The journey home…..

 We turned left and followed the road through Atherton and soon we had left the suburbs and were on our way for real.  A quick stop at Ravenshoe for bread we then kept driving to a favourite gravel pit in Minnamoolka.  This large space is becoming more popular and this time there were about six vans in overnight.  We arrived early as Bill wanted to tryout the new mobile aerial he had purchased so we can get internet in the bush.  Together with a six metre pole for it to be attached to it was a bit interesting watching him sorting it all out.  And the best bit is that it worked.  

Our journey from here took us through The Lynd then Hughenden where we stayed overnight at the Showgrounds there.  I was hoping to see The Flinders River with water in it after all the rain Qld had received but other than a couple of puddles it was not to be.  There was however a stunning new artwork on the water tower there.

Next stop was Winton and from there we drove on to Longreach arriving after lunch on Saturday.  We found everything closed but loved the interesting sculpture in the Main Street.  The work by John Underwood is called The Drovers but is also know as Around the Campfire.  It is one of approximately 50 artworks titled The Human Series which were commissioned in 1988 for the World Expo in Brisbane.  With no reason to stay we drove onto Stonehenge where we stayed overnight.  The land as we drove in was green and lush as all the rain throughout The Channel Country has been amazing.  Having a look through the information centre the next morning found some new artwork on the water tanks outside.

Our route from here took us through Jundah, Quilpie and Charleville on our way to Cunnamulla where we were going to stay at Bowra for another few days.  With so much rain here over the last few months all the tracks are closed to vehicles and you can only walk around the camping area.  And use the main track to go to the gate.  The rain has also brought out the flies and they are feral.  Fly nets were the fashion statement of everyone there this time.  A very different visit than normal but it was still fun and Bill did find some birds.

Leaving Cunnamulla the next day we drove to Cobar and camped at Glenhope Camp, a great little site on a farmers spare paddock.  And the daughter runs a coffee van there so a great find.  After some shopping in town the next morning we planned to go on to Lake Cargellgio but with all the rain the camps here were closed so we kept on going to Coleambally where we stayed at a community camp ground.  The temperature has been dropping constantly since we left FNQ and once again it was freezing.  Thank goodness for our heater.

Our first stop of the next day was Jerilderie where we had coffee at the bakery.  As we all know this is one of the places that Ned Kelly has made famous and I loved the sculpture of him made of old bread tins.  A short time later we crossed the Murray River at Cobram and were back in Victoria.  We arrived home at 12.15pm and have to say this is the first time we have come from Cunnamulla to home in three days.  It rained while we had lunch and 13 degrees was not a nice welcome home but it was good to be back.  It was a busy afternoon unpacking the van.

It was good to wake up in a house again though it was a bit chilly until the heaters got going.  We caught up with Judi and Peter for a coffee at Fare Enough and life was back to normal.

until next time…….

Time on the Tablelands………

We left Malanda this morning and I can honestly say I was not sorry to leave this place.  I do hope that one day it receives the love and care it needs as it is such a shame to see the only caravan park in  town looking like this.  Our destination this morning was another caravan park in Walkamin.  This tiny little dot on the map is half way between Atherton and Mareeba and we have passed it many times before but had never stopped here.  This year our usual camp site is up for sale and we had no idea if it was still taking campers so it was time to find somewhere new.  Another wow!  

A lovely little park owned by Dallas and Mark who have made this lovely spot into such a welcoming place to visit.  One of the reviews said you arrive as visitors and leave as friends and that is so true.  Together with on site caretakers Lorraine and Jim this lovely park is beautifully kept and a lovely, central spot to spend time exploring the whole area as we did.  We ended up staying for longer than we expected and thoroughly enjoyed our time here.

With Mareeba only a short drive away we had many trips into town and many coffees enjoyed at Coffee Works and Jacques Coffee Plantation.  Atherton was only a short drive the other way so there were shopping expeditions there too.  We drove down to check out the markets at Kuranda one day and I finally found a hat I am happy with.  I can’t believe how difficult it has been to find a simple hat that was not cowboy oriented.  Though I suppose we are in that sort of territory now.  The market seems not to have rebounded quite as well as pre Covid time with lots of empty stall spaces now.

