Day 87 – Sunday 23 August - Hervey Bay
Another lovely day in Paradise and just six more to go. This time next week we will be on our way south towards home.
It was the sabbath and so we rested. The morning disappeared without much activity at all.
The afternoon started with a pleasant beach walk to the Scarness Jetty - just under 2 km - and back. I scored a photo of a Pied Cormorant, and later found out how to tell the difference between the Pied Cormorant and the Little Pied Cormorant. The Pied Cormorant has black trousers. Refer to the following photos.
Day 88 – Monday 24 August - Hervey Bay
We liked the slow start of yesterday so much that we did it again. Exercises were completed in time for a 10 am coffee.
Over coffee the events coordinator advised that our inactivity needed to cease - and that we needed to go for a drive to Toogoom and Burrum Heads. Which we did.
It was a pleasant outing, the main feature being Red Emperor and chips on the Burrum Heads foreshore. A couple of nature walks kept our exercise activity up to par.
Day 89 – Tuesday 25 August - Hervey Bay
The dawn clouds obscured the sunrise so I went back to bed.
As has been the trend lately it was a slow start and the 'Minister for Health & Hygiene' decided that the range hood was due for a clean. So that happened. Shirley was too eager and cut two fingers, and it was all my fault. Knitting could be a problem.
The botanic gardens was the focus after morning coffee, for two pivotal reasons - the orchid house and the pie shop over the road.
A 60 minute walk around the gardens was rewarding with flora and fauna on display.
We chatted to the volunteers in the orchid house who explained how many orchids they have in store-rooms ready for display when they are in bloom. They have a display 12 months of the year.
A change of scenery into the pie shop and a pie and a vanilla slice later all was good - or maybe better.
We chilled out for a while back at camp then decided on Shelly Beach for our second walk of the day.
Late afternoon Shirley took her chair & book down to the beach and I joined her in in time for the sunset.
Day 90 – Wednesday 26 August - Hervey Bay
The few overnight showers had disappeared by the time I emerged and the view over the ocean was picture postcard stuff
By the time breakfast was done the sun was full on and it was another magnificent day.
Some shopping provided an apple cucumber (which I love and rarely have), a pair of Skechers bowls shoes and 1.5 kg of local prawns.
After some lunch we went researching caravan parks for next year and had a walk from Shelly Beach to the Urangan Pier - beside which is an ice-cream shop.
The local council is spending $2.4m on reinforcing the foundations of the concrete storm wall at Urangan. It was interesting watching the way stones were 'bagged' then placed beside the wall.
A bit of trivia. The service station close to our caravan park - that we have visited on previous trips - is temporarily closed because they were caught selling illegal tobacco.
Day 91 – Thursday 27 August - Hervey Bay
Possibly my last chance for a beach sunrise photo this holiday appeared at 5:40 am - so I took it. With track suit and trusty Canon I headed to the Torquay jetty (seen in my sunset photo two days ago). It is about 100 metres from where I typed these words. There was not one cloud in the sky - the first time this holiday while near the beach.
There were two teams of six in outrigger canoes vying for pre-dawn honours. A pod of dolphins seemed to have their own competition. Birds flew overhead and one lady fishing was running out of patience.
The sunrise was around three minutes late, but that may have been caused by K'gari (Fraser) Island being in the way.
With the washing on the line and Shirley in the shower by 7:25 am it was an early start for team Kelly.
Shirley then pottered about while I found a car wash to remove some Queensland salty residue off the car. We both succeeded.
I bought too many so we may have something similar tomorrow night.
Day 92 – Friday 28 August - Hervey Bay
Not that I heard it, but we had a heavy shower of rain in the early hours of the morning.
By the time we had finished breakfast it was a magnificent sunny day. It later became maybe our hottest day of the trip.
Some pre-departure shopping was done. Some pre-departure chores were completed to leave more time for beach walks tomorrow. Last banana bread of the trip - this time with blue-berries - was cooked. The Weber was stowed as was the butane burner. Side awnings were folded neatly and stowed.
We relaxed as it was too hot for a beach walk. After afternoon coffee - with banana bread - we went for our walk - and very pleasant it was. It was a full-moon low tide.
Shirley made dinner of prawn curry and rice with our remaining prawns
Day 93 – Saturday 29 August - Hervey Bay
Our last full day in Hervey Bay started with bright sunshine and a cloudless sky. Shirley was in the shower by 7:20 am. It is market day.
😀
Shirley went to market. I cleaned the top of the awning and packed a few things. Diesel was purchased - $2.47 per litre. Shirley came back from the market - with a smile on her face.
Around noon we headed off for our farewell lunch at "Enzo's On The Beach". The food and the views were just as good as last week.
The bean-bags below had people lounging in them with a drink by the time that we left
Note that it is hard to smile when you are trying to swallow a chip.
By 5pm we were packed ready to depart, except for last morning stuff.
Our relaxing holiday is coming to a close. We have a 1900 km drive ahead of us, starting tomorrow.
This chapter is now complete.
Our stats after 93 days: 7546 km, 81 km/day, diesel $23 per day, accommodation $41 per day, time in car 1.7 hrs/day, Av fuel cost $2.13 per litre. Over the next week one of those numbers will decrease, the rest will increase.
Last updated at 5 pm on Saturday 29 August 2026
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