Glasshouse Mountains and Bribie Island

Saturday 28 September we hoped to have great views of the iconic Glasshouse Mountains. Atmospheric perhaps describes how we saw them; these peaks looked impressive and we took many photos.

Mt. Coonowrin

Several of the eleven peaks of the Glasshouse Mountains

Mum and I were keen to climb Mt Beerburrum, but Ros was on a tight schedule and would not believe that we could be sufficiently flight of foot. We were delivered to Greg and Anne, holidaying on Bribie Island, and Ros soon left to reach her central Brisbane accommodation before roads were closed for the Riverfire Festival, and prepare for the next few days at a teaching conference.

The day was warming up so after a sausage sizzle lunch we headed for a walk along the beach. Dinner was at a highly recommended seafood restaurant overlooking the water. After a beautiful sunset some of the Brisbane fireworks lit the southern sky.

A beach on Bribie with guard dog Shasta the schnauser

The Glasshouse Mountains play peek-a-boo behind the bridge to Bribie

It was about a decade since we had last seen the family when they lived in Eastbourne, so it was lovely to have time together and eventually coax Madeline, Rhiannon and Dafydd to play some music on violin, trumpet and keyboard respectively. We finished our tasty bbq lunch before Desi and her best travellers, Harry and Meg, arrived and we all went to explore a different beach. After a while enjoying the cool sea and attempting to get Shasta to follow us further and further in, it was time to make tracks for Dayboro.

That's pumpkin in Greg's tongs - yum!

Time for a short swim

Honey, honey!

Friday 27 September was the big chance to catch up with Paul and Judy who had not been seen by many for some time. Paul wrote "[you many have heard] that our youngest son Luke suffered a severe brain injury nearly 2 years ago. It's been a very tough time and he is recovering slowly from basically nothing. Jude is his carer and therapist so it's pretty full on for her" and suggested 'a coffee down on the river'. Upon learning that Luke liked to see people we felt it better to visit at home and see them all.

We left Noosaville with time to enjoy the view from Laguna Lookout, a place I had been but even Ros did not know, and checked out the playground at Lake Cooribah before becoming a little lost down a gravel road to an 'alternative' campsite which went past some suspiciously blue lakes.

Views over Noosa River mouth with Mt Cooroy on the horizon

We heard that kangaroos can appear to walk on water on the very shallow Lake Cooribah

These eye-catching ponds were hidden behind a mound of earth

Luke was indeed sociable, and it was clear to see how much all of his family, especially Judy, had contributed to his recovery so far, when doctors had given up hope. Not least, Luke was a well built lad of 6ft 4ins, and there was an art to supporting his walking. Clearly a lot of hard work was still ahead. Richard and Sylvia had thoughtfully sent homemade scones and cream, and as soon as tea was made others mysteriously appeared. Nathan then showed us how they extracted honey in the nearby shed, and we learnt that most of their hives were about 900km out west, somewhere past Cunnamulla. That explained the big truck in the yard! Mum had been told that one thing she certainly must not take on the plane from Perth was honey, and now we started to learn that it can be difficult to know what we really buy. 

L to R: Ros, Nathan, July, Paul, Jason, Graham and Luke

Nathan, observed by Ros and Luke, shows frames full of honey about to be extracted

We took a look around Cotton Tree. Much had changed and Mum could not really recognise where they used to enjoy still water as an alternative to Mooloolaba's surf. As the day had become cloudy and breezy we were not tempted into the water, so it was not a problem that we really did not have time to swim.

1963 at Cotton Tree

The beach at Mooloolaba

In the Foote Sanctuary Mum searched in vain to find the bottom of the steep plot of land that had belonged to Auntie Ella and on which had gown pawpaws, mangoes, monstera deliciosa, bananas and other tropical delights; up on Buderim Mum thought she could see the side of the cottage, set well back from the road.  Google revealed that the flat front garden amazingly remains, and the original wooden cottage now has a roof connecting it to the what was Ella's brick home.  At least two new houses had been built on the sloping land behind. Eckersley Avenue, with its magnificent views to the sea, had been discovered and now seemed to be the preserve of the well-to-do.

A little down the mountain we visited Shirley and Heinz in their retirement home. Afternoon tea was followed by toasted sandwiches, and it was lovely to be there when son David and his New Zealand wife Jenny called by.

