I went up to Rockhampton on Saturday to catch up with James and Jess, they live just outside Rockhampton in Gracemere on two acres.

It took around nine hours to get there. I stopped at Gin Gin for a bite to eat and a well deserved coffee, driving for four and a half hours without a stop was a good effort.

In Rockhampton I wanted to familiarise myself with the suburbs once more as there are many properties for sale but it seems that they all use the same beautifying filter on their pictures to make a shit house look good. It’s almost false advertising if you ask me. Most of the places I looked at were not suitable.

The Range is still the area that I feel the most comfortable in, however as usual it’s the most expensive. If I can’t find an older property there then I might look in Gracemere, even although it’s around 15 mins outside Rockhampton. But I’d prefer to be closer to the town centre.

It wasn’t all work, we also had many drinks. Gin, and for the first time Jack Daniels although it was mixed with lemonade, sugar and a slice of orange. Oh and there was also the obligatory whisky tasting.

It was an enjoyable few days and it’s always good catching up with James, we’ve known each other for around 20 years or so from our terrible days working in the Austar help desk.

Got back last night around 6pm after picking up a pizza. I drove straight home and only stopped for fuel. The car ran well, no problems thankfully but if I do anymore road trips I think I’ll replace the front suspension before I travel.

One thing I did notice however was this; I got the distinct feeling of “Deliverance”, if you know the movie you might understand where I’m going. I stopped at Gin Gin for lunch on the way up and the two waitresses had the same high forehead with similar tats. On the way back I stopped at Childers and had to take a double take at the lassie in the petrol station because she looked just like the ones I’d seen a few days earlier, no banjos but it’s not a place I would like to break down anytime soon.

Had a lazy day today, picked up my push bike as it was in for repair…the rear axle snapped and so it meant a new wheel and gear wheel, it looks very good and I’ll have to go out for a ride this weekend.