Annual CMCA Rally - Boonah QLD 2012

Although we did not attend this rally, Eileen and I decided to go have a look see at what these events are all about.

We had a plesant drive from Wakerley and upon arriving at Boonah were amazed by the number of Motorhomes and Fifth Wheelers parked in the Showgrounds.

Boonah is a lovely town located in the Senic Rim and the surrounding country is loaded with exciting places to explore.

The day was extremly hot and Pepper was not enjoying the heat, so after a brief look around at the many different rigs, we decided to find a little park just outside of town for a quiet lunch in the shade.

There were quite a few Rigs that caught my attention but the one that really stood out for me was one from my first home town in Australia - Caboolture.

All in all - a good day for all.



Project Dolphins

While I was cleaning out the workshop last weekend, I came across a set of plans for carving Dolphins which I had purchased a long long time ago (15 or 20 years ago) at the Brisbane Working With Wood Show.  I did attempt to do the project back then, but I never really finished them (poor choice of wood combined with lack of equipment and tools).  As I now have the necessary tools and a little more time up my sleeves, I decided that it would be nice to attempt the project once again.

I decided to use some hardwood ply that I had left over from a previous project and marked out the pieces and proceeded to cut them free hand on the bandsaw.  The next task was to dowel and glue the sections together and clamp them ready for the next stage.  I had already decided how I wanted to display the Dolphins which consisted of a mother and two calves.  I had made a small laminated board from some scrap Camphor Laurel while practicing with the thicknesser and router and decided that it would make a nice base for the setting.

Having done the roughing out last weekend, this weekend was set aside for fitting the fins and a awful lot of hand sanding (note to self, must get an orbital sander).  I spent a lot of time trying to complete one of the calves.

Old School Friends - Tangalooma

For the last three days we have had the pleasure of entertaining and catching up with one of Eileens school friends from way back in the 5th grade.   Terry and his wife Lorraine and three children Luke, Anna and Ellie are from England and are doing a lightning trip along the east coast of Australia and then off to New Zeland.

It is amazing just how much we take our local surroundings for granted and it is really quite difficult to know which of the so many lovely places that Brisbane and surrounds have to offer  to showcase to our visitors.

As we only had a few days Eileen and I decided that Tangalooma Resort being on our doorstep would be a logical place to show our visitors what our sand and beaches were like and then then next, Australia Zoo to view some of our native animals and finally a drive up the range to Montville for a lovely lunch and a look at some arts and crafts.

It proved to be a lovely sunny day and our first sighting of the resort was inspiring even though there were bush fires to the north and a lot of smoke was hanging around.   We decided to have lunch first followed by a short swim and an afternoon nap after which Luke, Anna, Ellie and I decided to go snorkeling of the wrecks - lots of fun, apart from hundreds of fish of all kinds we saw two sharks (harmless wobbygongs) and a sea turtle.  We came back exhausted (well I did)

Terry sleeping of lunch

We had to hang around till 6pm so that Lorraine and the kids could feed the Dolphins and while we waited we watched as the wild dolphins (all eight of them) came in from from the bay.   While we waited we saw several Sting Rays and watched the antics of the younger dolphins playing and catching fish.

So as the sun set in the West we boarded the flyer for the long journey home.

 

The next day we drove north to Australia Zoo for a leasurley stroll around the park to see the animals.   All this exercise, sun and fresh air was beginning to take its toll and we were all beginning to get just a little tired.

 

Hey!    Anna and Ellie, whatch out for those drop bears