After the two rallies - first week

Sunday 14 October 2018

This was the day we had to say goodbye.  I filled up with water and said goodbye to Dianne, Yvonne, Lesley, Brian and his wife and the couple next door.

Max rang.  We had a quick chat and said goodbye as well.

After the rallies I am now on my way to Bucca, near Bundaberg, where Patricia is house sitting.  I will stay with her for a few days.

I left at 9.30 am and my first stop for coffee was at Lake Narrabri at 11 am.  In the meantime I had filled up with fuel at Boggabri.

A very dry lake!

Just when I was about to leave Dianne rang and we had a long talk.  So long, in fact, that I had lunch in the meantime as well and left at 1 pm.  After a very short drive I passed the Narrabri Visitors Information Centre and decided to check it out.  I am making a habit of visiting the V.I.C.s as they always have so much to offer besides the general information.  I like their displays and often there is an art gallery attached as well.

Quilts and wall decorations

At 1.30 pm I was finally on the road again.

Afternoon tea I had at Tycannah Rest Area where I stopped from 2.30-3.30 pm and arrived at Kiga Bore Rest Area (#791) where I stayed for the night.

Monday 15 October 2018

I left at 8.45 am and stopped for morning tea just past Goondiwindi from 9.45-10.15 am.

Back on Queensland time from here, so I gained a whole hour! ;-)

Got fuel at Moonie and lunch somewhere between Goondiwindi and Dalby. Stopped for 45 minutes.

The stretch from Moree to Dalby is a bit boring and I was happy to see a sign that pointed to Lake Broadwater Conservation Park (#575).  It's a good 10 km off the main road, but very worth while to stop overnight.  It's not a free camp, but $6.55 pppn is good value as there are toilets and showers as well.  I arrived early, 12.30 pm Queensland time, so had the whole afternoon to sit back and relax.

Lake Broadwater in the afternoon

Lake Broadwater in the evening

Lake Broadwater in the morning

Pelicans

Tuesday 16 October 2018

I left at 8.15 am.  Since I had remembered that Denise lived in the area and I had stayed overnight at her place before I rang her to see if she would be home.  She wasn't, but was staying with her friend, Maureen, in Wondai and I was welcome to join them there.  It wasn't far, so I arrived by 10.15 am.

We had a chat, coffee and lunch together and I was offered to stay overnight, which I did.  We had a late afternoon walk into town and I happened to remember to look for geocaches, which we found.  Problem was, I didn't have a pen, so had to come back to sign the logs.

Ducklings, just emerged

Me, wearing a hat!
(Protection for the attacking magpies.  It's magpie season again.)

Denise and Maureen

The camper parked at Maureen's place

We all prepared our own dinner and had the meal together.

Wednesday 17 October 2018

I woke up very early, at 5 am, and said goodbye to Denise later, who had to go to work.  After breakfast Maureen showed me around town.  She is a 'woodie', so we visited the Woodcrafters', the V.I.C., St. Vinnies, and antiques shop and had coffee and cake at Chris & Dan's Diner.

Fantastic displays at the Timber Museum

A tribute to the resident emu who was killed (like Eric on Bribie Island)

Afterwards we walked back, picking up the two caches while doing so and then it was time for me to leave, as I had a long way to go to Patricia's in Bucca.

I could now add:

#1995 - Wondai Ghost Train (cache)

#1996 - Wondai Wood Museum (cache)

As I had promised Patricia that I would visit her and arrive on the 17th I left Wondai at 1.30 pm.  I stopped for lunch just around the corner, as lunch at Maureen's place would have meant talking more and I had not much time to spare.  After my stop at Dingo Creek Park  I took the back roads to Ban Ban Springs, where I stopped for another break.  Driving on a hot day and in the afternoon is quite tyring.  I prefer an early morning drive, in particular if it is a 3 hour trip.

I arrived at Bucca at 5 pm and was greeted by Patricia, Bud, the dog, Harry, the cockatoo and Mr. Wilson, the horse!  I don't remember if I have mentioned it before, but Patricia was house and pet sitting at Bucca for a few weeks and had invited various of her friends.  I was going to stay for a few days.

Kevin rang later to tell me that there was a problem with the safety switch at home.  It kept tripping.  After a lengthy search and a lot of thinking we discovered that it was the pump for the rainwater tank that was faulty.  So much for the real estate sending for an electrician when I rang them before I left for this trip!

Thursday 18 October 2018

Patricia took me to Gin Gin for something to do and also to a rest area close by where she had found a cache earlier.  Of course my name is in the logbook too now. ;-)

# 1997 - Time to Rest (cache)

We visited also the local VIC (Visitor Information Centre) and a number of shops.  Patricia's favourites are the Op Shops (Opportunity or second hand shops).  I follow duly, because I just want to minimise at home and don't want to buy anything that I don't need.  Although, I must own up that I had visited an op shop with Maureen and bought a pair of plastic slippers for around the camper. ;-)

We stocked up on groceries, because Maureen would also be visiting for a few days, and I bought myself a bottle of wine.  After all that I rang the real estate to find out what was going on and why hadn't they sent for an electrician or a plumber....

