Fred and Candy,s nats diary 2016.

[freddyc]

Here we go again. Boring you all for another three weeks.
Left Townsville at 8.26am
Our closest FC brother traveling is Andy from Cairns, our spy's have informed us he's an hour behind.
And it only too 10minutes to try and remember how to upload photos. Here's hoping it's the right way.

[JB]

I hope you have those 6x9's in there for your listening pleasure lol.
Safe travels mate. I get to Brissy on the morning of the 22nd to hopefully get the ute registered.
Which Andy is coming from Cairns?

[Maco]

Have a safe trip.

[surferboy]

G'day Fred & Candy,
Looking forward to reading the diary and checking out the pics. Is that a surfboard I spy adorning the roof ? & a COFFEE trailer on the back 😆
Hope you find lots of collectables shops on your journey

😎 😎 😎 (white with two) & Cathy

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[freddyc]

Yep (supplied by one of our sponsors) Fred heard you had to leave yours at home and thought it might help you get though the holidays. And we are heading to the surf after we leave toowoomba.also have lots off coffee onboard with the big machine this year, so will make you that coffee when we see you. Not like last time, it went cold by time we found you.

[freddyc]

Ended up at Clairview at the Barra Crab caravan park. Nice park on the beach in the middle of nowhere. Couple of beers before an early night. Oh and the best part bugs and fresh bread for dinner.

[freddyc]

Not having much luck today with downloading photos.  So here is a couple
Our camp last night at Clairview.

Our view

It can be a long way to the water on low tide

[freddyc]

Day two of Fred and Candy's Excellent adventures.

Left Clairview after a lovely Bacon and Eggs.  Thanks honey.  But no coffee because Fred decided we could get an unpowered site.
So by saving $5 we went down the road and spent $10 on Shit coffee.  But I drank it all because I was desperate.
Didn't do a lot.  Stopped at the Gin Gin pub for a quick beer. 

Then off to Bundaberg to my sisters.
Fun night catching up with all the rellies.
Fred's in bed early again.
Not long now and we will be in Toowoomba.
And Jason not sure on Andy's last name.
you will meet him in a few days.

[freddyc]

Day 3
Up early.  Real Coffee this morning. 
Only have 240kms today to Kingaroy.
Driving into Childers stopped to look at a few cars in the Tattoo Parlour.
Nice bloke had a Buick, Plymouth, a Chrysler limo and a really cool 1985 Minnie van.
Stopped and had a look in the main street and a Beer.

While we were sitting in the pub Andy from Cairns drives by.  Quick phone call and he's back to say hello.
Jason Blanchard its Andy Koitzer (Think that is how you spell it). 

Off again, didn't get far, had lunch and a swim at Bam Bam springs. (Creek down the road a bit)

Stopped at Wondai and went through a couple of Antique shops.  Now have an extra Caltex sign and another oil drum. 
Think we need to start bringing a truck on holidays. 
So much for getting into Kingaroy early.  Rocked into a friends house at 4.30pm. 
Starting to feel like the Grey nomads, they only do a couple of hundred kms a day.
Quick hello and off to Kumbria for free camping for the night.  Going to Bunyan mountains tomorrow. Hopefully Big Foot won't get us.
Got here and just missed a hail storm at Kingaroy.
Oh also Fred found a Car show he wants to go to.  said he could enter both Categories

OK night all.  C
Co-pilot Candy and Driver Fred

[freddyc]

Up and ready to go hiking around the Bunya Mountain's
Camp site this morning.  Made a couple of coffees for the neighbours.
Have a safe day traveling everyone.

[freddyc]

Ok didn't get far again. Did a spring on our little home. Tapes a block of wood to it and nursed it back to Kumbia. Took the spring off so we know what to get. Lucky cause the both of them have snapped. Back to Kingaroy to go Spring shopping.

[freddyc]

Found some Victorians

[freddyc]

Back to day 4.
Springs Breaking.
Got new ones in Kingaroy.  Bonus got to go past another Winery.  Got our bottle of port Tim and Bec.
Changed the springs and off again at 1.30pm. 
Fred was getting a little worried with all the steep hills and no caravans signs.
Oh then the car was nearly going backwards on one of the hills. Minor details.
So stopped at the small camping stops to check how it was all going. 
Well it nearly tipped poor Freddy over the hill.  The back tyre was going down.
In the last three Nats we have done we have never had to take the jack out.  It sure got a working today.
After a lot of talking and deciding we were nearly at the top we kept going.
And wow what a beautiful spot.  Decided to stay the night at Dandabah.
Went for a 2.8km walk in the forest, (felt like 10kms)seen a waterfall and lookout.  Dinner and early to bed again.

[FCRB26]

Isnt it amazing a nearlly 60 yr old set of springs are fine and a set that looks under 10yrs old snap ..

Thats some pretty bad luck hopefully things improve.

[freddyc]

Day 5.  Yesterday
Left Dandabah at 8.11am.  Off to Nanago to fix the tyre. Looked around their lovely little town while we waited.
Then off to Toowoomba.  Stopped at the Cooyar pub for a beer, just before Crows Nest.  Had a look at a few antique shops and the Clock place between Crows Nest and Toowoomba.  Pretty cool. 
Got to the Big 4 park and started to meet some old friends from the last 3 nats we have been too and meeting new ones.
Early dinner and off to pick up a car for a friend. 
Then back to have a few ports with Lester and Chris  (introduced them to sucking port through Tim Tams) and then a few more with Tim and Bec.  Off to bed a bit later then usual.  Thought Tim and Bec's neighbours were going to tell us to move.  they are so going to hate the next 5 nights.
Last night in our little van for 5 nights.

Cooyar Pub

Rolls Royce Silver Shadow for sale at a second hand shop

New hat for Fred

Clock Shop outside of Toowoomba

More Clock shop.  Worth the trip back to see.

Tim and Bec

Last nights camp

[freddyc]

Keeping the brothers and sisters caffeinated for the morning

Sorry Surfer boy and Cath we don't do home delivery's will make yours at lunch time.

[freddyc]

Day 6. 
Wow that was Thursday.  So much happens over the Nats weekend I never keep up to date.
Woke early as usual.  Got the coffee machine going so we could do a few coffees.
Checked in with HO said hello to everyone, went to look at a few things around town.
Went and washed the car.  With everyone else
When to the Golf Club with a heap of people.
Home to bed.

[freddyc]

[freddyc]

Day 7
Friday 25/03/16
Went to HO said hello to everyone.
Off to Picnic Point Van in tow.
Lovely lunch and sold a few coffees.
Went for a look around the area.  Beautiful Views.
Home for a quick nap before the meet and greet.
Traditional Fish and chips. 

[freddyc]

Day 8 Saturday
The big day.
Up early off to the Nationals Show and Shine at Queens Park.
Amazing cars and people.  Spent a couple of hours looking at the cars and then off to town for a look.
Julie and the boys come in for lunch.  Found a nice pub. 
Back at 4pm to pack up and back home to get ready for the Dinner.
Started to rain as we left.  What a downpour. Wow.
On the bus and off to the dinner.
Again an amazing night.
Lots of drinking and dancing.
Back home on the bus (could barely see a foot in front of us, amazing fog)
AARRHHH sleep at last.