We drove out to Kondalilla via MontVille. We have seen this picturesque town before but not the falls. We spent an hour at the first swimming hole for lunch and a drink. This also had a good waterfall. The swimming was good but deep and not to cold. We took the long descent to the bottom for spectacular views of the main falls. Another hour was spent at the bottom. Despite the rests the going was hot and sweaty to get all the way back up. This was a great day trip and worth the effort.
This is a Breakfree resort which manages a series of apartments owned by others. Ours is a good one overlooking the waterway behind Bribie Island. We also have a spa on the deck that looks out over the pool. To Cool. There is a full kitchen and laundry which we have not fully used but will do at some stage.
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| spa view |
It ts Caloundra revisited and I can report immediately that the waterway between here and Bribie Island has now filled in with sand which was not the case 5 years ago. We dropped our bags, got some supplies and walked our way across to the island at around 2pm as the tide was out and so was the sunshine. The weather is meant to be turning for the worse tonight so we made the most of it. When you take a photo over there in the right direction it could be a deserted island. We got back to our Grand Pacific room just now and we have a balcony with spa tub over looking the water. Hooray.
It was our last morning with all the associated packing and cleaning and at the same time as all that we were getting messages about how Estelle was getting prepped for her tonsilectomy from about 7:00am. We got Evie off to school with her swimmers as it is her sports swimming day just to add to all the excitement and Charlie was happy enough after she gets going with a play in the pool at home. We got dropped off at the car hire and were given a Chinese Chery what ever that is but it did start so tghat must be good. It seems that Estelle now thinks that hospitals are no problem as she is now sitting up eating sausage rolls and ice cream.
They have partying down to a fine art at TiddlyWinks. There were five, five yar old parties being hosted at the same time, including two of them for two Evelyns. The three storied playground was the focus at the start. The main attraction was the dance floor/stage/disco room. This had two main sessions for the disco beats. Food was served in a seperate upstairs room where two staff entertained with magic and ice cream. Phew! It took the whole back of the car to get the 20 or so presents back home. Evie was excited from start to finish, although we still have the afternoon to go.
The new sleeping arrangements are tight but it means we do not have to look for a nearby hotel this time around and I think we have tried most of them in the area. It was Grandie book reading from about 6:30 am. This lead into extended breakfast and 2nd breakfast til 10am. There was just enough time for a Charlie haircut before we had to get to swimming lessons and being safety week there were extra drills like getting in and out of rafts and managing awkward lifejackets. Lunch was had at the library, followed by another round of book reading and a playtime with some friends. Now for the afternoon schedule.
The heat is on, well actually high 20's but we will take it. You need a kiddie pool here and this one comes with internal seating and drink holders. The grandies think that cleaning the pool is the best thing. Over at Evie's new school they don't muck around the old pool has been scrapped and a new pool built with the latest gear. This school is up there and has the best view school fees can buy in Brisbane. Back home we have walked the dog and the grandies who got to try out their brand new sunnies with attitude dude.
You can't complain when the airport is way closer than Tulla. This is a busy spot with multiple flights but they only had one security station going. We had a taste of Winter outside but the other advantage is close parking so we got in quick. The parking will cost us $174 by the time we get back but there it is. It seems weather is delaying flights but so far so good for us.
I have not read to many Poirot whodunits and this one had all the clues. These mixed up pieces were put together and found lots of waiters but no butlers. This may have been the first time Agatha Christie got stuck into a serial type murderer and with a setting on a holiday beach island it seemed ideal to be made into a film in 1982. The location was Burgh Island, maybe I might bring the snorkel mask if I ever get there. I am scratching around for a book to read now and may have to revisit something off my shelf. If you leave it long enough it will seem like new, which is exactly illustrated by this book, as I now see I have read it before in 2017 and did not remember a thing about it. Looking across I can see Alistair Maclean. Now that one will be dated. If I can read Evil Under the Sun written 85 yar ago then I can try one his again just 20 yar later.
Some times it takes a while to sink in but never do the snorkel without the flippers. I knew early that the conditions were calm again today when I heard the Ding Ding Dong of a Tassie ferry announcement as it went sailing passed. Yes the water was clear and the Sun was out as well. This time I had the flippers on and it was like chores and chess compared to yesterday. Almost effortless kicks make for better progress. I went further along the pole line but there is still a shortage of fish at the moment. Don't miss the chance to just lie on the surface and gaze down at the scenery.
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| He doesn't Egret eating all the fish |
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| Ding Ding Dong |
Yes I went across with the snorkel again. The tide was low but the Sun was out and the breeze was slight. I went in without wearing my flippers. It is a tight fit with a sore toe so I went barefoot. I seemed to be going nowhere without the flippers on. That footwear makes a huge difference and as well, I am very out of practise. I did not spy any fish life just some ghostly encrusted poles but at least I am making some progress. The temperatures are still good, so there is hope for a bit more water action before the cold really gets here.
It is hard to ignore when it is so calm especially first thing. We were already having a beach session later this afternoon but I had to go across even though it was quite shallow. I waded out passed the rocks and sure enough there were rays there just grazing quietly. The grasses were sitting in clumps on the bottom so if you walked between, then nothing much was disturbed, so they were happy to keep gliding around. I also got a report that exactly where we were at the secret cove the other day a large seal came up for a few hours rest. I think it was the same day we were there but it had swum off before we arrived.
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| the seal came ashore here |
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| hard to see rays at this angle |
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| the calming effect |
At last Estelle has made it to 5 and she let us know in no uncertain terms. Kids parties are hard work and we have been to a few lately. I think the highlight this time around was the face painter who also doubled as a balloon engineer. She was working solid for 2 hours with facial masterpieces everywhere. I think if she was asked to stay longer then I bet other skills like paper folding would have come out. When did Pin the tail on the Donkey get replaced with stick the Hat on the Cat? There is something wrong there. These days parties go off like clockwork, 11am til 1pm and everyone out by 2pm. We had to get the great grandparents home so it was a big day. Now Estelle has to work thru the mountain of presents.
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| face paintind |
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| balloon queue |
We have had two daffney's one on either side of the front entrance. Last year I cut one out because it was dying off. It's just what they do we are told, they die prematurely. I took out the other one this morning as it was turning a moldy shade of yellow. The ground did seem a bit dry but the root system was all fresh and moist so basically we are giving up on those plants. Debbie turned her attention to another plant out the front which has the opposite problem. She tried to kill it off. Cleared the whole thing, digging out roots and shoots but up it comes again. It is some sort of daisy that invited itself. So now it is being coralled in a metal enclosure and will be severely cut back and shaped but not with the new gizmo which does not actually cut anything. We are not too cut up about it.
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| yellowed |
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| a cutter NOT |
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| after |
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| on the level |
It was so calm and clear this morning you could see the cross on top of Mt Macedon. When you looked at the water there were formations on the surface. I have seen these before and I think they are grasses that have clumped together but I have never waded out to have a closer look. So in the afternoon the cloud was burned off and we went across to our secret bay which is largely protected in most directions. We thought we would check out the floaties but there were none to be seen. I waded out a bit into clear water but could see no sign of any jetsam. Beach was clean as well although we did do a snap and send to get an old garden seat removed.
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| secret cove |