Friday 19 October 2018

I don't really have much to tell about Friday.  I had a shower and breakfast and worked on my laptop to update my blog until Maureen arrived.  After that it was an afternoon of chatting and after dinner we played cards: Base 8, I think the game was called.

Saturday 20 October 2018

Patricia left very early in the morning to visit relatives in Rockhampton.  It was quite a drive, so she would stay there till Monday morning.  Maureen and I were left to look after the house and animals (as agreed beforehand).

For breakfast I had Bircher muesli, which I had bought the day before.  I hadn't had that for a long time and it is really nice, in particular with lots of fruit...

Maureen wanted to look around a bit in the area and check out Moore Park Beach, as she would like to stay there a few nights later on.  

We drove past the Bucca Hotel and looked for a cache in the area, however, I was so attacked by a legion of mozzies that I didn't stay long enough to find it.  We drove on, walked on the beach for a bit and bought an ice cream.  

After dinner, when home, I stitched a few cards and we played Upwords together.

CMCA Rally - Gunnedah 2018

Friday 5 October 2018

Staging area

As a first timer (again) I was allowed in a day early, so we were directed to the Showgrounds at 8am.  We first timers were put into the central oval of the showgrounds and after I had set up I met the couple 'next door', Peter and Anne.  I also saw Vivienne (the Sorbent girl!) from WA and Margaret from Adelaide.  Not much else happened on the first day.  Just settling in and exploring was what I mainly did.

A wet start of the day

The oval is filling up

Ground parrots

Sunset (seen through the fly screen)

Saturday 6 October 2018

There was a morning walk offered every day, so I joined the group on Saturday at 7.30am.

When back I was invited by Anne & Peter for morning tea and Brian, from the other camper, came around for a chat.

After that I found time to empty the toilet cassette and when I came back the others were filling up their water tanks, so I was offered to use their hose to fill mine as well. Brian was using a handy storage bag for his hose, and after asking he told me that they sold them as well, so I bought one of him.

I also booked a craft class for later in the week and took the bus to Aldi in town for groceries.

By the end of the day a lot of the ordinary CMCA members had been let in, so many of the Solos members had arrived as well.  I joined them later for happy hour and asked Max if I could be his partner for the Rock 'n Roll classes.  I was already planning to go to the line dancing classes, but Rock 'n Roll was only on my list if I could find a partner, which I did.

Sunday 7 October 2018

On Sunday a special breakfast was offered for the first timers.  An excellent breakfast and a great time to connect with other newcomers.  I met Elaine, who was from Logan Reserve and we had morning tea together later at my place.  Hardly anybody had missed the changeover to daylight saving time, because we were now in NSW.

I went to the trade hall and put my name on the list for a table with the Solos for Friday night entertainment, rostered on for volunteer work during the week and talked about motorhomes with Jan from Philip Island.  As I am planning to go the Barcaldine next year I bought a string of led lights that will be used for the record attempt I may have talked about earlier. 

The dance classes had started, so I went to line dancing and Rock 'n Roll, which I would do every day from then on.  I didn't go to Happy Hour.

I didn't feel like cooking either, so I went to Ed's Tucker Box and bought a nice meal: pumpkin soup with toasted Turkish bread and a rhubarb & raspberry crumble after.

In the big marquee we were entertained that night by Joey Fimmano.

Monday 8 October 2018

The AGM was planned for Monday and since I did not want to get involved with the politics of the club (yet) I did not attend.  For the same reason there was no morning walk, but I went on my own walk and found two caches.

A few impressions of the showground

Unfortunately it was in the middle of the day, quite hot and with a rather steep climb to Pensioners Hill, so when I returned I had a terrible headache.  And I sincerely hope that people who read this will not say: "I hope you drank enough water", because frankly, water isn't the end all and cure all for headaches which I have endured since I was 8 years old!  It's the first response I get nowadays when I dare mention a headache and I am getting pretty sick of it.....

Of the 4 caches that I attempted I found only 2.  The one on the hill had gone and another one I could see, but it was out of reach.  I also met two women from Narrabri who had only just started geocaching the day before.  They found the one I was after and I only needed to sign the log. ;-)

# 1993 - Virtual Solar System - Neptune (cache)

# 1994 - Get Gnarly (cache)

On Pensioners Hill there also was a nice walkway lined with sculptures of which I took a few photos.

The track up the hill

View from the hill onto the showground

railway and silos

The entertainment for the night was by Mawer & McCallum.

Tuesday 9 October 2018

Today was workshop time, so I joined a small group of women from 8.30 till 10.30 am to learn how to make a patchwork bag.  I quite enjoyed this and was keen enough to take the unfinished kit home to work on it during the following days.

I went on to have a look at a few of the traders who were around and bought a small Christmas present for a future BSW get-together.  I also booked the fashion parade for Friday.

After lunch and working on the patchwork kit 'at home' I made my way to the school building, the place for line dancing and rock 'n roll for the rest of the week.  The weather had been heating up and after the dancing I was quite hot so bought a lovely ice cream made with fresh fruit.  Yummy!

