Emerald

Leaving Nathan and Deb's the plan was to head to Blackwater and possibly Emerald. While we were at Nathan and Deb's property we didn't have any phone service, so as soon as we got close enough to Biloela we received all our messages. One was from Chris's parents asking where we were. They have been travelling with Chris's sister, Kelly, her husband John and their daughter Kasiah around Australia for the last couple of months. While speaking to her she asked what road we were on - I didn't know, we just follow the GPS - they were heading from Rockhampton to Turkey Beach to see Susie and Phil. She made a comment that we should look out for a landcruiser with 2 kayaks on the roof and a caravan on the back. The phone dropped out then and I told Chris what she had said - he laughed and said, we are on completely different roads - they are heading down the coast and we are heading inland - so what are the chances?

Yep you guessed it, about 1/2 an hour later we spot something familiar heading towards us, a landcruiser, 2 kayaks and a van - it was them. They had obviously taken the long road to Turkey Beach on the hope that they would run into us. We waved as they went passed, and said "hey kids that was Nanny and Poppy" - the answer from the back seat was "for real?' "Yes - for real" - "are you joking" they asked still unconvinced it was them - "No we are not joking, Nanny and Poppy are turning around to see us" I said. It was then that Lexie piped up and asked "what colour shirt did Nanny have on?" - now that one stumped me - I said "I don't know you'll have to wait and see". Obviously she is a fashion guru in the making to be thinking that at the age of 4.

The kids were really excited to see everyone and I think Nanny and Poppy were just as excited to see them - amazing how you become second best once you have kids - haha. Jack was extra excited because Nanny and Poppy and Kelly and Kasiah gave him his birthday presents early - he has been counting down for weeks now. He was really glad we managed to catch up with them because he was concerned about how they were going to get their present to him for his birthday.

After about 1/2 hour of chatting on the side of the road - we said our goodbyes and we both headed our separate ways. There were a few tears in the truck after we left - a mixture of joy at seeing them and sadness about missing them.

We pulled into Blackwater and seeing as we didn't have any accommodation organised there, decided to keep going to Emerald. It was late in the afternoon when we arrived at Emerald - it had been our biggest drive yet. The kids handle the long drives really well. They sit in the back and chit-chat and laugh and more often than not we have to tell them to quieten down because they are laughing too loud.