Day 169 - Sunday 31st August 2014.

Mont's birthday party - Southport - Day 29.

We slept very well until 7:00am, when we both got up and watched 'Weekend Sunrise' and as usual buggered about on the Internet. We had nothing planned until 9:30am, when we headed off to Jump on it for Mont's birthday party at 10am. There were 4 children invited and they were all there by start time. At 10am, there were at least 40 kids jumping up and down on the trampolines, after 15 minutes, they were slowly coming off for a water and rest and then back at it. The session lasted for one hour, then we drove back to Lukey's shack for the after party cake and lollies and Maccas. Lukey and I drove to the local Maccas for 5 happy meals and 5 identical gifts (so there would be no arguing over who got what). The food was very yumma.

Marg and I left the party and drove back to camp, where Marg did her thing, while I went riding. If I ride 750kms in a month I get an internet award. I want my award, it is great motivation to ride. I had to ride at least 51kms, so I headed upto Lands End, turned around and headed to Surfers, being Sunday there are people everywhere, then off to The Spit. I rode along Seaworld Drive from Seaworld to The Spit, I did 2 extra laps of Seaworld to The Spit and return, that gave me an extra 13kms. On my last lap, I stopped at the Mr Whippy van and bought a double choc dipped cone, it was YUMMA. I now headed back to Cafe Rockpool, but I had only clocked 48kms, so I did an extra lap of cafe Rockpool to Nerang River bridge and return then headed back to camp.
My riding stats: Today's ride of 51.1kms gives me a total of 751kms for August and my 19th ride at Southport for a total of 717kms.


As we had Maccas for lunch, dinner was a scratch meal.

Tomorrow, nothing is planned, I hope to ride.

Action at Jump on it.

Mont and her 2 girlfriends.

The kids enjoying themselves.

Kids being kids.

Kids being kids.

The kids enjoying themselves.

Lukey looked glad it's over.

Mont's birhday cake. It was YUMMA.

Mont and her friends.

Day 170 - Monday 1st September 2014.

Quiet day - Southport - Day 30.

Marg slept shithouse and I slept well until 6:30am, when I got up, looked outside it was a magic day. It was sunny and the Broadwater was glassy, not a puff of breeze. By 7:15am, I was changed into cycleman and as marg was still sleeping, I left her 2 notes (Gone riding and the Hot water is Hot).
I rode my normal route, headed north from the camp to my turnaround at Lands End, check out the photo, how beautiful was this morning's weather. Then I continued down to Surfers. At my turnaround point at Laycock St, I noticed piles of Movie/TV equipment, I spoke to one of their workers and asked him what was happening. Now when I do that in Melbourne they just piss you off by saying "I can't tell you". This guy was super friendly and said we are shooting the new ABC TV series Hiding, he works for Eire Film services, I noticed the name on his shirt, I am observant.
I left Surfers and headed out to The Spit, 'my friends from Griffith University' (I met them this time last year) were sitting at the end, counting whales. There were 5 people counting, armed with binoculars and a 'fancy surveyor looking' machine which measures the distance to the whale. They count the whales from 1st September until 30th November annually, last year they counted 144 pods. So far this year the number is zero, BUT they had only been there for 1 hour, so they are forgiven. I expect to see them each morning that I ride out to the end of The Spit (lucky them). As I passed the Gold Coast aquatic Centre, I take my daily 'time lapse' photo of the workers demolishing the portable stands. They are at the top working down. I wonder how days they will take to demolish it. You will just have to wait and see.
My riding stats: Today's ride of 35kms gives me a total of 35kms for September and my 20th ride at Southport for a total of 752kms. (I told you that I love my stats).

Back at camp, I showered and Marg got dressed and we drove over to South Park for some food shopping, via BCF at Biggera Waters. My cycling wet weather jacket has finally 'died', so I need to replace it, problem is I would like the next size up and being a 'petite little thing', no bastard makes a 4XL fluro Yellow wet weather cycling jacket, so a compromise is in order. I went berzerk 'googling' on the Internet and finally found that Rainbird Clothing make a fluoro yellow stowaway jacket 3XL, 4XL or 5XL, hence my reason for visiting BCF. I found a Rainbird Stowaway jacket (not fluro yellow) but a 3XL, I tried it on and thought that the 4XL would give me a little bit more room. I spoke to Jill (the checkout chick) sorry we don't stock any larger than 3XL and not Fluro Yellow. No prob, I did buy a new straw sun hat as my old one has also died. I will order a 4XL online from Rainbird.
Rainbird Update: Ordered it from Rainbird $80 delivered (includes $10 postage).
We arrived at South Park, Marg bought some clothes from Target as she was sick of wearing the same clothes, I wear the same clothes and it doesn't bother me at all. Women.

We did our food shopping, I filled up the mighty Navara with fuel and we headed back to camp for a quiet afternoon. Marg tells me that she is feeling second rate, so currently, she is having a nanna nap while I watched TV, quietly.

Marg didn't feel like cooking dinner, so I made cheese sangas, naturally, they were yumma.