After lunch at Mungali Dairy one day we called into Lake Eacham Caravan Park to catch up with Bob and Ollie who where staying there.  Another sad little park here that’s in need of lots of love and care.  The birdlife here is wonderful though and while enjoying coffee and cakes with our hosts Bill got some lovely pictures of  the Honey Eaters that visited.  It was good to see them both again.

We visited Jeff and Donna who were staying at the Rodeo Grounds in Mareeba and after a fun morning with them in the lovely sunshine we had a complete change of weather in the afternoon when we drove to Nerada Tea Gardens for lunch.  As we passed through Atherton the rain started and continued all afternoon.  We braved the rain to see the Tree Kangaroos but I left Bill there and returned to stay dry in the car.  Back at home winter had returned in earnest and it was inside with the heater once again.

After hearing of a sighting of some Lesser Sooty Owls we spent a couple of nights visiting the Curtain Fig Tree in Yungaburra.  Just a few metres away was a tree with a large hollow and just on dark the owls appeared.  There was an adult and two juveniles and it was just so great to be able to see them.  Although on both occasions there were other people there as well they seemed to be used to people viewing them.

We visited Yungaburra a couple of times in the day as well.  Once to take a walk along Peterson Creek to see the platypus and we saw four of them in a few different spots.  This year we walked a little further and found the suspension bridge across the creek.  It really is a lovely place to visit.  And of course we had to go to the market there one Saturday.  It really is the best one on the tablelands.  

We drove down to Port Douglas one Sunday to check out the market there.  It was certainly a different story to last year with wall to wall people throughout the market.  Seems people on holidays are not concerned about Covid.  There was not a mask in sight (ours stayed on) so any wonder it is still spreading.  Once again I bought a fabulous tea towel from a local artist and a sweet little platypus from the resident glass blower.

We decided to drive home around the coast road and stopped to have a look at Rex Lookout.  It was a glorious day and we found lots of people here watching the Hang Gliders enjoying the thermals.  While there we watched two guys set up and take to the skies in Paragliders.  It was amazing to see them both though I was a concerned about how they would get back on the ground.  

There were trips to Hastie Swamp, Wongabel State Forest, Julatten and Mount Molloy.  A visit to Atherton to see the Tablelands Regional Gallery gave us the opportunity to see the wonderful exhibition ‘Beyond the Lens’.  This showcased four local photographers who all use different techniques to manipulate their original photos to create stunning art pieces.

A final visit to Cairns where we had a look at the Art Gallery there amongst more mundane chores.  The exhibition called ‘Faceless’ had us scratching our head but as we all know art is in the eye of the beholder.

One incredible experience was visiting The Bat Hospital in Atherton not to see the bats but to see the Victoria’s Rifle Bird.  We were not disappointed and many males and females came in attracted by the fruit put out for the bats.  A noise above me made me look up and right above me was a male dancing and displaying for a long while.  Bill got some amazing pictures and it is something neither of us will ever forget.

As we drove through the tablelands each visit we have always passed a big strawberry farm but have never stopped.  This year we did and what a treat.  Shaylees Strawberries has great coffee, fabulous scones and the best strawberry jam.  We bought a large jar!  And the strawberry gelato was to die for.  Can’t believe we have never found this before.

Finally our visit to Walkamin on the Atherton Tablelands had come to an end.  It was time to begin the long trip south to home again.  We said goodbye to Dallas and Mark, thanking them for a wonderful stay and we truly hope to see them again one day.  

until next time…….

Emerald to Malanda………

We said farewell to Alex and the family as the kids left for school.  It has been wonderful to see them again and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with them all. Our first stop was in Clermont where we had a coffee at Lotta Lattes then we continued on towards Charters Towers.  We camped that night just out of Belyando Crossing.  

Leaving early the next morning we got into Charters Towers in time for lunch.  We had a look around before leaving a short while later and we continued on to Bivouac Junction where we stayed for the next few days.  As it was the first week of the school holidays we expected it to be busy but it wasn’t so we were very pleased.  The days and nights are a little warmer so we can finally change out of the jeans and sleeves.

We had no plans to go into town but the next morning decided to return to Charters Towers as Bill had to find some gadget for the internet and I was still looking for a new hat.  The one I have is useless in the sun but so far I’ve not had any luck.  Still didn’t that day either.  A walk around the streets took us past the Church of England and we saw the old Bell Tower there.  The John Emerson Bell Tower was first erected in 1883 and relocated to its current location in 1994.

