Everyone was very exciting heading out of Gladstone Campground today only having to travel an hour or so up the road to Carnarvon where we would see our friends, Jack and Julie again. They were the girls surrogate grandparents from our time in Geraldton and we hadn't seen them for ages, we all couldn't wait. They had arranged for us to stay for free in an area at the OTC Space Museum where they were volunteering which we were very grateful. When we arrived it was evident that they too were excited with tears in their eyes and big hugs given out. It was so good to see them again, it makes us feel very special that we can make others just as excited by our presence as they do to us. Jack and Julie couldn't take their eyes off the girls, think they had possibly grown a little taller since they last saw them.
After we set up, we took a short look in the space museum which Jack and Julie were very excited about. They were being the caretakers for 12 months and helping to build the new one, which is due for grand opening in August. After free camping for a while, it was great to be hooked up to water, quite amazing how the simple things in life are taken for-granted. We were able to use the toilet and shower in the back of the museum which was also an added bonus, but we had to be careful not to trip the security alarms off at night! Hence, the girls werent allowed to go alone!
Charlotte and Meg were so happy to see their Uma and Upa, Jack and Julie. Straight away, Julie offered to look after them while they worked in the museum and Marty and l took a drive into town to do some peaceful grocery shopping. God it was good. They told us to take our time, but we already felt like we had bothered them with staying as it was, we didnt rush, but we didnt daudle either. When we returned back, the girls had had so much fun with Julie dressing up in space costumes and pretending to be in space in the mock up missile launcher outside. After they closed up the museum we spent a great night sitting out and catching up, with Julie even cooking us tea which was heaven!
The next few days were full of catching up on school work with the girls who were frustrating me a little not concentrating, but overall doing ok. Our routine has sort of come about that we do school work in the morning then tour out and sight see in the afternoons, which most days works well with the girls concentration levels and it lets us bribe them to behave! One morning we omitted school as Jack had organised for us to visit their friends who owned a banana plantation. Steve and Linda were fantastic. Linda took us around the plantation and taught us heaps about bananas that we never knew. They were third generation banana growers and obviously knew their stuff. We found out the bananas are herbs not fruit, that you only get one bunch from a single tree, the bunch of bananas grow from a seed up the trunk, and when they first start growing they are straight, as the bananas grow they curl towards the sun. I found it quite fascinating as you can see. Im amazed l retained so much information as Meg distracted me by having her loud panic attacks from Steve and Linda's dog playing amongst the plantation. Have no idea where she gets this phobia from dogs from, is starting to annoy us at times as we cant seem to talk her around. On the positive side, at least she has a stranger dog fear in her and wont go pat one. Anyway, Steve and Linda were so inviting, the typical country hospitality was put on. We spent all morning there, even though they looked busy, they took us in and made us feel so welcome. We got a fresh mango and banana smoothie each, which won Meg over and got her forgetting about the dog around. Steve and Linda even foster three local aboriginal kids, one being Leon who was home crook. The girls had a great time playing Lego with him as we chatted out on the porch. We ended the morning with a quick stroll down to see the dried up river at the back of their property and were sent home with two huge bunches of banana's. Have no idea how we are going to eat all these, but we couldnt say no. Felt really humble that we had met so fantastic people, once again, travelling life is totally awesome full of amazing and unexpected experiences.
One afternoon we decided to take Jack and Julie with us and check out the local jetty. We took the cheaper option to walk the One Mile Jetty, still costing us $20 for 4 adults and 2 kids. Now this jetty is half as scpetacular as the Bussellton one and just as expensive, even the local fisherman have to pay if they want to fish off it! Was a long walk, think we wore Julie out a bit. Was very bloody blowy too, so you had to keep your wits about you and make sure you were always looking. After the walk up and back, Marty and l headed up this cool lookout on top of an old water tank as the girls had fun playing in the train museum. Was cool to see up at the lookout where the river meets the sea, Had a fantastic 360 degree view!
