The Gold Coast

Arriving in the Gold Coast Will & I soon realised we had made the right decision leaving Byron Bay.  Cruising in the van passing miles and miles of surfable coastline, drunk people, Hooters, a giant Casino – we knew this was a good place to hang for the remaining weeks.

We found the Gold Coast to have ample places to park the van at night, loads of amenity stops along the coast.  Perfect for Vanos.  Internet spots Galore, great for us catching up with work.  And to top it off, awesome surf and weather.

We soon adopted a routine.  On a morning we woke yards from the beach, normally at Nobby Beach Surf Club (which I’ll come back to).  A morning surf, followed by breakfast of our favourite Aussie cerial; Uncle Toby’s.  Shower.  The Cavern Cafe at Nobby Beach (Internet $6 / day) for a day of work whilst watching the Winter Olympics.  Early evening exercise, booting a footy about and press-ups (50).  Dinner at Nooby Beach Surf Club BBQs.  Shower (that’s right 2 a day).  Followed by an evening of work and Winter Olympics at Broadbeach McDonalds (free wifi).

Nobby Beach Surf Club really was a Vanos dream.  20 Yards from the beach.  10 Yards to public BBQs, showers and toilets.  A hidden Gem, slightly off the beaten track other Vanos had not heard or discovered this spot, it was all ours, our home.

The only downer of Nobby Beach Surf Club was that now and again living there would be embarrassing.  Just above where we slept, ate, showered was the Club Bar.  Often very popular and with a balcony overlooking the van we would have onlookers starring at us from above.  I felt a new sense of low during this time – a taste of being a real life homeless man, in fact we were 4 wheels away from living like homeless men.

We found it to be reclousive lifestyle – we didn’t meet anyone except for the staff of The Cavern and McDonalds.  One night when we ‘mixed it up’ by sleeping in a spot in Broadbeach we met a friend.  Aussie Rick, or Uncle Rico (Napoleon Dynamite) as we nicknames him.  We had some of our best surf mornings with Uncle Rico – unforgettable mornings.

It was also nearing the time to sell the van.  It was a sad day when I made the For Sale Ad.  In preparation for the sale we took it to the same Mechanics in Nerang where the van had been for repairs over the past 4 years.  The guy remembered the Van straight off and informed us we were the first Brits to own her, all previous had been Frogs.  The guys at the garage were top blokes, they checked it over and made a few repairs – after a days work the bill came to… $60.  I think he took pity on us being van bums.

Cheap Van mechanic for backpackers in Gold Coast;

Tech-Tune, automotive gas specialists. Unit 6 / 50 Lawrence Drive, Nerang, Qld 4211.  Bob 0417609418.

Thanks Bob!

We decided for no reason that we would not shave until the van is sold – Hopefully we will be clean shaven by my next post.