Camping it Up

We left around 11am Saturday morning on our little trip. We got ourselves some apparently-but-not-really-free petrol and got on our way, when I realised that I'd forgotten my mobile but we thought bugger it, we're not actually likely to need it, are we?

We'd decided to go to Hervey Bay on the Fraser Coast which is apparently very nice. It's the next coastal point up from Rainbow Beach, about level with the northern end of Fraser Island. A good four hour drive we thought.

Nicole had spoken to Chris and arranged to meet him at Eumundi, near Noosa, so we hot-footed it up there and made it there for twelve fifteen or so and stopped off for dog- and person-emptying.

We were in a bit of a panic... well that might be a little strong.... about cargo space as we'd filled every available nook and cranny with stuff, carrying as we were an extra tent for Chris and assorted other bits and bobs, but problem was solved when Chris suggested that Nicky, his (ahem) travelling companion would like to come along with her car.

So off we fetched to Hervey Bay, and we got there after almost getting lost in a roadwork diversion at Mayborough at around four or so, and of course that was when the fun started.

The campsite that we'd selected turned out to be predominantly caravans and semi-permanent chalets. A lot of Aussies seem to live permanently at campsites, for whatever reason, and this one had only two spaces for tents that we could find anyway, which we took to the point of overflowing. It was a bit cramped really. Everything was very close together. Nicole was delighted with the camp kitchen though.

Nicky and I settled back to watch the fun as the Slimms attempted to erect the tents. We laughed and giggled as they put the wrong poles together and didn't get the tents up. Eventually they got there though, and Im not going to take any credit. None at all.

We went out to see if we could find a dog beach and eventually we did, over on the East side of town. We could see Fraser Island in the distance across the wet muddy slurry-sand on which rested some boats and attendant tenders in a most picturesque sunset light. Of course then the sand flies came out and Nicole got the jitters forcing a rapid retreat.

We passed the evening watching a star-filled sky framed against the silhouettes of nearby trees and retired fairly early after a long day's driving.