Hello fellow M’Dorcs
Well it’s November again already and that means it’s about time for the regular MDORC Inskip Trip lead by Warren and Sylvia Cross. This overnight excursion is becoming a regular event on the yearly calendar. This year 9 vehicles showed up for the weekend touring type event with a real mixed bag of participants. A Suzuki Vitara, Pajero, Hilux, 2 x Patrols, the might Maverick and dear me three Prados. Yep three, what is this club coming too?
We had a rather unique departure from BP northbound on Saturday morning with the first stop being Noosaville. Unique because even with 9 cars only one of the group didn’t count off correctly, usually we lose the plot after three. The Noosaville bakery got a nudge with bread rolls and sweets stocked up for the overnighter. I bought cold pies and bunged them in the oven so the timing was just about right for lunch. Love the Travel Buddy. The Noosa Triathlon was on the same weekend and there was an abundance of MAMILS peddling about the place three abreast. Talk about a target rich environment.
Off to the Tewantin Ferry. Both ferries where running and we just managed to jag getting all the cars across at the same time even if it was on two different vessels. Air down prior to the hitting the sand and then, wow out onto Teewah beach on what could only be described as a beautiful day. Enough beach had emerged from the ocean to provide a freshly resurfaced path to Double Island.
It wasn’t long before we observed a lot of dead birds that appeared to have washed up on the shore. Indeed the dead Short-Tailed Shearwater or Tasmanian Mutton Birds would be found all the way to the Liesha Track. 23 million breeding pairs of Mutton Birds migrate annually from Bass Straight via the Pacific Ocean to the Bering Sea between Alaska and Russia. There are amongst the most populous bird species on the planet. Some simply become exhausted loosing 50% of their body weight and are unable to go on. 1600 birds per kilometre have been found to be lost in bad seasons. I hadn’t seen this before and it was a little alarming, but this has been happening long before me and I hope will continue very long after. Nature’s way I guess.
The long drive up Teewah is always entertaining around the camp areas. Remember to slow at the stretch of beach at the designated camping zone. Firstly because it is a gazetted road and you can get pinched for speeding, secondly because it makes sense for safety but mostly because you get to see the crazy stuff that people cart up this beach. Lounge chairs and inflatable female dolls are pretty normal, a fold out lounge is a bit different, but I had never seen a Billiard Table before!
We crossed the Leisha Track onto Rainbow Beach. The inlet behind the spit is quite large presently and only a thin strip is traversed close to the cliffs to get around onto Rainbow Beach itself. We stopped for lunch at the tables just north of the toilets. Some swam in the flat water behind the spit, which I understand had a few lice in the water, but given the warm day this didn’t seem to be a huge issue. Now some may remember last year that our very own Page-3 model, one Gary Eichenloffabet, better known as Captain Flick Flack was out soaking up the sun at this location. Sadly Flick Flack has lost his banana chair and has now got a reasonably large papasan chair on which he was lounging about. Not topless this time, but still qualified for the tag “Papasan Pete”. Pete’s umbilical connection to the chair was reminiscent of the banana lounge last year.
Lunch consumed and swims swum it was time to head off to Rainbow and finally Inskip Point. I’ve said before that the ocean is somehow more emerald and blue at Rainbow Beach down by Double Island Point. This time was no exception, just beautiful. The coloured sand cliffs showed much evidence of slides and what would otherwise be avalanches. These were really big shifts where large sections of the sand cliffs have simply become unstable and slipped. The beach itself was flat and wide with little evidence of the famous rocks that have claimed so many vehicles. Either of the two Rainbox Beach services stations, the pub and even the surf shop have extensive galleries of submerged and beaten vehicles claimed be the rocks. The paragliders hung on the breeze, buzzing about above the cliffs at the Rainbow end.
In Rainbow some again topped up supplies (raising questions about a shopping rather than 4wd club) and off we tracked to re-enter the beach north of town. All 9 cars where again on the beach, heading for Inskip Point and a camp site for the night. Warren slowed at a location close to where we had camped last year. Having down a recon into the rough location a call came to come on up into the camp. The remaining cars did a pretty good Normandy Invasion like take of scrambling up the beach into the dunes to set up camp. I think it might have been the call of happy hour and it was only about 2:00pm!
Tents up, swags down and happy hour it was. Having sat about in the dunes for a bit the team assembled out of the edge of the beach for beers and nibbles. It as a delightful afternoon with the temperature about right (the beer I mean) and the company pretty much perfect. Even Papasan Pete made an appearance. There was to be more swimming and some making and attempt at fishing. The fish won.
