Thursday, 1 November 2018

After the two rallies - second week

Sunday 21 October 2018


A day to sleep in for a bit and I had coffee in bed.  After that I had breakfast, my shower and fed the animals.  Mr Wilson in particular is eager for his food in the morning and is waiting at the fence.

Paul, house friend and handyman, came around to mow the grass and stayed for a cuppa and a chat.

Maureen left after lunch as she was eager to camp at Moore Park Beach.  I spent the rest of the day playing Wordfeud, working on my patchwork bag and solving a few puzzles till it was time to feed the animals.  Bud and Mr Wilson get a treat during the day, but are keen for food again at this time of the day.  Harry is quite laid back and is happy enough with a scratch on his head from time to time.


Harry, the cockatoo

Looking out over the property from the veranda




The day ended with a thunderstorm that frightened Bud, so I let him in the house till it had passed.  Luckily no hail this time and even Maureen had survived in her camper at the beach.

Monday 22 October 2018


After I had fed the animals Paul was back to borrow the trailer.  He helped me taking the cover of my ceiling fan in the camper as it was very much time to clean the darn thing, but I had not been able to remove the cover.  Now I know how to, so next time will be a breeze.

Not long after Patricia arrived.  She had been to Bundaberg as well, because in an earlier storm, before I had arrived at Bucca and which was a real bad one, her van was damaged by the hail and the outer cover of her vent had big holes in it, so that had to be repaired.

The house had also suffered damage, like the whirly birds on the roof, the windows on the south side, a few of the awnings and other bits and pieces, but Paul had already done the temporary repairs and the windows had been replaced before my arrival.

Barbara, a friend of Patricia's, arrived not long after and while she and Patricia caught up on the latest gossip I worked on my blog.  We also went for a late afternoon walk with Bud, who would not listen and Paul who was working at a neighbouring property, had to send him home.  We chatted for a while and Paul showed us how the storm had damaged even more windows on the one side of this house, including the timber walls and the airconditioning unit.  It must have been some storm!

Walking Bud, although Bud has disappeared....

The roof of our house seen through the trees (on the right)

After dinner we played cards.  If I remember well the game was called: Base 8.

Tuesday 23 October 2018


In the morning I took up various things to keep myself occupied and next we visited Paul, who lives close to the weir in the Kolan River.  The weir doesn't overflow often, but after the latest weather there was still a lot of movement.






Paul showed us his property where he keeps domestic and wild pigs, and after that and a chat we left and went back home, but not before a stop at the Bucca Hotel for a cool drink.


The interior of the hotel




We had lunch at home, but left again shortly after to visit the Mystery Craters and Sharon Gorge.
There was a cache at each place, so we got those as well.


#1998 - Still in the Gum Trees (cache)




This cache was at the back of a cemetery

#1999 - Sharon Gorge Rest Area (cache)




I have only taken pictures of the Mystery Craters as the mozzies were so bad at Sharon Gorge that I ran back after I had logged the cache.  Again they nearly carried me away.....

So, pictures of the craters:








Barbara and Patricia at Sharon Gorge

Wednesday 24 October 2018


I spent the morning keeping myself busy with the usual things until Patricia mentioned that she had some business in Bargara, so Barbara and I came along for the trip and together we went for a beach walk AND a cache.  It was to be a special one, because it was my 2000th!


A busy beach on a hot summer's day!

Patricia, Barbara and me

Windmills seem to be popular anywhere...

#2000 - Surf Patrol (cache)





Happy with this milestone: 2000

Patricia, with her love of op shops, needed to visit a few, but we also bought groceries to keep us going for a while.  As we had brought along a thermos we had a cuppa near the beach with a (bought) vanilla slice. 

After dinner we had a pleasant evening again, playing our usual card game.


Thursday 25 October 2018


Barbara had Gin Gin on her to do list, so that was our next outing.  As Patricia and I had not found the art gallery the first time around we visited this together with Barbara.

We also popped into a craft shop and I found an old-fashioned needle threader which I can put to good use!

After a much needed drink (a thick shake for Patricia and me) we left and went home for lunch.

After lunch I parked the camper below the veranda, so that I could reach the roof, which had become quite dirty during the 2-1/2 years I have been driving around the country.  It's a pity I forgot to take pictures, because it was a sight to be seen.  The brush handle broke, so I had to use one with a shorter handle and none of the hoses were in good condition, which really was a understatement!

So many holes, that we were lucky to get some water out of the end bit, but I got it done and all the black mould and dust are gone.  We ended up a tad bit wet..... ;-)

I have a few pictures left that I haven't posted yet, so here goes:





Mr Wilson, the horse

The house (side with the damaged awnings)

Patrica and I playing our Wordfeud games

Bud, resting his head....

Friday 26 October 2018


All ready and packed, there wasn't much else to do than to wait for Margaret and Jamie to come back home from their cruise.  They arrived after lunch, so we left after a chat for our next stage of the trip: Maryborough.

We left at 3 pm and stopped at Childers where I knew there to be a dump point for my cassette.  After I had emptied it we continued on in tandem to Maryborough.  Patricia and I each in our campers and Barbara in her car.

We arrived at Annie and Ian's place at 5 pm.  We parked our campers in a great spot on their beautiful property and got ready to go out for dinner, which we had at the Lamington Hotel, accompanied by a friend of the family: Peter.




I also received some sad news.  The only sister of Frans whom I still saw regularly during the recent years, had passed away suddenly.  She was in in her early 80s.  I will miss her as she has always been a good sport.  I am so glad I saw her and her daughters a few times when I was in the Netherlands in December.


Saturday 27 October 2018


I had early breakfast in the camper and did some washing.  In the morning I took time out to make a sympathy card as I was lucky enough to have my craft tools and materials in the camper.  After lunch Annie took us into town to have look around.  We visited the war memorial, a museum, Queens Park, the Wharf and the statue of Mary Poppins.  The museum was an old shop which was left as it had always been when the owner decided that he'd had enough.  I will file the numerous photographs under a tab called museum.  It was most interesting and quite surprising. The name of it is Brennan and Geraghty's Store Museum. 
Mary Poppins has a special connection with Maryborough.  Follow the links for more information on the various items.  Mary Poppins has also inspired the people to change the pedestrian traffic light pictures into this:



War Memorial








Brennan and Geraghty's Store Museum






Visit of the town was short, but interesting and I can always come back if I want to see more at leisure.  We also found two caches, one at the war memorial and the other one close to the statue of Mary Poppins.


#2001 - Come and say Hi to Duncan (cache)





#2002 - Mary Poppins (cache)






After our venturing into town we went home and had a BBQ dinner.  Quite tired (it was a hot day again) I went to my camper early and went to bed.  



Tuesday, 30 October 2018

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.