Tims Place & The Gold Coast

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G' Day Possums (Firstly I've owe you all an apology for getting the dates wrong on the Alice Springs entry, it got me confused, but then I'm easily confused!!!)
Will try to do better!!! We arrived at Tim's place in Forest Lake on the evening of the 24th. He's offered to put us up while we are in Brisbane, I don't think he knew what he was letting himself in for!!!
We stayed until Monday 29th May, mainly spending the week blogging and advertising the car. We have placed adverts in all the city backpackers and in the holiday parks nearest the airport, the phone has rung few times but so far no luck, but it's in the equivalent of the Auto Trader on Thursday, so fingers crossed. Anyway we still have the buy back deal in reserve, but that means a trip to Sydney.....
Monday norning (29) we packed up again and headed down to the Gold Coast, not too far from Brisbane and within mobile reach we hope.
The Gold Coast is Australias equivalent to Spain!!! Lots of indiscriminate high rises, cheap motels and expensive food.
We pass quickly through Surfers Paradise, the most built up area and head further south. The whole stretch of the Gold Coast is only about 30 miles, so it's not far to driver to the far end which is much commercialised> It's just on the New South Wales Border, a place called Coolangata and close by Tweed Heads. We find a caravan park, just by the small airport, but very handy to the beach. The beaches are magnificent and there's no problem with crocs or stingers!! Plus the because it's winter the beaches are almost deserted, so much space and privacy!!We spend 3 nights here, just soaking up the rays and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.
Thursday comes and it's time to head out into the Hinterland and see some different countryside, it'll be our last taste of rural Australia!! We follow the Tweed River, which is sugarcane country again, going up through the mountains and eventually come out into Sunflower country around Warwick. Here we took a cabin for the night,as the weather men have forecast the temp to drop to -2 degrees tonight, we're also given an extra blanket, much too cold for the tent!!! (it actually dropped to minus 5!!!)
Next morning it's time to head back to Brisbane, passing on the way a camel tethered on the roadside, being used to keep the verges in trim. first time we've seen a camel used for this purpose, goats yes, but a camel.....first time for everything!!
We pass through Toowomba, called the garden city as it has wonderful parks and foral displays, but not at this time of year. It does however have a magnificent views out over the plains looking towards Brisbane with mountains in the distance called the Sugar Loaf and Table Mountain!! It also has lots of wonderful architecture, especially an art deco cinema. A quick walk around and it's back on the road and in no time at all we're back at Tims Place!!
Time to concentrate on selling the car and getting ready to leave, and that's all for now.
Cheers Mags & Arnie

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Photos

Rainbow Bay
Arnie at Rainbow Bay, we'd been watching the surfers!

Waves Crashing
Waves crashing over the rocks at Rainbow Bay

Art Deco
The Empire, wonderful example of Art Deco!

Tweed Heads
Just the otherside of Rainbow Bay is Tweed Heads, and the Tweed Coast in NSW

Boys watching
2 young lads watching the surfers, we watched them on their skate boards, surfers in the making.

Camel
Verge Trimmer extradinaire, cheap and effective!!!

Table Mountain
The Table Mountain in the background, from Picnic Place Toomwomba

Comments

[Armie]

word dyslexia
Just read Maggies last ephistle to the poor people. I must apologise for the mis spelling and words out of context but I did not proof read this one hope you get the gist. maybe it was late evening after drinks!!!!!!!!