How to have the best weekend ever

This weekend just past has been awfully cold in Canberra. On Sunday I heard the maximum temperature didn’t get above 5 °C. So how would I have the best weekend with that sort of temperature? I escaped of course. I went to visit my kids and parents in Brisbane and had the best weekend I’ve had in ages.

The flight up was comfortable and I enjoyed a tuna salad for tea.

Tuna salad on QF 1554 CBR to BNE
Tuna salad on QF 1554 CBR to BNE

When I arrived we started planning the following day. Toast for breakfast, drive to Nambour and check out the markets at the Big Pineapple and hopefully pick up some morning tea. Drive on to Noosa, walk around and enjoy lunch. Drive back via Yandina and visit the Buderim Ginger Factory and Nutworks, hopefully for afternoon tea and then back to my parents’ place for dinner.

The Big Pineapple Sunshine Plantation
The Big Pineapple Sunshine Plantation
Meat without feet
Meat without feet

It sort of worked out that way. When we got to the Big Pineapple we enjoyed a walk around the old building and into the pineapple. The markets have taken over which is good. I’m glad to see the buildings are still getting use. The little zoölogical gardens are still there and fields of pineapples too. The cafe didn’t seem to have any pastries so we decided to look through Nambour.

As we drove through the main drag of Nambour we were surprised at how many of the shops were closed. Some were boarded up and most of the others were closed for business. We drove around and around and couldn’t see a bakery or a cafe open. Disappointed we drove on.

As we approach Eumundi we thought we’d check out the markets. Well that was great in theory but rubbish practically. We spent thirty minutes lined up along the road trying to find a park. In the end we decided to give it a miss. The place was so crowded it would have wasted time we didn’t have.

We drove on to Noosa, found a car park pretty easily and started walking around. We found a bakery and had morning tea. I had a small pecan tart.

Pecan tart from Noosa
Pecan tart from Noosa

As we walked up and down Hastings Street we had fun walking in and out of shops and checking things out.

Cockatoos by two
Cockatoos by two
Hairy Mannequin
Hairy Mannequin
Interesting tree roots
Interesting tree roots
Miss20 with a mask on Hastings Street Noosa
Miss20 with a mask on Hastings Street Noosa
Miss18 with a mask on Hastings Street Noosa
Miss18 with a mask on Hastings Street Noosa
Miss20 with a mask on Hastings Street Noosa
Miss20 with a mask on Hastings Street Noosa

We thought we’d buy some lunch and have it on the beach. Miss18 had brought a couple of beach towels and the girls wanted chips and gravy while I wanted sushi rolls. We bought both and shared it all 

Sushi rolls on Noosa beach
Sushi rolls on Noosa beach
Chips and gravy on Noosa beach
Chips and gravy on Noosa beach

The beach was glorious. It was about 22 °C and sunny. The water was so blue, the sand so white and fine. I looked at my weather app for Canberra and laughed out loud. I was in a T-shirt basking in the sunny goodness.

2015-07-04_12.45.31_004_GARY_LUM_FB

You can see the beach reflected in my sunnies
You can see the beach reflected in my sunnies

My daughters went to town taking selfies. All through the day they had their telephones out capturing everything around them. We were so happy, we kept saying to each other how glorious the weather was and how we wished we had brought our togs. The water would be cold but there was no wind and with the sunshine we could warm up on the sand.

After a couple of hours of just sitting under the shade of some trees looking out into the ocean we packed up and drove to Yandina.

We headed to the Buderim Ginger Factory and Nutworks.

Buderim Ginger Factory train crossing
Buderim Ginger Factory train crossing
A can of Buderim ginger beer and pear
A can of Buderim ginger beer and pear

This ginger beer and pear was delicious.

Buderim Ginger Factory Ginger scone with ginger marmalade and cream
Buderim Ginger Factory Ginger scone with ginger marmalade and cream

Miss18 loved her afternoon tea

Lizard on a turtle on a rock at Buderim Ginger Factory
Lizard on a turtle on a rock at Buderim Ginger Factory
Crocodile jerky
Crocodile jerky

I’ve never tried crocodile jerky.

After buying Mum some Queensland nuts for Sunday breakfast we headed back to Brisbane.

Mum had tea ready for us. I got to carve an amazing butterflied and stuffed lamb shoulder. It was glorious.

Roast lamb shoulder and vegetables for Saturday dinner
Roast lamb shoulder and vegetables for Saturday dinner

After a good sleep Mum and Miss18 put together waffles for breakfast. We had butterscotch sauce, caramel ice cream, Nutella, Queensland nuts and fruit. They were amazing.

Table set for waffles for breakfast
Table set for waffles for breakfast
Waffle with butterscotch sauce, ice cream, nutella, fruit and Queensland nuts
Waffle with butterscotch sauce, ice cream, nutella, fruit and Queensland nuts

After such a great weekend it was difficult to say goodbye and catch my flight back to Canberra.

Cheese box on QF1549 BNE to CBR
Cheese box on QF1549 BNE to CBR

When I landed in Canberra it was 3 °C and I was back to reality. I’d had a dream weekend. The best weekend. It’s a good thing I love my job, the people of Canberra and small town life in Canberra. They are the only things keeping me here.

 

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6 Responses

  1. That is a great weekend, enjoying all the touristy things in beautiful weather.
    It is even better when you know you are missing the cold weather in Canberra.
    The hairy mannequin is hilarious. I wonder how many people actually notice it?

    1. I wish I could go back this weekend Heather. I hear a cold front is on its way to this part of Australia and will hit this weekend.

  2. What a fun weekend, Gary. You should do it more, live the dream more 😀 That waffle breakfast looks amazing…and that hunk of cheese served to you on the plane looks very generous. What tiny biscuits to go with it.

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