Solos - Yallakool Park at Bjelke Petersen Dam

This time I am going on a mid-week camping trip with the sub-branch of the Solos: the Rainbow Lorikeets.  There are a lot of separate Solos groups spread all over Australia and they are all named after birds.  So, the group in my area is called the Rainbow Lorikeets.  I'm quite happy with that, as the rainbow lorikeet is a colourful bird and we all wear shirts to show off those beautiful colours: bright green, blue, red, etc.  I bought mine this week and chose the red one:

Sorry, not in the mood for selfies ;-)

It also goes very well with the spare fleece jacket I always carry in my camper. :-)

 But, back to the story now:

Sunday 11 November 2018

I leave a day early as Angus is playing a gridiron game at the Sunshine Coast Stadium this morning.  As the stadium is at Kawana, just north of where I live, it makes sense to take to camper so I don't have to drive home and back north again on Monday morning.

We have some time to kill while Angus is doing his warm up and we walk across the road where I know there to be some geocaches.  Luckily Kevin reminded me...  We found two.

#2007 - Start Line (cache)

#2008 - Start Over Again (cache)

Then it was time for the game:

Angus is in the team with grey sports uniforms.  Initially I didn't enjoy the game, as it is so far removed from the faster soccer games that I am used to, and know the rules of.  However, I started to see the broader picture of the game and quite liked it in the end.  Will need to look up the actual rules though...

Adele's friend from the Sunshine Coast had joined us for the game and afterwards we went for lunch at a nearby cafe.  After lunch I said goodbye to the family and Adele's friend came with me to have a look at the camper as they were thinking of buying one themselves.

I left at 2 pm with plenty of time to spare between Kawana and Bjelke Petersen Dam, but I wasn't in a hurry to get to my final destination, so stopped past Gympie at the, by know well-known (for me) rest area Chatsworth Park (#159) for the night.

Monday 12 November 2018

I took some pictures at Chatsworth Park and left after morning tea. 

It was only a short drive to Bjelke Petersen Dam and with a stop to buy a nice, juicy pineapple at a road stall, I arrived just before lunch at Yallakool Tourist Park at BP Dam. 

When I was paying for my campsite Gary, whom I had met at the coffee morning on the Sunshine Coast just recently, walked in.  He was here for the week too. At afternoon tea I met up with Sue and Louise from the same place and Lorraine and Margaret who I remembered from Mudgee.  It's a different feeling now I am getting to know all these people a bit better...

In the afternoon I got a lovely visit from a King Parrot, which flew from awning, to chair, to table, and gave me plenty of time for pictures.

Tuesday 13 November 2018

As during the rallies we like to walk in the mornings, so it was no surprise that we would have a look at the dam, which was only at14% of its full capacity. Yes, we have been in a drought indeed, but it made for a nice walk nonetheless.

Sue, waving...

After morning tea I played Bush Rummy with a number of people, of which Josephine who wanted to learn this game and Canasta (much the same as Hand and Foot).  I spoke with Dave about the Mudgee and Blackall rallies and about volunteering at Blackall.  Also talked to (chubby) John, whose wife likes to travel overseas and he likes Australia, so they travel separately.

I didn't go to Happy Hour, but instead sat with (American) John and (Chubby) John and talked about travelling.  First John has been everywhere and had interesting tales to tell.

Dinner was sausage sizzle, always a welcome variation at camps.  Met Val, Roz and Wilma and two Dutchies, John and Corrie.  We planned to play cards the following day.  

I skipped Trivia Night as I am hard of hearing and no good at answering questions anyway, so I had a quiet night by myself.

Wednesday 14 November 2018

Another dam walk was called for.  This time we took the dam wall. I talked mainly with Dave and Gary, or rather, I listened to Gary, because you can't get a word in sideways. He's a nice guy though...

It's easy to sea how low the water level is.
It can easily come halfway the dam wall.

That's Dave and Gary at the back

Plenty of birds, but not easy to identify without binoculars
(except for the pelicans and probably cormorants)

Marion and Catherine

At 11 am we all got together for our AGM (Annual General Meeting) with a surprising discussion about a member and some happenings in the community, about which I don't need to elaborate here.  Let's just say that I found it rather interesting. ;-)

I also wanted to apologise to Sue whom I had unwittingly placed in an awkward position (or so I thought), but as it was, it hadn't been me at all, so I was neatly let off the hook. :-)

As planned we play cards in the afternoon and at 4 pm we played Grocery Grab!

