Noosa

Yesterday we went up to Noosa. We had meant to go there a couple of weeks ago with our visitor Sarah but hadn't made it due to getting sidetracked on the way. But this time we would go directly and sample the delights of Castaways Beach, a dog beach we had found out about, and Noosa itself, which is a bit of a tourist trap by all accounts and has a famously cosmopolitan high street.

For once no recovery navigation was required and we made it up there in an hour and a half on the Bruce Highway. The drive was pleasant, and Nicole to us up to a vantage point called Laguna Lookout to have sandwiches. We were hassled by a dog which like Matilda wouldn't take No for an answer let alone Sod Off, but eventually it got distracted by something and we had a little lunch in the shade of a glade overlooking a nice beach below, which curved away to the west with mountains misted in the distance behind.

Then we went down to Castaways Beach where there was a convenient car park by the side of the road. A little path led down to the beach, which stretched off as far as we could see to the North and South, with lovely soft sand and great surf washing up the shore.

Eloise played chicked with the surf as it swept up the shore and got braver and braver with each wave until, with our help, she was going armpit deep and squealing delightedly.

The dogs were less sure and were frightened by the foamier waves, but we found a little lagoon which they went and played in.

After an hour or so we went back into Noosa and up to Hastings Street. We parked the car in some car park in the Parkland at the top of the street and remembered why dogs and towns don't mix. Matilda slipped her collar and pelted off into the parkland after a Bush Turkey, and took five minutes to recover.

Anxiety was a little high as we walked up the high street. The street was very nice, the street itself was flanked by lovely trees and little sitting areas with the shops behind. There weren't any of the usual chain stores but plenty of fashion boutique type shops and art galleries. We got some nice ice cream and drinks to keep us going, but considered returning when the rain started to pitter patter a little.

Nicole and Eloise went into an Art gallery and I stayed outside with the dogs. We walked a few paces up the street and sat on a bench to wait. After a few minutes my mobile went off and I was an unpopular person it turned out as they had come out of the gallery and note spotted me and had been waiting for a couple of minutes. Oooops.

Tiny slipped her lead on the way back to the car and ran after the Bush Turkeys. Fair's fair I suppose.

Then we went in search of a chip shop, then realised we had no cash and went in search of a cash machine, then a chip shop again, which we eventually found.

We ate our tea by the river as the sun set. Kids played on a little beach and a pelican meandered around on the water. In the distance flocks of birds fluttered around like strange mirages. We went a little closer to watch them, then set off for home.