been set up I conjured up chops and veges for dinner.

Note for blog readers. If you click on a photo in the blog it should be shown in a new window - possible larger for a better view.


Day 15 - Wednesday 4th July - Maroochydore

I had another great sleep and was relieved to note that it was overcast - and a good reason to stay in bed for an extra hour.  Not usual for me.

After showers we had a BBQ breakfast of bacon, eggs, tomato, mushroom and toast AND coffee.  It was a great way to start my birthday, along with numerous phone calls.

After breakfast it was back in the car and a dual shopping trip.  First stop was to the caravan accessories shop for a cover for the outside caravan light.  It may have been broken by a branch from a tree during a coffee stop a few days ago. We are not sure.

We apparently bought the last cover in existence.

Next we headed to Mooloolaba for one kg of prawns for lunch.  They were duly purchased.

On the way back we called in to the Maroochy Surf Club to check it out as a venue for a birthday dinner.  It passed, partly because it is within walking distance. 

The paperwork that we picked up convinced me to become a member.  For $5 we get $2 off meals for all people in "my" group.  There will be four of us tonight so we will already be in front.  As it is my birthday I also get a "surprise" on arrival tonight.

After a coffee I fixed the caravan light.

Top: New cover in place. Bottom: New and pre-loved cover.

We then walked to the club and I became a member.

We walked back along the beach and I needed to take another photo of our local beach.

It was time for lunch so the prawns appeared, with lemon, tartare, pepper and soda water.  Healthy living for us!

Prawns for lunch. Note the new light above my head.

After a slow afternoon we changed and headed off around 5:30 to have pre-dinner drinks with Marion an Bob - friends from Eltham.  Their apartment was virtually over the road from the Surf Club.

We crossed that road about 6:15 pm and entered the club.  My birthday gift was a $10 credit on my club account.  That went with the $2 discount off each meal.

We had a lovely meal and a great night, and wandered home around 9:30 pm.

There was more rain over night.

Day 16 - Thursday 5th July - Maroochydore

Although not cold it was a damp and miserable day.  Our repeated attempts to go for a walk were thwarted by the ran.  So we had a restful day.
 
I headed to the beach around 4pm so that I could take at least one photo for the day. I took two.
 

Hazy, Overcast Day at Maroochydore (above & below)

 

Day 17 - Friday 6th July - Maroochy Bushland Botanic Garden

After a big sleep in (for me that was 8am) and breakfast we headed off to Maroochy Bushland Botanic Garden - around 15 km away.  We wanted to see the Maroochy Bushland Sculpture Garden.  We were not disappointed as it was magnificent.

The rain stopped just before we got to the gardens.

There was a large number of sculptures-with-a-message spread through a superb rain-forest "garden".  The following gives an idea of what we saw.  Most of the sculptures have a title and a meaning, although some were pretty "deep".

The sculptures were created in 2005 over 16 days by eight artists from USA, Japan, South Korea, Spain, France, Slovakia, South Australia and Queensland.  All sculptures are made of Queensland stone.



Left - Spirit House - The sandstone "house" is protecting the marble family, mother & child
Right: Hand of Nature - the rock was formed around 300 million year ago




Left: Python in Waiting                       Right: Snake

Goanna



Top: Leaf Seat
Bottom: Gum leaf seat

Infintity - A symbol of the everlasting dialogue between positive & negative shapes

Left - Black Torso - A woman's view of herself
Middle - Casuarina Torso - A carving of a woman in the first person
Right - White Marble Torso - Even though it can suffer pain and disease the flawed body is beautiful

Two views of The Passage - Birth & Death - The two things we do alone

Equinox - Say no more

Left - Unknown                   Right - Hairy Nosed Wombat

Left - Black Cockatoo
Middle - Chronicle - Remember that we all seek love, peace and reconciliation
Right - Fragment - Piece that broke off "The Passage" (see above)

Listen - Listen to the world and it will speak to you



The Embrace - In the Male and Female embrace they become one whole



Front & back - The Gift - Recognising the Cabbage Tree Palm for its benefits to Indigenous people



Left - The Cycle - A connection between nature, Maroochy people and Japan
Right - Man of Nature - About the links between the body and the spirit



Left - Running water
Right - Sleeping Pelican - The largest flying bird in Australia

There were a lot of "deep and meaningful" signs around the park - the sort of things that make you walk slower and think more.

A Sample of the Signs around the Sculptures

There were a dozen or more attractive mosaic inserts in the path as we walked through the gardens.

A Sample of the Mosaics

We then wandered to another park of the garden where the focus is more educational and floral.

A Learning Facility that Shows How the Rain-forest Works

Some Australian Beauty

A Carving that Shows How a Tree Grows

Looking into a Crystal Ball

All in all, it was a wonderful couple of hours walking though a damp rain-forest and associated gardens.

We then drove in to Buderam and visited the Pioneer Cottage - the former home of a local pioneer - now a historical museum.

Pioneer Cottage

We stopped for a light lunch in Buderam, and a walk around town, before slowly heading home.  I am on a mission to be able to drive around the area without depending on a GPS device - so it was good to get home without incident or a long trip.

It then took me over two hours to sort out my 150 photos from the very enjoyable day.

The BBQ was activated about 6:30 for steak, chips and salad.

Day 18 - Saturday 7th July - Eumundi Markets

Tibetan Momos

As was the case yesterday it was raining and we started the 30 km drive to the Eumendi Markets.  As was also the case yesterday the rain stopped before we got there and help off while we walked the many lanes and visited the numerous stalls.

As was the case last year we tried the Tibetan Momos - a very tasty morsel.

We were also impressed with a wood carving that would not fit in the car.

A 2.5 metre high carved tree trunk

We only walked three km in the 2.5 hours that we were there.

A drive home along the coast was in order.  The water had a good swell

The rest of the afternoon was just that - a rest.  Afternoon tea was provided by the Date, Ginger and Walnut loaf that we bought at the market.

I cooked up a pot of bolognaise sauce to be the main ingredient for dinner.


Day 19 - Sunday 8th July 

This was our sixth morning in Maroochydore and the first where the sun was able to appear without cloud intervention. So I quickly loaded the washing machine, inserted $4 and bolted to the beach - by 6:35 am.  The following photo showed what I saw at 6:41.

By the time I had had a shower and hung out the washing, Shirley was in the shower.  It was an early start for both of us.  There must be a market somewhere!

It had been a wild and windy night so there was not a cloud to be seen.

Around 9 am we walk the one kilometer to the abovementioned market.  It was a pleasant stroll.


This posting is complete.


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This post was last updated around 11 am on Sunday 8th July.