A Weekend at the Sunshine Coast

 Friday 16 May - Mooloolaba

My youngest brother Jim, and his wife Michelle, live in Townsville in far north Queensland. On this weekend they were staying at the coast for Michelle to attend a church synod. Jim would be at a loose end, so it was a great opportunity for me to spend time with him. We had had rain all week, which accompanied me on the 2 hour drive north to Mooloolaba. This is the scene that greeted me. Thankfully any rain that did continue to fall was mostly at night.

From 1960 to 1970, our Father owned a milk dairy farm at Mooloolah. This was after selling his share of the cream producing home farm at Afterlee. This new farm had productive flats sweeping down to the Mooloolah River. The river enters the ocean at Mooloolaba, just behind the tall pine in the image below. Totally confused now? 

Part of the joy of spending this weekend with Jim is that we explored old haunts and reminesced of the good times we had. This post however, is mostly of the magic of the sunsets and sunrises I enjoyed.

10am - just arrived.

 

5pm

17 May - 6am

Being a Saturday morning,  the beach was a hive of activity. I was surprised to see the lifesavers, young and old, still in training, now that we were approaching winter.

There was a serene feel to the morning and I spent ages watching the gentle ebb and flow of the waves and was mesmerised by the the movement of the great puffs of froth. 

I am sure I was the only one carrying an umbrella and felt rather silly until the heavens opened, thankfully not too far from the carpark.

 1pm 

The shower was short lived and a sunny day was enjoyed. We visited our parents at the lovely wooded Mooloolah cemetery, had a coffee at Mooloolah and then drove to Caloundra, our summer beach haunt, when the farm allowed. 

Below is the start of  our walk that took us around this bay to the beach front.

Although changed in appearance, this is where we would love to swim and play. Our farm was very demanding of our parents, up at 4.30 am to have the milk ready for 7. Busy days cultivating the land for fodder to feed the cows at milking time, meant they were early to bed. However, several times during the summer holidays, they would milk early, phone through an order to the fish and chip shop opposite this beach and pile us all in the car for the 25 minute drive to here for a sunset picnic.

We relaxed with this view of King's Beach for quite some time. Spot the container ship just passing the headland. It's movement south to Brisbane held our attention, especially when a smaller vessel appeared heading north. Google helped us to establish the size of the Evergreen. Massive! 

I wonder what your estimate of the number of containers it is carrying? She is 400 metres long!

5pm

18 May - 6am

The sun's up. Time to paddle and walk.

You can more easily spot the river mouth in this image.

5.40 pm

We had spent a magnificent day in the hinterland. I had been the driver and feeling quite tired, decided not to join Jim for dinner. I was a little peckish and drove to a general store not far from the Maroochy River. On my return journey I was greeted with this stunning scene. It was a rush to park safely and capture these 3 images. On selling the farm, my parents lived not far from this point and I would often sit on the footbridge to fish.

What a spectacular finale to a supurb day!

19 May - 6am

As I was travelling home early, I had debated rising for another sunrise. It was definitely worth it,

I would love to read your comment.