Tags: Tourist destination spots. Travel. Australian Tourism. Queensland. Rolling Stone
Hi there, here is just a quick rehash in case you have missed the first episodes of ‘The Bribie Islander’. My short stories are all about our family, Richard my hubby, Ginger our daughter and myself, going on a 15 month trip of misadventure in a “big rig” around Australia, on a mission to find the place to call home. On our visit last year in September, Rolling Stone (just north of Townsville) was very windy, but this time at the end of November, it was perfect with lots of sunshine, getting hot and hotter every minute, only to be cooled down by the amazing ‘best ever’, huge lagoon pool.
Luckily we got a spot right on the water under a group of trees, which gave good shade to Opa’s tent, my Dad from Austria, who was visiting Australia for the first time. And as for Opa… well, he was in heaven, Rolling Stone heaven… and if you have not been there, well it’s like a tropical island with palm trees in combination with Australian wilderness of washed up trees and crocodiles to keep you company. Soooo beautiful, wild and scary all in one go, you need to head straight to the new caravan bar and wash it down with some ouzo or two or three. However, we did not encounter anything scary and only saw turtles in that clear amazing turquoise water surrounded by ‘rolling stones’ of course!
Ginger watched those turtles standing on the edge of the water for ages, little did she know that 15 months later she would meet some great turtle carers right here at Woorim beach, who demonstrate how they keep track of their nests and like Linda and Lyn collect any rubbish they can find on a daily basis to keep the way clear for those precious Bribie turtles!! When we were on the road the previous year with our little Jaco pop top, we also travelled with a saltwater fish tank, which we acquired in Bowen to keep our own catch alive. To add some colour we purchased two clown fish, who survived the rough sea when the caravan was on the move.
At every possible destination we would collect water from the sea and store it in our bar fridge, which meant we never had any cold drinks as the fish came first and first they also came when we arrived at a new destination, where to the amusement of all onlookers, we would set up a table outside the van with the fish tank and fill it back up with more cool sea water. Nevertheless, this care was not enough and Nemossa died and was buried at Rolling Stone the year before.
This time however her boyfriend Nemo, who survived a whole year with our limited salt-water knowledge and all those other critters in the tank passed away and was waiting in the freezer to be buried at Rolling Stone. The same as last year, Richard’s nephew, Edward was back from his overseas trips with the air force and was just in time to speak a few mellow words at Nemo’s beach funeral, with the last words spoken by Opa…just as well, having a doctorate in theology.
But Nemo was not the only burial we had in Townsville (60 minutes south of Rolling stone)…you guessed it?? The Ford Station Wagon!!!!!! At 560,000 km we finally had to let go of our so treasured family Wagon! It still made it up to Castle Rock lookout at Townsville but died at its last park in, a very suitable spot, back down at the Strand. lots of sightseeing for Opa, we decided to stay another few days at Rolling Stone, however, it turned out that our specific caravan spot was booked!
One car less but still lots to move, Richard and Opa delivered some entertainment for all the onlookers, with a walking tent being carried to the new spot, which was just as amazing, right under a group of palm trees, where one could relax and watch the tide come in. Although this is the end of this episode, I hope you can join me in the next edition of ‘The Bribie Islander’, with some more adventures on the ‘The Long Way Round to Bribie’!
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