Australia Zoo

This week I've been busy showing my old college roomie from the U.S the sights of my home in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Susan has gone back to Vanuatu now for another week before heading home for Oregon, but we had such an awesome time together while she was here.

We had a lovely breakfast at the Mary Caincross Cafe overlooking the magical Glasshouse Mountains, checked out the local musos night at the Upfront Club in Maleny, watched the most incredible sunset I have ever seen over the ridges of Maleny and Witta. We then spent the last night in Brisbane at the Mercure Hotel so that Susan could catch her early flight out. 

But, the highlight was definitely our trip to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo where for an extra $20 each, Susan got to cuddle a koala and we got to hold a huge Burmese python named Charlie with gorgous photos to keep. Just a few mintes drive down the hill in Beerwah, Australia Zoo is an amazing place. The staff are all so happy and friendly and are doing a great job of keeping Steve's legacy alive, and with all those gorgeous Aussie critters to care for why wouldn't they be? The experience certainly put smiles on our faces and I can't wait to go back again.

Vicky gets PINKED!

OK so the adventures of Vicky and Lisa have been a little slow lately - what can I say? It's been cold!

I realize now that I am more like a reptile than I thought. I must admit that I am finding it hard to get quite as excited about venturing out as I do when it's sunny and warm outside.

So I'm doing what the guy who wrote my runes book says; "when the fishermen can't fish, they repair nets"

So, what does a caravan nutter do when she's not out caravanning? She buys cans of pink paint of course! Having taken about enough of egg yellow as one girl can possibly handle, it was off with the yellow, and in with the pink! And she now looks sensational!!!!

With overseas family members and old college room mates descending upon me over the next month or so, Vicky will be called in for spare bedroom duties for a bit before we take off on any more road trips...

Vicky is a 1965 vintage Viscount 15-foot Duralvan

 

Go West young woman!

Independence Day Hot Rod Round up and Campout - Maidenwell, QLD 1-4th July 2010 (300kms)

It was red, white and blue all around at the highly successful inaugural Maidenwell Independence Day Hot Rod Round Up last weekend. Hosted by the Nanango-based South Burnett Gas Guzzlers Hot Rod & Customs Club, and organized brilliantly by president Andrew Farrell, the weekend brought out a great turn out of cars and curious onlookers from far and away in a little country town about as far away from the USA as anywhere could be. 

Up near the Bunya Mountains and high up on the country home-style hospitality, Maidenwell really is a one-pub town, and Publican of the traditional Queenslander style Maidenwell Hotel “Spud” and wife Wendy did a great job of coordinating an unusually high number of temporary residents and takers-over of their facilities for the duration of the weekend.

I opted out of Friday night’s festivities and drove out Saturday when the weather cleared into a glorious sunny day and as soon as I got there I was glad I chose the option of taking the caravan and camping onsite. The costs for the weekend including camping were more than reasonable and, apart from the perfect country driving conditions it was well worth it to partake of Saturday night’s most sumptuous pig on the spit feast put on by the Maidenwell Hotel. Later on there was a chance to work it all off by rocking out to the jiving beats of the sunshine coast band Atomic Cruisers.

Temperatures dropped to zero overnight and I was greeted by frozen grass when I stepped outside the van the next morning, but the sun shone and the skies couldn’t have been bluer as the chamois came out and the grumbling of even more V8’s slowly brought sleepy heads out of caravans.

By 9am and another fine cooked breakfast thanks to the staff of the 100% old school Hotel, the centre field of the adjoining show grounds was full of two big rows of motoring awesomeness. From rat rods to fully customized classics and muscle cars to traditional rods and original classics, including a late entry with the bands gorgeous old cream-coloured Falcon Station Wagon, were cars of every vintage and era. But scooping the pool in the prizes later in the afternoon’s trophy presentations including Mayor’s Choice, Entrant’s Choice and best Hot Rod Ute/Commercial was Noel’s very smooth and sexy, shiny black KB1 International pick-up truck.

But, of course, being the caravan nut that I am, I was once again drawn to the selection of restored vintage and classic caravans and teardrops in an assortment of candy-coloured paint finishes parked up behind the cars. Yes, I am pretty sure I died and went to heaven that day. Add to that fairy floss, market stalls, a jumping castle for the kiddies, crazy antics involving hot rods, hay bales and golf balls and the Wilko’s Pro-Shine guy making my car sparkle like a Twilight vampire and what more could a girl want? What about the legendary hot-rodding fraternity friendliness, yet another BBQ style cooked lunch up at the hotel, even more rockabilly goodness by the Atomic Cruisers for a Sunday session out on the deck before the long trip home? Yep, I’d say that’s pretty much my idea of a perfect way to spend a weekend!

