DAY 22 – Sat 8th July / Eco Tent
- This last night was a bit broken by Hugo. Up twice with a 4.45am start! I went back to bed each time as I was super exhausted from diving.
- Slow start as we’re leaving today.
- Breakfast buffet with whales, chat with the chef and staff then pack to leave.
- We move from the 4pm to the 11.30am flight to Bundaberg.
- We Land and hit a random pub for lunch followed by the Bundaberg Rum distillery. Wish we had time for the tour.
- 3.hour drive back to Maroochydore and straight into the Eco tent. Wow. It’s cool. Baths all-round and order in from the caravan park kitchen. Great feed. Watch some nature doco then off to bed. Can’t wait to see Jett at 8am tomorrow
- Lady Elliot next time
- Recommend doing an entire walk around the island via the beach before leaving. Also spending 5 nights to make the most of the expensive flights and fit in 5 scuba dives.
DAY 23 – Sun 9th July / Pick up Jett
- Were up early with our Hugo alarm clock. I pack everything and were on the road by 7.45am headed for a Macca’s breakfast. We arrive at the Veteran Mentors camp. Gates are locked until 8.10am. It’s all run to the second. I love it.
- We get front row seats.
- Intro speech about life and love then the march out begins. Jett’s sees Tanya and immediately bursts into tears. He was only expecting me. They’re not allowed to make eye contact with us during the presentation. Another speech from the main man and there released to their parents. The raw emotion is amazing. Everyone is crying. 15 minutes of cuddles and greetings then there off again to change into civilian clothing and collect their contraband.
- Were all so amazed at the camp and changes we have already seen. Jett’s eating and exercising.
- It’s a 4.5 hour drive back to 1770. We stock up at gimpy plaza and keep going. I get told off for buying 2 cans of beer at our lunch stop. You can’t break a six pack mate!
- We finally get back at 4.40pm. I set up quickly and light a fire. Tan makes bolognese and we hit the sack at 9.30pm. A bit later than usual.
DAY 24 – Mon 10th July / 1770 and Agnes Waters exploring day
- We wake to our Hugo alarm at 4.55am then boom. LEO is screaming in agony. A Moller tooth is pushing through.
- Pancakes and bacon from breakfast
- Walk through the paper bark forest and into town to check the shops.
- Were told to do the LARC bus-boat tour so we try and extended for an extra night to do it tomorrow. No luck there full but later change their minds and let us stay an extra night.
- Sunset on the beach
- Camp fire at the caravan
- Tan and Jett have a D n M
DAY 25 – Tue 11th July / 1770 LARC
- Hugo sleeps just past 6am. Wow.
- Leo and i go into Agness waters for eggs coffee and more fire wood. On the way back i stop and book a LARC tour. Were lucky. Everything is booked out so they have put on an extra tour from 4.30 till 5.30pm. Right on sunset. We have a relaxing day at the caravan.
- I catch up on my blog and the boys have a good technology fix. The LARC tour is great. Build by the US Army in the 1960s to unload and reload war ships where there is no port. Used heavily in the Vietnam war.
- Dinner by the fire for our last night in 1770.
- Id definatley come back here. spend a week. Do the full day LARC tour, fishing and lots of fires on the beach on sunset.
DAY 26 – Wed 12th July / 1770 to Yeppoon
- Hugo goes off right on 5am.
- I’m up making coffee and breakfast.
- Pack down starts at 7.30am and I’m done by 9.
- Were on the road to Yeppoon. There is a 30minuet track stand still to get around a road train then ran off the road at 2am in the morning. It’s only 3 hours but we turn it into a 6 hour trip. Stop for supplies at Woolworths Rockhampton. Sushi lunch and were off again. Get to Yeppoon and do a minimal set up and hit the information centre.
- Then we check out the lagoon on the beach. Wind is up and it’s to cold to swim in.
- I do chicken karage for dinner, set up the starlink and finally watch the footy on TV. It’s the 3rd game of state of the origin and NSW win to avoid the whitewash! Paul and Matty are at the game curtsey of heyday. They work the room and have a ball. Were all asleep by 10pm.
DAY 27 – Thu 13th July / Yappoon
- Hugo sleeps to 6.10am !!!
- It’s raining so we have breakfast in the van and get both TVs going. It’s so Cozy in here when it’s raining. Both dinning and Cafe dinning turn into beds with cushion so it’s like 1 hole side of the van is for lounging.
- We go for a walk to spy on turtles at Bluff Point. It’s overcast and the wind has turn the water Mercy. Non turtles!
- Quick stop at the fisherman’s coop then
- Back to drop Tan and Hugo off for naps.
- I take the boys on a 4 x 4 adventure to Sandy Point. It’s bumpier than Fraser Island. I give Jett a lesson in driving then we hit the sand on the beach. I give him another go. He’s pumped. Now I need to teach him how important the responsibility of driving is!
- Subway for lunch then Leo runs off with matches and lights a fire in the kids play ground! Good one Leo.
- I go nuts cleaning the van.
- We have a seafood dinner and watch medium on now. Internet TVs now in full swing.
DAY 28 – Fri 14th July / Yappoon
- Hugo you little legend. 6.10am again.
- Jett starts the day with yet another fight, so we leave him behind and go to the mall. We get Leo 3 new books to read and breakfast / lunch supplies. Tomorrow, we drive to Airley beach which is 5.5hours. With stops that’s going to take us 8 hours at least.
- When we get back we try some e scooters. Its my 1st time Jett teaches me some tricks.
- We treat ourselves to a restaurant lunch. The Rocks looking over the Yeppoon lagoon. Food is excellent.
- Leo and Hugo have a play in the lagoon.
- We decide to get some boxing pads and gloves so I can do training work outs with jett. His new passion is boxing. We train for an hour. I think we’ve found our new bonding link. Fitness and boxing. Thanks Veterans and rocky / creed movies.
- Early night, were all out by 8.30pm.