After a few days enjoying the warmer weather it was time be get moving again and our next stop was to see Sandy and Patrick in Townsville.  We arrived intending just to spend overnight out the front but on arrival Patrick asked what our plans were and did we fancy going to Ravenswood with them to camp for a couple of days.  Of course we said yes and after a delicious barbecue dinner we all settled in for the night before our adventure tomorrow.

The next morning we followed Sandy and Patrick to the Showgrounds in Ravenswood and set up camp.  Their favorite spot was available and someone had left heaps of wood so it wasn’t long before the fire was on and we whiled away the afternoon solving the problems of the world.  The gorgeous Molly kept a close eye on everything we did.

The following day we walked the five minutes into town to have lunch at one of the two pubs in town.  The Imperial Hotel was our choice and the bar inside was certainly a bit special.  Lunch was delicious and after finishing we walked down to the other hotel, The Railway, to have a drink.  While there we did a tour of the downstairs Whiskey Bar where the owner, Terry, has been very busy creating an amazing space in the underground cellar.  Our tour ended with a rather quirky photo op.

The next day we packed up and left after breakfast returning to Sandy and Patrick’s place for another night and the yummiest ravioli made by Sandy.  Eaten with a couple bottles of red we all slept well that night.  Once again we had a fabulous time with our good friends but there was still time for one more meal to share.  Together with their little grandson, Ollie, we walked around the corner to the Commonwealth Hotel where we enjoyed breakfast before finally saying goodbye and continuing our trek north.  The sky looked very grey over Castle Hill as we left and with heavy rain forecast we didn’t know where our next stop might be.

We usually stay at Tito Wetlands at Ingram when in this area but with the weather forecast as it was we knew they would be closed so half way there we saw a little caravan park and decided to stop for a couple of nights.  Well Crystal Creek Caravan Park was another real little gem.  A lovely little park with green grass, palm trees and birds everywhere.  The amenities were large and spotless and the owners delightful.  We had just set up when we heard a voice calling out Bill Harris and on looking outside our door we found Bob and Ollie, our friends from Clermont.  It was great to see them as they had been gone as we came through there this year.  After saying bye to them we popped back to the office and extended our stay another two nights.  Seems to becoming a feature of this trip.

The next day was very pleasant and no sign of the forecast weather so after breakfast we had a walk around.  We found Bob and Ollie together with some friends of theirs and joined them for a while.  Bill talked all things birds with the guys and I joined the ladies for a somewhat more rounded conversation.

Leaving them Bill and I went just up the road to Frosty Mango where we had some lunch and of course a mango ice cream.  It was quite fun watching all the people coming in and taking selfies with Mango Man. Back at home we settled in and tried to catch up on all things social media.  Not very easy with the very patchy signal.  Oh the joys from getting away from the mainstream towns.

The next morning it looked like the forecast cold spell and big rain event might actually happen now.  The sky is as black as and the temperature is falling fast.  It’s time to get the jeans and sleeves back out again.  It had rained a bit during the night and the ground was a bit soggy but held off today till later in the afternoon and when it began it didn’t stop all night again.

A night of steady rain meant an even soggier ground this morning and with no end in sight we decided to drive into Ingham as Bill wanted to research a mobile modem.  We had coffee at JK’s, picked up some shopping and returned home where it continued to rain for the rest of the day.

After all the rain yesterday the ground was very soggy again this morning.  Bill was going to visit Don up the hill in Paluma.  He had been given his name and number by Bob and he was waiting to visit so he could see the Victorias Riflebirds.  They were talking each morning about the weather up there and if it was suitable to get photos.  Still too wet and dark so after the research on the mobile modem yesterday we decided to pop back to the outskirts of Townsville and visit a Telstra shop.  Well that turned into a nightmare of which I won’t go into here but suffice to say after a few hours and two different Telstra shops we came home with what we went for.  Now all we have to do is see if it works.

