Sunday the 15th March Horse Riding Winery lunch at Dayboro

Nick, Dionne, Rob, Alice and I all decided to go for a bit of a different horse ride this time.

We went up to slickers riding http://www.slickershorseriding.com/ at Dayboro, we ended up being a part of a big group.

So after we all got saddled up with our horses off we went on an amazing ride around Dayboro, it was a beautiful day and everything was lovely and green from all the rain we had in the last week. We had a beautiful view of the Glasshouse Mountains.

It took us about 3 hours to ride to the winery (Oceanview winery) where we had a bit of a wine tasting and a cheese platter. Then out came our lunch that we had pre ordered – which was wonderful.

We then braced our already sore behinds for the slightly quicker way back. Which consisted of a couple of road crossings.

My horse did a bit of a bolt – which scared the bejesus out of me, but I managed to hold on. Then Dionne’s horse kicked Nick’s Horse, which went for a big bolt/buck with Nick on the back. He decided he wasn’t going to be on there long so jumped out of the way, flying head first into the paddock. Nick go up and dusted himself off, a few cuts and bruises then back on to the horse, once we got him to settle again.

The ride back took 2 hours and we where well and truly exhausted and ready for Dinner and a shower.

Thanks for driving Rob.

Next time though – I’ll opt for a shorter ride, took me days to get over this one!

Click here for Gallery, Slideshow

1st Feb Horse Riding at Mt Tamborine.

I will set the scene – very rocky and muddy, one lady and two girls who took us on a not so beginners trail.

So as you can imagine, it wasn’t the best ride ever, I think all of us had a few close calls. Kelly definitely faired the worst, whose horse actually went over with her on it!
I think we will try some where else next time.

Click here for Gallery, Slideshow

Annual Pilgrimage to Stradbroke Island.

19th Feb
Ferry across the water to Dunwich at Straddie, drove over the cylinders beach camp site and set up site in the hot, hot sun. We where both buggered afterwards and had a dip in the logoon ahhhhh! Did the Gorge walk to watch all of the marine life. A storm just missed the island, but bought the humidity, it was a really hot night!

Lagoon at Cylinders beach

North Gorge

Sunset

20th Feb
Mark and Sue came over for the day, got to see some dolphins surfing off the rocks at Cylinders. We all had lunch at the bakery followed up by an icecream of course. We then walked from the campsite to Deeadmans beach to snorkel around the rocks and look at the fishes. Back to the campsite for a shower and change, then headed up to the Pub for dinner. We gotta say the food has definitely improved and we relaxed over a couple of glasses of wine, before dropping Mark and Sue off at the water taxi.

Snorkling area

Rock pool

Maria Snorkeling

Mark & Sue in rock pool

21st Feb
We had a fair bit of rain overnight, so a bit of a clean up in the morning and trying to dry stuff out. We did the Gorge walk, got to see lots of turtles. We then walked to Deadmans beach and snorkelled.

Turtle

North Gorge

Snorkeling

22nd Feb
Gorge walk (Mikey saw a massive turtle), ice cream and snorkeling

Another Turtle

Sunset

23rd Feb
We had organised (finally – after 5 years of going to straddie) to go on a sea kayak tour with Straddie Adventures. Drove over to Amity Point (not quite the same as the movie JAWS) and kayaked along the mangroves, we were very lucky to get stuck on a sandbank because when we stood up we realised we were totally surrounded by about 15 different sized and shaped sting rays – totally awesome.

We where totally blown away, that we decided that we would come back after lunch at low tide to see if we could see anymore sunbaking.

So after a quick snorkel around the amity point rocks, we went back to the camp site had lunch, got our wet booties and camera’s and went back. I soon discovered that I really don’t like solider crabs or the noise they make, we saw millions of the things – blue and white little critters – yikes!

It is truly beautiful over on the white sand at low tide. There was a bit of a lagoon outlet that was a bit deeper and squidger than I would have liked, but we managed to cross it. We got to see a couple of starfish and some other sea crustations, and a few very well hidden ray’s but as soon as we got close they where off.

Soldier Crabs at Amity Point

More Soldier Crabs

Sting Ray

Moreton Island in the background

Star fish

It was really nice to spend a couple of hours looking around at everything. A real good “1st” for Straddie – we still have them after 5 years of going there.

We then went for a walk at the Gorge and saw the two biggest black Manta Rays paying in the waves of the gorge it was amazing (probably 5 foot across), then to our surprise we saw a couple of Kangaroo’s in the bush at the last leg of the Gorge walk.

Manta Rays at the North Gorge

Wallaby

We got back had a shower and got changed, then headed down to the beach for the daily view of the sunset. A retired couple who walk their dogs up the beach every night, had found a turtle hatchling washed up. He was just beautiful, Mikey called wildlife rescue and we were told to put him on the grass and stay with him until the two volunteer’s turned up 10 minutes later. We all sat around looking at the little guy (I just wanted to take him home with me – he was so cute).

The rescue ladies turned up had a look at him and said he got washed up on the other side of the gorge the day before – so he wasn’t a very good swimmer. The best chance he had was to put him out past the breakers, so he can learn to swim – fingers crossed the little guy made it and didn’t become a shark snack!

24th Feb
We drove over to Brown Lake – (called that due to the tea tree in the water) and bathed with the tadpoles – millions of them. We had a bit of a walk around, lots of dragonflys and managed to spot a couple of Goannas. We had a nice picnic lunch there. We then drove back to the gorge for icecream and marine spotting. The rays where out in force today!

Goanna at Brown Lake

Another Turtle

Shark

Bait Fish

Eagle?

We then went back to the campsite and snorkelled around Pub Rock very clear.

As it was our last night we had planned to have dinner at Seashells at Amity, so we got changed and headed over there 30 minutes early to watch the sunset. We walked to the end of the Jetty with all the fisherman and kids and there where a couple of dolphins swimming around at dusk trying to get the fisherman’s bait. They where so close and very beautiful. We then headed to Seashells café for a wonderful seafood dinner. A wonderful way to spend the last night!

Sunset over the fishing jetty

Dolphin tail

Sunset over Brisbane

25th Feb
Unfortunately it was pack up day, so we packed up early and had a 9.30 icecream and stopped into the camping and Treasure shop (1st time for that too). Then headed back to reality of the washing and cleaning up part – but it was good to be home with our babies again!

Stradbroke Gallery, Slideshow, Map view (best to use the satellite mode)