DAY 1
Today is the first day of our 2 week vacation, we are heading to Harvey Bay today to meet up with a long lost auntie I have not seen for 30 years,
we recently meet on Facebook and just so happened we would be in Harvey Bay on the same day, so off we head on our holidays packed to the roof with everything we could possible need, I don't think we made it to the corner store and Ed was out and off to get a drink, back in the car, Kemp Beach was our next stop, what the heck are we doing now and the stink coming out of the camper trailer could only be a bad thing, Yep the brakes are stuck on,well I would have just hit them with something, but not Ed, you have to pull everything out of the car to get the right tool for the job,
with that sorted, off to the repco shop for a new part, later much did I know, I was to become the apprentice mechanic of the year.
Clean sailing ahead all the way to Gin Gin quick lunch stop and a lot of fuel it's a thirsty little sucker our car when you wack a whooping big camper on the back, an in to Harvey Bay about 3.30 pm,
Now let me tell you going camping when there is a strong wind warning and a cyclone brewing of the coast is never good, so like smart people we opted for the beach front caravan park (not smart really), and set about setting up our camper, trying to hold on to everything as it was trying to blow down the park doesn't seam to make me a happy camper, SO! I Have been told.
Then my moment of brilliance we are going to fix the brakes, my job is to pump the brake handle while Ed layes under the trailer yelling "in out" with the odd "is it in or out" of cause this just about had me in stitches,
So with that fixed off to dinner we went to meet my auntie, it is amazing how much she looks like my mum, it all went well had a get time and thanks to face book we can now stay in touch. Sleeping in a camper van in a strong wind warning turns out is not good, I am also not good with no sleep, Ed however could sleep on a barb wire fence and happily snored his way through the whole night, he would live to regret is actions the next day, grumpy and tried that's me.
DAY 2
Now we will attempt to pack up the trailer in a strong wind warning, and then my very smart Ed thought it best if first we find me a good strong coffee.
of to the supermarket to buy bread, you know the one Captain Mighty bread no taste, but when camping for a week stays soft and looks like bread but doesn't go mouldy it has so much crap in it,it's a campers dream, bread when you really don't have bread, so of to the barge, did I mention there was a strong wind warning, well the God thought he might just had rain to that as well, so of to the barge in our strong wind warning and rain, and What! Ed needs to stop for a drink again, Nope I am not getting out of the car go get your own drink, back he comes, wet and happy, sitting at the barge, keeping a positive out look the Sky's will be amazing, I am just not sure how to take pictures in the rain yet, but I guess I will work it out,
We get on to Fraser and it is truly the most beautiful place, when I die I hope heaven is like this, I know this week will be amazing, we arrived at Cathedral beach caravan park about lunch time, we eat, with that out of the way we setup for the week, OK what time is it 2.30pm lets see how long it take to put her up, I know everything is a game, an hour later and where sitting thinking good job, Lets go driving, off to the wreck for sunset pictures,
So ends our first day on Fraser
DAY 3
5.30 am, I roll over the sun is starting to lighten the sky, its high tide at 6.30 am and you can't drive on the beach, so it's walking today off to the beach I go,
to take some sunrise pics, now its about a 500m walk from our camp down hill so coming back will not be good, but I know Ed will come get me, the clouds and rain and waves made for some great shots, foreground interest that's was a bit light on but I managed, however the rain that was on the horizon was now on me I was sure Ed would come flying down the hill in his red chariot, NOPE didn't happen now I am wet and cold, and walking home in the rain up hill, not happy Jan, did I mention there is a very strong wind that was now a wet strong wind, but all those months of walking on the tread mill at a 6 rise I near sprinted up that hill, not that I would run some people are just not meant to run that is me I just don't have the style for it,
Coffee I need coffee lucky I packed the coffee grinder, I know don't start on me you really can camp with a coffee grinder. So after waiting like what seem for ever for the tide to change we packed a bit of lunch for later and headed of north for today's run. Cloudy and stormy sky's are photographic dream, but every time we stepped out of the car the wind near knocked us over, Its a man thing I think one must stop to look at strange things the ocean has left from the high tide, I mean how long can you look at an old petrol tank, a while it seams. Off up the beach first stop Waddy's Point out of the car armed with all the camera gear I can carry, I know they built boardwalks for people to walk on but the wind was doing it's up most to blow us of it, now I also know that the people that built them are not photographers or they would know that the best point to view this cliff top is not where they put this walkway it's over there where I have to climb down the side of the boardwalk and down near the edge of the cliff. With ED starring in my general direction and me ignoring him of I headed to get the best shot. I think I am happy with myself and effort.
