Road Trip to Hervey Bay

Let me start by saying that my parents are amazing! They decided that they would drive up to Hervey Bay with the kids and I in tandem so that I didn't have to drive all the way on my own. They offered to take one of the kids in the car each day as we were driving up over 3 days.

Our first leg of the trip was with Dad driving my car with Eliza and Alexander and Mum driving Daniel. The kids were quite excited to be heading up north with Nana and Poppy too. I made snack bags for the kids in the car and told them that they had that food to last them the car trip, they just needed to spread out when they ate it. When the food was gone, it was gone. Alexander struggled with this idea (he had eaten everything by 10am). Eliza was ok with it but still ate it all before lunch. Daniel did really well with pacing it out. Mum impressed me with driving so far on her own. I remember mum always falling asleep even when driving up to Taree so I was impressed, but as Dad said, she is good in the mornings and as Mum said, she can do it if she has to, but wouldn't choose to do it if she didn't have to.

We stopped for morning tea at Bulahdelah. Daniel's left over cake was definitely enjoyed while we looked at the water and spotted geese swimming in it.

Daniel is so like James in stopping to read signs anywhere we go.

Daniel was enjoying playing the game where you have to walk on the lines or you were out. Made getting back to the car after a toilet stop longer and more eventful.

 

We swapped over drivers and I had Mum in my car and Dad took Daniel. There was complaining of being hungry from Alexander who had already finished his snack bag but otherwise the kids travelled really well. They chose music, played with their toys and read books. Mum and I had nice chats together. We found a small picnic area to stop for lunch. A funny moment happened when Dad hopped out of the car to ask if this place was fine for lunch. We said yes. Daniel then hopped out of the car as Poppy climbed back in so he didn't notice Daniel was out of the car. He then drove off to park the car over the other side. Daniel looked confused, put his hands up in the air like 'what just happened' then Mum got out of the car and walked over with him, while we were both giggling. Dad had no idea so parked the car, opened the door for Daniel to get out and then saw him walking over with Mum. 

 

Lunch was a nice stop next to the water and the kids had fun climbing up and in the old bridge poles. 

We hopped back into the cars and then drove the rest of the way to Coffs Harbour. Mum found a great little 3 bedroom apartment that was just across the road from the park that was next to the beach. We didn't visit the beach but we did visit the park! The kids loved it! Daniel had fun doing some toe to toe challenges and Eliza enjoyed challenging herself on the play equipment. It also helped burn some of their energy before dinner, because the kids were driving me a bit crazy running around the apartment.

Eliza found a painted rock at the park that she then rehid in the park for someone else to find.

 

Dinner was some pizza (always a hit with the kids). Then it was bed time. The kids were all in the same bedroom which was a bit full on. They were overtired but also quite excited so they didn't settle quickly. Multiple trips to the toilet eventually lead to Daniel asking to go to sleep in my bed, which I was fine with. Eliza then fell asleep and after a few more cuddles he fell asleep too. I was pretty tired so headed to bed soon after. The night I was up a couple of times to the kids calling out - fortunately Mum and Dad didn't get woken by them. But did make me feel a bit tired.

After packing the car, chatting with Daniel about how he wouldn't drive the car yet

we headed to the Clog Barn. It was Alexander's turn in Poppy's car. Dad suggested it because we didn't have a huge drive today. I was keen to visit it, we have driven past it many times but had never had a chance to stop because it was too early or too late and we just wanted to get going. It really reminded me of stopping at the dutch shop on the way to Uncle Milton and Auntie Barb's place. The kids loved it which was cool. Makes me want to take them to visit Holland even more though. 

Had to take this photo! Mum and Dad have ones of Jens and I in clogs each time we were in Holland. Love it!

 

The little Dutch village out the back is just gorgeous and it's free! We all love a good miniature village and this one didn't disappoint. It had a few of the places that we visited when I was little - Anne Frank's house, Kinderdijk (where there are lots and lots of windmills), the cheese markets, were just a few of the cool places. The kids spotted houses that looked like Mum and Dad's ornaments. They loved seeing the windmills spinning around and the train at the end with clogs instead of carriages. If we do go to Holland with the kids, we will need to go and see Madurodam.