Tomorrow is Bingo, if Marg feels up to it.

Shit, this place is hard to take.

The shooting of new ABC series Hiding by Erie Film services.

Today's weather photo from Surfers.

Today's weather photo from Surfers.

The Griffith Uni whale counting members.

The ocean has settled down after its strong winds.

Our grandstand is being demolished.

Day 171 - Tuesday 2nd Septemmber 2014.

Bingo - Southport - Day 31.

Marg woke up feeling a lot better, which was good and she wanted to go to Bingo.

We slept very well until 6:30am, when I got up and went on the internet, while Marg watched 'Sunrise'. We had brekky and got ourselves organised for Bingo and left at 8:30am. Arrived at the Sharks about 5 minutes later, we still were one of the first to arrive. We sat at 'OUR' table unlike last week when a lady sat at our table, she wasn't here today. I paid our $46 for 2 FULL sets, Marg went and ordered coffee and cake, then we prepared for bingo. At 9:30am it started, there were a few new faces and some old faces not there today. Marg had been practising yelling out "Bingo" during the week, BUT it was useless, as she didn't win a game. I ended up winning 1 game totalling $20, so our winnings at the Sharks so far this trip is now $7. We have 2 more bingos to go. Marg is still letting the team down, BIG TIME.

Back at camp at lunchtime, I went riding while Marg did her thing in my absence. My usual route, just a beautiful ride with a headwind when I rode North.
My riding stats: Today's ride of 36kms gives me a total of 71kms for September and my 21st ride at Southport for a total of 790kms OR if you are really into figures, I have ridden 3,090kms since leaving home back on 16th March.

For the remainder of the arvo, I sat outside, gazing out over the Broadwater while drinking a Coopers Ultra Light beer, it's not bad.

We had Marg made chicken wraps, they were yumma.

Tomorrow is Mont's book parade at school and then Marg and Jodi are going baby furniture shopping. I will go back to camp and probably count the blades of grass.

Georges waiting for lunch at Charis Seafoods.

Today's weather photo from Surfers.

Today's weather photo from Surfers.

A whale watching boat returning to port.

Today's weather photo from The Spit.

Our grandstand is coming down.

Day 172 - Wednesday 3rd Septemmber 2014.

Marg and Jodi went baby furniture shopping - Southport - Day 32.

I slept until 4:30am and then tossed and turned until Marg woke about 6:45am when I got up and went on the internet, while Marg watched 'Sunrise'. We had brekky and got ourselves organised and left camp about 9:00am and I dropped Marg off at Mont's school for her Book parade. marg later told me Mont looked great, but she is biased. After the Book Parade, Marg and Jodi then went looking at baby furniture, found some, put it on Lay By and then went and relaxed by having a coffee, Jodi had a water. I picked Marg up about 12:30pm.
While Marg was enjoying herself, I drove to the NAB at Helensvale to change some coins and into Coles where I bought 24 stubbies of Coopers Birrell Ultra Light beer, I am liking it very much, then off to Von Bibra Nissan and booked the mighty Navara in for its 140k service on Thu 11th Sept, then headed back to camp and waited for Marg to ring me, which she did, so I picked her up and we returned to camp for lunch. After lunch Marg did her thing which is crochetting and I went for a ride. My usual route, just a beautiful ride with a headwind when I rode North, stopping at Cafe Rockpool for a coffee and cake. YUMMA.
My riding stats: Today's ride of 36kms gives me a total of 107kms for September and my 22nd ride at Southport for a total of 826kms OR 3,126kms since leaving home back on 16th March.

For the remainder of the arvo, I sat outside, gazing out over the Broadwater while drinking a Coopers Ultra Light beer, very similar to yesterday.

We had the rest of Marg made chicken wraps, they were yumma.

As it is Thursday tomorrow, it is our weekly pokies, drinks and dinner at our club.

Today's weather photo from Surfers.

Today's weather photo from Surfers.

Today's weather photo from the Spit.

This dude has speared 3 fish at this stage.

Our grandstand is coming down.

A feeding frenzy.

Day 173 - Thursday 4th September 2014.

It's my little sister's bithday - Southport - Day 33.



Happy Birthday, Flash.

I slept until 4:30am then tossed and turned (this is turning into a habit for me), Marg woke about 6:30am and then flogged my blanket and dozed until 7:45am, when she laid in bed and watched the taped 'Sunrise'. I got up about 6:30am, and walked outside to check the weather etc. The Broadwater was glassy with no breeze at all and the sun just glistening off it. It was truly PARADISE.
I changed into 'cycleman' and headed off for my daily ride. I headed North towards Lands End along the shared path, when I approached 2 males and a female walking 3 abreast towards me, I rang my bell and said 'passing'. The female on their right gave me room, but the middle male yelled 'Get on the bike path', I politely yelled that it was a shared path, he keep yelling something. As I turned around I noticed that they were passing a shared path sign, so I yelled "look at the BLOODY sign" and kept riding, as I turned back to see where I was going I could still hear him yelling but couldn't understand what he was saying, probably just wishing me a good day.

