GOING FURTHER NORTH

23/04/2005. After a short stay in Grafton we were too early to see the Jackaranda's which this town is famous for, we are now leaving to visit Margaret and Eddie Edge on there 25 acre property at Wyrallah near Lismore, Eddie was best man at our wedding back in 1966, they are at work today so we will just make ourselves at home, we will have quiet a few beer's and wine over the next 5 or 6 day's as is usual when we meet, they are such good company and are our Special Friend's. San will do some cooking to make thing's easier for them while they are at work, and I will just relax with a couple of beer's, "somebody has do it".
We went touring with them to Lismore, Nimbin, and the high mountain country, almost got high from the pot smoker's at Nimbin, it gave San a headache and I can't wait to go back. After leaving the Edge's we are on our way to Nerang for Donna Carter's wedding to Tony Alexander but before that will stay a week at Tweed Heads for a spot of fishing and a good rest.
08/05/2005. Mother's Day Sandra missed not seeing the kids today but they all rang so that made her day, and another special day today is Donna & Tonys wedding which has gone of really well, we did not drink to much as I wanted to drive back to camp.
We have been told by fellow Nomad's that we should book ahead if we are to get into van site's further north, we are running a bit late and will have to hurry to beat the Mexicans (Victorians) to get a site.
13/05/05. Arrived at Ashgrove Caravan Park 4km from brisbane the place is a dump, old and full of backpacker's of every nationality, even had a guy and a shella in the next shower cubicle from me (I was not game to bend over and pick up the soap).
I also got sprung looking at a bird with one boob hanging out of her open shirt, Sandra spoilt thing's when she told me that it was a Transvestite, "It was bloody ugly".
15/05/2005. Left the car behind today and caught a bus into Brisbane for a look around, we walked over the Southside bridge to Sunnybank, a huge plaza with shops and a market that sold a lot of upmarket good's, there is a lovely park over here which is like a minature rainforest, with paved path's that lead to the river and there were sections of Bamboo tree's,exotic plant's and great food stall's that cater for every taste, I bought a chilli sausage roll and a hungarian chilli & cheese pastry--very hot-- San bought an Akubra hat which she did not eat.
Caught a ferry for a trip on the river, it is as dirty as the Yarra, nothing like Sydney Harbour.
On the walking path out of the park we took the Arch walk it is covered in Bouganvillia's, very nice.
We then caught a bus and got lost, ended up in Fortuide Valley where we had a look at China Town, which is a dive, once again not a patch on Sydney's China Town, by this time we were well and truly lost we asked a cop for direction's on how to get back to Brissy we will be glad to get out of this place.
19/05/05. Sandra said that today we may get rain as her bone's were playing up and sure enough the weather changed for the worst, we thought that we could here a train coming towards us as we looked out the sky was a greenish black colour, we only just got the awning down, and down she came,the worst hail storm that we have encountered it went for about 30 minute's, it was deafening we could not hear each other across the table it was that loud, after the storm stopped we had trouble opening the door, the hail had backed up against it, there was hailstone's all over the park and still there at 10am the next morning as we were leaving to travel on.
The van has sustained a lot of hail damage to the roof, front and side, and the awning is full of hole's we have been told that it could cost as much as $10.000 to fix. Goodbye Brisbane.