One evening when we were sitting out having a few drinks with Jack and Julie, we noticed this strange circle around sun, then that night it happened around the moon. Looked so awesome as the effervescent round circle of light surrounded the moon which was sitting right near the OTC dish! I took some amazing photos which l will pass on to Jack and Julie to forward to the owner of the OTC Musuem, think he will get a huge buzz out of them. That same night the girls went crazy playing on the grass, dont know if it was the full moon or that strange light, but they had a ball. All it took was two buckets and a hat. Kept them entertained with racing games and even putting the buckets on their heads and running around like idiots. Pity the bloody midges got stirred up by them, Julie got hit hard poor thing.
We had another added bonus in Carnarvon. The 'HardFirms' arrived to work at the Carnarvon "Tropicool" festival. We all met up and headed down to the foreshore for hot chip sangas, the travelling family dine out option. We were a little late so only saw a small time of music and the puppet show. As l was feeling disappointed with missing some of the show, l later found out it was all a preview that would be on at the festival over the next few days. At the end of the night, as the sun set, they set off the fire show which was really cool. They were a bunch of wire animal designs, when set alight, were made to glow with the ocean as the backdrop.
The next few days were spent hanging out at the festival with Tonya and Cameron. They were doing spray tatoos to try and make some extra coin for their travels. We didnt see Boo or Meg for the next few days as they were glued to Jordyn's and Riley's side. That night at the festival we had a blast. I loved hanging out with the local Carnarvon aboriginal kids, passing banter off between one another. The kids had no sense of meaning of money, having many tattoo's sprayed on, many kids not blinking an eye at spending $50 bucks in total! There was this one cool dude who had something special about him. We joked between each other and he seemed really bright and intelligent. A wise cracker to say the least, but l found him pretty funny. As l mingled amongst the locals, we ended up having such a huge crowd of kids at the tattoo stall. I had gone off with Marty and the girls to have pizza and when l returned Jordyn was so upset that all her loom bracelets that she had made to sell had been stolen. She pointed out a few boys that she saw wearing them, and l then approached them about it, most not denying it and giving them back. Some even apologised to Joydyn, only after l requested it though, but still, apologies were given. I think its good to make them accountable and not let them get away with stealing or doing wrong, and l think underneath they probably appreciate it. Don't think they see too many boundaries being set in their homes. By the end of the night, Jordyn had majority of her looms returned and we still held the power of the kids, hanging out getting tattoos will late in the night. No friendships were lost. After all this had happened, Ton made a point in letting me know that she reckons l have a real connection with aboriginal kids and it might be my calling. I reflected on the night, l had had one of the best nights in a long time and l think it was due to being able to interact with the kids. I haven't had any involvement with aboriginal kids since Alice Springs, and back then l absolutely loved it. So maybe it is my calling and l should concentrate in leading my future towards this down the track?
Seeing it was a festival, we let the kids pick a ride to go on. They all chose the "Big Swing" and had a blast on it squealing the whole time. Great to see the kids having fun, love it. Jack and Julie came down after their bowling competition had finished and got their free tat's done, looking really cool. Jack loved his Elvis guitar tat! Ton and Cam had such a hectic night, so flat out, they reckon they cleared more than $700 buck for 4 hours work!! The following day Ton and Cam were consistent, but not as flat out as the night before. They decided to do face painting too to break it up seeing most of the kids got their tats last night. Seeing we had hung with them the night before, we tried to check out some of the festival instead. Boo and Meg had a great time being entertained by the bands and life size puppets, they got to decorate and paint boomerangs, do a treasure hunt and got a freebies bag. All in all, the festival had been better than expected. No wonder the whole town comes down for a look. We left late arvo and headed back to hang out with Jack and Julie for a while. For dinner we shouted Jack and Julie some amazing fish and chips, whilst Julie presented Meg with an early birthday pressie. Meg absolutely adoring her new gold necklace straight away. For dessert Julie had put good use to the loads of bananas we had been given from the plantation and made a beautiful banana cake for Meg. Ended up being a little party night, so sweet of them to due to us leaving before megs bday- julie made cake and we had an early party. Jack and Julie were so sweet to the girls, well to all of us. The girls had a blast climbing the big tree again, thankfully no falls. It was a great last night with them, such amazing generous people who we consider them family.
Our time was up in Carnarvon and we had spent longer than expected here, staying a total of 6 nights. The next day we are off to Point Quobba, but thankfully we wont be saying our final goodbyes to Jack and Julie yet, they were going to come out and see us out there. Yippee!!!!
Bell Xxx