The Crispe Family Visit

When we met up with Ben at Eumundi in October, he invited us over to his house for a meal.  We knew we were heading south in Nov/Dec so we set it up for Jan 5th.  We actually went on Wednesday, 3rd Jan and stayed over.  

I thought Ben actually lived in Mooloolaba but they don't.  They moved 2 years ago to Glenview a small town 20 minutes inland.  Ben suggested to us that we might like to visit the Glasshouse Mountains lookout on our way to his as we would be driving past the door.  With this is mind we took a more scenic route altogether bypassing Brisbane and heading inland from the get go.  We do love our little ferries and managed to find one across the Brisbane River at Moggill.  The whole route was through different stage forests and up and down mountains it was a great journey - just what David and I love to do.  

The Glasshouse Mountains are truly spectacular as they are so individual from each other - definitely a must to go visit as they are only an hour's journey north from Brisbane.   The lookout area itself is, I think, one of the best we have been to.  There are at least 4 different staging areas, one of which is built high up.  They have little mosaic stones in the pavement as you go from one staging area to another.  There is also a track around the area to see the different mountains which would take you about 45 minutes - this we didn't do.

Ben and Leah's house is on a 3 acre site.  Their plan is to divide the property and sell the house they have just refurbish and along with 1 acre of garden.  Then build a new house on the remaining land.  The existing house is set back from the road behind another property but backs onto a Koala sanctuary and wood.  Where are the remaining land will run from Glenview road all the way back to the woods at the back.  They have 4 children - Ashlyn (18), Micah (16), Lotte (10) and Annie (8), not to forget Coco the dog - a Lagoto Romagnolo (Italian water dog).

We arrived just after lunch so the family took us down to Mooloolabah, in particular a walk along to Point Cartright Lighthouse.  

We looked up and there was a painted water tower so a walk up to take photos was a must.  The paintings were incredible the fish jumped out of the artwork at you - so cleverly done.

When we got home we got to play a new game we hadn't played before - Hues and Cues.  It is really hard but very simple all at the same time.  

After dinner it was lovely just sitting and catching up over the last 20 years since we went to their wedding.  Whilst chatting it came up to the fact that David and I had never used one of the free electric BBQ site along the seafront.  So Leah decided we were to have breakfast at the beach in the morning at Alexandra Headland - just along from the main Mooloolabah beach which we had been to with Sam this trip and New Year 4 years ago.  First however, Ben needed to take Ashlyn to pick up her car and so we went to Leah's parents home.  They live on the river bank over looking one of the little islands in Mooloolabah River - lovely.  When we got back home Ben thought his pool had a leak and so got Ashlyn to use the pool cleansing net to push him down under the water - had to take a photo of that.

We finally made it to the beach for brunch.  Bacon, egg and tomato rolls done on the beach bbq - they were yummy.  

It finished off a wonderful visit and if we get time at the end of Jan once Nat is back at school we will definitely take them up on their offer to go back.  We love the area and want to explore more, especially maybe go up towards Gympie which we didn't get chance to do on our monthly tour.  I had looked up our trip home and decided to go the northside of the glasshouse mountains and Ben suggested going via Brandenberg Road out towards Maleny which would give us great views of the area.  Boy did it.  What a drive home we loved it.  An amazing mural on a garage wall in Somerset - unfortunately couldn't get it all in one shot.  So many great views but Somerset Dam was really impressive and went on for miles . . . sorry km.