Caloundra via "The Scenic Route"

Surprise Surprise! We are in Caloundra not the Mary Valley as forecast.

Didn't feel like being stuck in the Mary Valley like a couple of lost jews, as beautiful as it is, so decided to push on.

Annie as navigator, juggling maps and listening to Tim our electronic guide, decided as guide, we should push on to Mapleton. 

Nothing wrong with that except a sign at the turnoff to Mapleton exclaiming TRUCKS AND CARAVANS PROHIBITED TURN BACK NOW.

'' I didn't see it '' I said to Annie which was quite true. Probably blinded by old age or more likely watching the van follow me around the corner as you get used to doing when you've spent years pulling trailers.

Anyway, reassured Annie like a true Aussie truckie with a '' she'll be right ''  and '' I don't think that means us'' and '' what could stop us, look at the road''.

So in my wisdom decided to push on. After all, what could stop us, mud, floods, low bridge?

Well after about sixteen kilometres we found out.The road narrowed and began to twist and rise steeply all at once.

Another sign warning us to turn back!

I said to Annie we've come too far to turn back so up we went. The road became steeper ( 10 in 100 ) and narrower  with no chance of turning around and the car struggling to pull us up.

I could feel it running out of puff so pulled it right back to low gear on a little flat stretch and reving it flat out and with our hearts in our mouths pulled us over the top.

Had the car had more power we would have not really been taking a chance, but as it was we came close to not getting it over, and on top of that it started to rain.

After all that we found Mapleton to be a one horse town, rainy and misty, so pushed on to Nambour and not being able to find a suitable park there, picked up the freeway and continued on to Caloundra.

All was not lost though as we got to photograph the BIG PINEAPPLE '' Yeah right on''