Monday - Day Thirteen - Toowoomba to Home

It wasn't too early a start today - and yes, the motel is soundproofed enough for us not to have been woken  by the planes taking off from the aerodrome which is over their back fence. 

Before we left Toowoomba we had more family visiting - Mum arrived back from Sydney this morning so we caught up with her and heard about the Christening we hadn't gone to and her time with the family in "the big smoke".  

We set off around lunchtime to miss the morning and afternoon traffic into the Gold Coast - stopping in at Plainlands on the way for a coffee and a photograph of Sooz with their Christmas tree. 

Nigey was very happy to be collected from Aunty Rosemary's boarding establishment but she seemed a bit different - more clingy - than other times when she has stayed there.  She has stayed there longer in a single stretch but ... no, she doesn't seem quite  as chipper as she usually is.  Hmm.  

We will do the unpacking tomorrow - it will be good not to have to pack it all into the car again the next day.  I say that now but I am already thinking about whether when we can fit another road trip in - and whether taking in the Silos in South Australia is too ambitious a trip to fit into two weeks.  Hmmmm.  So - until next trip ... 

Sunday - Day Twelve - Gundy to Toowoomba

We had Brekkie at Maccas. There might be something to the yellow espresso machines in Queensland because the coffee was better today - and the hotcakes were the hottest (in temperature) that Sooz has ever had. The hashies (hash browns) were hot as well.

First stop for the day was Yelarbon - and painted silos I had wanted to see for some time. When I say 'first stop', that's not counting the four sets of traffic lights at roadworks (or where there will be roadworks during the week) we stopped at along the way. Even in the country we can't get a green wave!

The Silos were magnificent.

We've only driven in to Toowoomba this way once before and it was different from coming up the range. We did end up on the Second Range Crossing (aka Toowoomba Bypass), taking us past the Wellcamp Airport and through a 'back road' into Toowoomba proper.

It was a good decision to go home this way rather than Stanthorpe because we were able to catch up with family for the afternoon before we ended up back in an air-conditioned motel for the late afternoon.

We went out to a takeaway shop we know and like for our dinner and we had timed it so we were there just coming on dark so we could collect our meals and then drive home so we could see the Christmas lights. There were some wonderful displays on the way back to the motel - and because we have been in Toowoomba at Christmas before, we knew where some were - but we were happily surprised by others. The ones near the Toowoomba Aerodrome (not Wellcamp Airport) must look amazing when the smaller planes that can use the aerodrome fly in at night.  Santa must get an amazing view too!