On our arrival home Don rang and said that tomorrow looked good for Bill to go up so the next morning  he got up early and set off up the hill.  Everyone had told me how scary the road was going up and down so I decided to stay home and do some chores and finally enjoy some sunshine.  Bill enjoyed himself and came back with some lovely photos of the many birds that come into the garden each morning.  The Riflebirds were in short supply and Don had told him that he should have come a bit earlier so they decided he should go again the next day to see if he could improve on the day.  Another extension was necessary and in the end our original two days had morphed into seven.

The next morning Bill went up at 5 ish and came back much happier.  The birds had come visiting in numbers and he had some beautiful photos of the Riflebird.  So very grateful for Don to be so welcoming to all these strangers who love to see the birds that live up here in the forests. He’s in good company as this is also where David Attenborough came to get his shots of the Riflebird which you can see in one of his shows.  Unfortunately Bill didn’t get it displaying so still something to aim for next time.

Finally it was time to leave this lovely place.  The weather was looking up again and we were still going north up to the Tablelands.  We said farewell to Bob and Ollie and arranged to see them somewhere up on the Tablelands in a few weeks time.  We stopped in Ingham for coffee, shopping and fuel and then continued on.  Our next stop was at the foreshore in Cardwell where we had lunch and then made our way up the range to Malanda where we stayed at the caravan park there for three nights.

Unfortunately there is nothing nice to say about our stay here.  After all the rain it was very soggy and boggy.  While that was to be expected it seems that no maintenance ever gets done here.  It’s dirty, smelly and just very run down.  We did think about leaving but with the weather as it was up here, wet and grey, we decided we might not get into another one.  We won’t be going back though!

We filled our few days in with a drive to Mareeba on Saturday morning to see the market there. I bought some very interesting salt and pepper shakers.  Bill went out to Mt Hypipamee National Park but to many people out there to get any photos.  Monday morning arrived and it was time to move on so we took no time at all to pack up and head off again.  Time to find some sun.

until next time…….

Lara Wetlands to Capella Wild………

It was a sunny morning as we packed up and left Lara Wetlands to continue our journey north.  Our first stop was Barcaldine where we had a coffee and did some shopping.  We checked out the Information Centre to decide which way to go and this rather colorful painting caught my eye.  It is an artistic version of the local shire map.

We decided on a new route from here and were soon on our way to Jericho where we camped overnight at the Redlands Rd campground beside the river.  A delightful little park costing just $6 per night.  Before we left the next morning we had a look around this little town.  It is said to have the smallest drive-in still operating in the country.  Just 35 cars and then some deck chairs if you can’t drive in.  Right next door to the lovely old Town Hall.

We crossed the road and had a look at The Crystal Trumpeters sculptures said to be an interpretation of the biblical story of Jericho.  An interesting feature none the less.  A little further down the road we found the wire and wood sculpture of The Trumpeter.  In the library just a little further on was a miniature village made of clay and wood.  Some very intricate work here which would have taken hours to make.

Our next stop was to visit Alpha.  This tiny town is known as ‘the little town of murals’.  We only saw a few of the 28 said to be around town and unfortunately those we did see were very faded.  As we went to leave we discovered that we had a flat tire on the van, the first one ever.  A few before on the car but the van has remained unscathed until now.  Bill changed it and we called into the local service station to see if it could be fixed but it was not to be.  A large truck tyre valve had pierced sideways through the tread and the tyre was ruined as the guy tried to remove it.  He did sell us an old odd one to get us going but we decided to go straight into Emerald and get two new ones.

We stayed overnight in one of the van parks in Emerald, packed in like sardines and not our idea of fun but they did have an on-site fish and chip shop and they were delicious.  The next morning we got the two new tyres fitted and balanced while we had coffee next door at the Fairburn Bakery.  Once finished we left town again and returned to our original plan of checking out the Central Gemfields.  We found a home for two nights at the Sapphire Caravan Park.  What a gorgeous place and so different to last night.  We set up and immediately went back to the office and extended for two more nights.  

A drive that afternoon took us down the road to Rubyvale where we had coffee and strudel at Muggachinos.  Absolutely delicious.  Now it’s here I feel I have to mention that only one of us had strudel and he didn’t like to share!  The gardens here were truly a tropical oasis in the very dry and dusty landscape. We became regular visitors for the four days of our stay.

We spent the days looking around the area.  Visiting the many Gem Shops all selling wonderful sapphire jewelry and other bits and pieces.  One day we visited the Miners Heritage Centre and did the underground mine tour.  It was very good and so interesting to learn all about the life they lead here.

