Budget woes

15 February, 2010

We're having trouble staying within our budget. We were amazed to find ourselves overbudget last week, after spending three nights at my friend's place and another two nights free camping. There were a few things purchased, like Nick's cheap crocs, some new textas, a replacement camera case and camera cord (which we will hopefully get soon so that I can start posting pictures again!) and a birthday present for a friend, but all of that was less than $60. I just have no idea how we did it. Even examining our expenditures shed no light on the subject - we spent less on food than the two weeks before. I just don't know. I do know that we'll need to be more careful though, or we're going to blow through our savings before we leave Queensland, and that would SUCK.

The beach at Noosa was gorgeous. Walking up from the ocean to where the fam was at in the sand, with the palm trees and blue sky and incredible houses/hotels hidden in the tropical trees on the hill, mountain in the background, it was unreal. I'm going to have to plan some seriously tropical holidays after we move back to Portland, because the Oregon coast is just not going to cut it. It is beautiful, world class, but the water is just plain cold.

After lunch we decided to head to Hervey Bay. We didn't realise how far it was, but we're looking at over 150 kilometres today. That's cool. Maya had a nap, and Eli is still snoozing away. We're hoping to find a Fraser Island tour that won't break the bank. Nick says he would like to go but doesn't think it will be "worth the money". I don't know what money could be better spent on personally. Maybe I'll just take Nate and Maya, and Nick and Eli (who might not appreciate an in-and-out of the vehicle kind of tour) can just hang by a pool somewhere. Or maybe this will be my lone day trip to replace Cape York. We'll see.

I've been reading about Fraser Island and it is getting increasingly interesting. Lonely Planet warns of the dangers of the sea around the island, saying "if the undertow doesn't get you, the sharks will!" Awesome. There is no shortage of beautiful fresh water lakes to swim in if we are so inclined, which I'm sure we will be.

As we drove inland from Noosa, back to the highway, the temperature climbed to 35 (that's 95 for you Yanks). Then we hit a storm and it dropped down to 26 within 2 minutes. Rain cleared (or we drove through it to the other side), temperature back up. Now we're back in the rain, this time with some lovely thunder accompaniment, and we're cool. So funny, this Queensland weather business. The humidity isn't humorous though, not at all. No sirree.

My goal today is to find some citronella oil and tea tree oil and to put together our own mosquito repellant. And that's all I'm going to say about mosquitoes today.