In the Hinterland

The Hinterland Hotel sits opposite a busy intersection just off the highway at Nerang. I navigated us to the correct exit but then blew it and we ended up in the middle of Nerang village.  This was not all bad, as we noted the op shop there, for the morrow. 

We parked in front of the Reception sign (no one there), and Jan booked us in at the hotel proper.  Then we had to find room 10. The helpful signage was not helpful; all we found was another lost soul seeking room 2. Eventually a man outside told us to walk down the driveway.  It turns out that the hotel has four levels: the main bar/restaurant level, the first accommodation level, the basement level and the subterranean depths.  We were in the latter, which appears to be only accessible from the driveway.  In the photo, our room is on the bottom left.  At least the view over the river was nice.

It was time for a pre-dinner drinkie and some cheese and bikkies.  The crockery provided consisted of four coffee mugs and four glasses. The cutlery provided consisted of one teaspoon, and there was a sign warning that we would be fined $900 if we were caught cooking in the unit.  We adapted.  As there were no plates, nor knives, we left the brie on its wrapping, and cut it with my old library card.

The entertainment was provided by Jo, who had bought a set of knotted finger puppets somewhere.  We headed up the driveway for dinner, where we begged the waitress for a knife and some spoons, so we could have breakfast and she obliged; however, our brilliant plan came unstuck the next morning, when we realised we didn't have any bowls for the Weetbix.  Bread and butter and Vegemite saved the day.

The two oppies nearby didn't open till 9, so this meant I had time to do a spot of geocaching nearby.  At the bottom of the hill is a complex of parks and in Arthur Earle Park is the most beautiful, spreading tree. As soon as I saw it, I knew the cache would be there.  However, the leaves on the ground were so thick and deep that I immediately thought "snakes!" Then the cavities between the roots were so deep that I thought both "spiders" and "broken ankles".

Geocaches 1 Lesley 0.