Sapphires were first reported in the gemfields here by John Archibald Richardson in the 1870’s.  Commercial mining began by 1890.  Mines were dug by hand using picks and shovels in open pits or trenches.  It was incredibly hard work in isolated spots in harsh conditions with a lack of water. 

In the early days the main buyers were Germans, Russians and other European nationals.  A decline happened after 1935 until the 1960’s when tourists fossocking and recreational mining became popular.  By 1970 the price of rough sapphires had increased, and large scale mechanized mining resulted in huge amounts of sapphires being bought by buyers from Thailand.  During this period Australia produced over 80% of the world’s sapphires.  The market slowed down in the ‘80’s with an increase in production from Asia and Africa.  

With an active tourist industry from then sapphires are still being found if you are crazy enough to give it a go.  I have to say it’s not for me!

When we arrived our first visitors were a couple of Lorikeets.  It seems these birds are quite a feature here.  Each night there is bird feeding for the kids to participate and so Bill has got some lovely pictures of the beautiful Lorikeets all taken before the kids came down.  The cockatoos have decided they like the feeding too and happily join in as well though the kids aren’t keen if they come too close to them.

Our four days seemed to pass quickly and it was soon time to pack up and leave again on Monday morning.  We drove into Clermont where we did some shopping and then made our way to Capella Wild where we spent three wonderful days with Alex, Brenten and the four kids.  It has been three years since we have seen them and the kids have all grown up so much.  Now 9, 7, 5 and 3 they are all delightful kids who kept us entertained.  I was taken for a walk out to the paddy paddock where I met their paddy calves, Frank, Fergus, Flicker, Ferdinand and 2 more little ones whose names escape me now.  Bike riding, acrobats and bedrooms were all proudly shown off to us over the time we were there.

Alex took us out with Weylan and Josie one day in the buggy to check the water tanks and we saw a great deal of the property and the many cattle on it.  We had wonderful view of the Peak Range as we drove out but no pictures.

We had to drive back to Emerald before we left for Bill to get his 4th Covid vaccination.  All went well and he had no side effects so we were very happy.  While there we had a walk around and found this lovely sculpture outside the Art Gallery.  It depicts all the disaster relief workers who came out to help in times of need.  A beautiful piece.

And so at the end of another delightful visit with Alex, Brenten and the kids we said farewell again and made our way still further north.  Still looking for the warm weather.

until next time……….

Cunnamulla to Lara Wetlands……….

We decided that we would go to Charleville and stay for a few nights to let Bill’s eye heal properly.  We stopped on the way in and made lunch at a lovely big park where there was a lot of new landscaping work being done.  I loved the gorgeous Brolga sculpture in the garden there.  Soon after we drove through town and found a home at the Bush Camping Ground.  Owned by the CMCA this is a self contained campground and is a great place to stay while exploring Charleville.  Didn’t like the forecast though as the cold spell is continuing and the overnight temperature is 2 deg.   Brrrr!!

The heater was on as we thawed out the next morning and we soon left to find coffee in town.  We found a fabulous cafe called Charlottes Nest and that was our go to for the next few mornings.  After a look around the shops we returned to the Graham Andrews Park and checked out The Big Red Seat. No amount of research tells me anything about this other than the fact it was one of Qld’s Big Things of which there are about 18 on the list and growing.  

While trying to find out about the chair yesterday I had discovered that the park was also home to The Vortex Canons.  So we returned agin the next morning to see these.  The sun was shining but at minus 1 earlier it was still freezing.  These canons were brought here by Clement Wragge in 1902 to break the terrible drought at that time.  Used all over Europe to break up hail in the vineyards it was thought they could shoot the clouds here and make it rain.  It didn’t work but the drought did break soon after. Wragge went on to become the senior meteorologist in NSW.

After lunch we went out to see the Cosmos Centre.  The interactive displays there were fun and informative and next time we might brave the weather and book into the night sky viewing but with a zero deg forecast that wasn’t going to be tonight.

On our way to visit the RFDS Visitor Centre we found the WW11 Secret Base.  Apparently a large number of US Personnel were stationed here in secret.  As this was part of a tag along tour we’ll have to wait until next time to check that out.  The RFDS Centre was very interesting and we enjoyed our visit there.  They certainly had some challenges to face in the very early years.

