Sunday 10 July 2011

Bribie Island - Week 2

The early part of week 2 at Bribie Island saw us on the road a bit more. We visited Under Water World and enjoyed the day in cool shaded exhibits that were educational and entertaining. The seal performances were a delightful act that entertained and educated by including the animals in the script. We got only a couple of curious glances when we spread the rug and had lunch under a shady tree next to the car park. I have noticed how many different species of small shady tree grow up this way.

We did a tour of the beaches from Coolum to Caloundra. Not much of a surf while we were there and quite a few in swimming and lots more enjoying the beach and beachfront picnics.  We included a couple of strawberry farms where we decided not to pick our own at the same price we could buy them in the shops (or dearer). However the family groups that were picking were going for the biggies and finding them! One short cut dead-ended us in the small town of Toorbul close to Bribie by water but distant by road. A sign on entry to the town warned of Kangaroos in any street in town and it was right .They were in all sorts of places and taking it easy. I took a photo of a doe eating grass as she lay in the sun.



Glass House Mountains from Bribie Island

The call of the Glass House Mountains occupied another full day as we toured up to Mary Cairncross lookout to get a landscape view and then meandered down among them until it was too dark to see them from the lookouts near Glass House Mountain village. While at Mary Cairncross Park we took the rainforest walk and came across a potoroo, a few scrub turkeys and heard three catbirds calling to each other – the women at the information centre were quite excited about their being there as they are infrequent visitors this far north. Their call is sometimes likened to a baby crying but I think it is more like the cat-fighting toms at Page...
Glass House Mountains from Mary Cairncross lookout

The caravan fridge gave us some bother as the electric element blew just after another of Anne’s cook up days. Andrew, the Fridge Whisperer, helped us diagnose the problem with a series of phone calls and tests over a couple of days. Then he gave in to an illness so the Caboolture Coromal Caravan people took over and despatched one of their workshop guys to bring out the part and fix it – very helpful and professional service from the company.

The fridge diagnosis saw us spending a bit more time at the back of the caravan and we found a noisy miner bird started to swoop us and clack its beak near our heads. Sure enough we found it had a nest in a tree above our site. Strangely, as these birds have a reputation for taking over the nesting sites of other birds, this pair’s nest was a stick and grass one at the extreme end of a long slender branch.

The Annex went up on day two without any trouble and down again on the day before we left. We even got a photo of it this time. It is handy for extra storage and for shelter. It means that we can get all our gear out of the car reducing the weight and improving the vision and as we had a few wet days at Bribie the extra sheltered living space was a bonus. The pole carrier fitted in Maitland is a success. It has not moved and the poles fit quite comfortably but firmly.



As Anne reckons it is still too cold at night we are moving on to Rainbow Beach for three days and then further north. Again we expect to get in some planning for the remainder of our time....

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