Friday 30 May 2014

Beaudesert, Boonah


Very pleasant stay in Kyogle at the showgrounds. Did a drive around the country and up along the Kyogle Road - glad I didnt come that way from Lismore with the caravan. Very windy and steep with  sharp corners and very patchy seal. Surprisingly narrow considering the size of the trucks that were using it! Really lovely countryside at the moment after rain.

On to Beaudesert. Another great drive around Mt Lindsay. Winding hilly scenic route but glad not too much traffic although a truck's trailer nearly clipped me at the last corner. Road works meant a detour up a farm track – that was fun. Stunning tall straight white trunked gums and an amazing bird calling. Pity it is so hard to find somewhere to stop. Had to change my camera  chip - finally full! So much Lantana through here as well and a vine all over everything. Definitely getting in to the tropics again.


Quiet trip to Stinston camp on Xmas creek Road which is pretty narrow and only one lane of seal much of the way. Lovely spot but the best camp bits are pre-booked. Very clean toilet - was water blasted inside and out before the weekend influx, and creek water. Rain one night – and didn’t realise my driver window was down. Not too wet thank goodness.   
Several weekend campers – 2 big groups with kids! Bit noisy but ok. Spent the days reading. Tried painting with both acrylic and water colours but not happy. Not so easy either way, need heaps more paint to do acrylic  I think. Or do much smaller paintings? Solar out – light actually turned green for a change so must be working ok.  Caretaker tells me to do the barb fences they run a plain wire through the holes, hook the barb on and drag it through with a tractor. What I had figured. Glorious days here. So little wind but very heavy dew overnight. Wiped down the underside of the awning while it was still wet. 


Had 4 very peaceful days then on to Beaudesert to NZ friends who have been farming here of 14 years. Decided not to risk taking the caravan right in to their house - camped in the 'front' paddock 2 km away and spent the days with them. Have actually found an Aldi that I would happily shop at - very new and great fruit and veg!
On to Boonah for a couple of days - power & water so time to catch up again. Showground is very popular here and the shops are only a short block away. There is a huge lake on the way in - I am told it was made to 'water-proof' Brisbane but inspite of warnings from the locals, the water is not suitable for drinking! Maybe they will let us camp around it instead sometime.





  

Wednesday 14 May 2014

Armidale, Guyra, Glenn Innes. Lismore, Kyogle

I thought about stopping at Armidale but carried on to the caravan park at Guyra. Highest one in Aus. and cheap so stayed 2 nights. Did the tourist loop to Ebor.



What a lovely drive – rolling country – real farms. Reminds me of Horopito maybe. Reasonable road – heads on to Coffs Harbour. Went to the Ebor waterfalls, - they fall in two cascades,  then on to Wollomombi falls. An amazing hole gouged out of the table lands – 260m falls but only the left hand one running. Not much water after their drought this years and not sure where the water goes considering there was some coming down. There was no stream at the bottom, just a pool so maybe it goes underground. Back to Armidale looking lovely in autumn colours.

Next stop is Glenn Innes - once again loving all the colour everywhere and 'familiar' countryside - just like home! The Poplar CP is doing a deal - pay for 2 and get 3rd night free - if you mention you saw them on the 'caravancaravan.com.au' site - so spoiling myself with another 3 nights of power, a heater, TV.... all the things I dont worry about camping. Day trip to Emmaville and Deepwater (fresh fish and a great Bakery). Saw the Stonehenge rocks etc.
On to Tenterfield. Was going to camp but not very inviting so stopped at the showgrounds - $25. Went out to Bald rock – 30 km on Mt Lindsay Hwy which is sealed but narrow and the road in to the rock is even more narrow. Headed off on the 15 min walk – seemed very long and climbing all the time. Asked some how far – only another 10 minutes and I had already gone much longer than that so discretion got the better of valour and I turned around. Legs getting like jelly!!!! Back at the car I realised I was trying to do the 3 hour round trip!!!!! So didn’t get to see the rock at all –well hidden behind tall trees! Glad I didn’t drag the caravan out there – would be a very cold shady camp. down loaded a photo of what I had missed.
Marquee over the creek here – circus = afternoon and evening shows but not too bad.
 Decided to do the Bruxner highway to Casino and Lismore. No caravan repair places this side of the ranges it seems. Great drive over GDR – quite windy in places and slow but through bush most of the way. Lots of motorbikes. Stopped at the village of Drake and had coffee and fresh homemade cake – only there on a Sunday! The shop was a PO, Centrelink, gifts/crafts and the meeting place for politicking from what I overheard! Wannabe councillors? On to Tabulam racecourse. Paid at the shop but they didn’t have a key! Got there and gates locked so rang them – duh! Finally they gave me another number to ring and Steve came to open the gate. Got a key from young couple just leaving. Lovely spot above Clarence river etc. Have power so may even stay. $8 +$5 power site. Toilets and showers.Another person here – came in after dark to the old van parked here. Read until late then a big sleep in – again. Getting good at rolling over at 7 am and sleeping another 1 ½ - 2 hours J especially when it is foggy and cold. Lovely morning now. Was going to stay but the walk to the river is through a lot of lantana etc so didn’t bother. On through NZ countryside to Casino and then to Lismore. Found a caravan repair - $27 for the gas bit of the vent (or $45 for the whole vent – and didn’t have one anyway). Then to a gas place – no-one available so went to the showgrounds.  Only $15 for power here and $50 key deposit (toilets also). So much warmer over this side of the ranges.


Gas man came and put in a new pressure valve for the hot water - no more pump buzzing I hope.
Beautiful lush farmland around Kyogle. Large groomed lawns around many farm houses - something I have seen seldom on this trip.