Now another thing I learnt today is to steer the car while ED drives, at this time he has his head and camera out the window taking pictures of eagles in flight, "yell"! he said to me if we need to slow down, Oh! I am sorry who is the one that takes pictures around here ah! "me" and I am the one steering. So of down the beach we go him happily clicking away, me steering finally the eagle leaves and where of again, Ocean Lake that's where heading good bird life it said. What bird life none we could see, homeward bound and are about 3 km from the lake, we, well I, spot a turtle in the ocean, I think its dead, Ed assures me it is not, out of the car for a closer look, my goodness it is a fresh water turtle in the ocean and he is not real happy with himself, what the heck are you doing here, I look at Ed can we take him back to the lake, with that discussed look on his face geezz here we go again, and me with the look like try telling me no, he agrees, so now where saving a turtle, cool, back to the lake to let the little fellow go, at this stage he is not so sure about water but with a little time of he went looking very happy that some idiot had picked him up, and had not been pushed back in the ocean. At this stage of the day it is very clear that backpackers in 4wd make up most of the population on Fraser, and must do their 80 km per hour cause they can, they are everywhere there are more of them then dingos and are possible a bigger nuisance then the dingo. They move in mass every attraction on Fraser is covered in them, they live in the dunes there are eight per vehicle, and all have cameras and stand around in batches taking photos of everything that moves or doesn't example a very large boat wreck. They have no clue what is going on around them and just stand in front of you while you take photos saying sorry. Eli Creek is invested with them, if possible steer well clear all though Ed seems to think watching 18 to 22 year old running around in bikinis is very interesting some people are easy pleased.
But today I got great photos, the sky was amazing, so to bed with me alarm set for 5.00am and tomorrow is another day.
DAY 4
There goes the alarm it's 5.00am, get up woman, if you want sunrise pictures of that big boat, it will be rushed as high tide is 7.30am, getting dressed by mobile phone light has always been a challenge, 5mins and I in the car and gone, "hope I didn't wake the whole camp", at the beach the tide is up higher than I thought it would be, do I give it ago, Yes of I head, I get to the boat and the sun is not up yet the cloud on the horizon is stopping that, 20 mins is all I have and I will have to turn back,
damn there is an white bellied sea eagle, man what to do, take the boat pictures you nutta, so I do and some great shot I got, I think, did I tell you I need glasses cause I can't see, is all touch around here. Trying to be good 20 mins back in the car and of up the beach I can see eagles on the horizon, the sun is still not up, I stoped at the coloured sand for a couple of minutes but still no sun, of I go chasing eagles at the front of our ramp I thought no use going home yet Ed's still snoring. wouldn't know it here comes the White bellied 3 actually and there getting into an all out brawl in mid air seem the ramp is the boarder line and one as crossed the mark well this is a photographers dream get in to it guys, click click,
note to self, get a faster card when I get home, missed a few shots cause the camera doesn't read fast enough, grabbed a few of the red chariot at sunrise and headed home.
Coffee next port of call. Now Iam heading up the hill to home, I wonder if this thing is surpose to be in 4wd low, I should play with a few buttons and see if I can work it out, the flashing green light is probably not a good sign but at this stage I have know clue if it is in or out of gear but its going in a forward direction which is less distance I have to walk if it gets bogged, let me tell you this little red chariot knows I hate to walk and has not put a foot wrong, up the hill she drags me, from a distance our camp looks a little quite no obvious sign that the lazy snoring one is up,so I pull up about 3 camps up and leg it the rest of the way. and yes he is still snoring, well it will be while before coffee, about 1 hour later a little head pops up "how long you been back" coffee time get that pot boiling, now fraser is a great island except at high tide you are stuck for two hours, so at this stage our nieghboor has worked out we take photos clever man that, so he is letting us in on all the wildlife as it turns up, there's 2 goanna over there and hear comes a dingo,handy man our neighboor,
also has fine taste in music which he plays each night to the whole camp lucky he goes to bed at 7.30 each night.
