Leaving Yandina

We left Yandina mid morning on Friday after almost a two week stay. Our neighbours saying goodbye with a hug and a kiss. Earlier in the week we had a lovely family with three children pull in near us. Their names were Werner, Tracey, sarah, Callum & Madeline. We got on really well with them. Because this was the first time we had pulled the van with this car Werner came over whilst Ken made the necessary changes to the hitch so that we we didn't put any undue stress on the hitch. Jim our neighbour next to us came over the night before to say his farewells. He was a night owl and we didn't often see him till at least lunch time.

On Thursday, the day before we left Yandina, we backtracked a bit to go to Caloundra. Ken has a cousin who has retired there. We have not seen Jean and Ray in many, many years. I'm pretty sure I have only met them once in over thirty seven years. We had a terrific time with them and unfortunately we had to go as we had also made arrangements to catch up with Barry later that same day in Mooloolaba.

Not so long ago we met John Chester's sister Gay and her husband Peter and they invited us to call in and stay with them when we got up this way. They live at Howard. When we rang them we find that they are away at the moment and it will be at least a week before they get home so Gay just said to still come, to put the van in the back yard next to their motorhome and to plug into the power on the verandah. How's that for hospitality. We look forward to seeing them when they get home.

Howard is situated just off the Bruce Highway and seems to be central to Maryborough, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Childers. William Howard first travelled through the area in 1857 to go on and discover the rich isis scrub (Childers). He later owned mining leases in the area and at one stage about 25% of Qld's coal was mined in the district. Citris and timber are the other major industies of the area. Lenthalls Dam near Howard is recommended as a fishing and boating paradise.

Yesterday, being Sunday, we drove up to Bundaberg where my brother Russell and sister in law Megan live. It was lovely to get a chance to catch up with them as it is quite a while since we have seen them.

We had to go through Childers before getting to Bundaberg and we both thought it was a lovely little place so we decided to go back some time during this next week and just stroll around. On our way back home late yesterday (just on dusk) it was a hive of activity. There were cars and people everywhere. A couple of pubs were doing a roaring trade and many people were sitting around in outdoor areas. One pub had a balcony where people were dining. Then just as we were leaving we spotted a sporting oval and there was a game of polo on and it looked as though they were kids rather than adults playing.

When we finally get to Hervey Bay there is a craft shop that advertises themselves as the largest and best craft wharehouse in Qld. Their patchwork department boasts 6,000 different (and no I haven't mistakenly pressed an extra 0 ) yes that is 6,ooo different bolts of fabric. the shop also caters for beading, card making, scrapbooking, knitting, tapestry, paper tole and other enthusiasts.

Also, in Howard, their is a haberdashery store which in itself is a tourist attraction with buses visiting from as far afield as Gladstone. at last count they also have over 5,000 bolts of material.
I might need the credit card when I go shopping in these two stores. I wonder what treasures I might find.

No doubt I shall blog again before we leave here so for the moment Bye for now.

Love Ken and Lyn