The boys out and about

While Jan and I were happily mini-ing away to our hearts' content, Peter and Nathan did get some sightseeing done in and around Bundaberg.  They both absolutely love Bundaberg ginger beer, it is their favourite soft drink so of course the first place they wanted to see was  the factory.  There are no tours of the factory itself, but there is a self-guided tour using audio wands to guide you through several rooms displaying the history of ginger and its uses over time, and the development of ginger beer and the methods used to brew it.  Its an interactive display, with people creating a virtual version of ginger beer and seeing the 'results' of their ideas of what goes into it.  It's very cleverly done.  Peter's first effort 'exploded' because he left it brewing too long.


The tour was followed by a visit to the sales room where they were given a taste test of all the different Bundaberg soft drinks, then off to the Cooperage where they saw a video of keg making followed by a live demonstration of a man fitting new bands to a keg. 

Another visit was to the Bert Hinkler Museum, which introduced Nathan to one of Australia's aviation heroes. They learned about his many inventions during World War I that made flying safer, such as modifying the device that shot bullets from guns in aeroplanes through the turning propeller at a more efficient speed so that they didn't hit the propeller. Also the shells ejected from the bullets often fell in on the lap of the gunner if the pilot was manouvering, and Hinkler invented a device to eject them to the side instead of falling into the plane and burning the gunner's lap.  He also invented a way of swinging the wings back on biplanes so that more could be fitted side by side in the hangar.


This is a model of the Avro Moth, the plane in which he flew around the world.

Peter tried to get Nathan to climb into the cockpit but he could only get as far as the wing.

Here is a sea plane that Hinkler designed and built.  His untimely death prevented him from getting it into production.

Just down the road from Jan's house is a park in which kangaroos are regularly seen.  We visited it several times in the hope of getting a sight of them but an electricity sub-station is being built at one end of the park at the moment and all the activity is keeping them away. They enjoyed visiting these and other places, though they also enjoyed staying at the house - I think they liked to just rest after our hectic week at Grey Nomads lol!  But Peter as usual kept busy shopping too.  He loves to go shopping for groceries - I think it's his 'escape'.  What he sees in it is beyond me!


On Sabbath we were invited to the home of one of the members for lunch, after church.  We surely picked the right week to visit!  There were about 10 other people there too, for a kind of potluck luncheon and it was a true feast.  We had debated about which of the three Adventist churches to attend and finally settled on St Andrews Adventist. There was another just a little bit closer, but there was a craft fair on right near it and we thought that parking might be a bit hard to come by.  It was a happy chance that made us pick St Andrews - not only was parking a little bit easier but we have met quite a few lovely people and hopefully they will be familiar faces if we visit again, even if we don't remember their names.  The church was formerly a Presbyterian church and it is beautiful.  I should have taken photos for when I build a miniature church vbg.

Both Nathan and Peter have enjoyed our stay in Bundaberg.  Nathan commented that he wished we could stay for longer.  He doesn't often say that although he does enjoy holidays.  And he enjoys travelling too - not the actual driving all that much but the destinations.  But he really loves Bundaberg.  And so does Peter.  So I have a strong feeling that we'll be coming back!


Next post - starting our return trip.
Until then, 
blessings, Sandie