Home and Christmas...

Obviously...we made it and we are home and it is lovely.
Just blogging to share the Christmas things in our home. I know it is WAY to early for most people but it is my favourite time of year and I LOVE decorating...so here it is so far...x

Cape Hillsborough

We were here a week ago. A national park south of Airlie Beach. Great camping spot and it was full with families on holidays. We did the norm... Fishing, swimming, crabbing and climbed trees. Andrew practiced casting his fathers day present, a cast net, got the hang of it quickly and taught Ned how to do it too.
I realized for a moment when I was sitting on the beach watching Andrew with the kids that our holiday adventure would be over very soon and that time would not be like this again. How blessed I feel that we have been able to share this with our three children. It hasn't been roses every day...there have been days when the kids have driven us crazy and when Andrew and I have driven eachother crazy too. There have been tears and tantrums BUT I will remember the adventure for what it has been...amazing, confronting, huge and happy.
Xx

Bowen and Airlie Beach.

Well, the Queensland school holidays have begun...as I type this tonight I am well and truly aware of this due to all the noise in the park coming from kids... Some good, some bad...it's ok though because over the past three months we have contributed to this noise wherever we have gone and it's nice to be surrounded with families instead of grey nomads for a change!
We have in the last week had two nights in Bowen. It was lovely and we had a great site right on the beach, fresh salty air blowing in the caravan and sunshiny days. The only bad thing to happen in Bowen was Andrew getting his crab pot stolen after he set it in the first day...in his words, he felt "violated"(!!! Seriously!!!). Anyway, he replaced it quickly, set it much closer to camp (out the front!) and got up at 4am to pull it...2 mud and 2 blue swimmer, all a fraction to small.
We have had four nights in Airlie Beach. The highlight being our day sailing around the whitsunday's for the day on board "Camira" (was a little disappointed that when we got there our boat was purple-yuk!-not white like in the brochure- didn't detract from a great day but sooo not a fan of that colour as many of you will know!) We snorkeled the reef and had some time at Whitehaven beach. The beach was our favorite. The sand is fine and white and the water crystal clear.
Another major highlight for me was driving the 15 mins to Proserpine to visit the op shops. I had no idea if they'd be any good but had a good feeling I'd find some treasures and I DID!!! I bought a teaser and just as I was at the counter a man bought in some boxes...his mother's haberdashery collection...right place at the right time.
Also, Andrew went on a fishing charter today, he caught a small coral trout and had a blast with 8 other "blokes".
Off in the morning...nine sleeps and counting...
A special HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY to Vic! We love you and missed being with you and are sending you all our love.
Xx

Southward bound...

The direction has changed and we are heading south. We have just over two weeks left and we are heading towards home. It all seems to have happened so fast that we have been so far and now I can almost smell home again. Honestly I can hear Andrew and I starting to reflect about all that we've seen, done and experienced, even though we still have new places left to see. If I forget in the excitement of "getting home" I just want to acknowledge Andrew. He spent so much time researching this trip and really organized it all on his own. If it had not been for him, the kids and I would not have seen or done any of the things that we have. There have been days where I wished we were anywhere but on the road traveling BUT I am so grateful that because of him I got OUT of my comfort zone for a while, and saw some of this land, and mostly, witnessed my family enjoy it too.
Back to where we are...
We have been at Rollingstone for the last two nights. There is nothing here but a caravan park. It is situated 60km north of Townsville.
We managed to book a beachfront site with an ensuite. This is Andrews dream place to camp. He has caught a been crabbing and fishing most of the time and had a grin from ear to ear. Ned, Auds and Sam have fished too, but mainly loved finding crabs and baby flathead in the rockpools.
Xx