The Wandering Tops

The Wandering Tops

23 October, 2020

Gulmarrad

Back on the road we had an enjoyable drive on the new Motorway and turned off to Evans Heads for a much needed coffee.  Back on Motorway travelled to Gulmarrad and set up van in Mike and Chris' driveway.  After a late lunch we drove to our acre block and viewed it in person for the first time.  

Our first footsteps on our land, 23rd October 2020

We both liked the area and even with our block being cleared we have views of bushland in front and behind us as they have allocated land for a wild life corridor.  Certainly has a rural atmosphere and has services close by in Maclean - quite excited to build and settle in Gulmarrad.  Celebrated Helen's birthday with lunch at Ballina RSL with Briony, Todd & Tenelle and Mike & Chris getting home in time to experience a thunderstorm with plenty of lightning, thunder and rain. A couple of days later Briony drove down to see the block and stay the night in Maclean before heading back home after a great coffee at Botero Cafe (our new favourite coffee shop!).  During the two weeks stay with Chris and Mike we were able to meet with various Builders and obtain quotes for plans.  Our heads were spinning with all the different options and what started off as a reasonable price increased quickly as we added items that we thought should have been standard.  Appreciated staying with Chris and Mike during this time as was able to run things by them for another opinion.  We took Mike and Chris to Grafton one day however had to stop at a  Garage Sale - we all purchased items and had to drive back home to drop them off before heading off to Grafton again. I arranged for a storage unit in Gulmarrad so was able to unload some items out of the van and car that we will not need, and was handy to store garage sale items like ladder, rake, storage containers and hose fittings.

Finally received all quotes from 4 Builders and appoint Campbell Constructions to build our home - they built Chris and Mikes home and we were impressed with the quality finish. Once decision was made seemed as though a great weight was lifted.  Before we left we took Chris and Mike to lunch at Yamba Tavern and visited the block for the last time before we headed to Tweed Heads for Santa duties.

Little Tern Court, our land is on the LHS at the end of the bitumen

A display home, Helen thought this would be ok.



09 October, 2020

Back to the big smoke

Time to get back into the 'big smoke' and was not long before we were travelling down the Bruce Highway with plenty of traffic and trucks.  Intended to have lunch at Eumundi however forgot it was Market Day so had to drive through car park in order to head back onto Bruce Highway.  Plan B was to stop for lunch at Forrest Glen as we have previously had a nice lunch at the Cafe and knew we could park the van across the road in the bush.  It was a while since we last called in and were shocked to see all the vacant land now being developed into housing estates.  Could not find anywhere to park so decided to continue on a narrow busy road looking for somewhere to pull off .  Kept going until we came to Buderim where we found a park big enough for the van and had much needed coffee and lunch. Drove to our friends Terry and Joan home where I backed van into their drive and maneuvered into a snug area in between house gutters and fence!!  

Only a few km's on the Bruce Hwy and the traffic was stationary!

 Had a great catch up for a couple of nights and met with a Builder to discuss house plans.  Headed off into traffic again however came to a stand still approx 20km down the Bruce Highway where we stayed for approx 45min.  A car towing a caravan had rolled and was blocking both lanes and listening to the UHF radio, the truckies were not impressed!!  Eventually pulled into Todd & Tenelle's home at Tugun where we parked and levelled the van right outside their gate.  Briony came over and we had a wonderful family gathering.  The next day Briony took us to Pasture and Co Cafe at Currumbin Valley for coffee, which was a great spot.  Went for a swim with Todd and Tenelle before heading off to Kirra Beach where we booked in for 5 nights.  

Parked for a few nights in front of Todd and Tenelle's

On arrival the site we were allocated had a big bus parked on it, so were allocated another site which had big tree roots which we could not park on.  We chose another spot and started to set up when neighbour asked Helen why we parked next to him when there were other sites!!!  By this time Helen was not a happy vegemite -  however after a couple of days the neighbour's wife came to apologize for her husband's tone, explaining he wondered why the office had directed us to the site when there were other empty ones around the park.  Whilst at Kirra we drove to Jimboomba for a look at a couple of display homes at Greenbank however the more we look at the more confused we become.  Had lunch at Canungra then drove around their Canungra Rise estate looking at larger blocks.  Way too steep for us and good to have a look so we can cross off our list!  I had been enjoying riding the bike early morning however one morning the bike was missing.  Probably the first time I did not lock it to the caravan wheel and someone came and helped themselves while were sleeping.  Even had the chairs stacked in front of the bike but believe people wander around the parks and grab whatever they can.  Reported to Police, our son put message on social media and I kept an eye on Gumtree and visited Cash Converters.  Was just saying to Helen that the bike was getting a bit rusty and had had a hard life being stuck on the car and out in the elements most of the time.  Instead of riding I went walking and saw people riding their bikes - Helen said I came home grumpy.  Went out to get fuel and called into a couple of bike shops however both had sold out of the hybrid bikes I would have liked (people were buying during COVID) and were waiting on new stock.  Just happened to call into one more shop and there was a Merida 21 Crossway Hybrid Bike, which is what I was looking for.  Sent Helen a photo asking what she thought - she knew full well I was buying it!!  Was able to go to Todd's home to watch Bathurst on the big screen - great race this year as was a sprint to the end and great result with Holden winning.  Had a long day driving up to the Sunny Coast - stopped for great coffee at Nicky's Cafe, Little Mountain.  Viewed a GJ Gardner display home at Palmview before heading back down the M1 before peak hour.  I attended Santa Training for a day at Mermaid Waters before we packed up and drove to Ballina where we stayed 2 nights free thanks to New Age for a photo I had taken and submitted for a competition.  Ballina Big 4, Skinnershead Road is a nice Caravan Park and once again we were busy visiting display homes.  I had a great bike ride to Lennox Heads on the bike path - glad I had the new bike as had to negotiate quite a steep hill. Had a drive to Bangalow where Helen purchased another 'hippy mat' for the van, visited the Op Shop before driving back to Ballina and cruised down the very busy main street before stopping for a great lunch at Salvatore Cafe in the Shopping Centre. 


The new bike, firmly secured to the caravan!!

Sorry, not sorry for the bike spam.
Found a great bike track along the coast from Lennon Head to Ballina
Boulder Beach

Pat Morton Lookout with Lennox Head in the distance

Skennars Beach