And....breathe.

After 9,000kms, 42 nights in the van and counting, I kinda feel like we're on holidays. We've 'seen' and done all the things we set out to do, and now it's time to chill at the beach.

We really liked Airlie Beach, the kids took to snorkelling with great enthusiasm and there is a massive lagoon in the centre of town, so you can swim without stingers. It's backpacker central, so I did feel a bit old :). However we were staying at the most luxurious caravan park I've been at, our ensuite site had a bathroom bigger than ours at home!

Now we're in Mooloolaba. We've been here a couple of times before, so it has a familiar feel which is nice after so long. And, this trip is turning into a version of Meet the Fockers....guess who is showing up today? Chris' parents! Looking forward to seeing them.

After here, all the commercial glory of the Gold Coast (well, Tweed Heads). Planning a trip to Wet 'n Wild, depending on the weather. We couldn't go there last time because Matthew had his arms in bandages. Then probably home. Missing: family and friends, Dougal, my dishwasher, a washing machine that doesn't cost $4 a load, and a bit of personal space. Loving: everything else.

Airlie Beach

Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays

The crab was dead. Eeww!

Hervey Bay

Let's play statues!

Today (near Yeppoon) I saw my first 'big thing' for the trip - a big whale made out of concrete. He was Soooooo ugly. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera. Queensland seems to be home of the big thing. I'm looking forward to stopping at the Big Pineapple. It holds many fond memories, although I know from a visit a couple of years ago it is sadly in decline. I have a friend whose Year 12 formal was at the Big Pineapple. Now that is a classy formal (Hi R!).

Anyway, in spite of not seeing any big things until today, we've seen lots monuments, statues, markers and other funny things. Of course every town has a war memorial. In Longreach we saw the war memorial which has the names of two of my distant relatives - great great uncles I think, brothers who were killed wihin hours of each other in France, World War 1.

In Barcaldine I paid homage at the Tree of Knowledge monument. The Tree of Knowledge is honoured in the labor movement as the birthplace of the Australian Labor Party - in 1891 striking shearers met under the shade of the tree. In 2006 it was poisoned. However, the proletariat has ensured that the Tree of Knowledge will live on - in a very elaborate monument. It was opened by Anna Bligh in October 2009. No mention of who funded it!





The Singing Ship, erected in 1970 by a patriotic local family of Yeppoon, in honour of Captain Cook's naming of Keppel Bay in 1770.



Camooweal, just over the border from NT



Tropic of Capricorn marker, north of Alice Springs





And again! in Longreach







Tree of Knowledge monument, Barcaldine QLD