So of we set where going to do the blue track today, it becomes obvious that road mantaince is not high on the things to be fixed around here, so a nice slow day we have,through some beautiful rain forest to lake allom which has the most amount of turtles I seen also has and a toilet block that you need to be a mountain goat to get to, the sign didn't say take a cut lunch and put on your hiking boots,
so of we head down the track not much more to see, we came across a beautiful patch of rain forest,wouldn't it be great to sit here and eat lunch and we did, we sat in the rain forest and listened to the crickets doing the mexican wave, as one cricket started and all the rest joined in,
I now know why Happy Valley is call such, they sell fresh bread
happy ED, and coffee Happy Beck, of to the beach we head all happy little campers, there on a rock is a bobby, no not a female backpacker, it's a bird from the outer reef, STOP!!!! the CAR I yell, I am out as it comes to a sliding halt Ed's still trying to work out what the heck is happening, come on get your camera, I click away for so long he finally works out this a special moment and joins me, the little bird sitting there quite happy to be the center of my universe,
next on the agender is a dingo down at the waters edge now you are not aloud to mess with these animals and I am not sure exactly how far mess with means so where taking pictures of this one cause the light is wonderful the ocean is in the background and it's a perfect moment.
In the car and of up the beach Ok whats next on the nature tour yep right on que Eli Creek and backpackers in bikinis is this nature, yes, according to Ed it is so we stop for a nature fix, with that done where of up the beach again,
white bellied eagle coming up now I am not sure if feeding the wildlife includes buying fish and throwing them at eagles but we are getting very good at this, now you need to be able to run and I am not good at running, this should be known, the idea is you setup your camera wait for an eagle to come down the beach run up the beach and through the fish and run like hell back to take the photo of the eagle picking up the fish, it works out 50% of the time I don't make it back before the fish is gone, it also works out that eventually I get very grumpy and Ed usually takes over in the car, he drives up the beach drops the fish out the window and I take the photos, and that is why he gets to come on holidays he is a very useful person to have around.
its been a long day and we head home.
DAY 5
5.00am again and the alarm goes off, up I get again, down the beach, lucky I need a toilet stop and pull up to find I did'nt unplug the fridge before I left the camp, I smile, you know the naughty smile, wondering how many people I woke up on my way out this morning possible pulled the anex off the camper and I know the plug was sitting on the ladder, Oh well I guess I can only be in trouble from about 15 people, the sunrise at the boat was worth getting up for and then the eagles fronted on demand as I drove home before the tide came in.
Works out! by the look on the music man next door that dragging a ladder and table with 2 chairs accross a campsite with a powercord will wake him up, as well as Ed, as he goes to retrive all the items I tried to take to the beach with me at 5.00am.
March flys had I mentioned that there are more of them than backpackers, the thing is you can kill march Flys, Ed has decided to have is own competition to see how many he can kill in one week with a rolled up newpaper, the tide has turned, a thought was, maybe we could get to Eli Creek before the backpacker buses, as we drove down the beach not a car could be seen parked within cooee of the creek, QUICK!!!! hurry there is no one here QUICK!!!! so of up the boardwalk we toodled at the end it looked to good and with no one around off came the jeans and in I got. Man it was so clean and fresh and my skin was so soft, all these years I wondered whats with walking in a half filled creek, now I know, crossing that one of the bucket list.
Of down the beach we head and look whats sitting there its our booby from yesterday today he day he doesn't look so good, he is sitting in the middle of the beach not a good spot for a bird, taking on 4wds as they roar up the beach, anyway he happily sat there why I took a heap more pictures of him., when I can't get him to face the right way I drag ED from the car to do handstands to make it look at me, poor old ED.