When back at the camper a young woman stopped for a chat.  She was Vaska from Macedonia and told a lot about holidaying in her former country.  Next a young couple also stopped and wanted information about my coaster as they were planning to buy one.  The company who had fitted out my bus were also present and I told them a few stories!  I don't think they will make this sale! ;-)

Wednesday 10 October 2018

Early in the morning one of the neighbours had removed a branch from underneath my solar panel.  It had been there for a while, but I had not been able to reach it to remove.  All good now.

Morning walks are out of the question for me, because line dancing and rock 'n roll are early in the morning and shortly after the walk finishes, which would be too much for my back.  I am just holding up with approx. 3 hours of dancing....

After lunch I walk over to the craft shed for the second part of the patchwork workshop.  Glad to be under cover, because we have a sudden thunderstorm accompanied by hail.

The coloured bag is an example of what we are making

Since the temperature had plummeted during the storm and since it was still rather wet I did not go out to see if happy hour was being held.  Neither did I feel like cooking, so I went to Ed's Tucker Box again for another meal.  This time pea & ham soup and sticky date pudding for dessert.

Entertainment was alright (by Johanna & Steve), but got a bit boring after an hour of the same, so I went home by 8.30 pm.

Thursday 11 October 2018

I slept in after a disturbed night, due to a thunderstorm.  Again I went to line dancing and rock 'n roll classes and then had some lunch.

I got totally entranced with my patchwork and forgot all about shopping, so I had to make do with what I had in the fridge and pantry.  The shuttle buses only go till 3 pm.

At 4 pm I went and joined the newly formed 'Bus Group' under the umbrella of the CMCA.  It is a special group for Coasters and the likes.  I met Bill and Lee, who have founded the group and their wives Lyne and Barb.  The latter had also been to the patchwork workshop, so I sort of knew her already.  Further people I met were Jamie from Nth Stradbroke Island and Maureen & Graham.

When it came to cooking dinner I ran out of gas right in the middle of it, so I put everything away in the fridge and walked over to Ed's Tucker Box.  No punishment for me! ;-)  I had a lovely Thai Chicken dinner.

I didn't go out at night time, as I wasn't quite interested in the entertainment that was offered that night, but listened to my own music instead and worked on my bag.

Friday 12 October 2018

As I had booked to go to the fashion parade in town I didn't go to the dance classes, but got on the bus that dropped us off in town.  The fashion parade was okay.  Not all the clothing was my style and besides, I would not have bought anything that morning that would have required to try in the fitting rooms, because I would not have wanted to line up in a very, very long queue.  That also went for the checkout.  Luckily I had seen a pair of sandals on special when I came in and had paid for them before the parade started.  I left early and did my shopping at Aldi and Coles and got some pins at the craft shop, so I could keep going with my patchwork.

When back I went to empty the cassette again and in the meantime Brian had been so friendly as to take my empty gas bottle in for a refill.  Picked it up in the afternoon, when it would have been too heavy for me to carry all the way back to the camper.

During the week I had gathered quite a number of shopping dockets and handed them all in together with my name on them.  The shopping dockets would be counted at the end of the rally so there would be evidence of how much the rally-goers would have spent in town.  (The total amount was staggering by the way!)  During the week three dockets were taken out of the barrel and those people would receive a prize.  I was the lucky one on Friday and received three $20 vouchers to spend at the local Bowls Club.  As I didn't know too many people and Max had kindly functioned as my dance partner during the week it was a logical step to invite him to join me at the Club for lunch the following day.

The rest of the night was great.  I can't remember who the entertainers were, but the line dancing group was on their feet all night, and I with them.  I had to nurse a number of blisters the next day!  This entertainment night was different from the others in that we now all sat with groups around tables and were allowed drinks and nibblies.  I sat next to Dianne (a former teacher) and got to know her a bit better.  She was a Solo member also.

I forgot about pictures, but had at least one, taken of the screen, but can't remember what it was about...

As the theme of the night was 'Australiana', and I had come unprepared again, I found an Australian flag in my geocaching backpack (had needed that one in Prague), and draped it around me like a shawl.  Together with my, hardly ever used, Australian Akubra type of hat I did reasonably well. ;-)

Never been any good with selfies though...

Saturday 13 October 2018

I had rostered on to man the Solos table in the trade and information hall, so I did my turn from 11-12, after which Max picked me up and we walked to the Bowls Club in town.  Lunch was great, and the company too, so the vouchers were well spent.

I was a rather hot day and after lunch I felt like a nanny nap, so down I went for a while.  I made an effort to join the Solos at Happy Hour as it was our last day and chatted away with a few people.  Even discovered that there wasn't one member from Bribie Island, but in fact there were two, and both members of the walking group which I plan to join.  And then went to our last entertainment night after dinner.


And well, that's basically my week in Gunnedah.  I had a great time at both rallies and made new friends and learned a lot.

We said goodbye and left on Sunday morning, but that will be my next instalment.