Thanks so much to South Burnett Gas Guzzlers for a great event and to the Maidenwell Hotel Staff for your most bountiful hospitality.
I know where I’ll be celebrating Independence Day next year!







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Seeing Pink

Pink Cars & Caravans...

In my never-ending search for my perfect pink dream car I came across this link to a website in the U.K that just deals in, would you believe it, PINK CARS!!!! Check out http://www.pinkcars.net/

How mad is that? So, I'm not alone and it feels strangely reassuring that there are others out there like me wondering if they too, are the only nutters on the planet with this peculiar penchant for pink.

So what is it about pink? Although one of my mates hinted at some kind of pseudo-psychological deep and meaningful explanation for my desire to pink up my caravan and my car (he's a bloke - they'll never get it!) I have found a more justifiable reason: growing up as a tomboy.

When I was a kid I thought pink was gross. Girly things such as barbies and ballet and tutus just didn't interest me. When I was given the choice, I chose to have my bedroom painted in my favourite colours of the time; green and yellow. Not out of patriotism, but because of my admiration of all things natural.

I just wanted my space to be green like the forest and yellow like sunflowers.

Now I'm all grown up, I realize I may have missed something in my repulsion for pink. Pink is to me now, soothing, fun, playful, represents all that is girly, makes me happy and, the best bit is that most guys won't be seen dead in it! And no, aforementioned friend who alludes to similarities to the inside of my van to the inside of, well, um, you work it out! Au contraire, mon ami. It was meant to KEEP YOU GUYS OUT! 

Now, because too much pink is never enough, here is my own personal collection of pink car and caravan photos I've taken or collected. Enjoy!

Hervey Bay Hot Rod 'n' Custom Car Campout

Sunshine Coast to Hervey Bay return 1-3 May (500kms)

I had heard about the May in the Wide bay Hot Rod and Custom Car campout from the Vintage Caravan forums. A lot of Vintage vanners are classic car enthusiasts who use their restored old caravans to travel and stay at the many car shows and campouts held several times a year all around the country. So, fuelled by promises of multiple vintage caravans and lots of classic cars all in the one place, it was time to hook up the old van, jump in the car, and hit the road north for the 260 km drive up past Gympie and Maryborough to Hervey Bay.

As I pulled into the Happy Wanderer Caravan Park I was greeted by a hive of activity and a sea of chrome-adorned open topped rods in just about every bright coloured metallic two pack known to mankind. Having just returned from what sounded like a hilarious observation run and treasure hunt, it was miles of smiles all around as rodders gave fellow rodders a taste of cruising around the caravan park and out and around the streets in their pride and joys. I found Jeff Neels, the secretary of the Wide bay Rodders who introduced me to some of the car owners all of whom were more than happy to have a yarn about their cars and what they love about “rodding”.

“It’s the camaraderie that develops through runs like this one. And the freedom, the freedom to build a car that truly reflects the individual” says Owen Johnston, the club’s president. Owen’s interest in rodding developed when he rescued his grandfather’s old rotting 1927 Buick from a sorry fate many years ago and turned it into a hot rod. He said it took two years of his spare time to repair, restore and rebuild the beauty from the ground up. And it seems this kind of passion and devotion runs deep in the rodding fraternity with many attendees sharing similar stories about the journey of their car’s rebirthing. 

So what is a hot rod? Basically it’s a pre-1948 model of car, usually American, such as Ford Model A’s and T’s or Chevy’s and Buicks with a big fat V8 engine in it. The rest is pretty much up the builder’s own tastes; choose your colour, your chrome bits, add personal touches such as licking flame paintwork and big shiny wheels and you’ve got yourself your very own hot wheels project for big kids. Now you’ve made yourself your dream chick-magnet (unless you are a chick already in which case your car will probably be pink and more of a dude repellant) you need somewhere to drive it. As modified vehicles, general daily use is out of the question. Besides, with paintwork like this, would you want to risk it? Most hot rod clubs hold at least one get-together a year to allow members to mingle with other enthusiasts. Along with a bit of car-envy and healthy, jovial competitiveness, all genuine classic and vintage car lovers are welcomed with life-long friendships often formed along the way.

Entry fees included a host of activities designed to engage all rodders of all ages along with communally shared and catered meals held under canvas canopies in the caravan park. Having grown over the past three years to over 120 cars participating this year, May in the Wide Bay now takes over two camping areas in Hervey Bay with onsite accommodation apparently having been booked months in advance. With many of the featured cars on limited special usage registration, registered runs like this one give owners the chance to strut their stuff, turn some heads and show off a bit and many of them travel several times a year to attend events such as this one. Wide Bay Rodders secretary Jeff is quick to point out that any funds raised from holding events like this one in excess of their needs are donated to charity and an auction and raffle drawn on the closing night of the event saw funds proved the generosity, as well as the partying spirit of the rodding fraternity. The the Oncology ward of the local hospital are the deserving beneficiaries of this weekend’s proceedings.

