Qld Holiday Day 6 - Hervey Bay to The Gap

This morning we bade farewell to Hervey Bay after a lovely three night stay. The wind was still fierce here this morning, but the temperature was fiercer. It was 30 degrees by the time we left at 10.00am, and worse was to come.
We headed off back down towards Brisbane, indulging in yet another Roald Dahl classic (this time "The Twits"). But the temperature was rising, and of course there was then the usual problem with being on the roads with kids - the dreaded "I need to go to the toilet!". Fortunately, on this occasion, it occurred just as we approached the Ettamogah Pub, where we could not only make the pitstop, but also a chance to see a wicket fall in the cricket (well played Gary Ballance, good first Test innings...) and have our photo taken out the front.

The temperature was now oppressive, and so not much further down the road we pull into the old faithful, McDonalds, to have some lunch but also enjoy their super-conducted air conditioning. As the photo shows, it was really boiling material outside. When I had to take Josh back to the car to get him changed (that's another story...) we both almost melted, it was that hot.

WE arrived back at The Gap around 2.30pm, where it was plainly obvious that the heat was no better than it had been further north. In fact, the newspapers reported the following day that it was record temperatures for many areas in Queensland this day, including where we had eaten lunch!

Meanwhile, the cricket was on (at least, I was defying the heat in order to watch it), with England having been bowled out, and Australia looking to stretch to an undefeatable lead.

I was eventually dragged out of the sauna that was the TV room at The Gap, and forced to go into the pool and drink more beer in there. I'm sure it was a plot, just to get my photo taken once again in a body of water.

Speaking of irrational things, here is a photo of my nephew Ben. Yes, it has been 40+ degrees today, and when this was taken it was still plenty more than 30 degrees. But he is wearing a onesie. Great job Ben, one for the fans there...

Dinner tonight, with the whole two families together, was a BBQ. No, I know what you are going to ask - did you have to cook it Bill? Because we know what has happened on previous occasions when this crew gets together. Well... I'm pleased to say that, on THIS occasion... yes, I had to cook again.
It's a good thing that I actually enjoy doing it, and actually feel a little lost when I'm not cooking the BBQ, isn't it?... :)

L to R - Ben, Maddi, Jess, Katie, Linda, Martin, Josh, Fraser, Helen