The road to the Sunshine Coast. Looks long, but it's oh-so-close to Brisbane! Click here to view a map of the Sunshine Coast.

Journal and photos by Nancy Olson

I got up at 0830, packed, said goodbye to Spud, and left at 1030. I had a bowl of cereal at McDonald's and then began my 65-km ride to Noosa. I'll be veering off the Bruce Highway to ride along a stretch known as the Sunshine Coast. It'll be nice to ride on somewhat smaller roads and view the ocean for a few days.

At the top of the Sunshine Coast is Noosa Heads, and at the bottom is Mooloolaba and Caloundra. Just an hour north of Brisbane, this beautiful beach area is a favorite getaway for tourists and Brisbane residents.

It only took three hours to get to noosa, and the ride was very hilly. There was a 1.2 km, steep downhill grade into town, and I felt like I was flying as I descended the hill. I pulled into a street with coffee shops and markets and bought some fruit as it began to rain. I had a coffee at a local shop and talked to the locals about where I should stay. My days of cheap accommodations are over. Now that I'm near the city and near the tourists, prices are high. Because of the rain, I had to get a real room, and the cheapest room I could find was a pub room at the Royal Mail Hotel for $40. Ouch! That's gonna leave a mark.

Well, at least the room had a tv. I watched American Idol and an Australian reality show called "My Restaurant Rules" and then hit the sack.

Mileage: 65
Weather: Rainy/Cool
Final Location: Noosa

Help support our cause: The LONGITUDE Expedition is the longest journey ever attempted with a focus on Parkinson's Disease. The Drive Around the World team aims to raise money for Parkinson’s Disease research by driving four Certified Pre-Owned Land Rover Discoverys around the globe following lines of longitude. Readers are encouraged to pledge small amounts of money per expedition-kilometer via a pledge form that can be found on our Parkinson’s page by clicking here. 100% of donations received go directly to Parkinson's research and all who donate $10 or more will be entered into a raffle to win an expedition-equipped Land Rover Discovery.