The next morning was even colder and our heater struggled to warm up but with temp dropping to minus 2 I’m really not surprised.  We packed up and after a final coffee we were back on the road again.  Hopefully this cold snap will end soon.  We did come in search of warmer weather!

Our lunch stop was at the little township of Augathella where we found a new painted water tower.  Another very bright artwork depicting local scenes.  Sheep, Wool, Cattle, Galahs, Emus and Sunsets all featured though it was a challenging one to photograph.

After lunch we continued on to Tambo where we stayed the night in one of the caravan parks there.  That night we walked across to see the big event in town.  Ben’s Chicken Races were well advertised and we decided to go and have a look.  It was the funniest thing I have seen for a long time.  Held at the The Royal Carrangarra Hotel these 8 chickens dyed with food colour are auctioned off to race which raises money for charity.  A remote control car with feed on the top is then sent around the ‘racetrack’ and the chickens are off and running.  Not always in the right direction.  The winning chicken wins its ‘owner’ half the money and the other goes to Little Windmills, a charity helping sick children.  Tonight’s race raised $345 for them.

After the race we changed venues and had a delicious dinner at the Tambo Tavern down the road.  The Lamb Shanks were so good.  It was a great fun night but we were soon back home with the heater cranked.  The next morning was a little warmer but not much, we had a walk along the street but only Tambo Teddies was open.  The wooden sculpture of Potorooooooo was a bit quirky.  He was a famous 18th Century thoroughbred racehorse who won over 30 races.  Made by Pip Reardon it took over 50-60 hours to make, weighs over 300 kg and was constructed from wood picked up locally. 

From here we drove to Blackall where we stopped for lunch then continued on to Barcaldine.  On the way though we saw a sign for Lara Wetlands and thought why not!  We have never been here before so in we went.  Wow, what a beautiful place to stay.  Our two nights changed to four and even then it was hard to leave.  A well run campground around a natural lake, lots of birds, a thermal pool, showers and toilets available if you want them and beautiful sunsets.  What more could we want.

Bill spent his days happily taking photos of the birds that were there.  The little Black Tailed Native Hens kept us amused for hours as they all had babies and they spent their whole time running around to feed them.  As you walked around the lake different groups had bigger chicks so obviously they had been having a very successful breeding season.  

We found two different Dotterels as we walked around and I must say the say The Red-Kneed Dotterel looked so much better dressed than the Black-Fronted Dotterel.  They were both lovely and very obliging when it came to having their photos taken.

It was very hard to leave this lovely place but after four days of sunshine and birds it was time to pack up and move on again.  Next time we are up this way I’m sure we won’t be driving past.

until next time…….

Time to go bush again………

The time had well and truly come to get back on the road again.  With perfect timing the sun had shone in the morning making it easier to pack up than if it had been raining.  Soon we were all hooked up and leaving a much soggier park than when we arrived.  They will certainly have some maintenance work to do on some of the sights damaged by heavy vans.

We headed out of suburbia and made our way straight up to Dalby.  Our usual spot at Bowenville was still closed due to the rains so it was the Dalby Caravan Park for us.  On arrival we set up and had a walk into town along Myall Creek where we found the cute little ’Dalby Dude’.  One major downside of all this rain was the abundance of mosquitoes and it seemed that here they were big enough to carry you away.  No point covering up as they just bit right through the clothes.

The next morning we stopped for coffee at The Urban Paddock before hitting the road again.  A quick stop for lunch at Moonie where I had a chuckle at the poem on the wall.  Moonie Madness.  Then it was onto Westall where we camped for the night.  The next day saw a quick stop at St George, where the Balonne River was the highest we had ever seen it, before continuing on to Bollon where we stayed the night at Wallam Creek.  Leaving the next morning we made our way into Cunnamulla where we were two days early for our booking at Bowra.  

The drive in from Dalby was really lovely as we had lush green paddocks beside us most of the way.  The rain this year has certainly been welcomed up here as they have been in drought for the last 13 years.  There was still alot of water lying along the roadside and many paddocks looked like lakes still.  The dams were all full.  Arriving in Cunnamulla mid afternoon we found a home at the Warrego River Caravan Park.  We had never been here before and what a little gem this is.  Spotless bathrooms and beautiful gardens with large secluded drive thru sights.  Just the place to relax in the sun after our 6 days in the rain.

