June 2023

1^st June / Schools out – Splenfest = Old school boys weekend.

• After last year’s fund raiser in November with the OLD school boys, we decided to make an annual boys weekend. I put my hand up to host the gig in Nungurner. We all leave between Midday and late afternoon and rendezvous at the compound on Thursday evening. I put the charcoal on and we have a feast standing around the kitchen island bench Buffett style.  Boast is in the water ready for a fish Friday morning which was about the time we all went to bed so it didn’t happen. Friday night JT joins us and we do another Charcoal feast. Saturday the boys split apart for me, Pauly and Andre. We all had a blast and pencil the same time for next year.
• I receive a phot from Wonderland. The Van is completely clad. So lucky we checked the wiring yesterday!
• We laser Cut the EAST sign for JT and I position the all thread extension rods.
• The hydraulic ‘Hydrapro’ breaks fail on the new Boat trailer (Easytow VIN: 6T DT 22 EZY) so I continue slowly and have to leave it in Nungurner after the boys weekend.  
• Lex and Jazz fly in from up north and Pauly picks them up from the airport, then express to Nungurner.
• Friday slow start. We go for a fish off Radford’s private Jetty. Andre gets excited over a small white crab.
• Andre goes forensics on Jett’s phone.
• JT comes over and we cook up another feat.
• Next day the boys start to split and I take Lex out for a spin in the boat then pull it out for a full wash down.
• Spa and phone calls (Liley Faulkner, Justin Wheelahan)
• Andre and I drop into see Chris on the way back. Adam joins us. Hes in good spirits. I tell him to go straight to the eye and ear hospital tomorrow.

6^th – 8^th / Canberra Road Show with Matty = HEPER

• The Heper samples show up so I unpack them all and do a design for the displays at the 2 launches (ill be missing). Sper of the moment I unpack a bag from Dubai (still full!) then repack all the Heper samples we can carry. Matty and I hit Canberra and put on a real show. Feedback is awesome.
• We drop off the DARKON CUSTOM camp kitchen to wonderland to install as I wont have time.
• I discover the DO45 hitch won’t fit a car with a standard Hayman Reece tow bar set up, then stress a little, then Ana from Wonderland hooks me up.
• I finish the last episode of the comic strip and stumbled across a Canberra restaurant I’ve been looking for years. It’s called ‘Charcoal’ and has a classic steak called the ‘Carpet Bag’, Eye fillet with a pocket of oysters stuffed in it.
• We have a night out with old mate Brendan from BRT. We hit a club and surprise, it’s a salsa dance night on a Tuesday so I kick right into gear and dance all night. WHAT A NIGHT -LOVED IT.
• QT Canberra has dropped the epic buffet breakfast. That was my Favorite one OUT!. I settle from a crab omelette instead.
• Matty and I end up at the worst Karaoke bar ever and call it an early night IN.
• Andre and I start the big clean out of Waterloo so its ready for the Heper Launch. Radford insists we move the LEX mobile so we load it onto the TANK.
• Another quick check up on Wonderland too. BBQ kitchen is in! Van is still delayed!
• I drop Andre off at the airport and get teary. He’s been here for 5 weeks and helped with Jett and the family so much. Thank you Cousin.

Kings birthday long weekend – Wonderland XTR 2211 trial = NOPE

• So the Van is supposed to be ready for a short trip to Nungurner to set up and iron out any teething problems. Its delayed so we decide to take the tool trailer and fill it with all the Van stuff so we can pack it next week when I’ve been told its ready
• Denis joins us for the long weekend and Jett stays in the CBD with Nanny. Look out!
• Dads Pyramid tomb stone is finally installed.
• We have a great family weekend just enjoying bells track and packing. Loved it.
• On the way home we drop past JT. He’s installing the EAST sign. Looks amazing.

LAD 25 year party in Brisbane = NOPE

• No one can give to a confirmed time on the van. There estimating Tuesday after the long weekend. I have my doubts so I go ahead and cancel my flights and accommodation to the LAD party.
• I work from home then go to VIC ROADS to register Andres Cobi Van on Club reg. Shhhh!
• Tuesday comes and goes for the Van. Then so does Wednesday. I let them all know im picking it up Thursday regardless of how incomplete it is and will finish it myself.
• Paul and I meet with Binh Minh to confirm the catering for HEPER Melbourne.
• I go nuts stocking up at the market. 1^st time ive taken my time shopping. Loved it.
• Hugo shits the bath
• At 3:30pm on Thursday I finally pick up the Wonderland XTR 2211. By now I would have been at the bar for the LAD party. Lucky I cancelled.
• Radford and I get to work and fit of the customs telescopic tube poles for the STARLINK satellite internet. I go home and cryovac all the meat. Super tired.
• Next day Dan from Australia camper shows up to do hand over, fit off the solid door and bike rack. What handover. I’ve had to figure it all out for myself.
• Radford finished off the STARLINK and Jeff covers the sunset dimming strip with 20mm lens.
• I get the Van home to Collingwood and back it up the lane for a late last minuet packing job so we can leave after Jett’s basketball APS sports Saturday morning. The story continues……

Caravan of courage / stage 4 / VIC – QLD: RETURN

Use these links for the full story.

WEEK ONE

WEEK TWO

WEEK THREE

WEEK FOUR

WEEK FIVE

WEEK SIX

30^th – Noosa fishing Charter / www.noosareefandsportfishingcharters.com.au   

This day needs its own write up.

• Drag Jett out of bed 1 hour before we need to leave (5am).  He gets his mojo when I tell him he can have Maca’s for breakfast.
• We get to the ramp. Boat is a bit smaller then expected. No toilets and not much seating for upto 9 people.
• We fish for live bait and catch mainly small Pike.
• Then we hit the reefs. We star bottom bashing right on a major bite time with Squid and blue bait and were all in. Pearl Pearch, and Jett grabs 1 of the only keepers all day on his 1^st bite.
• Almost everything is thrown back. 38cms is a typical size for everything up here. Red emperors need to be 55cms!
• We move on and all of a sudden Wale’s pop up right next too us. While were distracted and the adamant live bait fisherman next to me is IN. a beautiful coral trout. I’m so jealous.
• Then we hand feed a dolphin.
• I keep fishing bait and finally I catch an even bigger Coral trout. I’m stocked.
• Then I start fishing livies. I keep the same XL pike on and drop him up and down at 3 different spots and im told, even when there half dead there still good bait then BANG. I’m IN. ‘get it off the bottom’, and I do. Then it’s a hard pull all the way to the top. Takes about 7 minuets and it surfaces. WOW. And amazing Gold Spotted Estuary COD. Its 1.1meters and weighs 35kgs. The skipper wants to keep it as he has only ever caught 1, that was over 1.2mtrs and had to go back!. I share it with all the others on board.
• Jett finishes the day catching what’s called the best eating fish of the sea, a Venus Tusk Fish’.
• Then we hit a FAD (Fish attracting device) and throw livies at the dorado / dolphin fish. The live bate fisherman hooks a blue fin tuna and almost gets pulled in. I grab him by the feet and stop him from going completely in. He lands the tuna, can’t thank me as he doesn’t speak English then lights up a smoke!
• Al in all an amazing day with my record fish to date!