Hi from Bribie Island in wet Queensland!

---

Hi everyone
Sitting here listening to the rain on the roof again!!! What happened to the sunny weather the last month or so?
After leaving Tewantin, Chris Linda Denis and I drove down to Dicky Beach. After setting up the van we all had a swim in the surf. After lunch, we picked up Phil (Linda's brother in law), and we drove to Mooloolaba to see his new all aluminium yacht he built. After motoring around the canals we headed out to sea, got the sails up and had a lovely sail up towards Mudjimba Island and back. All the hard work was worth it , Phil, hope you and Jill enjoy it.
That night we all went to dinner at Pelican Waters - Linda's sister Jill surprised me with a lovely early birthday cake, complete with candles. Linda and Den stayed the night with Jill and Phil.
Next day, last Friday, we headed to Scarborough. We find it quite convenient as it's easy to get to the airport from, and Linda and Denis had an early flight home on Saturday morning. We just got settled and the tent up and down came the rain. It poured soooo hard! We decided not to go out to the nearby yachtclub where we had booked for dinner - Chris and Den drove around to the nearby fish and chip shop instead, and we sat in the van for Linda and Den's last night. And the rain kept coming down, and the wind blew too! What a final test for the tent, but still there were no leaks! Linda and Den appeared into the van and we had an early cuppa before heading through the wet streets to the airport. The rain was really heavy, with lots of flooded streets, we heard later. The unseasonal wet has broken records in Queensland and Linda and Denis certainly saw a lot of it, unfortunately. We loved having them along on our last leg.
Chris and I decided not to move from Scarborough in those conditions, so stayed put for 4 days. (Thankgoodness for the industrial driers!) On Tuesday , we drove to Caboolture, and got safety certificates for the car and caravan. We also got a gas certificate, ready to hand over our rig to Don and Patti. From there , we came to Bribie Island nearby, and have stayed here for 4 nights. We've had one fine day, when we could finally dry out the tent, ground cover and other "stuff". The local Vinnies has scored some of our older clothes not worth taking home, and we've had a sort out and a clean of most of the inside. The outside will have to wait to the weather improves, hopefully soon.
Tomorrow we head back to our Brisbane "Base camp", Zena and Snows at Wellington Point, until Thursday. Then it's back to Scarborough for 2 nights. We will tow the van there for the last time, and take a cabin, as Don and Patti fly in early Friday to take possession of their rig. They plan to have a few days in the van before putting it into storage. We wish them well, and hope they have as good a time as we have had - we still think it's a great combination!
WE will head back to Base Camp at the Kennedy's until we fly out back to NZ on 28th October. (We have had grandparenting duties arranged, Tracey and Kent are off to China the next day until the 6th Nov, so we will be busy on our return. Let's hope the weather is better than it is here!
Our house will come off rental mid November.

Some figures for those inclined:
Crumpy's Greatest Australian Adventure Tour:
26/8/08 - 28/10/10 - 2 years, 2 months
Caravan has travelled : 41,300km
We've driven : approx 71,500km
We drove 3,429km with McKenzies, 3207km towing the van on our last leg from Cairns - Brisbane.
Our longest day towing : 406.6km (Airlie Beach - Clermont)

Regards
Lynne and Chris

---

Photos

Dicky Beach Lagoon
we counted 8 ships here

Ezibeat on it's canal berth
a welcome fine day - note!

Comments

[susi]

Great
Thank you so much for including me in your emails. I am sorry it is coming to an end, but will be happy to see you back in N.Z. It truly has been great hearing, and seeing the pictures, of your fabulous adventure. It made me feel like I was there. Cheers, Susi

[Linda and Den]

letting us "live the dream"
Well I think the pictures say it all and anyway you can't see any rain! The pictures and your blog are awesome Lynn, well done for getting your blog sorted in amongst all the packing up you have to do. We LOVED our time with you and consider it an absolute privilege being allowed to come over and travel with you. Thank you, and we look forward to picking you up at the airport. Lots of love XX

[penny kidd]

catchup
Great to get your Blog. Sorry to know that you got caught up in that rain but sounds as though you had a great time with Linda and Dennis anyway. Can't believe it has been two and bit years since you set off on your Australian adventure and you have covered a huge number of kilometres in the process. Wish Donald and Patti best wishes for there adventure. Hopefully the NZ weather will have settled dowen by the time you are back. Tony, Brenda and I were thinking of having a lunch in November sometime with Robin and Brian etc. at Matakana so will be in contact once you get back and try and set a date as the silly season is looming and everyone gets very busy. Looking forward to catching up soon, will give you a ring at Tracey and Kents'. Penny and Stu

[Rod and Deirdre]

The rain on the plain
Happy birthday Lynne and a safe trip home on the 28th. What a journey you both have had. We have only been away 3 months with 1 to go and that feels like a long time. We have had our share of heavy rain too, last week on the south coast of France and Spain. Much flooding and adventures. Glad Linda and Den had such a good time with you. See you in December. Cheers, Rod and Deirdre

[Lckiwis]

Thanks for comments.
It's always good to get feedback and hear news when travelling. Rod and Deidre enjoy your last month too. We've enjoyed reading of your adventure. Thankfully the weather has improved this week. L & C