Thanks so much to the Wide bay Rodders for your hospitality. I had an absolute blast  - see you next year!

A day in Byron Bay keeps the blues away

Byron Bay  - Wednesday 14th April 2010

So I realise that I’ve left the story dangling somewhat... but the best of Byron Bay became apparent as the sun came up on the aptly named First Sun Caravan park the next morning.

During the night it had poured down rain and I got up at some point to wind the hatch down on the caravan. I was hoping that the rain wouldn’t stick around as I had hoped to get about and take some photos of the lighthouse before heading back home.

I awoke, as I always seem to do on the road, at sunrise. A quick peek out the window of my cosy new caravan-abode revealed sunny skies. Yay! So I snuck out quietly and left Trent sleeping grabbed the camera and took the back gate onto the beach to catch those first rays of yet another new day. And what a beach! The perfect semi-circle of the distinctive bay stretches out as far as the eye can see in both directions. I’m thinking: “Wouldn’t it be great to gallop a horse along here!” and of course; “Bas would love this!” I'm still missing him heaps...

Unlike the murky post-cyclonic snarling swells of the north Queensland road trip, the ocean at Byron Bay glistens like a turquoise jewel. Early morning surfers did their thing with large pods of playful dolphins as healthy joggers with toned and taught bods smiled and said hello as they jogged along the sand.

After taking a bit of time to soak it all in, I went back to the caravan and woke Trent up and suggested a pre-breakfast walk to the lighthouse.

The walk took us along the main beach, up the wooden stairs up the side of the rock that reminded me of Lion Rock at Piha to a lookout.

Then we went up and over the hill to the eastern most point lookout where the waves smashed into the rugged black rocks and the blue of the clear sky was the same colour as the crystal clear water. Just beautiful!

There it was – that iconic white and blue Byron Bay lighthouse. High up on the hill with its turrets and whitewashed stonework it looks like a castle, like it’s been there forever. I challenge Trent to a guessing game to see if we can work out when it was built. I say 1880, he says 1830. As we get to the top of the very last set of what really are a lot of steps the sea breeze is a welcome relief. At this point I start thinking about breakfast and realise that it’s about an hour and a half in that direction! I notice that the numbers above the impressively large door frame of the lighthouse read “1901”. I choose to see that as a win for me.

A beautiful day in a beautiful place that I am putting high on my ‘must-visit-this-place-again’ list. And yet another happy caravanning adventure under my belt and even more desire to have more of them...

From Byron Bay the few hours drive home to the Sunshine Coast seemed a breeze. That night I slept soundly in my own bed again and dreamed of long road trips, cute retro caravans and white sandy beaches...

Blissful Byron Bay

Byron Bay - Tuesday 13th April, 2010 9pm

Today's trip was from Tuncurry, NSW to Byron Bay - I am now only about 3 hours from home and feeling tired but a lot better for being here.

Today was fun - I picked up the Viscount and she is a little beauty! Driving during the day I got to see all that I had missed out on during the trip down in the dark. The scenery was beautiful and it was the perfect day for driving - clear blue skies, a slight cool breeze. Nice! We crossed many rivers and narrow bridges as we headed back North from the lakes district and back into banana and sugar cane country.

Of course, continuing on my theme of "the van with the big..." series of photos - I had to stop (and park illegally mind you!) for the compulsory van-with-the-big-banana (Coffs Harbour), and van-with-the-soon-to-be-decommissioned-big-prawn shots (Ballina) before we headed off the Pacific Highway and onto the Coast Road through Lennox Heads and into that sumptious, lush wildnerness that surrounds Byron Bay.

After settling into the most conveniently-placed "First Sun" Caravan Park right on the beach in the heart of Byron Bay it was time to enjoy a long hot shower, some electricity and to take in the nightlife of Byron on a Tuesday night which is, surprisingly, quite vibrant! We just came back from having a pasta meal and a glass of wine and a taste of some local live music at the funky "Railway Friendly Bar". Tired now, so I'm going to crawl into bed - Trent has already crashed out and he wasn't even the one driving!

Tomorrow we'll have time for a quick swim in the surf and I'm hoping to get some nice photos of that famous lighthouse - then it will be back on the road for the homeward journey - back to life - and back to reality!

But I am pretty sure there'll be many more adventures to come from now on...