It’s Christmas! We wake up early since we’re still not fully over the jet lag, there are no presents to unwrap because our trip is our present! We can’t decide what to do for breakfast, and there aren’t many options since it’s Christmas Day, so we go to the hotel restaurant. After breakfast, I take the kids for a walk to the Botanical Gardens while Diana washes her hair and gets ready for Christmas lunch....
Moreton Island today. We head to the bus station which is a 10-minute walk from the hotel, arriving early. Since we haven’t had breakfast we search for a cafe but there’s nothing open before 7am nearby. We buy some snacks from the vending machine, which the kids are ecstatic about, I’m less so, then register for the tour. The coach takes us to the ferry port which is a 30-minute drive....
Koala day today. After breakfast, we head to the river and board the cruise boat which will take us to the Koala sanctuary. We get some good seats on the top deck and cruise down river listening to the commentary. It takes about 1.5 hrs to get to Koala sanctuary, and we’ve heard about some interesting history of Brisbane and seen some amazing waterfront properties. We hadn’t pre-booked holding a Koala since we didn’t realise that was an option....
Last night we arrived into Brisbane after switching planes in Singapore and then went to the hotel and to bed. Today we explore Brisbane! Alex and I take a walk and find coffee and bagels which we take back to the hotel and then eat with the girls. Afterwards we hunt down a Target, which Bella wants to experience and buy water bottles and umbrellas. Target doesn’t quite live up to expectations, but it has what we need!...
It’s been 13 years since we’ve been to Australia for the Boshier’s wedding, and it felt like a great time to go back and explore some parts we haven’t been to before. The Boshier’s are also keen to catch up and join us on the camping trip too. The plan is to fly to Brisbane and explore the area for a few days before flying down to Adelaide for the camping trip in the Flinders Ranges before flying back to Sydney and then home....
It’s been a few weeks since our 3 peaks holiday, and it’s time to complete Snowdon, the unfinished business. We’d been monitoring the weather and this weekend looked perfect. So we’d found a hotel at the last minute and drove to Wales on Friday night, arriving pretty late. The hotel room has 5 bunk beds which is fun and dog friendly so that Einy can stay with us too. After a hearty full Welsh breakfast we take the Sherpa bus to Lanberis Pass and start walking....
The motor home remained safe overnight, and I get going early in order to return it at the 8am opening time. Driving across London isn’t that fun in a large vehicle, but I make it to the rental shop without issue. I’d emailed ahead, so the rental company is expecting the damaged motor home. They seem relaxed about it, so it’s probably a common occurrence! After the inspection and some research I leave £762 lighter and thankful I bought the extra insurance!...
Last night was much better, without the storm we all slept a little easier. Our usual early start and baconators whilst we checked the weather and discussed the plan. With the weather being calmer today, I’m keen to finish the job and climb, but that would mean driving back to London after a day in the mountains. We eventually decide that climbing Snowdon would be a mistake and decide to drive home, resolving to come back another weekend to finish the job....
It’s been a rough night, gale force winds have been battering the motor home, and it was boiling hot due to the closed windows. I’m awake at 6 and the camp site has taken some pummeling. I check the mountain forecast, and it’s not looking good. Storm Betty passed through last night, which explains the wind overnight. However the forecast on Snowdon today expects 70 mile an hour gale force winds with no visibility!...
We wake at the usual time, breakfast and pack up. While we wait for the rubbish lorry to empty the 20 or so wheelie bins the kids nip off to reception to buy patches for their Backpacks. Setting off following the satnav takes us over a pass past Hesk Fell. It was hairy driving with one set of really tight switchbacks at the end which was crazy in a motor home....