Back in the car he hops and ED gives me that look of Ok that's enough now get in the car. I bid farewell to my little friend and get in, time to get going. Today we are going to do the middle of the island we head of to Wabby Lake lookout, what is it with National Parks that the car park is always at the top of a hill and you walk down to the lookout and climb back to the car or vice a verse a what are the the excerise department, anyway at least it was worth the walk. It's one beautiful lake, turn up just in time to watch a backpacker do cartwheels down the hill into the lake we both had a giggle, kids! amazing we don't kill more of them really,
To get to this great lake from the beach is a 1.6km walk over a sandblow we opted for the 16km followed by the 10 min walk, good plan for those not swimming. I got to tell you the roads are as rough as, the average speed was 20km per hour, crap I tell you. Of to Kingfisher we go nothing has really changed here still the same old thing no Bakery anymore, Lake Makenzie is next for lunch, no you can't make lunch at the lake according to the sign only in the car park, dingos must be dumb, the lake is still the most amazing colour you have every seen and the edges of the lake are
compeletly covered in that special breed of animal called the backpacker those that aren't at Elli Creek
Not really sure what gets ED so interested in backpackers.
There all here, all 600 of them, they barsk in the sun, Ed it seams is very happy in these areas, so of up the lakes edge I got looking for a photographic spot that doesn't include a million people, Oh my goodness there is a cutie of the male type standing twirling a batton on the waters edges, "hey mate" can I take your picture, he manages to drop his batton and smiles, ARRR! you cutie little thing.
It is now to late for central station so we head of home, cause you have to stop
at the boat for a few shoots as I get the death stare for Ed Ok I am coming, about 2 km from home here is our booby again about 10km from where he was this morning sitting right in the middle of the beach as the sun goes down he has his little head under is wing going to sleep, who the heck would sleep on a beach that has traffic like a highway on it, My booby that who I look at Ed and he knows it is not good, just as I am about to say what are we going to do 5 cars come screaming up the beach Ed pulled in front of our bird so they would not run him over we tried to feed him pilchids but he wouldn't eat he was not well at all, what can we do, ED agree he was not well,leave him there he is sick and maybe as the tide come in he will fly away. this is the last time we see him a live.
Sorry little bird we didn't save you.
Day 6
5.00am up I get, I know my bird will be dead on my way to the boat I look for him he is where we left him and now he is dead, poor little fellow.
Off to the boat set up my gear and 20 min epic, and did the light show begin about the same time as the rain, sitting in the car watching this happen I could not believe the timing of the rain sitting in the car while it pissed down, then a thought I smart man told me to buy some zip lock bags before I went I could set my gear in zip lock bags and wait for the rain to stop now I am on my knees leaning over the back to get gear in to bags I am so clever with every thing in bags out in the rain I get set up tripods and light stands I keep looking at the sunrise knowing I can't get it cause it's raining, and then it stopped, Ok I know I shouldn't run it is not a good look but hell you should see this sunrise. I did run you should see the shots (you wont there in the special file called comp) yippy nailed it 3 days of getting up at 5.oo am got it I was so happy danced a little jig, (I really do do some silly stuff when on one is watching) down there at the boat me myself and I, happy happy happy. good day bad day, lost my bird nailed the sunrise, home to Ed soaking wet and freezing cold, worth it, you bet, coffee time, bacon and eggs Eds cooking up a storm go Ed.