After that little adventure, the rest of my ride was uneventful, I headed down to my turnaround at Laycock St, Surfers then headed north to the Spit, where the whale counters were counting whales, strange that. Since Monday 1st Sep, they have seen 2 pods of whales and a large pod of dolphins. The head 'counter' remembered me from last year, lucky me. Stopped at Cafe Rockpool for a muggachino, stopped at the Aquatic centre for today's time lapsed photo, the grandstand is nearly down.
My riding stats: Today's ride of 35kms gives me a total of 142kms for September and my 23rd ride at Southport for a total of 861kms OR 3,161kms since leaving home back on 16th March.

We had lunch at camp and spent an easy afternoon, doing bugger all, until 3:45pm when we drove to our club (CSi Club Southport) for our Thursday pokies, drinking and dining. David and Di joined us again about 5pm ish.

Dinner was the $10 pizza and schooner of beer and now a free pancake with cream and maple syrup. It was yumma.

Tomorrow nothing is planned, apart from I hope to ride.

Today's weather photo from Surfers.

Today's weather photo from the Spit.

Our grandstand is nearly gone.

Day 174 - Friday 5th September 2014.

A quiet day in Southport - Day 34.

I slept better than last night, we woke about 6:30am and laid in bed and watched the taped 'Sunrise'. I got up about 7:30am, and walked outside to check the weather etc.
I changed into 'cycleman' and headed off for my daily ride. My best buddy that I met yesterday was nowhere to be seen, thank God. I rode the same route as yesterday and spoke to the whale counters at the end of the Spit. I didn't stop for a coffee, as we were going to Helensvale SC.
My riding stats: Today's ride of 35kms gives me a total of 177kms for September and my 24th ride at Southport for a total of 896kms OR 3,196kms since leaving home back on 16th March.

After I showered and changed, we drove over to Helensvale, (the carpark was full, I had to follow someone to get their spot) Father's Day. We did some food shopping and Marg needed to visit KMart, then we had lunch at Michels.

The afternoon was spent relaxing back at camp, we both managed a nanna nap. I watched a couple of TV shows.

Dinner was Marg's beautiful omelettes. It was yumma.

Tomorrow we are minding Mont at her place.

Check out David and Di's new awning walls and porch, they are great.

Today's weather photo from Surfers.

Today's weather photo from Surfers.

Today's weather photo from the Spit.

The Griffith Uni whale counting crew.

David and Di's on the left, us on the right.

We both own a mighty Navara.

Day 175 - Saturday 6th September 2014.

I am my 'little' boys chauffeur - Southport - Day 35.

Today our 2 'little' boys and their partners are going to a mate's wedding, so Marg and I are babysitting Mont and I am their 'at call' chauffeur. Good ole Dad.

We slept very well last night, awaking about 6:45am, I got up and Marg stayed in bed, at 7am she watched 'Weekend Sunrise', while I had brekky and changed into 'cycleman'. As we didn't have to leave until midday, I went for a ride doing my usual route. Riding through the Southport YC, I stopped and photographed 'Stefan's Fishing Boat' and on my way back, I stopped at Cafe Rockpool for a coffee and there was a market opposite the cafe, I noticed a stall selling 'the best home made Fudge on the Gold Coast', so $20 later I rode back to camp with 5 chunks of fudge. Marg and I shared 2.5 chunks each, the pieces that I have eaten so far, are YUMMA.
My riding stats: Today's ride of 36kms gives me a total of 213kms for September and my 25th ride at Southport for a total of 932kms OR 3,232kms since leaving home back on 16th March.

After I showered and changed we left for Lukeys and arrived there about 12:15pm. About 12:50pm we (Lukey and Jodi) drove over to Jay's to pick up Bec and Jay and then drive them to the Crowne Plaza in Surfers for the wedding. I then drove back to Lukey's to stay with Marg and Mont until the boys ring me for a lift home.
About 5:30pm, Marg, Mont and me drove over to Maccas for something different, as grandparents we are allow to eat maccas.

Dinner was Maccas. It was yumma.

Lukey rang me about 9:00pm and after 45 minutes I was at Crowne Plaza, picking up 4 tired wedding guests. We dropped Jay and Bec off and then back to Lukeys, dropped them off and picked Marg up and we were back at camp by 10pm. The 4 wedding guests enjoyed themselves, between wedding and the reception, they had time to kill, so they caught a taxi to Seventy7 Cafe Bar on the 77th floor at Q1 and sat there 'killing time' with magnificent views over Surfers.

Marg and I finally got to bed at some ungodly time of 11:30pm.

Tomorrow we have nothing planned.

Our Family - Bec, Jay, Luke and Jodi.

Stefan's little fishing boat at Southport YC.

Stefan's little fishing boat at Southport YC.

Stefan's little fishing boat at Southport YC.

Today's weather photo from Surfers.

Today's weather photo from The Spit.

Our grandstand has finally been demolished.

*2014 - Index page*

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Still in Southport.