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.

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.