Now I know we have a policy of not being able to place fines upon visitors. Should any committee members have been present I should think this restriction would have been removed for very good reason. A structure was built by one such visitor that was described as a camp kitchen. It was clearly well above club standard and should have been panelised accordingly. Indeed this folding marvel of modern camping wonder would have Gordon Ramsey gob smacked. Apparently it came with a seemingly endless supply of Wild Turkey! It had somehow been a long day and we all retired quite early, well apparently the turkey stayed up longer. Bloody tiring, all this relaxing.
The morning was full of the smell of cremated bacon and destroyed eggs. We had awoken to another glorious day. Sylvia has really nailed the weather on this trip. Must ask how she does that. Some who know me understand that is something of a ritual for me to always have an ice cream in Rainbow. I had not only missed the ice cream the day before but had failed to catch the ice cream truck on the beach in the afternoon as well. With everyone up and packed and with a need to let the tide drop a little our party headed to Rainbow for brunch, shopping apparently in my case ice cream. Having parked at the Surf Club all went about their business for about an hour before we mustered again for the next leg of the journey. I had three scoops (needing to make up for the day before).
Warren had put to the vote a run down the Freshwater track back out onto Teewah Beach. Off it was then through this inland track that truncates Double Island Point from Rainbow to Teewah. In parts this track s reminiscent of Frazer Island with areas that have the same rainforest feel. It was noted that even in areas where the canopy was broken this track didn’t appear to have lantana through it. We dropped out onto the beach but instead of turning south we headed back towards Double Island. The ice cream van was found parked up just off the track exit. Magnum Ego please. Job done lets go again.
We parked up just below the light house and some again took to the ocean. I don’t understand the fascination with wanting to become part of the aquatic food chain but I guess some wouldn’t understand 4 ice creams in 3 hours.
The awnings where out and drinks and nibbles again consumed. Marcel was off for a run on the beach (must be because Ellen keeps hiding the keys). We all just kind of chilled out again watching the ocean do its thing. There was a group playing some kind of music which is apparently termed Dubstep. Electronic dance music, I’m told. I didn’t understand and like a Jeep, hope I never do.
Well nothing left to do but have slow tour back down the beach to the ferry, air up and then varied parties toddled off home in differing directions. We had undertaken a very slow and relaxing weekend in perfect weather. No recoveries undertaken, no damaged vehicles and I didn’t snore as loud as last year. Captain Flick Flack is now Papasan Pete, so what next year? Great weekend, my thanks to our trip leaders and the gang for making it so. Only 12 months to go for what is becoming a ritual.
Cheers, Lee.
Well it’s November again already and that means it’s about time for the regular MDORC Inskip Trip lead by Warren and Sylvia Cross. This overnight excursion is becoming a regular event on the yearly calendar. This year 9 vehicles showed up for the weekend touring type event with a real mixed bag of participants. A Suzuki Vitara, Pajero, Hilux, 2 x Patrols, the might Maverick and dear me three Prados. Yep three, what is this club coming too?
We had a rather unique departure from BP northbound on Saturday morning with the first stop being Noosaville. Unique because even with 9 cars only one of the group didn’t count off correctly, usually we lose the plot after three. The Noosaville bakery got a nudge with bread rolls and sweets stocked up for the overnighter. I bought cold pies and bunged them in the oven so the timing was just about right for lunch. Love the Travel Buddy. The Noosa Triathlon was on the same weekend and there was an abundance of MAMILS peddling about the place three abreast. Talk about a target rich environment.
Off to the Tewantin Ferry. Both ferries where running and we just managed to jag getting all the cars across at the same time even if it was on two different vessels. Air down prior to the hitting the sand and then, wow out onto Teewah beach on what could only be described as a beautiful day. Enough beach had emerged from the ocean to provide a freshly resurfaced path to Double Island.
It wasn’t long before we observed a lot of dead birds that appeared to have washed up on the shore. Indeed the dead Short-Tailed Shearwater or Tasmanian Mutton Birds would be found all the way to the Liesha Track. 23 million breeding pairs of Mutton Birds migrate annually from Bass Straight via the Pacific Ocean to the Bering Sea between Alaska and Russia. There are amongst the most populous bird species on the planet. Some simply become exhausted loosing 50% of their body weight and are unable to go on. 1600 birds per kilometre have been found to be lost in bad seasons. I hadn’t seen this before and it was a little alarming, but this has been happening long before me and I hope will continue very long after. Nature’s way I guess.
The long drive up Teewah is always entertaining around the camp areas. Remember to slow at the stretch of beach at the designated camping zone. Firstly because it is a gazetted road and you can get pinched for speeding, secondly because it makes sense for safety but mostly because you get to see the crazy stuff that people cart up this beach. Lounge chairs and inflatable female dolls are pretty normal, a fold out lounge is a bit different, but I had never seen a Billiard Table before!