Bill got up early and went for a walk with his camera.  Wrens, Finches, Honeyeaters, Red Winged Parrots and Spotted Bowerbirds were the order of the day.  In town a bit later in the day we found some gorgeous wall art in a lane way.  This was done by Samantha Meurant, a local artist, who owned and worked from this shop.  We met her the next day and she is an absolute delightful young lady.

It rained during the night on and off but cleared in the morning.  The wind continued all day getting stronger as the afternoon wore on.  Seems like we are in the grip of a big cold front and are in for a very long cold spell.  We packed up and headed out first of all to Alan Tannock weir.  We had a couple of hours to kill and found the Warrego River running fast and the weir spilling over.  From here we drove the few km through town to find our new home at Bowra.  On arrival we checked in, set up but no birds today as the wind was blowing a gale, gusting and cold.  Bird call in the old shearing shed that night was freezing.

And so began our seven day stay here at Bowra.  Bill came and went with his camera returning with a smile sometimes and other times not so happy.  With all the rain there were many tracks closed and the birds much more spread out as there was water everywhere.  Still it was fun and we did find lots to keep him busy.  Meeting up with 21 Emus one morning gave him a bit of a surprise.

We also caught up with  Marilyn who was staying there for the week as well.  It rained on the last two days we were there so all the roads were closed again other than the main track to the gate so we had to go to town of course.  Time for coffee and bread at the bakery.  While having a walk around we found this lovely artwork in front of the Medical Centre.  It was done by a local indigenous artist and is called 5 Fires depicting the five groups of people in this area.

As always Cunnamulla is a busy little town each day with dozens of caravans coming and going.  Watching from the bakery it is just a constant stream and you wonder where they are all going.  This year the fuel price has been unbelievable and we watched fascinated as people filled up each day at $229.09 and on the last day it jumped to $235.09.  Just over the railway line it was $214.09 where we got ours.  Don’t know if they didn’t know about the other one or didn’t care.  We did!

Finally our week was over and it was time to pack up and head off again.  At this point we really didn’t have a plan other than just to find somewhere warmer.  But there was a little hitch as Bill had woken up with what seemed like an infection in his eye.  In town he stopped by the Medical Centre and was able to get an appointment later that afternoon so we stayed another night in Cunnamulla lucky to be able to get a site out at Warrego again.  He saw the Dr that afternoon and was diagnosed with Conjunctivitis so drops for the next few days.  Easing a bit overnight Bill was happy to drive on the next morning and so we said farewell to Cunnamulla for another year.  So now all we need to do is make a decision - which way.

until next time……

Getting cold here, time to make like a bird and migrate north……..

as we do each year.  The forecast didn’t seem too promising for the first week but we left on the 10th May and headed up the Hume Hwy.  We stopped in Glenrowan for coffee, lunch at Lake Hume, which was looking very full, and kept going till we came to Yerong. Creek.  Last time we passed here they were painting the water tower in town so we we stopped today to check out the finished mural.  

Called ‘Through Their Eyes’ and painted by Melbourne Artist Heesco it looks great and depicts stories of the local district through the years and stories of the Widadjuri people.  It is very colorful and a great addition to this little town.  We continued on and camped our first night out at The Rock.  Usually we are on our own here or just one or two others but tonight there were 6 or 7 other vans here.  Certainly more people around this year.

The night was much warmer here than at home and it was still fine early morning but we were expecting that to change sooner rather than later.  We drove on and stopped at Harden to have a look at the ‘Bill the Bastard’ sculpture we saw last year in the studio.  It is now in position in the Main Street and looks wonderful.  A truly amazing work and equally amazing story.

After lunch we continued on to Mont Eagle where we stayed the night at Touts Park.  The rain had started during the afternoon so our spectacular view of the valley had disappeared under the clouds and we had a quiet night here.  The drive out the next morning was very soggy as it had rained all night.  We kept going until we arrived at Cowra for a walk in the rain.  From here we kept on until we stopped at Bathurst where we camped at the Showgrounds.  The grounds here were soaking and the caretakers were having a fun time putting people in places where they wouldn’t get stuck.  We settled in for another night inside with the heater.

