Day 38 Saturday 3/7/21 Tannum Sands, damp 21 rain 24mm

Rain in biblical proportions, well not quite but it sounded like it as it hammered on the roof in the wee hours.

Rather than mope about we drive into Gladstone to pick up a few necessities, beer from Dan Murphy’s, some glue in the hope that we can repair our dying table and a 12 volt plug for our USB power bank so that it can be charged from the car. Being on an unpowered site we haven’t been able to put out our solar panels because of the inclement weather. We also need a new key cut for the toilet hatch as the #1 key went missing at Woodgate. We ask at Bunnings hardware and a key cutter but both grumble about not being able to do double sided keys. Great! We reckon that there’s a pretty good chance that all vans in Australia have the same key anyway. Then we wonder why we need to lock the toilet hatch anyway. It’s not like anyone in their right mind would want to steal a box of sewerage!

We have lunch at Docks, a cafe overlooking the harbour then stroll around the marina and Spinnaker Park. The sail training ship Young Endeavour is in port. This is the third time that we’ve seen her on our travels. The park and it’s weatherboard buildings is an attractive setting. Towards the mouth of the river and at the base of Auckland Hill is another beautiful park. A manmade waterfall cascades down the hillside, there’s a water park for the kids, a brewery and cafe for the grownups and views of the wharves and protecting islands. The quality of the parklands here and in Tannum Sands are a credit to the community.

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The rain has eased and we sit outside until dusk, though after Woodgate I’m learning the hard way to cover up as the midges have quite a bite. Woody reckons that because he’s lost weight they are no longer interested in him. Yeah right.

Accom: 21.00

Towing Kms: 0