We greatly enjoyed Raffles in all its glory, but an added bonus was to see the 70 participants leave in their seriously expensive classic cars for the Road to Mandalay endurance rally. There were a Rolls Royce, several Bentleys, Porsches, Jaguars, US muscle cars among others. Some had been prepared and entered by dealers or professionals, but others were privately owned and had competed in such other rallies as Beijing to Paris, or South America. I can't imagine the price tag of the entry field! For more, see www.endurorally.com if interested.
Of course, we had to enjoy Singapore Slings in the Long Bar - it would have remiss not to have done so! A short stop to break the journey, then it was off to Queensland.
Tinbeerwah
Hugh and Tammy were there to meet us, even though it was after 3am! What hosts they are!
It was very relaxing on their deck, watching the birds, listening to the cicadas and kookaburras making a racket and enjoying their hospitality at 399 Gum Boil Road with, perhaps a bit too much, reminiscing of a time span of nearly 50 years since Hugh & I had met on the train to Porthcurno in Dec '65!
They took us to Australia Zoo, started by the father of the late Steve Irwin, Croc Hunter of TV series fame, before we went on to Mylena for a stop over at Spicers with a lovely dinner and pavillion chalet, with visits afterwards to Montville, Mapleton and back home. We randomly dropped into a Mylena Art Gallery where I discovered the guest exhibitor was an ex-Aussie Army Captain I had known in Saigon '70/71. He had sent me books of some of his early work a few years ago and we had last met in '00. Small world!
How to get a crocodile to chase you!
Can I eat it?
At the overnight near Mylena
After a longish drive to Rainbow Beach, we took a barge crossing to the beach on Fraser Island, air out of tyres and ready for the sand. The tide was near high so we had to take an inland road 18km to rejoin the beach further up on the eastern side. Then, it was another 35km up the beach, through the forest stopping for a walk, onward to Lake McKenzie where we had a short stroll to the sandy beach while our guide/driver Andrew prepared the bbq. It was steak and trimmings, glass of wine, all made ready with an hour! Afterwards, we bounced over some rough road for what seemed ages before it became better, then we rejoined the beach to motor some 55km further up to the wreck of a ship that was being towed when it broke free and grounded (1936?). Back down to Eli Creek, the girls went for a 'paddle' that was deeper than intended, but had fun! Ground up pumice stone covered parts of the creek. After a different route back to Noosa Marina, we enjoyed Fish & Chips.
Lake McKenzie
Steaks up!
Fraser Island Beach
Two old wrecks on that beach!
They got wet but had fun!
Yes, I had wondered about the sign!
Two days of further relaxation around Chez McGarry followed with bbq in use for breakfast and dinner, just so Aussie!
The girls went yomping
It was hot on the last day (Sun) but otherwise a great temperature. We're starting to be lucky with the weather as a cyclone hit not long after we had left.
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