The next day was fine and we had decided to stay for two nights.  The blue sky and sunshine was delightful as we drove into town to have a look around.  Great coffee first at Piccolo and then a walk around Kings Parade.  Opposite The Courthouse there is the Boer War Monument and the very stately Carillon which commemorates the 1st and 2nd World Wars, Vietnam War, Gulf War and East Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan Peace Keeping Operations.

At the other end of the Parade was a sculpture of George William Evans who discovered the Bathurst Plains in 1810 and is known for the opening up of the west.  From here walking further along the street and around the block we found the very impressive Presbyterian Church and a Public School built in 1874.  This building is now the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum.  There were many more lovely old historic buildings as we walked the streets but far too many to mention here.

The sun was still shining the next morning as we left this lovely town but the clouds soon gathered as we arrived in Orange where we stopped to pick up some bread and of course a coffee.  Even though the rain threatened it didn’t happen so we stayed dry.  We continued on our way to Gilgandra where once again we stayed at the Bowling Club.  And no cooking for me as we headed in for a delicious Chinese meal.

We left the next morning just as the rain arrived and lunched at Coonabarabran on the way to Narrabri where we were staying two nights at a farm stay just out of town.  Shanty on Naomi is a lovely campground right on the banks of the Namoi River which was very high at the moment but the ground was all dry.  Lots of birds here so this should keep Bill smiling for a while.

We had a look around town the next day and found it appeared to be a smaller place than Bathurst and it didn’t look quite as prosperous.  The Masonic Lodge opposite the Courthouse looked very impressive and is said to be built in 1892 and is in near perfect condition.  It has lead light windows bearing the  Masonic symbols and a bright blue sun below the year.  Back at home Bill spent the afternoon with the birds and his camera.  This Red Browed Finch was happy to pose for him.

The next day was my Birthday and we were off for our last day in NSW.  The sun shone and we had a good trip from Narrabri to Goondiwindi stopping along the way to wander around Moree.  With no border issues this year we had enjoyed our much slower drive up same route we did last year in six hours.  We arrived at the Showgrounds and found a spot, made coffee and relaxed until it was time to go and find somewhere for dinner.  I was getting spoiled for my birthday.  Our choice was the lovely old Queensland Hotel.  The sign said it was the first hotel in Qld but we still don’t know if that meant it was the first one you came to or the earliest one here.  Still trying to find that out.  We had a delicious meal and while there I snapped these pictures of early floods in the area.  Rather fitting for what is happening right now.

The next morning we checked the road conditions at the information Centre as we were wanting to drive to Dalby and stay at Bowenville.  We were advised that there were some road closures in that area so we would best to travel to the Gold Coast through Warwick so off we went.  Along the way we passed through the tiny town of Yelarbon and found this gorgeous Silo art.  Titled ‘When the rain comes’ it is painted by Jordache Castillejos, Jordon Bruce and Steve Falco.  It is said to be the longest silo art in the state and used 1,000 litres of paint to complete it.

The roads were all okay, some with evidence of the heavy rains just recently, but nothing to worry about.  We stopped for a look around Warwick before driving on to find a spot to stay the night.  We found a little rest area just this side of Cunningham Gap and set up for the night.  A little noisy with all the trucks passing but we managed.  Leaving here the next day we drove down the very steep Cunningham Gap before stopping for a look at the next town we came too.

Boonah was a lovely little town with some very quirky sculptures throughout the town.  The most interesting of these was the old Blumbergville Clock.  Boonah was previously called Blumbergville when it was settled by two brothers.  It was changed to Boonah in 1937.

After we had a good look around we left and made our way through some very interesting routes, thanks to the GPS.  Who would have ever thought we would pass through a little place called Wonglepong!  Perhaps this is why you should sometimes throw caution to the wind and follow blindly!

Our final stop was the Treasure Island Resort and Caravan Park on the Gold Coast where we were staying for 6 nights.  So that ends our first 10 days of travelling.  It has been a mixed bag weather wise but otherwise very enjoyable as we have settled into our usual routines of life on the road.  Bill is attending a Birdlife Photography Conference here and I’m going to have a look around if the dreadful forecast doesn’t come as planned.  We’ll have to wait and see.

until next time……..