Rainbow Beach Birthday 4wding & Camping Trip.
We've just got back from an amazing few days away 4wding and camping to celebrate my 30th Birthday.
I used my July & August RDO's and took Thursday Friday off.
We nipped to Aldi for supplies for the trip on Thursday morning. While we were there Bec spotted the camp beds/stretchers they had on special, so I opened one up for a closer look.
Having felt how comfy it was................we left with 2!
They fitted nicely on the roof next to the OZ Tent.
With LJ loaded we hit the road and just had one stop first to get some beer!
3.5 hours later and we were up at Inskip Point where people catch the ferry to Fraser Island from.
We found a stunning camp spot overlooking the beach.
The tent was soon up.
New beds setup.
Not a bad view to wake up to.
It was then time to relax with a cold one and enjoy that view!
We got the fire lit.
And got the fire plate heated up ready for dinner.
I've cooked in worse spots!
The next morning we were awake nice and early to watch the sunrise.
We were all tired including little Lexi.
I cooked us breakfast.
Then we went for a walk down on the beach and played with Lexi.
Then it was time to let some air out of the tyres ready for some beach driving.
We drove to the end of Inskip Point first for a look.
There was a convoy of 4wds waiting for the ferry which was on its way to pick them up.
We headed to the next camp site South, where the beach access point is.
We drove on and headed South.
We spotted some pelicans along the way.
We stopped in Rainbow Beach and did some shopping, then headed back along the beach to camp.
Back at camp it was time to relax with a cold one and that view!
Not only were the new camp beds amazingly comfortable for sleeping on, but they pivot and fold to become sun loungers! Perfect for relaxing on next to the beach!
I got the gas stove out and cooked some burgers for lunch.
It was all too much for Lexi who took herself off to bed in the long grass.
But not for long.
We relaxed all afternoon and then got the fire lit and dinner cooking.
Chicken satay skewers and mash for dinner.
After another amazing nights sleep we were greeted with another perfect sunrise!
I cooked us breakfast, on the gas stove again as the firewood we had wasnt great and due to the sea breeze and cold sand the fire was too dead in the morning to revive.
We packed camp up and headed South down the beach to Rainbow Beach.
I got off the beach, unlocked the hubs, aired up the tyres and headed for home.
4 hours later and we were home and I got the Oz Tent setup in the garden to air it out and so I could vacuum all the sand out from inside.
It was an amazing few days away and just what we needed to recharge our batteries.
The new stiffer rear springs on LJ made a huge improvement both on and off road. It feels so much more stable on the road and doesnt bounce around or feel unsafe!
The new camp beds/sun loungers are sensational! I've never slept so well when camping, it was an amazing nights sleep both nights!
While at camp one of the nights I was saying to Bec I dont know what we will do in a year or 2 when we hopefully have babies/kids. As LJ isnt big enough in its current form for us, kids and a dog.
Then it struck me!
If I put the rear seat back in LJ then we can carry kids and the dog and I could then design and build an adventure trailer for all the camping gear, fridge etc.
So I'm thinking of a nice solid off road trailer with fully independent suspension and heaps of ground clearance. Low down I want to mount a 13" Optima battery to run the fridge and camp lights and a 100 litre water tank. On one side of the trailer I'd like to have a fully enclosed box big enough for the motorbike to live in. Then on the other side pull out gas BBQs/stove, sink and my Engel fridge on a slide. Id' also want a long box for the Oz Tent to be stored in as well as other boxes/cupboards for all the bedding. Gas cylinder storage for 2 bottles and a box for firewood. Then on the roof a nice big awning and solar panels.
Idea would be to make it as light as possible, so the frame work for the storage/kitchen could all be made from alluminium tube and then either composite sheet/fiber glass sheet or thin alluminium sheet to clad it all in.
Wont be for a year to 18 months but that gives me plenty of time to finish RJ.
The beauty of designing and building my own adventure trailer is that I will be able to still use LJ for family trips, or RJ depending on where we are going and I will be able to head off on the bike to do some exploring/hooning!
Anyway.....................
Next trip will be in 5 weeks time when were heading to one of the islands for more beach driving and camping.