The windmills of Kinderdijk that spun. Very exciting!

Alexander pointing to which house he would want to live in

The cheese markets

Anne Frank's House - I tried to explain it to the kids but it was a bit confusing for them to grasp. Can't wait until they are old enough to read her book and will definitely take them to visit it when we go to Holland.

The kids liked seeing the dutch bridges over the water like at Fagan Park

Alexander loved that Percy was pulling clogs on the train tracks

While I would have loved to be there with James, it was really nice to visit 'Holland' with Mum and Dad again. The clogs looked amazing and the kids were keen to get some but we decided no because they were quite expensive. Mum did buy me 3 wooden tulips for one of my wooden vases at home. Each kid got to choose a colour for me. Daniel also loved looking at the wooden cuckoo clocks, especially when they went off.

We then headed down the road to the Big Banana - again, another place that I have never been to but have driven past many times. They had their attractions closed because of Covid but we got some photos infront of the Big Banana.

It was so sunny here the kids are all squinting.

Eliza is holding the banana while Daniel is eating it

This is some mascot for the Big Banana. No clue who but the kids wanted a photo with it and one of all of us with it.

We had a look in the gift shop, the kids each bought a green frog for Nana J and then we headed back to the car. One time we may spend an extra day here and go on the different activities because it would be lots of fun.

We then hopped back into the car and drove to our lunch stop where the kids had a lovely play at the park.

We were getting messages from Auntie Sue about Grandma going to hospital and not being very well so that was a bit of a concern but Mum and Dad were still happy to keep driving north with us. The rest of the drive to Tweed Heads was fine. Alexander had a big sleep in Poppy's car (which meant that he didn't eat all of his snacks this trip). Eliza and Daniel were really good travel companions, as was Nana.

We made it to Tweed Heads, unpacked the car and then headed to the park that we always go to for a bit of a play and then dinner. As we headed to the park the traffic was crazy! Each street was stopped and not really moving. What was normally a 5min car trip was up to 15mins according to Google Maps. The only reason I could think of why there was so much traffic was because of people waiting to cross the border. The Qld border was closed to NSW, unless you had an exemption for a reason - ours was initially to visit a terminally ill family member but that then changed to being for a funeral. This made me nervous about how it would go to cross the border the next day. We turned around, went down a few back streets and managed to park near the park. We walked over beside the water to the equipment.

While the kids were playing Mum had a phone call with Auntie Sue about Grandma. She wasn't well, they were going to operate but if they couldn't fix the problem they gave her 1-2 days to live. This was so out of the blue! I spoke with Mum and Dad who mentioned that they would keep driving north with us. I told them that this whole time James and I had said our motto was 'no regrets' and I didn't want them to have any. I felt Mum should go back home to see Grandma. They thought about it and then decided that they would head back home in the morning to be with her. I was really glad to hear this. While I wished that I could go to see her I knew that I needed to keep heading north to be with James and the Noble side of our family. Anyway, Grandma would tell me off if I went back home. I told the kids that Grandma was sick and that Nana and Poppy would head home in the morning and we would keep driving north. The kids were sad but understood. Eliza was very sad that she missed out on her turn in the car with Nana and Poppy! But we worked through that and she was ok.

We went and had some fish and chips/calamari and chips together

and then headed back to our b&b for bedtime. Alexander took a while to settle after having a nap in the car. After some snuggles together he eventually settled. Dad and I went downstairs to organise the car so that all 3 kids could fit in there while Mum stayed in my room with the kids asleep. After they went to sleep I sat up, cried, spoke with James, wrote a letter that I sent to Jens and Auntie Sue asking that they read it to Grandma for me and read my Bible. I went to sleep with this verse on my mind and heart. I sure needed him to be my strength!

I had quite a patchy night of sleep - just with my mind busy with all that was going on. I was nervous about crossing the border and how tricky that would be, I was nervous about driving with all 3 kids in the car on my own, I was nervous about Mum and Dad driving home over the day - it was a long trip, I was sad about Grandma (they had said they couldn't fix the hole so just made her comfortable), I was nervous about getting to Hervey Bay and seeing Julie, James and Jenny. All the emotions! 