Today we ae doing the south lake track, did I mention the strong wind warning OH! well that has now turned in to a cyclone nice holiday, at the moment it would now blown the udder of a jesery milking cow, trying to hold a tripod down is not easly, got to wonder why there where no dingos on the beach today not that dumb after all. As usual the roads where enough to shake the boobs of your chest this would be no mean feet if you have seen my chest, the first lake we stopped at was Boomanjin the book read beautiful tannim lake, wrong, beautiful pigs arse,
once again national parks had given me my excerise down the stairs only knowing full well down meant up on the way back, welcome to a hole that was brown water and not beautiful at all wish I had writtin the book, I would write bloody ugly lake go if you have nothing else to do,the really amusing thing about this lake was the german backpackers in the cage on the foreshore they looked like zoo animals in there inclosurer to save them from dingoes there where no feeding times on the fence so we moved on. Next Lake Birrabeen
now this my friends is a beautiful lake, like McKenzie is blue and white and stunning, we got to the stairs,stopped and looked out, stunned! not a backpacker to be seen I let out a yippy and walked down on the sand and there they where bus loads of them at the other end of the lake. Still in all was a great lake, Oh! look Ed it's raining over there, Ed turns and heads up the sand, "where you going" I look at him heading up the stairs just as he starts to say, "raining over there can only mean one thing, get in the car", down she came, there I go again running with a body not ment to run, up stairs even, "hey Ed"! look, I am running upstairs, but he is long gone, sitting in the car like the perverbal happy pig in sh_t. Laughs as I get in though bit slow there, "Whatever". Never was good at being beaten, By now it's lunch time and we are going to Central Station I have been waiting for years to do the boardwalk, lunch first only cause it is raining and brush walking in the rain is not something I am keen on, cameras don't like to get wet and Ed whinges the whole way when it's raining, sook, the board walk was beautiful the creek as clear as, shame we did it so fast I could have spent hours there
but the sun was getting low and it takes about an 90 mins to get home, thats before we stop for eagles and dingos and the crappy bread bakery, note to self don't buy bread from Erong, 4.30 and where home, make a coffee, we hang around for awhile what now, personally it was not something I would come up with, lets see Ed thinks, we should walk through the bush for 15 mins climb to the top of a big sand blow have a look around and walk back, does that sound like me, No! so not to whine of we set, with a torch just incase it was dark when we get back, up the god damn sand dune,
and I am talking a big mother of a thing would be 500m to the top, but did I conplain, you bet I did whinged the whole way, coming back down no problem. Happy and singing. got home before dark, dinner hot shower and into bed, the showers here are the best in the whole world, yes we do have shower comps when on holidays and these are the best we have ever had there hot, the pressure is unreal.
Day 7
Like all the other days alarm goes of at 5.00am I rolled over the wind is blowing its butt off, should I or shouldn't I, Oh get up you;ll just lay here awake, up and off to the boat, its a crappy morning so I think I will try my off camera flash again, now this is a big boat and I have decided that I can not light her up with 3 flashes so I am going to try for just the water as it come over the side, one problem is that the tide is coming in and I have to keep moving back, after about a
hour of doing this I have worked out the camera setting have the flashes and stands in the right spot and start to get a few good shots, I am standing there clicking away as a wave comes over the side of the boat followed closely by a second and then a third holy F*^%#@!!! heck! I get to my flash just as it starts to topple, the thongs I have on are now broken and are up near my ankles I have my camera and tripod in one hand water up to my thighs and as I go to grab my flash over it goes in the water, yes at this stage I have started to swear, alot to I can tell you. I dive for the flash and grab it from the water and run for the car pitching my usless thongs in the ocean because that is wear all thongs end up anyway, I grab a towel and dry of my lense it seams then flash, ok the cactus attached to the flash has water pouring out of it and I pretty sure it is not long for this life, Ok thanks god rain on me now, I throw all the other gear in the back and jump in the
car and head for Ed he can fix most things,
Just so you get the idea this amount of water came in in 3 minutes.
Thank heavens he's up and gets to work quickly with his air compresser blowing out all the water, leave them in the sun now to dry and keep your finger crossed, Oh hes a smart man, " What where you thinking" He looks at me, " thinking I wasn't it was 5.00am I have had no coffee 7 hours sleep, no thinking happening here", after a couple of hours in the sun the cactus started to work again but not sure how long for salt water does horrible things to computer stuff.
