BSW - Kandanga Bowls Club

Friday 1 February 2019

As I mentioned before, I would be back at Kandanga in no time as the BSW had planned a weekend.  This time I didn't have to travel via Montville, so I took the shortest route, which meant I was doing a 110km/hr on the motorway for most of the trip, and with four new tyres fitted at the rear recently I felt quite safe in doing so.

I had taken my time in the morning to get ready.  Topped up water, emptied toilet and packed clothes and groceries as usual.  I had a salad for lunch and left shortly after.  I also stocked up on some vegies and watermelon.  The latter is just so refreshing in this kind of weather. 

Unfortunately I had been a bit optimistic with the contents of the fuel tank.  I didn't top up at home, nor did I along the motorway, in the hope to get some cheaper fuel when turning off it.  As it was, the fuel was cheaper, but I could not find a petrol station before Kandanga and by then I was driving with my fuel light on! Filled up with 75+ litres...

Upon arrival I had afternoon tea and a chat with the BSW members who had already arrived.  Cooked spaghetti for dinner and went for a walk afterwards, as the evening was nice and cool. 

Saturday 2 February 2019

Saturday was a quiet affair. I was up early and had the company for a chat from Ron, Bob, Rod, and Carol in turn. Breakfast and WF (whatever that stands for ;-)) and then morning tea. 

I paid for accommodation, raffle and dinner and played cards with Wendy, Fay and Pauline before and after lunch.  A chat at afternoon tea and then dinner at the club, which was every bit as good as last time I was here.

Had a bit of a chat with Kevin and then it was bed time.

Following just a collection of impressions of Kandanga.

You can tell I love cows! ;-)

Campsite

Bowls Club

Bridge near the camp site

view from Kadanga main road

cooking dinner

free camp on the other site

disused railway 

me next to Mellow Yellow

Sunday 3 February 2019

I woke up early and chatted with Gerrie and Nicole just before breakfast.  I packed up before morning tea so that I could leave shortly after to be home early as I had to pick up my visitors at the airport in the afternoon.

My visitors were Bo & Peter from Vienna and were coming to stay on Bribie Island as their part of our exchange.  Originally they would stay for two weeks, but had shortened that to just a week.

My plan from the beginning was to stay away for at least two weeks, but when I was going to have another visitor from Brighton, UK, I had changed my plans, not knowing that I was to have to change them yet again.  Gillian would accompany me in the camper and I had planned a tour of the area, including visiting friends and some interesting towns and sites.  As it was she had to cancel her trip and did not come to Queensland.  So, instead of all that I decided that now was the time to get my new caravan door fitted, so you will read all about the upcoming trip next.

Going back to Bo & Peter, I picked them up from the airport and had a bunch of flowers for Bo, because it was her birthday.  I had also baked an apple cake (read: birthday cake) and had invited Maree from next door to join us for a drink in honour of Bo.  That way they were introduced to each other for the time I was going to be away.

Peter, Maree, Bo

Bo's birthday cake

view from Mary Cairncross park

Bo taking pictures

On Monday I took Bo & Peter out for a trip to Mary Cairncross Park and Montville, but it wasn't a great success.  I think they had different expectations of their holiday and there is nothing that one can do about that than do the best you can...

Solos - Kandanga Bowls Club

Monday 14 January 2019 - Friday 17 January 2019

Another short midweek outing with the Rainbow Lorikeets.  

I would have loved to leave on Sunday, but after my airconditioning had been re-gassed the Friday before I had problems with a slipping V-belt.  As my regular mechanic is in Montville I made a detour on Monday morning on my way to Kandanga to have the belt tightened.  As expected I needed a new belt, but I was aware of it, so we decided to get one ordered in during the week and I would drop in on my way back to have it fixed.  All good.  On my way to Kandanga then....

Past Maleney I had the choice of taking Obi Obi Road, a very steep and winding road, or a longer way around via Nambour.  Also steep, but downhill, so I went for that one.  As I had left home at a very early hour I arrived at Kandanga at 10 am where I was greeted by Garry and Bruce, the 'parkologists'  ;-)  who found me a nice spot amongst the expected 50 vehicles.

Most people were keen to play cards and so was I, so Corrie, John, Gary, Kevin and I sat down for a serious game of Bush Rummy. :-)

After lunch Maureen and Denise arrived and we had a chat until Happy Hour when we chatted some more...

The rest of the week followed on in much the same manner: walks at 7 am followed by morning tea and various other entertainment.  

On Tuesday wine and cheese tasting at the Visitors Information Centre with the option to buy clothes and/or gifts in the store, which I finished off with a very cold glass of beer at the Bowls Club on this hot day (I did not partake in the wine & cheese tasting);

On Wednesday morning morning tea was followed by a grocery grab.  Much fun as usual, of course, and I ended up with a can of beans and a can of pumpkin soup;

On Wednesday night we had dinner a the Country Club which was much appreciated as it was a much better spread than the Christmas dinner at Beerwah.  We finished the night with dancing and fantastic music was by Leo and Dave.

Every afternoon I managed to watch disc bowls.  It's a shame I can't play anymore, but I am not willing to risk a sore shoulder after all I have been through with that.  Watching is great fun though as well.

On Thursday, our last 'official' day, many people left, but at least half of the group stayed till Friday.

On Friday morning I packed early and said goodbye to who was left, which weren't many by the time I left, and I started my trip back home.

This time I chanced Obi Obi Road.  Again, very steep and winding, but do-able and I had a little peek at the beautiful scenery in the hills.  I arrived timely at Montville so that the engine could cool down enough for Lathan to work on the vehicle.  It was fixed in no time, so I left and stopped at Matthew Flinders Park near Mt Tibrogargan and had lunch there.  I was home by 2 pm.

Kandanga Creek

a scarecrow on the tractor

overview of the camping grounds

Kevin in charge

beautiful healthy cattle

Kandanga Creek

and more cattle next to the camping grounds...

...keeping an eye on us

No geocaches this time.  The one and only in the area was too far away.

Till next time.  I may be back at Kandanga before long....

Geocaching at Toorbul & Albany Creek

Friday 28 December 2019

Christmas this year was a quiet affair, which in hindsight I probably could have better spent camping with the Solos at Lake MacDonald.  However, it was not all lost as Kevin came over for a short visit between the public holidays and we spent a day geocaching together.  Almost a year ago a number of new caches had been published nearby when I was away overseas.  It's always handy though to have a few handy. ;-)

We found all but one, on a hot day with plenty of sea breeze to keep us reasonably cool.  Most of the caches were in walking distance from each other, so we took our time. 

#2013 - George Bishop Causeway (cache)

#2014 - OZ Day Sangas (cache)

#2015 - Catch a Snag (cache)

#2016 - Roosting Shore Birds (cache)

#2017 - Drop Bears (cache)

#2018 - Moffatt Esplanade (cache)

#2019 - Just Around the Corner (cache)

And also a few general pictures of the area:

Groundspeak would give away two virtual souvenirs at the end of the year: one for finding a cache on new year's eve and another one for a cache on new year's day.  Kevin and I went for a walk when I was staying at Adele's and could log the two caches.  Glad to have two more souvenirs as well. 

#2020 -  Faerie Hideaway (cache)

#2021 - A Rocking good place (cache)

Poor Kevin had to do all the logging as I couldn't write.  I had injured my good hand because of a nasty fall just before Christmas....