I am sorry to have not taken any pictures, but it was rather full on and I wouldn't have had time to do so.  

Grocery Grab

We all brought a grocery item, which could be a tin of beans, a bottle of wine, biscuits, or whatever took our fancy. We all wrote 10 numbers (between 1 and 70) on a piece of paper which we had to hang on to.  The items were placed on a table in the centre and we sat in a big circle around it.

Next a person started to call out numbers and if your number was on your piece of paper you could take an item from the table, and place it in front of you on the ground.  So could everyone else.  When all the items were gone from the table you could go to any item you fancied and take that from the person who had it in front of them.

You guessed it, it became a hilarious event, because some items were pretty popular (wine, anybody?) and of course were 'fought' over.  Those items would be carried from one person to the next and you were lucky to end up with your favourite one.

I was lucky enough to end up with 3 grocery items, and all three favourites.  Mine, not others' apparently. :-)  I went home with a set of plastic wine glasses (which might make a nice Christmas present, or part thereof), buja mix and my favourite coffee sachets.

The game ended when someone had a 'bingo', all numbers on their piece of paper crossed off.

Thursday 15 November 2018

Sue had mentioned the day before that she didn't know what direction to take for another walk and when I mentioned that I would go off on my own to search for a cache she suggested we would all do so together.

I explained to the group what geocaching was about and what was to be expected for this cache and off we went.  It didn't take long for one of the members to spot the container.

#2009 - Dam turn Off (cache)

After we'd found it most of the group went off to walk again to the dam wall, but as it was a hot day I didn't feel like it and went to sit in the shade instead.

I solved some crossword puzzles and played a bit of Wordfeud and I had just started on my blog when I had visitors!  What a surprise.  Denise and Maureen from Wondai had rung Sue earlier to ask if hey could come to join in for morning tea and upon arrival they'd recognised my camper, so we all had morning tea together.

After lunch I joined the card playing group in the shelter, but finished off my patchwork bag and just watched the card game in progress.

Happy Hour, (I still go to happy hour, but don't drink) was spent talking with Josephine, Sandy and Tony.

Friday 16 November 2018

Most people had either left late Thursday night or were leaving early Friday morning, so there was no official walk or morning tea.  However, as I wanted to find a second cache, which' existence I had discovered rather late, I went for a walk and Josephine wanted to join me.

Together we walked to the end of the dam wall and I found the cache hidden amongst the rocks. 

#2010 - Another Dam Cache at BP Dam (cache)

Back at the camper I started to pack up to leave.  Josephine and I had morning tea together and a bit of a chat before she took off.

I went and emptied the toilet cassette and took in some fresh water in readiness for the next trip.

I left at 11 am, not knowing if I would stop at Benarkin for the night or would just drive home.  In the end I went for the latter.

Stopped for fuel and lunch at Nanango and for afternoon tea at Woodford and was home by 4 pm.

I unpacked, declined a BBQ dinner at Maree's, had a little bit to eat and went to bed.  The heat of the day and the driving (?) had caused me a headache which lasted well into the Saturday morning, but.... I had a great week with the Rainbow Lorikeets, ready to repeat in December.

BSW - Mulgowie

Friday 2 November 2018

This is probably going to be the shortest and most boring post I have ever published. ;-)  However, I am not saying that the weekend was boring....

When I arrived early Friday morning I was greeted by a few people who had arrived the day before.  Other friends arrived later.

Morning and afternoon tea were spent in much the usual way, disc bowls was being played and at night time we played our game of Bush Rummy.

The rest of the time I spent mostly in or near my camper as I also wanted some me time.  The last couple of weeks have been very social weeks and I didn't need a lot more of that for the time being.

On the other hand I wanted to join the group, because I do like to see and talk to the regulars and keep up with what is going on.

Mulgowie is a tiny country town in the Lockyer Valley and doesn't have much to offer besides peace and quiet.  Normally.  This time it was harvest time for some of the produce and the heavy machinery was put to work day and night, although it didn't really bother me.

