To Ocean Shores

Friday 28th August 2015

Ocean Shores NSW

We left Kyogle yesterday morning in light rain.  This persisted until just before we joined the Pacific Hwy. south of Brunswick Heads.  There was some fairly heavy rain during last night also.

The road which we took out of Kyogle led to Nimbin, the site of the site of the 1973 Aquarius Festival.  There are some of the original attendees still residing there.

The road consisted of more of the type that I mentioned in earlier emails.  Even the icon on the navigator had trouble getting around some of the corners!

There was little improvement after we left Nimbin when we travelled through Turntable Creek, The Channon, Clunes, Dunoon & Bangalow on the way to Ocean Shores.

Staying with friends Pat & Stan for a couple of nights and visiting rellies Coral & Kevin tomorrow.

Will say goodnight now and off to bed.

Good tidings from US.  

To Kyogle NSW

Kyogle showground.

Wednesday 26th August 2015.

Well, this is the next episode since Maleny.

Yesterday we travelled from Maleny to Kilcoy for a mosey around and then to Esk for lunch.  After lunch we travelled the Esk to Gatton road.

Gatton must be the vegetable bowl of this area as there are fields & fields of lettuce, cabbage, carrots, onions, tomatoes & beans etc.  Everything is sooo green.

After leaving Gatton we travelled on the Gatton to Clifton road to Heifer Creek (Thiess Memorial) camp spot. The pic of the deep cutting shows the first big excavation job carried out by Thiess brothers.  It was a nice little camp spot with Windyloo toilets, plenty of space & garbage bins.

This morning we traversed another steep, winding, narrow bouncy road until we joined the New England Highway to Warwick.  There we had morning tea with a friend who worked with Bev, and his wife.  After fuelling up at 120.5/ltr left Warwick travelling through Killarney before crossing the Qld/NSW border.  After the border and Legume we joined the Mount Lindsay Road to Kyogle.  Once again this road presented us wit yet more of the same as we had this morning, except, NSW really upped the ante by adding ROUGH to all the earlier mentioned.  (Mike, Sue & Rosie will recall some of this road.)

Anyway, we arrived safe and sound here at the showground where it has plenty of grassy space, water & power, clean amenities  all for $15 ($10 unpowered) for the night.

Well that just about sums it up for today so I will say cheerio from us for now.

Des & Bev. 

To Maleny

Monday 24th August 2015

Maleny Qld.

Well, the weekend has come & gone, so have our big traveling days by the looks of it.

Saturday, Tiaro to 1512 Tin Can Bay Road via Gympie 84 Km.  Monday, Tin Can Bay Road to Kandanga 42 Km. Monday, Kandanga to Maleny 76 Km.

Saturday morning we had a good look around Gympie before going to Nigel’s parents place on Tin Can Bay Road where we were again made most welcome.

Peter & Nigel came up from Brisbane and stayed the night, so a lot of family chit chat went on in that time.

Peter & Nigel & us all left about 1.30 yesterday and when we arrived at Kandanga we found a lovely little RV park which is looked after by the local residents.  A great spot to camp.

Today we have travelled via Imbil, Obi Obi, Mapleton, Flaxton & Montville before arriving at Maleny.

The poor old Sprinter thought that she was a mountain goat for a few kilometres to ay as we climbed the George Wyer Scenic Drive.  There are hills there that have gradients of 9 & 10 % incline.  I had to use 2nd gear, almost to the floor, up the steepest part.

Had the most shocking cappuccino ever at the bakery in Mapleton.  Could only drink 1/2 inch of it even with sugar.  I gave it back to the waitress, but did not get a refund.  Bev drank hers with some sugar.

Spent some time looking around Montville and bought a couple of things before leaving for Maleny.

We had come here to try and catch up with an old friend from away back in Taree who had moved to Landsborough North.  Unfortunately, when I phone, he had moved up to just above Gympie.  I should have phoned ahead when we were up there at the weekend.

We are now trying to decide which way we will go from here, so you will have to wait until the next episode to find out.

Cheerio for tonight from Des & Bev

To Petrie Park, Tiaro Qld.

Friday 21st August 2015

Petrie Park. Tiaro, Qld.

The last 2 nights we have been staying with friends at Elliott Heads who we met at Judds Lagoon on an earlier trip.

They had moved up here from Rainbow Flat, near Taree.  Thanks again David & Irene for your hospitability.

