Weekend road trip

After working 10 days straight last week, last weekend we took advantage of Cam's 4 days off from work to take a short family holiday up to Maryborough to visit the Coplands.

We decided to do the drive up on Friday night after Max's last feed in the hope that he would stay asleep the whole way. Unfortunately he must not have been aware of this plan because he stayed awake most of the way until we hit the Sunshine Coast and I got in the back with him. This worked out wonderfully for the both of us because we then slept pretty much until we arrived, leaving Cam to drive and keep himself awake in the front, which he handled very well considering how much he'd been working.

On Saturday after Max decided that 5.30 was a good time to get up, the Coplands informed us that our choice of activities for the day included the Torbanlea camel races. I don't think they actually got much further in the list of things to do since Cam and Andrew were both keen to go along to this much hyped event. So we sunscreened up and left our nicely air conditioned cars to watch 6 camels in bright colours walk and then turn around and gallop past us. Unlike most other races, camels apparently don't want or need someone to tell them when to start running - one of them just goes for it and the others try to keep up. Also since camels are in a shorter supply than horses there was only the 6 of them, and so they just had several races against each other.

We couldn't let the opportunity to introduce Max to the camels go past, so after the first race we went around to their holding area to take some photos.

In between the camel races we had time to have a look around and see the other entertainment. Fortunately the good camel race organisers had decided to also hold some woodchopping events, so we wandered over to the woodchop arena, which was signposted and named in the honour of the local husband and wife woodchopping champions. Cam took one look at the names on the sign and had to call his mum to verify that he was in fact related to them! (no matter where we go, Cam will always manage to find someone he knows.) May and Theo Stutz, the champion woodchopping duo, were seated in a place of honour overlooking the action, so in a lull we went over to say hi and introduce them to Max.


After so much excitement and one more camel race, we headed out of the heat and back to the Coplands place for a yummy fish and chips lunch and some afternoon naps.

On Sunday morning we all went along to Andrew's church and caught up with the Maryborough Nazarenes after the service. Max was much admired but a little grumpy, so we headed home again and tried to interest him in some of Nate's toys. One that he really liked was the jolly jumper, since it lets him stand up and have a bit more control over his movement. Although he wasn't jumping on his own, he had fun dancing around and bouncing with some help.

Monday was another relaxing day with not a lot happening. Theresa had to go to work and Nate went to play with his friend Harry, so Max got some more jolly jumping time and Cam and I relaxed and hung out with Andrew. In the evening we headed over to Hervey Bay to catch up with Cam's parents and nephews for dinner at the Boat Club, which was very tasty. Max wasn't happy just sitting in his pram while the rest of us ate so we took it in turns to walk around with him and amuse him. Nanny and Max had fun watching the water feature.
After dinner Cam and his dad went to pick up his sister and her husband from the airport while Max had a feed and went to sleep and I played canasta with his mum. We said a quick hello to Bron and Lance when they got back and then headed back to the Coplands to get some sleep before making the journey home to Brisbane on Tuesday morning, which we thankfully made without problems despite some car hassles.

So thank you to Andrew Theresa and Nate for your hospitality and helping us to have a great weekend away!