Coolum Beach

Well folks it's official. Queensland has Australia's worst drivers!

Poor old truck!

Just ask 76 year old Lois, from Buderim, who drove straight out of a side street after looking carefully to the left, and drove straight into the side of our poor old car. You have to look right too Lois!! "I didn't see you at all." said Lois. "That's a relief. At least you didn't do it on purpose" said John. Still we were lucky, no injuries to anyone, and cars can be fixed. Well ours can be. Poor old Lois asked the tow truck driver if her old car could be knocked back into shape. He politely said possibly, then winked at me and out of the corner of his mouth said, "but the shape will be a cube, headed for the recyclers!" 

Our insurer, Youi, have been wonderful. Lois and her insurer have admitted liability, so the car is booked into a local repairer from Monday, a rental car has been organised, and hopefully in a week, we will be back on the road. So we have another week here at Coolum, marooned under balmy cloudless skies, right beside the beach, just across the road from countless cafes and restaurants, golf courses nearby, and Surf Club next door. I think we can handle that!!!

Surfer in action at Coolum Beach.

Coolum Beach has really gone ahead since we last spent any time here. It is a really busy little beach side hub, with lots of holiday properties, as well as a large local community. John's mate, Peter Taylor lives here, just behind the shopping centre and within easy walking distance of the caravan park, so we have been having a really good catchup. Last Sunday's lunch at the Surf Club was an epic! Why would you want to leave a window seat, perched above the beach, watching the swimmers, the board riders and the para sailors, whilst enjoying a delicious seafood lunch, washed down with a cold glass or two of Sauvignan Blanc? We didn't, and the sun had well and truly set as we wobbled next door to the caravan park.

Coolum Beach Holiday Park.

The Coolum Beach Holiday Park is beautifully positioned. It is part of the Family Parks Group, and apparently had a recent change of management. It is also now DOG FRIENDLY, which is great news, as most on the Sunshine Coast aren't. There is one brand new amenities block, and a new camp kitchen/ BBQ area, and they are still doing more improvements around the park. Sadly, I think the manager had a recent charisma bypass, but we don't have a lot to do with him, and despite much mumbling, grumbling and groaning, he did let us stay an extra week on our site, now we've had the little bingle.

Coolum Beach from Point Arkwright.

There isn't a lot to tell you about Coolum. The weather has been amazing! We've had temperatures in the mid 20's, and cannot remember the last time we saw rain clouds. We have just been lazing about. A few games of golf, some walks along the beach, an obligatory visit to the famous Eumundi Markets, last Saturday, where there is always something to buy, and generally having a wonderful time. Noosa always sparkles. Pete and I did play in the Mount Coolum members competition last Thursday. Unfortunately for Pete, it was an aggregate team event. Our team score more resembled an individual score, but we had a great day out. This week, John, Carol & Pete all headed up to Noosa Valley Country Club for a game of golf. It is Noosa's best kept secret. It is a 9 hole course, beautifully kept and with the most unbelievable tropical gardens all around the course, and hardly anyone plays. It is like the members keep it to themselves! It was another gorgeous day, which we followed up with a terrific Thai meal just across the road from the caravan park. Pete knows the owner Phil( really good Thai name!), and the food is delicious. The Red Duck Curry and the Crispy Noodles with Prawns and Vegetables, were delicious and full of flavour, and the Sticky Coconut Rice is to die for. Phil and his authentic Thai chef, are fast becoming our best friends in Coolum!!

Coffee at Sunrise Cafe.

Of course we have found the best coffee spots in town. Actually we are spoilt for choice. The C@F at Coolum, is off the main street near Coles, and is excellent, and up along the beachfront, going up the hill is My Place and Sunrise Cafe, both which look out over the beach and the ocean. Sunrise Cafe is our absolute favourite. It has the best barista, and a really long wooden bench along the front, with high stools, and it looks out to the beach. It is the perfect place to kick start the day. Don't you love it when you walk into a place and the waiter says, "your usual guys".

Late in week two, we got another pleasant surprise, when our friends Lynne and Paul, from Mudgee, phoned to tell us there staying nearby at Mapleton, up on the range in the Hinterland, for a few days. They are in their camper trailer with the two dogs. Carolyn was really excited as she got to meet Kenzie, Lynne's new Collie dog. She is absolutely gorgeous, still a big puppy at 7 months, and so full of energy. Now we are here for an extra week, we will have some more catch ups.


