NOOSA - Day 4

The weather today is better. The sun has been out most of the morning and it is quite warm. Stephen and I went walking early and the others made their way to the beach. There are quite a few people about and the beach was certainly busy. We called past and caught up with the kids as we finished our walk and they were swimming and talking about hiring paddleboards or kayaks. The weather is predicted to turn later this afternoon and the forecast is for quite heavy rain for the rest of our time. Hopefully they have it wrong!!!

Eumundi Markets and Spirit House

This morning Stephen and I visited Eumundi Market. It was nice to stroll around looking at all the different things the stall holders had for sale. The weather started out quite overcast with a couple of quick showers, however by 11.00 o'clock the sun was out and it was pretty warm. We then drove onto Yandina (about 15 minutes away) where we meet the others for lunch at the Spirit House. Stephen and I have been here before on our golf trips and it is one of our favourites places to eat. The food was beautiful as always but perhaps not to the taste of everyone in our party. The gardens are lovely and the restaurant curves around the pond in the middle so that all diners can enjoy the view of the gardens and the water. It was a nice way to spend an afternoon. 

Noosa - Day 2

Yesterday afternoon Lach and Cal hired paddle boards while Kathy relaxed on the beach and Cam swam. I spent time reading on the veranda overlooking the National Park. Stephen and Pete 'enjoyed' their golf although Pete was disappointed with the way he played. 

This morning Stephen and Pete were up very early and off to Twin Waters for another round of golf. Cal and Lach trained, Kathy and I went walking and Cam was off to the gym. The weather is overcast but warm. It rained heavily overnight but the sun has made a couple of attempts to break through. Forecast is actually not so good but we don't mind. 

NOOSA - Day 1

Yesterday - NOOSA welcomed us with a magnificent warm sunny day. Hastings St was very busy and parking at a premium. We decided to have lunch at one of the restaurants on the beach while we waited until 2 o'clock, the time we could pick up the keys to the house. We did do a quick supermarket run for a few staples and food for a BBQ tea. Then it was finally time to relax. 

Today - Stephen and I got up early and went for a stroll along the boardwalk. Kathy tackled the stairs as part of her workout, Pete and Cam walked down to town for breakfast, Cal did an early run around the local hills and Lach had a bit of a sleep in. Kathy, Lach and Cal are now heading to the beach, Pete and Stephen to golf and Cam and I are just going to hang out. Sounds just perfect!

Running the 200m Open at Maryborough

He's back! Lach is looking good. He has fast legs. He won his heat easily and ran really well in the final to finish third. 

I have included a short video of the massed bands parading down the straight before the Gift final.

http://youtu.be/TM2kojoFaHg

Our first Maryborough Gift

After spending the night in a great little B&B just across the road from the track, we are settled in for a big day of racing. 

On the road.....again

Today we drove from Hahndorf to Maryborough, a distance of 575km. The trip took 6 and a half hours with the last two hundred kilometres being on narrow country roads through the very flat wheat fields of the Mallee region. It is so terribly dry. Not one of the many dams we drove passed had a drop of water in them and many of the houses were deserted. 

We stopped for lunch in Nhill at a little cafe named Olivia Rose. The food was absolutely delicious. I had a corned beef stack and Stephen a chicken and chilli wrap. What a little gem of a place!

We arrived in Maryborough at 5.30pm to find that out accommodation is directly across the road from the track. Big tick. Our room is beautifully appointed and cool. We had a bit of a walk around the track and the boys did a short training session. Unfortunately there is very little shade around so if it reaches the predicted 38 degrees it could get a little uncomfortable tomorrow, especially seeing that the program starts at 10.00am but the boys don't run until late in the afternoon. 

Tea was pizza from the funniest pizza shop I have ever come across. It was literally set up in the converted garage of a house. That said.....it was delicious. Pizza, a Weiss Bar and the Big Bash cricket.....what a way to end 2015.