Monday 21st July Coffs Harbour - Julie

We are having fantastic weather here in Coffs harbour. No sign of any rain and warm sunny days. Most nights are chilly but we are used to that now. The beaches here are fantastic. No shells though but can't have everything. Decided to stay a little longer to relax before heading off to Sydney/ Wollongong area.

Coffs Harbour dog trial went very well. It was run very efficent. The people were very nice and we had a nice time watching all the dogs compete.

Spice in the Open Agility.

Keith and the Ginger Bread Man

Sitting Whale watching up on the knob at our Caravan Park.

What can I say ' The Big Banana' at Coffs

This is NOT the fish Brian caught. We are down at Coffs Harbour, beautiful spot.

The view we get from our Caravan, magic, why would you want to ever leave?????

Julie, and myself with Smudge and Spice on another magic beach near Coffs.

The Ginger Factory train ride.

The Ginger Factory train ride, I am actually driving it!!!!

Sunday 2th July

The 2 day trial here at Coffs Harbour was great, the big guns from Sydney were here compete.

Brian and I held our own, Oskar, Smudge, Spice and Evie went very well.

The weather is incredible, warm sunny day's cooler nights.

We found the competitors and commitee very friendly and helpful and again the food amazing.

Coffs Harbour is very, very nice, all four of us really like it. The caravan at Park Mooney Beach is wonderful, right on the beach and very dog friendly. Photos to follow.

Tuesday we have to leave this slice of heaven, heading to Woolongong (Dapto)

Hope you all bought home a ribbon from Geraldton!!!!



HUGS
Andrea

Keith and Neil having an early morning chat.

Dear friends of ours Ann and Geoff at lunch at the local Tavern in Bundy.

Ann and Geoff's lovely home at Bundy.

View overlooking Shute Harbour

Shute Harbour.

Out walking at one of many of the beautiful parks at Rockhampton.

Hi everyone, it is Andrea's turn to prattle.

Keith and I did a detour to Bundy to a wonderful area called Moore Park Beach.
The dogs had freedom for 24 hours and got to run and swim on the fabulous beach with the spunkyist Jack Russell I have ever come across. He kept swimming out and snatching the toy out of Smudge's mouth, talk about the short and the tall.

Next day on to Redcliffe for a night to catch up with Keith's brother Kerry.

I did some more girl shopping at the Ginger factory, wow what a place.

We leave for Mooney Beach in readiness for the 2 day Coffs Harbour trial.

HUGS
Andrea

Gold Coast Qld - Julie 16th July

Greetings everyone, We are staying in Helensvale a suburb of the Gold Coast. Our park is very close to Movie World and Dream World but we are not going to participate. Instead we are going to Draculas Theatre Restaurant tonight which we are all very much looking forward to. This area is very nice, a bit like Mandurah with lots of canals and big homes and boats. I hope our home is going to be ok tonight as it has been raining for two days now.

This little fellow is just opposite our camp. First time we have seen a Koala in the wild.

These guys think the Koala looks good too!

Fancy living on your own island with your own bridge and boat

Somewhere before Brisbane

"Better rest up for the next event"

Well done Smudge.

Spot on your contact Oscar.

We all enjoyed the trials at Rockhampton. Everyone was very friendly and made us feel very welcomed. The two day trial was run extremely well. The judge was very helpful too.

We stayed at Gracemere just out of Rockhampton. Fantastic caravan park. Even the birds were friendly.

The bird lady.

I finally manage to catch the sun rising over the pacific. This was at Clareville on the way to Rocki.

8th July Airlie Beach - Julie

Here we are at Airlie Beach and we have had a change in weather. A shocking day of 22 max, overcast and drizzling. My baby has been born. I have named her Monday Rose Cowling. Is'nt she beautiful!

Paronella Park. Brian trying to start a fire as the Rainforest Aboriginals used to do. Our guide was a lovely young girl who had started her own business showing tourists their ancestor's way of life. It was a hard task for them to go back four generations to find out their history.

Jose's emigrated from Spain in 1913 to make his fortune in Australia. He worked on mines and cane fields and massed a fortune to build his own paradise. He built a magical place called Paronella near Innisfail Qld. in the 1930's town's people came every weekend to picnic, play tennis, watch movies and have dances.

It rains a lot here.

The Ballroom based on a Spanish castle.

Suspension bridge over the falls.

Silkwood's is famous for having the smallest National bank in Australia. We tried to make a withdrawal but it doesnt hold enough cash for what we need.

We stayed at Kurrimine Beach south of Innisfail. This is truly a beautiful unspoilt part of the country. Unpretentious houses right on the beach. We had a great time here. We actually walked out to the Great Barrier Reef at low tide.

Oscar getting measured before the Townsville Trial. We thoroughly enjoyed this trial. We really liked the way they ran the team's events.
Between Andrea and Brian we got 9 firsts, 6 seconds and 3 thirds.

The big Mango at Bowen.

Having a training session at Airlie Beach Footy oval.....go the cats.

Brian having a kick with an AFL draft hopeful.

Looking out over the Whitsunday Islands.