The last two weeks have been a roller coaster ride. A lot of phone calls and a lot of Internet research with nil return for another turbo.  Vaska has a friend near Bundaberg who has a farm where we can park the bus. With the roadside assist it was still well over $2000 to ship the bus 280 KM. While we were camping in Maloolaba an old friend (who I know because we were building the same bus in Townsville in 2007) happen to drive past and during the conversation mentioned that he had an old car sitting in the garage he was happy to lend us. The car helped us out tremendously.
In the meantime a frantic search for another motor home. Plenty for sale but few with the layout or price that suit. Found one in Mareeba 1400 KM away. Had a look at another one near Towoomba but in the end settled on the one from Mareeba. It took a week to get everything sorted but got on the train Monday night to Cairns where we were picked up by the motorhome owners.
10 December.  After the paperwork was finalised 1400KM back to Townsville. It took us 3 days to drive back. Now the task of trying to find space in the “new” motorhome.

Sunshine Coast to Beerwah   December 2025     

From old to new

18 December  Finally after cleaning the bus and transferring all our gear to the motorhome we left the farm where the bus was parked and hopefully sold quickly. First we had to return the car and found a great spot to park at the beach in Caloundra. We had a lot of luck finding a spot to stay and be able to borrow a car but  luck changed quickly. The fridge decided to go on holiday for the festive season and all our food is slowly getting to room temperature which is 27 degrees. Off to the shop to get a small one because nobody will look at repairing this till at least the end of January 2026. It did not take long to get a spare fridge. And when we woke up next morning everything ice cold. We spend a few days at Caloundra beach. You have to spend a lot of money to wake up with a view we had.

While getting the bus organised coffee at Oodies                            Relaxing at Caloundra beach        

Caloundra beach

X Mas Breakfast at Caloundra beach                           Project half finished

23 December. We decided to have a look in Redcliff. This is where the Bee Gees grew up. Born in England but went from buskin here to the world stage. There is a whole alley dedicated to them. Apart from this we decided that Caloundra Beach would be the place to spend X Mas. Parked “illegally” right at the beach for four nights. On the way there stopped at Wild Horse Lookout which gives a magnificent view of the Glasshouse Mountains

    Statue of the Bee Gees in Redcliff                      Glasshouse mountains

A friend we met accidentally while camping at the coast offered to change the bed from two singles to a double bed. We arrived on the 27th of December. The couple we stayed with Keith and Yvonne Nunn have a granny flat we could use which was marvellous. The first three days the bed took shape. Also a few other things had to be done. The motorhome had no space for a table and chairs. Bought an aluminium box and fitted this where the airconditioner used to sit. Also it had a very small inverter which could not run the microwave. And the gas fridge is exchanged for a 12 volt fridge. New years day no work. We woke up to blue skies but rain forecast for 8 PM. We took the train in to Brisbane. First visit the new casino. They have a viewing platform 23th floor with a good view of the city. Went for a walk to the Southbank and took the ferry, on Brisban river just to give us a break from walking. Lunch in the city twice first a Macdonalds Chicken wrap with a free seniors coffee before lunch. For lunch to a Japanise coffee shop yum yums. Back to the casino which was very pleasant till they started he music which was too loud for our young  ears. We also wanted to have dinner there but $60 a meal was too much for a Dutchman therefor we ended up with soggy hamburgers. We decided to only see the early fireworks because the train ride was another one and a half hours.  We however watched the Sydney fireworks from the comfort of our bed.  Happy 2026.

               Lunch one yumyyy waffle                     Dinner mushroom soggy burgers  hamburger and chips