Amazing drive up over Cunningham Gap. What a shame it
was raining as the views must be magnificent. Maybe 10km climbing – double lane
all the way up thank goodness. They have used 2 layers of containers as a
barrier from falling rock near the top –
about 15 long. Interesting pix on Google of accidents, rock falls etc. Thick
rainforest everywhere. Over the top there is an easy decline to a wide fertile valley – carrot crops! Lots of
contouring on the gentle slopes. Dark fertile soil also – could be in the
Waimarino! Stopped at camp at Allora – popular place but quite small, full overnight. Nice park
beside it and a very tidy town. Drove to Clifton and checked out the recreation
reserve. Decided not to stay so on to Nobby for 2 days. What a quaint little place. Good
camp on a railway siding across from the pub. 2 power points ($3). Long chat to
lady running the craft centre in the old station. Got Rosella jam! Bought a
paper at the little store/takeaway/crystal shop then lunch at the pub. It has a
large area out the back to cater for big groups, and is full of memorabilia.
The rest of the main street has an art shop and an antique shop. Good TV
reception also.
Rudds pub is of ‘Dad &
Dave’ fame – and there is a museum to Sister Kenny = polio cure? Very heavy rain in the evening – water
pouring in beside the fridge – stopped when I put the side out!
Another dull day – more rain coming
so went across to Pittsworth then to Cecil Plains camp. A couple of others
here. Another place with no TV – for me anyway even though on the edge of town.
Nice spot. Weird older cyclist who spent all day talking loudly to himself –
pacing up and down around the shelter he was camped beside. Almost like he was
practicing a speech! Otherwise a lovely peaceful night – no street lights. Very cool night
though.Finish a book I was enjoying
then to Dalby. Nissan place can service the ute this arvo so in to the Caravan
Park – 3 blocks to walk! Noisy night
with traffic over the bridge beside the park – main highway.
Was going to stay at Warra but overnight camp not there so on to Chinchilla Weir for 4 nights. Free
power. Busy long weekend. Nice spot. Spent a couple of days visiting Kiwi friends in Chinchilla. Not impressed with
the Warrego hwy though – pretty rough. Talking to kiwi couple in Dalby who say
coal mining over here is collapsing. Chinese have not renewed their contracts
and hundreds being laid off around Mackay etc. Rents have dropped like crazy
and heaps of houses around.
Hundreds of pelicans on the lake – and revolting water – and
sandflies biting my ankles!
Via Wondai Road to Wooroolin camp. Popular place also. Large
grass area beside the pub. Coffee shop, butcher and PO over the road. Large manmade lake behind the camp
but very long grass and old buildings between us. Rough road coming through
though so a very slow trip. Stopped and had lunch and was going to camp at
Stuart River but no-one else there. Cold wind here – has been so calm for weeks
it seems.
Good meat from the butcher = had a long chat with him also. Should have bought
more I think!
I have had a ‘silly’ indecisive day - headed off north after 2 days at a pleasant camp at Wooroolin. Got to Ban Ban
springs and should have
stayed there – lunch time and quite a few there – but
had heard the next camp was better as this is at a T junction of busy roads and
many trucks stop as well. Mmm – Gayndah was worse - also beside a main road and
smaller – so on to the Bon Journo except I couldn’t decide where it was. Pulled
over to the right at the top of a steep hill – a truck rest area – and suspect
the camp was along the road behind me but to get there I would have had to do a
u turn into the traffic coming up the hill. Ah – no she thinks - so
on to the next one at a weir – nice spot but so small. Checked the camp just
out of Mundubbera but it is quite sloping and above a main highway – so on to Eidsvold and ended up in a little
and very full Caravan Park for the night. Probably done well over 200 km today
– that makes for a big day. 9 am – 3pm!!!! It is so dry up here. Would be a
very pretty area with grass. Saw a deer farm – only the second I have
seen in 2 years!
Found Ceratodus camp 11 km north beside the Burnett River
so will stay here instead of going to the Wuruma dam. I am told there are many heading
out there. Nice big area, clean loos etc.- no internet or phone though. Stayed 2 nights. Rained all day Saturday so had my barrel out for water!
The red lines on the photos show the level of the 2011 Mundubbera floods - camp is beside the Burnett River. Pauwlonia plantaion beside the camp sustained quite a lot of damage also.
Pleasant Sunday drive – rolling hills and bush, dry farms
but water in the dams. Photo of the Bunyip At Mulgildie. Getting a little more
feed as I got further north past Monto. Quite a climb at one stage then out to
a high plateau - Lawgi camp is quite
exposed up here. Good happy hour – 7 kiwis and 6 Aussies!!!!
Next day was a chilly
morning so decided to go 100 km to Dululu camp. Lots here including a couple of lots from past 2 days.
Sat around a
community camp fire – wood provided. Power here @ $5 pn but haven’t bothered.
Another kiwi couple in motorhome.
Noisy night – ute parked
on the grass beside me about 11pm and lots of door banging while they set up
camp! Lots of trucks park here at lunchtime. Another couple I met at Broome will be at St Lawrence tomorrow so will catch up with them also.
A very noisy night at Clearview, - trains and trucks - although the camp spot was fine. the 3 of us managed to find a spot under the trees. Made damper but we still dont really know how to cook it yet - burnt the bottom but was very tasty. Left the 2 couples I was with and to a CP in Sarina. So looking forward to a long hot shower etc!
Tame possums that come down in the evening for apples. Entertained by the young one pinching it's mother's pieces then scampering up the tree again. Glad they didnt squawk too much during the night - or scamper on our van tops! As a Kiwi it is very hard to get excited about them - such a pest at home and many an hour spent shooting them! I have some beautiful sox and gloves made from possum fur and merino wool.