Happy 10th Birthday Jacko, Tin Can Bay, Qld

Monday morning, the 13th of August, and we packed up our beautiful Fraser Island Villa at Kingfisher Bay Resort and headed towards the ferry, which would take us back to the mainland.

Our Villa at Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island

Because of our issues, bogging in the sand the day before, we decided to take the safe way home and leave from Kingfisher Bay rather that at the southern end of the Island, where we had landed on Friday.
However, as Murphy and his law goes... rain had fallen overnight - which would have made it a lot easier for us to get to the other side of the Island, but we were already booked

Goodbye Fraser Island

Driving onto the ferry

Heading back to the mainland

The day was chilly but the skies were blue and an hour later we landed in Hervey Bay. We have always wanted to see the town so we took the scenic route back through the town, buying a box of fresh prawns along the way... it was very touristy but sweet....

A white pointer tourist attraction in Hervey Bay

We then continued through the historic town of Maryborough. I was amazing to see how the majority of the town had preserved the old Queenslander Homes with the stilts and big verandahs.

We continued on before reaching Tin Can Bay and our caravan, which had been kept an eye on over the weekend by our very close neighbours Bev & Len... they were pleased to see us and full of questions about the trip. We gave them a feed of prawns as a thank you!

The night was an early one - the morning would also be an early one.

Tuesday the 14th of August the boys were up at 5:30am.... being Jack's 10th birthday, Richard had promised the boys that he would taken them out to throw the crab nets in the Bay and have a fish.
By around 7, the boys were back, keen to visit the area of the Bay which plays host every morning to a couple of dolphins who come in to feed... its become a big local tourist attraction and was a beautiful way to start the day....

The birthday boy has an early morning encounter with the local dolphins

We then went back to the caravan so Jack could open his presents, it was a beautiful moment when he opened his card from us & started to cry while reading the words. I wrote about how much of a beautiful son, brother  & friend he is - and thanked him for always being the first to lend a hand to everyone. I hope he has the same reaction to my cards in 3 years from now, when he becomes a teenager.
He cheered up when he unwrapped his new fishing reel, motorbike goggles, RM Williams vouchers,  a model bike and a wallet ... we then went out for brekky.

Harry & Nina, excited about giving Jack his presents

A Dad & Son birthday hug

Jack reads his cards

NIna makes a special card for Jack....

....and then gives him a special cuddle

After breakfast the boys were off, Jack with his new reel, to try their luck at some more fishing while Nina and I turned ourselves into a restaurant on wheels, catering to Jack's meal requests... the order was for beef swirls for dinner and a pavlova birthday cake.

I am pleased to say the swirls were a success but the pavlova - a flop!!!

This is what a kitchen disaster looks like

So, plan B it was... Nina and I set about making Jack's second choice,  an apple streusel cake... slightly charcoaled but edible, Phew!!!... remind me to buy a cake next time.
Talk about pressure cooker!!!

Jack's Plan B, Birthday cake

By afternoon the boys were back with 2 fish, none caught by the birthday boy "Not Happy Jack"... so after a rest - they were off again to pull the crab pots and try for "third time lucky."
But they were back with an undersized mud crab, which they threw back, and a few fish which were also undersized so thrown back.
All in all, a disappointing fishing day for the birthday boy but he did declare he had a great day with his Dad and his brother out on the water.
Dinner was beef swirls, as ordered, and then the slightly disasterous but edible birthday cake.
It was another relatively early night before they boys head off tomorrow on a fishing charter. Fingers crossed they have more luck and come home with a feed.

All of us having a birthday dinner

Jack blows out his candles

Thank you to all of Jack's family and friends who called, emailed, text and face booked birthday well wishes. He will not forget his 10th birthday.