We went to the Mulgowie Hotel on Saturday night and I had a nice steak with chips and salad.  The choice of meals was not great (some complained that there was too much chicken on offer), but the meal was well prepared and tasted good.  The price was just what you expect to pay, but I was not overly impressed with the fact that they don't take cards and if you have to use the ATM it costs you $2.50.  A win-win situation for the hotel.  They don't pay the extra fees, but we do!!!

I left Sunday after morning tea, all packed and ready to go home, with a detour to Adele's place to say hello to all.

The trip back was supposed to be a scenic one through the Samford Valley, but I had misjudged the road.  Scenic alright, if I had had the opportunity to look around me.  However, it was the most taxing trip, both for me and the camper, since it was all winding road for kilometres on end and very steep in places with slopes of 12% and 15%, which at times slowed me down to 30 or 40 kms/h, but we never faltered.....

A sign said: no heavy trucks, boats or caravans.  Well, my vehicle didn't tow anything and was around the 4t limit, so I took my chance.  As I said, very taxing, but I now know what my camper and me are capable of. ;-)

Well, that's all for now.  Home for a week and then on to the Solos get-together.  Sorry, no photographs this time.  I'll try to remember to take a few next week.

See you then.

After the two rallies - third week

Sunday 28 October 2018

Barbara, who had come with us to Maryborough, but was also on her way home, left us on Sunday.  Patricia and I visited and 'old' friend from Russell Island, who now lives in Maryborough with her daughter, Debbie.  We had been there before, but it was nice to see them again and know that they are doing well.

It was a very hot day and Patricia and I were both quite tired when we came back, so both of us had a little nap in our respective vehicles.  I just had a rest, but Patricia slept and unbeknown to her had 'overheated'.  When she came to the house she was still groggy and not doing well.  I tried her to cool herself down with wet cloths, but she didn't improve, so Annie decided to call an ambulance, just to be safe.  The young man was very patient and kind and did some tests as a precaution, but she was gradually doing better and was not taken to hospital.

She was very cross with herself as Annie had had visitors that afternoon who played the ukulele.  All of them were going to have a jam session (Patricia plays the ukulele too), but of course, that didn't happen.

After dinner the sky turned black and we had a storm coming towards us very fast.  Knowing what can happen if things go wrong I wanted to get away from under the trees and moved my camper to an open spot.  However, in a hurry to outrun the storm I had forgotten to close the windows first and by the time I got to them everything was already soaking wet.  Bed and all...  Luckily it was a very warm night and I didn't need all the bedlinen, so slept well and the next day everything dried quickly.

Monday 29 October 2018

Sunday was my last day at Annie's and I left Monday morning after morning tea with Ian.  I'd said goodbye to Patricia and Annie as they had to go to a ukulele class.

My next visit was with one of the ladies from the 5Ws whom I had messaged before.  I didn't have far to go as Eris also lived in Maryborough.  We had coffee and a lovely muffin at her place and than she took me into town to show me a few places.  Not having told her that I had been the day before, we saw similar spots, but of course, as we walked I had a lot more time to take in all the sites, which was quite enjoyable.  

A huge fig tree sending out its roots

Jacaranda season, and this is only a small one

Visiting Mary Poppins again

Eris and Mary

A kookaburra on a post....

....and on the ground

From Maryborough we went to Hervey Bay on the coast and met Desley, also a 5W meber.  Together we had coffee and cake at Enzo's, a beach side restaurant.

Marion, Eris and Desley

Then it was time to say goodbye again as I had to make my way to Gympie before dark. I stayed at Chatswood Park (#159) where I had stayed before.  A nice rest area, albeit a bit close to the highway.

Tuesday 30 October 2018

I love Gympie and would have liked to spend some time near the lakes or otherwise, but could only drive through this time as I had promised to be at Maroochydore to meet yet again a few people.

I arrived at The Coffee Club a bit after 10 am and met Louise who was already waiting.  The group of people I was to have morning tea with were Solo members.  Shortly after me Gary, Sue and .... (name forgotten) joined us.  

I left just after 12 pm as my parking spot (very lucky to have found one in the middle of a busy town) allowed me only 2 hours, but it was enough, because I was to meet the group again in a few weeks time.