The weekend has rolled around again. Saturday night we met Lynne & Paul at the Mapleton Tavern for dinner. From the high vantage point on the ranges of the Hinterland, we sat beside the log fire on the enclosed veranda, and watched the lights of the Sunshine Coast come alive. It is amazing how much cooler it is up on the ranges.We had a good Pub style feed, and a good chat. We solved a few more of the world's problems, The locals joined in and it was unanimously agreed that Julia Gillard's Asylum Seeker double back flip with three twists, forward somersault and pike, would easily have won gold at any Olympics ever held. Sunday morning we strolled along the beach, ending up back at Sunrise Cafe for coffee. Bloody Sunday "blow ins" had our spot at the bench!! How dare they!! Thankfully we found a front row table instead.

Carolyn with Paul, Lynne, Kenzie
& Harley.

Monday another disaster struck! Sunrise cafe is closed on Monday and Tuesday!! How dare they. Not to worry, we don't have a lot of time as Lynne, Paul, Harley and Kenzie are coming down for a day at the beach. It is another beautiful day, though a little windier, but we had a fantastic day, playing with the dogs along the beach. Kenzie, the Collie pup has never seen the ocean, and it is a scream watching her run away from the waves, but getting braver by the minute. She is a ball of energy and gives poor old Harley hell, as she chases him and jumps all over him. He is soooo patient! Take away fish 'n chips for lunch. Big white paper parcels set out along the table, and delicious fresh fish 'n chips, eaten with greasy fingers at the seaside. Is there a more iconic Aussie sight? 

The morning walk along Coolum Beach.

It is times like this, when we have time to just relax, that we can reflect on those little things in life, that have changed with our life on the road. Take soap for instance. Carolyn has taken to buying those lovely smelling home made soaps you see see at the markets. There are some real issues here. They are obviously a female thing, designed by a woman for a woman. Well for a woman without a hairy chest! Do you know how long it takes to get rose petals or lavendar seeds disentangled from those of us with body hair? For God's sake don't start making soap from pineapples!! And then there is the matter of size. It is not possible to work up a lather if the soap is so bloody big you need two hands to hold it!!. I don't mind smelling like a rose or a passionfruit or even a guava, but please peel the fruit!!! Then there is the matter of napkins. Queensland is the home of the paper napkin. They delight in wrapping it tightly around the cutlery, then using some kind of fluid to stick it down so it won't unravel. What fluid do they use? It really sticks. The mind boggles. Then when you try to unravel it there is no easy end to get to and you finish up with shredded napkin all over the table!! I just don't get it!!

Chris takes a bath.

Today we got new neighbours. They are a young family up from Brisbane for a short break. They are really bright and friendly. I thought you'd enjoy the photo of young Chris taking his bath after a visit to the beach. 

John & Pete off to Golf.

Thursday, John & Pete are off to golf. It is Monthly Medal at Mt. Coolum Golf Club, which should well and truly sort us out. Which reminds me, I'd better put some extra balls in the golf bag!! Tight fairways and a lot of water at Mt. Coolum!! Again, we didn't wait for the presentation, but we had a great day out. That night we enjoyed a terrific night out at Castro's, a wonderful bar and bistro, off the main road in Coolum. Pete had invited his sister Lynn, and her partner Graeme. We all got on like a house on fire, as the wine flowed and the food arrived. It was all excellent, and late in the evening we were hit with a good dose of small world syndrome. Pete & Lynn grew up in the same area around Kingsgrove in Sydney. Carolyn & I have many times revisited the fact that we probably met as small children many times, as mum & dad had owned a grocery shop on the corner of Moorfields Rd and Chapel Rd, back in the early 1950's. This was only a few hundred metres from Carolyn's home. When we shared this with Pete & Lynn they were amazed, as their mum had worked in that shop for 28 years. We worked it out that Pete's uncle and aunt had most likely purchased the shop from my mum & dad, and Pete's mum worked at the shop from shortly after that, for 28 years!!!! More cause for celebration.

Thundercats are go!!!

Friday the car came back all shiny and new. Thank you Youi for a good job, done fast!! The weekend was pretty quiet as we soaked up the wonderful sunshine. We enjoyed a farewell Sunday breakfast at Sunrise, which as usual was delicious. As we walked along the beach towards Sunrise, we came across these funny little Zodiacs on the beach, surrounded by guys in helmets. The sign said Thundercat Racing, and soon we were watching these amazing little craft  flying through the surf racing each other out and around the buoys. What a sight!!

Sunday afternoon was pack up time. It was a bigger than usual pack up, as the car was empty and we had the full annexe erected. All went smoothly, and we quietly drove out of the caravan park early Monday morning, headed for Sydney. We had a great stay at Coolum, and will definitely be back.