Shirley and Heinz with David and Jennifer

Next morning it would be time to pack up and leave the Sunshine Coast :(

Ginger, Macadamias, Pineapples!

Thursday 26 September.
Our day began with visits to Yandina's ginger and macadamia factories. Both were well geared up to showing tourists their workings, and selling the finished products.

Mum was relieved when we found the home of her cousin Shirley without getting lost; Alex was outside watching for us. Scones and cream for morning tea were complemented by not only good company, but a fantastic view. We listened intently to the story of how Alex nearly lost his foot when on sloping ground he tried to save a mango from the ride-on mower, a sobering tale indeed. Replete, we had plenty of energy to explore the nearby river before climbing Dunethin Rock.

Morning tea with Shirley and Alex

Views from Dunethin Rock

From here Ros took us to the Big Pineapple to meet Lyn, Mum's paternal third cousin 'discovered' via Internet genealogy! We did not indulge in the famed parfaits or sundaes as Lyn took us back home to Caloundra to have lunch with her husband Gary. Mum spied a large shed in their garden - something every man needs, and especially so if he has any kind of farming background. Gary was pleased to show us inside; we were both amazed to find an exact blackbird replica under construction, and any number of other exciting things! Gary had made other planes which were now housed in museums and used to raise money for charity, but this project was his most demanding.

Men in Green

Gary and Blackbird

After we visited mum's sprightly (and rarely at home) 95 year old Auntie Nita and daughter Kay I went swimming at Kings Beach while Lyn and Mum caught up with news. It was after dark when Ros returned to drive us 'home', and then proceeded to again make a very tasty dinner.

Kay, Nita and Lyn

The Sunshine Coast

Wednesday 25 September
It was clear that this trip was going to bring back happy memories - Mum had many lovely summer holidays with her parents, staying in a cottage next to her Auntie Ella's house on Buderim. They would leave home in Toowoomba early in the morning and drive the same route as we had done yesterday; since then many of the roads had been improved! Having Ros offer to take us to the Sunshine Coast was a dream come true. We had been expecting to stay in something like a granny flat, not the spacious accommodation with wonderful facilities that we so enjoyed. There was even a small but lovely park right next door.

We liked Ros' idea of going early to the markets at Eumundi, however by the time we arrived it was clear that we would struggle to find anywhere to park so we continued along more steep and windy view-filled roads, we saw some of Mum's favourite places such as Montville and Maleny. At Mapleton Falls we listened to an assortment of bird calls on our rainforest walk while Ros pointed out features of sclerophyll forests. Colin and Lorraine were not at home (Dulong), but we met their daughter Kylie.

Kylie, whose home overlooks that of Colin and Lorraine

Walking with Ros near Mapleton Falls

A view near Mapleton

Ros dropped us in the busy carpark at the National Park in Noosa. It was a hot day and I went for a refreshing swim at Tea Tree Bay. Being an excellent tour guide I showed Mum round to Hell's Gates although I was disappointed by the lack of wind this visit. We met Ros as arranged, and she watched with amusement as I persuaded Mum to swim at Main Beach, rather unusual in that it faces north. Now 5pm, the lifesavers who are on duty here every day of the year had packed up and left, but there were still quite a few people enjoying this popular surfing beach.

Tea Tree Bay

Hell's Gates

Sunset near the mouth of the Noosa River

Ros prepared another wonderful meal as we finalised the plans for the following day. There were quite a few people we were hoping to see...

We're going on holiday

We made an early start for Noosaville the morning of Tuesday 24th September, calling at a couple of gardens before taking in the views from Mt Kynoch and then visiting a garden Ros had already enjoyed in Highfields.

View over the quarry from Mt Kynoch

Along the way we stopped off at Somerset Dam where Desi and Ross, with children Harry, Zoe and Meg were camping with friends.

Harry was unwell but had enough energy to show red claw crayfish

Ross, Meg and Mum on Somerset Dam 

Ross and Desi camping with Harry, Meg and Zoe

After a refreshing kayak trip on the lake we completed our journey via the winding road over the Peachester Range, from which the views over the Glasshouse mountains were clearer than I had previously seen. We reached our destination in time for some champagne and nibbles with hosts Richard and Sylvia before Ros cooked dinner!

Our comfortable 'home' in Noosaville had a pool just outside the door.