 

I am so grateful to Mum and Dad for coming with me, even up to Tweed Heads! While I was sure that I could do the drive on my own and that the kids would be helpful, there were things that I just took for granted where Mum and Dad helped. Moments like 1 of the kids needed to go to the toilet while at the park - I could just take 1 instead of all 3. Moments like reading to them at bedtime - much faster with more than just 1 person doing that. Getting dinner - at Coffs, Mum and Dad went and did that while I kept the kids at the park. Helping pass things to the kids in the car - I couldn't have done that when I was driving. Checking us into the hotels/motels. Helped not having to have the kids with me or even having to do it myself. Little things like these and many more that really made a huge difference to my stress levels. So thank you Mum and Dad for coming with me, for insisting and for just being there. It was nice to go on a road trip again with you and the kids absolutely loved going with you guys too.

 

In the morning I packed the car while the kids watched ABC kids - TV is such a blessing when we are packing the car or needing the kids to settle. They love it and I love the moment of peace that comes with it. 

 

We had breakfast at the accommodation - 'best breakfast ever' the kids say. They had a bit of all the cereals, some juice, toast, yoghurt. They love it! The kids were pretty good at breakfast - excited and wanting to get everything but they did pretty well with being sensible. The owner gave us the tip of putting each border pass on the dashboard to help with crossing the border, so I did that in the car when we left.

James messaged me at night saying that Hugo, one of Julie's friends, had offered to drive James down to Eumundi to meet us. I said he didn't have to but Julie and Hugo both insisted, which was very sweet. I was looking forward to seeing James again and it would make the drive a bit easier so I didn't fight it too much.

We said bye to Mum and Dad and headed to the border. I was still feeling quite nervous about it but prayed that God would make it easy and smooth and He answered above and beyond. There was no traffic, I saw the lollypop man, waved 'thanks' as we drove past and waved 'thanks' as I drove past the police and we were through. No stop, no questions, just smooth. Wow! Thanks God! The rest of the drive was fine. The kids were helpful, I liked having the spaced out so they had their own area. The drive was pretty easy and I felt pretty good. We made it to Eumundi with good time and arrived to find that the markets were on. Oh dear! This had not been part of the plan. But it was ok. We found a parking spot. I called James to let him know and they were just arriving. They also found a parking spot. The kids ran to see him! I am so so grateful to this man, Hugo, for his sacrifice in driving a 4 hour round trip for us. What a blessing he is!

We went to the toilet and the kids had a play in the park. We thanked Hugo and he headed off to find Thora something special from the markets and then headed home. We were back together again!

It was so good to be able to hug eachother and be with eachother again in person! James is my rock and my support and my best friend. To go through these hard times together but be apart was tricky but we both had each others' back. It wasn't how we planned to see each other - at Eumundi - and we wanted to have some time just the 2 of us but we knew that wasn't going to happen. Instead we hugged, I cried and James told me that it was now his turn to be strong for me. That wasn't the plan. I was to be strong for him but with Grandma being close to passing away, the plans needed to change. He is just so amazing!

I went for a little walk through the markets while the kids finished having a play at the park. Because of Covid restrictions, not all of the markets were open, which worked in our favour because there was still parking available. If it was full markets we would have needed to park heaps far away.

 We then hopped into the car and headed up to Hervey Bay.

 The rest of the trip was fine and we made it to Hervey Bay in the late afternoon. We unpacked at our accommodation which was just opposite the beach on the Esplanade and then headed around to see Julie. It was hard to go into their place, knowing that Malcolm wouldn't be there but it was so nice to see her and be able to hug her in person. After about 15mins of being there I got a message from Auntie Sue saying that Grandma passed away. I just broke down. Mum and Dad were about an hour away from seeing her. It was just too much of the emotions. I was tired and drained. Julie, James, Jenny and I hugged, we cried and we chatted. We had dinner together which was nice an then we headed back to our accommodation. It was so important to be up here, so special to be able to be here and support Julie but also so hard to not be home with my family. But I was where I needed to be.