We came via Woodgate Beach this morning to have a look at Andrew & Isobel's home there. We were advised that we could park in their driveway for the night if we wanted to, as they are also away touring the country.  Thank you also A & I for the offer, but as we were running a bit early and have to meet Peter & Nigel  along Tin Can Bay Road out of Gympie tomorrow we came on to Childers and fuelled up at $1.209 (cheapest yet!) had lunch then used the dump point.  Continued on to here so as to shorten the journey in the morning.

Regards,

Des & Bev. 

Near Bundaberg Queensland

Tuesday 18th August 2015

Well here we are at Sharon Nature Reserve tonight. We had intended to stay here last night but plans change through the day yesterday.  We arrive at Bundaberg from Gin Gin at about 9.45 yesterday.  Went to West Bundaberg, a fair way out of town, to have the first Aldi fix for a lot of weeks. None since Victoria!

Then it was back to visit the Bundy Rum distillery. Also checked out the shops at the Sugarland shopping centre before going out along the Childers road to Wallum reserve for the night.  That was a bit further away from the road than we are tonight.  Actually, we have campet at both of these sites previously.

Tomorrow after noon we are going to Elliott Heads to visit friends who lived out of Taree a few years back.

Will have more news at a later date.

Des & Bev

Some Rockhampton pics...

At Gin Gin showground

Gin Gin showground

Sunday 16th August 2015.

Since our last email from Theresa Creek dam, I have been a bit slack on the email.

From there we travelled to Emerald for a look around and something to eat.  Then on to a lovely free camp site at Duaringa having travelled a whole 296 Km for the day.

We were now travelling on the Capricornia Hwy. along side of the electrified railway transporting coal to Gladstone.  We had seen some long ore trains in WA and now we were seein extremely long coal trains.  The advisory speed signs for the trains that we saw were 80 Km on the curves and 100 Km on the straights.  I wonder how long it would take to stop one from that speed!

Next day was a 116 Km drive to Rockhampton where we went straight to the Great Western Hotel to get details of the Tuff Bull rides series.These are held in an indoor arena in an undercover area of the hotel.  $15 each entry with show starting at 7.00 pm. Was advised to line up by 4.45 pm to get tickets, so guess who was first in the doors!  Had steak sandwiches & chicken chips whilst waiting for bull rides to start.  Out of the 61 riders, there were a number of them from NSW.  Singleton, Tamworth, Walcha, Goulburn, Roxby (near Maitland) I think Muswellbrook as well.  It was a good night and ended about 10.00 pm.

The trains run down the side of the street across the street from the hotel

We had parked in a side street around from the hotel next to a steel yard and opposite Pauls milk depot.  So, we decided to stay there for the night.  A few Linfox trucks pulling semis with packaged milk came and went, then milk vendors.  We did get a fair amount of sleep though.

We washed the motorhome and Des had his hearing aids cleaned and re-tubed.

Yesterday morning we visited a big shopping centre before driving 289 Km to Gin Gin for 2 nights.  before heading towards Bundaberg.  I (Des) want to have a look in the Sola’n’sat shop here before we leave. 

So, that has been a bit of a catch up on our travels.

Theresa Creek dam

Wednesday 12th August 2015.

Theresa Creek Dam, 22km from Clermont.

We came out here yesterday for the night but have decide to stay tonight as well.  It is very peaceful here with a water front site looking over the dam.

Tomorrow we will pause in Clermont to send this email and get more water before travelling on through Emerald to a camp site about 70 km west of Rockhampton.

Friday we will go to Rockhampton and see what we can find out about the bull riding at one of the hotels on Friday & Saturday night.

Another nice day here, but the wind is picking up a bit now at 3.00 pm.

That’s all for now.

Regards from Des & Bev.

To Clermont

Monday 10th August 2015

Clermont Qld.

Yes, tonight’s new comes to you from Clermont.  Travelled 422 km today from Fletchers Creek.

Spent some time in Charters Towers this morning shopping, getting fuel and water,  had a big pie and coffee before setting off again south.

It was 10 deg. again this morning and reached about 25.5 today as we travelled.  We have now travelled 13468 km since leaving home.

There was some very dry poor looking country as we travelled today, and some very skinny cattle.  Saw the first fat good condition ones about 40 km north of Clermont.

We are starting to get sick of seeing straight sections of road that stretch up to 40 to 50 km in a straight line as seen in the attached pic.

OK, I am starting to whinge now so I had better finish up and go to bed.

Des & Bev.