Elliot Heads (Bundaberg)

We arrived at Elliot Heads (EH) on Friday arvo and settled in.

This is such a stunningly beautiful place that I didn't get online straight away and that spelled the end of online communication for our time at EH, as at about 7:30 pm, Michael and Ollie arrived to spend two nights with us. We had a great time together and Ollie decided that he wanted to sleep in a swag outside with Daddy. It was pretty cool (about seven degrees celcius overnight), but he did it and was happy to just be with Daddy. Plus, he loved the swag.

Up early on Saturday and off to the air show with Peter, Michael and Ollie. Lots of sun screen, big hats and drinks and water and we were ready. There were some great aircraft there, a good representation of warbirds, aerobatics, military power, but the grounds were not user friendly and the layout and organisation was pathetic. If you have had the privilege of attending Airventure at Oshkosh, I suppose that it is unfair to compare with a small Australian show. However, at $40.00 a head, it was poor value for money. There were no forums or info sessions, very few ststic displays, almost no static display aircraft, no warbirds close enough for people to appreciate them. A long row of VIP tents took up most of the flightline fence, so you could not see the low level action. In my humble opinion, the Sport Aircraft Association of Australia fly-ins of the 80's and 90's that I attended were much better. But, we still enjoyed ourselves and went home early to avoid the exodus from the bulldust inflicted carpark. If it rains Sunday, they will be in trouble in the carpark, not to mention the venue.

We returned to the caravan park, which is excellent, by the way, to spend some family time strolling the beach, sliding on the slides (well, Ollie did, we watched), snapping pics, flying a kite, collecting shells (again, an Ollie activity) and generally great family time.

Ollie flying the kite

Even Stasha had a go

Ollie had a bike ride along the foreshore

Tickle, tickle, laugh, giggle..............

Back for dinner and then bed for an early departure (well, not too early) this morning. Ollie decided that he wanted to sleep in Nana and Stashas caravan, on a special bed that I manufactured for him in anticipation of just this requirement. He lasted till about 4:00 am, when he decided that he wanted to "sleep with Daddy in his swag", and so he did. He didn't wake until after 8:15 am, when Michael had to wake him. Rapid pack up and depart to make Birkdale in Brisbane before dark.

As I write this now, we are in Birkdale, with cold temps and pouring rain - YUK! Off to North Stradbroke Island on the 10:00 am barge. Until then, hoo roo.