Brisbane to Maroochydore

Day 38
A rest day in Brisbane to prepare for our onward travel and knowing that it is 1700km to Cairns and even further than that till our next home stay, we make the most of the facilities, do some washing and cook a lunch on the stove. Out in the evening in the shadow of 'the Gabba' for a lovely farewell dinner with Nicky and  Georgia.

Day 39
Up and say goodbye to Nicky and housemates and thank them for their warm hospitality and its off for the sunshine coast which better live up to its name because its raining in Brissy.
Stop at Bribie island for lunch in the cold (although its stopped raining) and watch the bored teenagers skate around looking for trouble (still school holidays). Drove along 'Steve Irwin way' and past the Australia zoo and on to Coloundra where we were hoping to stop but after a lap of the (sizeable) town we decide to continue a little further North to Mooloolaba and as soon as we check in and go for a stroll the heavens open again and its clear that the sunshine coast is not yet living up to its name.
Stopped to shelter in the local pub (Whittily named 'the pub') and after a BBQ tea settle in.

Day 39
Up and off in the morning, just a short drive along the coast to Cotton tree campsite, Maroochydore where we check in to a lovely spot for the next three nights.

Lovely spot (much nicer than the previous night) with a view of the inlet from our bedroom window.
I get my tackle straight out (!) and its off for a spot of fishing in the afternoon. A couple of hours later and we are thinking of packing up and suddenly the fish start biting. We catch 1 each, Bream (prounounced 'brim' for some reason) for me and a Flathead for Carmen.

It seems that the fish have grown slightly since we caught them on the Gold Coast (At this rate we need to drive a lot further North before we will catch our tea!!).
Sitting around at the van and suddenly the police turn up to arrest a man and woman who are camping just over the way! Well the gossip mill cranks in to full swing and after about 5 minuets we have heard their whole sordid story, they are both drunks and have been abusing their neighbours and both get carted away in the meat wagon, who needs a tele!

Day 40
Had a go on the bikes in the morning, around the local area, quite nice and flat and we cycled along the inlet. Arrive back and the drunks have been let out of jail and are back in their tent, necking wine again!
Chatted to our neighbour in the afternoon as he catches his tea most nights (from a boat) and so when we saw him just offshore in the afternoon we were off! Crossed the dangerous channel (the tide was out) over to a little sand island and thought we were in but alas, we were wrong...

Retired to the same spot as the day before and lo and behold i catch one again, a little flathead and we think it was probably the same one Carmen got yesterday.
When we get back to Polly the drunks have been told to pack up and have gone.
Off to a different pub this evening, the Alex a short bike ride along the beach. Rubbish. These places arent real pubs. All they have is a dining area and a sports bar, no actual bar bar.
Have a couple of drinks and call it a night, playing it safe after last Saturday's karaoke.

Day 41
A lie in as its Sunday (8.30!) and were off to the Cotton tree flea markets for a look around. Mainly tea towels it seems.
Get back and there's a man in the campsite selling fresh prawns straight from the boat so we get a carrier bag full for $10, stick them in the fridge and head straight out for some more fishing. Unfortunately the fish are having a day of rest today and are not interested in my worm. The suns out though so we stroll along to the main beach and im straight in for a swim.
Not quite as warm as it looks im straight back out again.
Back to eat the bag of prawns with a cold beer and watch another glorious sunset.