Today we are going fishing at waddy point now this is a beautiful place, except for the wind which is now blowing at some 30 knots. But still its lovely, Ed starts fishing I am of for a walk, its very easy walking up a beach when there
is a 30 knot windy blowing you from behind, but at some stage you need to turn around and come back, possible should have crossed my mined before I got so far down the beach, I have now decided that I am having dumb day,
When I get back Ed has had a brain storm and thinks we might move up in the corner out of the wind where everyone else is parked, go Ed,
Now I think I might have a fish so of I set to feed the fish after feeding them 2 worms and by now I soaking wet and a little burnt sitting under tree is more appelling, Ed returns from his fish feeding and decides it luch time. Heading for home we come accross a man and his wife that are bogged we stop to give a hand and down to the axles goes the red chariot bogged, finally Ed get to use those orange things tied to the roof and they work a treat we are out in know time he careers of down the hill leaving me to walk carrying these orange things that live on the roof, on our way home there is a lot of stuff been washed up on the beach now and this leads to some afternoon fun taking pictures of bottles with barncels and stopping for all kinds of weird things, we are home by 5.00 and spend 1 hour on the beach waiting for some passing eagles and watch some crazy man fishing, I have never
seen anyone run down the beach cast his line and then run back very weird and very entertaining, back to camp and there is no one anywhere we hit the showers early and sit back for the night,
Day 8
5.00 am Ok! so now I am nuts but if you don't getup you may miss something, so up I get and down the beach in the dark, nuts I am thinking to myself it's pissing down rain and I can't even get out of the car, so I busy myself getting flashs and lenses set up for when it stops cause I am getting go at that by now, one thing I know for sure is, crap weather makes for great skies in photos so I will sit it out and be ready as soon as it stops, 2 flashes setp with cactus attached, sitting on tripods bugger the cheap light stands, going for the heavy stuff after my light stand hit the drink yesterday, sitting in the car in middle of the beach waiting for the rain to stop, yes I am sucked at this stage, it's a tough life taking photos but there is nothing quite like standing on a 90km long beach at sunrise by yourself taking it all in, over to my right is a fat arse dingo, don't tell me know ones feeding him he looks like someones pet he is so fat he takes a quick look at me and heads for the bush, today I get some great shots with the flash lighting up the water as it splashes over the boat, today as the waves hit the tripod I hold my breath but the tripod does the job, by now the weather is turning to real crap which is worse than just crap,
so I head home also those little backpackers are starting to get up, at home Ed is sitting reading the paper and I suggest that maybe would should packup and leave as the weather is only getting worse, and head into brisbane, well Ed bounces to his feet and starts to pack didn't have to mention that twice, a couple of hours later and where heading of down the beach
by Fraser Island its been fun.
On to the barge across the water and of the other side it over the best holiday I have ever had we are now in Rainbow Beach I am still wet and now getting cold it is still raining well pouring, Ed looks at me better go for coffee first hey, told you he was a smart man, into the main street and off to the first café, know I don’t think I have mentioned this but Ed has a pie fetish so while I get my coffee he is almost running to the bakery a week without a pie is a long time for my man and it is obvious to me he is in a deep need I smile as he bee lines straight for the bakery.
Then the car wash there is so much sand in the car I am sure we have brought back our own sand dune, It is still pelting down rain but we are still going to the car wash it a male thing I think, if you have a red car it must shine, and the tires need pumping back up from driving on the sand, I still can’t believe we are washing the car in the rain F%%^*# stupid idea, I say nothing, now I really am soaking wet and freezing cold and just a little pissed. In the car and off to Brisbane we get in about 7.00pm, now I do have a very short fuse when I am tired, that’s a female thing , so when we get to our campsite and someone has set up their tent half way across our site I am a little noisy about it, and then this young man comes over to see if we are ok, well I got to tell you I just melted, he is about 19 years opened his mouth and he is French and OH so pretty, we are fine I assure him you just go sit back over there and I will be fine, so now the scenic in this caravan park is as good as Fraser, and it’s all the tent next door, ED misses out, poor old ED,
We set up our camper that’s about 2 mins and then decide we don’t feel like cooking and head of to the pub for dinner, the next morning Ed is going to the 4wd drive show thingo at the show grounds and I am going to take some photos of my sisters new babies. After dinner is showers and into bed.
Day 9
Today I have to stop counting the days as we are now over half way through our holiday and the days go to fast, wish I never had to go home.
Now it is a well know thing that my sister and brother in law breed beautiful children, I don’t know why they just have a knack for it, so when she told me nine months ago that she was having twins I danced my little jig, yep that’s the one, the same jig as on Fraser my happy happy happy jig, now I am getting two beautiful babies, one problem they are not identical you would have thought she would have got that right, you just can’t trust some people to get it right, she did at least get the girl thing right, and this is where I am off to today to take pictures of Angies family,
The Girls,
Austin well this is the cutest kid you have ever meet. and cheeky
Quinton is just easy, sit there, look like this, smile like this, your done,
But Paige, I have won so much stuff with her photos, but man she is hard work, wont stand still for longer than 30 seconds, runs away, but when you get it, the camera just loves her,
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