We crossed the Leisha Track onto Rainbow Beach. The inlet behind the spit is quite large presently and only a thin strip is traversed close to the cliffs to get around onto Rainbow Beach itself. We stopped for lunch at the tables just north of the toilets. Some swam in the flat water behind the spit, which I understand had a few lice in the water, but given the warm day this didn’t seem to be a huge issue. Now some may remember last year that our very own Page-3 model, one Gary Eichenloffabet, better known as Captain Flick Flack was out soaking up the sun at this location. Sadly Flick Flack has lost his banana chair and has now got a reasonably large papasan chair on which he was lounging about. Not topless this time, but still qualified for the tag “Papasan Pete”. Pete’s umbilical connection to the chair was reminiscent of the banana lounge last year.
Lunch consumed and swims swum it was time to head off to Rainbow and finally Inskip Point. I’ve said before that the ocean is somehow more emerald and blue at Rainbow Beach down by Double Island Point. This time was no exception, just beautiful. The coloured sand cliffs showed much evidence of slides and what would otherwise be avalanches. These were really big shifts where large sections of the sand cliffs have simply become unstable and slipped. The beach itself was flat and wide with little evidence of the famous rocks that have claimed so many vehicles. Either of the two Rainbox Beach services stations, the pub and even the surf shop have extensive galleries of submerged and beaten vehicles claimed be the rocks. The paragliders hung on the breeze, buzzing about above the cliffs at the Rainbow end.
In Rainbow some again topped up supplies (raising questions about a shopping rather than 4wd club) and off we tracked to re-enter the beach north of town. All 9 cars where again on the beach, heading for Inskip Point and a camp site for the night. Warren slowed at a location close to where we had camped last year. Having down a recon into the rough location a call came to come on up into the camp. The remaining cars did a pretty good Normandy Invasion like take of scrambling up the beach into the dunes to set up camp. I think it might have been the call of happy hour and it was only about 2:00pm!
Tents up, swags down and happy hour it was. Having sat about in the dunes for a bit the team assembled out of the edge of the beach for beers and nibbles. It as a delightful afternoon with the temperature about right (the beer I mean) and the company pretty much perfect. Even Papasan Pete made an appearance. There was to be more swimming and some making and attempt at fishing. The fish won.
Now I know we have a policy of not being able to place fines upon visitors. Should any committee members have been present I should think this restriction would have been removed for very good reason. A structure was built by one such visitor that was described as a camp kitchen. It was clearly well above club standard and should have been panelised accordingly. Indeed this folding marvel of modern camping wonder would have Gordon Ramsey gob smacked. Apparently it came with a seemingly endless supply of Wild Turkey! It had somehow been a long day and we all retired quite early, well apparently the turkey stayed up longer. Bloody tiring, all this relaxing.
The morning was full of the smell of cremated bacon and destroyed eggs. We had awoken to another glorious day. Sylvia has really nailed the weather on this trip. Must ask how she does that. Some who know me understand that is something of a ritual for me to always have an ice cream in Rainbow. I had not only missed the ice cream the day before but had failed to catch the ice cream truck on the beach in the afternoon as well. With everyone up and packed and with a need to let the tide drop a little our party headed to Rainbow for brunch, shopping apparently in my case ice cream. Having parked at the Surf Club all went about their business for about an hour before we mustered again for the next leg of the journey. I had three scoops (needing to make up for the day before).
Warren had put to the vote a run down the Freshwater track back out onto Teewah Beach. Off it was then through this inland track that truncates Double Island Point from Rainbow to Teewah. In parts this track s reminiscent of Frazer Island with areas that have the same rainforest feel. It was noted that even in areas where the canopy was broken this track didn’t appear to have lantana through it. We dropped out onto the beach but instead of turning south we headed back towards Double Island. The ice cream van was found parked up just off the track exit. Magnum Ego please. Job done lets go again.
We parked up just below the light house and some again took to the ocean. I don’t understand the fascination with wanting to become part of the aquatic food chain but I guess some wouldn’t understand 4 ice creams in 3 hours.
The awnings where out and drinks and nibbles again consumed. Marcel was off for a run on the beach (must be because Ellen keeps hiding the keys). We all just kind of chilled out again watching the ocean do its thing. There was a group playing some kind of music which is apparently termed Dubstep. Electronic dance music, I’m told. I didn’t understand and like a Jeep, hope I never do.
Well nothing left to do but have slow tour back down the beach to the ferry, air up and then varied parties toddled off home in differing directions. We had undertaken a very slow and relaxing weekend in perfect weather. No recoveries undertaken, no damaged vehicles and I didn’t snore as loud as last year. Captain Flick Flack is now Papasan Pete, so what next year? Great weekend, my thanks to our trip leaders and the gang for making it so. Only 12 months to go for what is becoming a ritual.
Cheers, Lee.
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