A nice drive led me through Buderim and Peachester (where I had a break for lunch) and at the end of the afternoon I arrived at Cruize Park (#499) for my overnight stay.

It was lovely to see the country up here so green again after the rains.  Down south it was only brown, brown and ..... brown!

Wednesday 31 October 2018

Early in the morning I went for a short walk with the aim to look for a geocache, but there were too many campers around, so I didn't really give it a go.

On my way back I spoke to a young French couple from Strassbourg (no, not in French!;-)) who were here for a year to see Australia.  They have given themselves plenty of time as opposed to those who come here to see the country in 3 weeks! 

I left the campsite at approx. 9.30 am and did some shopping at IGA in Kilkoy.

After Kilkoy my GPS sent me via an unusual road to Toogoolawah: Gregors Creek Road, which was a most scenic drive which I enjoyed very much.  

 I had a morning tea break near Toogoolawah at Pol Crandle Park (#506).  I had stayed at Toogoolawah with the BSW not so long ago, but now it looked worse for wear after the recent devastating bushfires in the area.

I passed through Esk as well, another little town that I like much, and stopped to buy a postage stamp, so I could send my card off to the Netherlands, and bought a few more puzzle solving books.  I like to have them handy in the camper for the odd spare moment.

I made a detour via the Atkinson Dam for lunch at the lake.  I had been there before and back then the water level was already low, but this time it was even worse.  We need more rain still...

The rest of the trip was a pleasure too, in particular now everything looks so green and healthy again.  The Lockyer Valley that I passed through is more or less Brisbane's salad bowl and it is evident when you see all the crops: zucchini, corn, sweet potato, silverbeet, cauliflower, pumpkin, etc.  A great sight.

I made good time the rest of the way and arrived at Gatton RV Park where I found a dump point and got set up for the night.  The park has no number as such, because I found it through the CMCA app instead of in the Camps Australia book which I normally use.  For location purposes it's William Kemp Park on the Lockyer Creek. 

Thursday 1 November 2018

I forgot to take pictures of the campsite, but have a few that I took later in the day when I went in search of a few caches.  I had not yet been to Gatton, but I liked the town.  

A few early workers woke me up very early with their machines, so I got up and had breakfast and sat in the early morning sun to play my Wordfeud.  After that I went for a walk.  First two caches nearby (well, nearby is not far if you compare it with a walk to Perth!), but I made it, albeit not without blisters on my heels.  It really is too hot in summer for long walks if you are soft-skinned.

#2003 - The End Of The Line 2 (cache)

#2004 - Hallowed Ground (cache)

I still had to walk a bit further as I needed to post my card and the post office was in the centre of town.  My mother would have scolded me if she would have seen me folding down the back of my shoes and walk in them like I would walk on slippers.  "Wrecking your good shoes!" she would have said, but it did the trick and the shoes survived! :-)

A few impressions of the walk through town (but forgot the RV Park)

It's hard to believe that this narrow, but deep,
creek would have flooded in 2011, but it did.

the Range in the distance

I knew there to be two more caches, but as they were not within walking distance I decided to leave after lunch and drive there so I could walk the short distance then.

As it was, they were close to an attractive lake and a complex in which the VIC with a coffee shop, public library, and the Queensland Transport Museum were housed.  I gave the museum a miss as I wasn't in the mood for it.  

I took some photos in the Visitors Centre, but will not post all of them so as not to be too boring...

war history

The walk around the lake was pleasant, in particular now I was wearing my slippers rather than walking shoes.  The small islands in the lakes were teeming with birds: ibis, egrets, water fowl, ducks, and numerous others that I couldn't see, but did hear.

The two caches that I found were:

#2005 - Sign of an Olympian (cache)

#2006 - Gad About Gatton (cache)

Glad with the day's results I got back to the camper and drove to Kevin's place in Regency Downs where I would stay the night.

Kevin knew I was coming and arrived home a bit earlier than he had done of late and so we had dinner and a chat before it was bedtime again.

I would leave the next morning to go to Mulgowie, a bit more to the south, where I was going to spend a weekend with the BSW group.  A separate post will follow in due time.