Day 13: Mon 3 Oct - Home

A very sad day - all our visitors left. Wendy took Sylvain to the airport for the 9:45am flight to Brisbane and Greg took Ulf, Silke and Arne for the later Jetstar flight

Although the post conference tour was not as exciting for me this year, it was to the visitors. Whilst it did involve a lot of preparation, it was an absolute pleasure to have a group of international, like-minded people visit Hippo Farm and surrounding areas. It was also a great opportunity for Wendy to visit the rest of Fraser Island, and the rum distillery. 

And, so ends another FIP Congress and visit/tour. Next year , we are off to Cape Town, South Africa. I still have family in South Africa, so will probably go a week before the Congress to spend some time with them and then stay a week after to do some stuff with the group. We still do not know where the Congress will be in 2025, so hopefully it will be somewhere I have not been and really want to go.

PS. I have booked my ticket for Cape Town and have arranged with the cousins for a visit pre-Congress. The group was going to do a visit to Vic Falls in Zimbabwe/Zambia, however, after receiving a few quotes, most have decided to stay in Cape Town and do tours from there. I do not remember ever having been to CPT, so everything will be new and exciting.

Day 12: Mon 2 Oct - Home

A sad day today, Jane and Ann left to return to New Zealand. Whilst Wendy transported them to the Hervey Bay airport for the first leg of their voyage, Greg took the others on a tour de Hippo Farm.

On Wendy's return, morning tea was had then we all went for a wander around Bamboo Land (our neighbours). It was a peaceful wander and a relaxing day afterwards, allowing everyone to catch their breath. 

A BBQ dinner of steak (for the steak lovers) and Mullet for those that are not that fussed. Whilst Greg cooked the mullet, I was left in charge of the BBQ, and several comments were made about women not being allowed in a man's domain!! Hello, the forces have moved on and allowed women in the ranks, so why not in charge of the BBQ. Fortunately, I did a good job of cooking all the steaks to a perfect medium-rare, much to the amazement of the overseas visitors! Lovely food was consumed over hearty conversations about everything and anyone. It was also a sad occasion as all the visitors are leaving tomorrow.

Bambooland pics

Us at Bambooland - Arne, Silke, Ulf, Wendy, Sylvain

Post dinner chat - Ulf, Arne, Sylvain, Greg, Wendy

Day 11: Sun 1 Oct - Home

We had a little sleep in this morning as we did not have to leave until 8am to be at the Bundaberg Rum Distillery before 9:30am. It took us a little longer than anticipated and we made it with only minutes to spare. Unfortunately, we had to leave all devices with a battery in a locker so we could not take any photographs. We suspect this is to preserve the intellectual property of the distillery. 

For those that want to read about the process, here is the link.

Anyway, we toured the distillery, well, those parts they want to show you and were then ushered into the shop where we could taste two of their products in the hope you buy at least one. I tasted the Banana and Toffee Royal, and Coffee and Chocolate Royal Liqueurs and ended up buying a bottle of the banana and toffee.

After all that excitement, we decided to head to the macadamia farm as Google told us it had a cafe/restaurant. So, we headed out to Macadamias Australia where we all had very substantial and tasty lunches. After alcohol and food we were all ready for an afternoon nap. However, those in my vehicle had to accompany me to Childers to shop for the sausage sizzle dinner tonight, and refuel. Woolies was closed so we refuelled then visited the Childers IGA and procured a selection of sausages and some bread rolls (one of the advantages of being a logistician, there is always an alternate means of procurement). The passengers in Greg's vehicle had the opportunity to visit Woodgate Beach, a sleepy beachside hamlet where we occasionally spend 4-5 days at in the van. They had a walk on the lovely Woodgate Beach and joined us at HF a little later. 

No photos of the sausage sizzle as we were all too tired. A relatively early night was had. 

The iconic BIG Bundaberg Rum Bottle

Before the tour

After....

Before the tastings....

and after ....!!