Broken Head National Reserve and CP

A nice place close to Byron Bay but far enough away to have a reasonable amount of P&Q. As Deb says 'P&Q or PoQ!'

Stayed a couple of midweek nights and went swimming and surfing. No shops just the CP complete with a little kiosk and a lovely beach and a nice walking track. Oh and a nude beach around the headland.

The park is smallish and set up mostly for camper trailers, backpackers, wizz-bangers and surfers with lots of small un-powered sites and just a few sites suitable for large caravans or motorhomes. Not a spot to be at during summer holidays that's assuming you could even get a booking. Not sure about weekends either but probably the same. I will be gone before then.

The walk, in the National Reserve, over the headland to Kings Beach viewing platform is short but picturesque being just 1.6km, if you return the same way. Or click this link for an alternative looping walk to Kings Beach.

click on a photo to enlarge

The beach and headland at Broken Head NR.

Pottsville - NSW Northern Rivers

Harrisville to Pottsville, on the coast south of Tweed Heads, entailed a mountainous trip via Beaudesert, Canungra and Nerang. Then Coolangatta and along the coast to Pottsville South CP. Arguably the better located of the two CPs, being on the river and near the mouth.

Did some paddle boarding but it was more a workout than anything else as the tide and wind were working together to retard any progress and when the wind did moderate the tide was out and there was very little water to paddle on.

Nice enough place with good shops, cafes and IGA but imagine it would be bedlam in the season.

The view of Pottsville from across the river.

Harrisville Royal Hotel

Pomona, Toogoolawah and Harrisville.

Rode into Pomona and about town before leaving. Just needed to see if my legs would still function after the mountain workout.

Pomona is set up for tourists. They named the streets after what's in the street, like: Church, School, Mountain, Station, Pavilion, Exhibition and even Ambulance Street. Not showing a lot of creativity I hear you say? But hey you know, in advance, what you are going to get.

Interestingly I still managed to get lost on what should of been just a 2km bike ride to the mountain the other day. And yes the mountain is in Mountain Street but I didn't realize I needed to go to Church first!

Doing a big westward loop to avoid Brisbane and decided on Toogoolawah show grounds to overnight. Toogoolawah has three pubs so there's more to it than the map indicates. A busy metropolis? No, I don't think so but interesting all the same. The rail trail to Brisbane goes through here. Only the section here to Esk is open to the public at the moment. I assume the section onto Moore, Linville and Blackbutt will be connected at some future time?

Harrisville Royal Hotel on Saturday night to watch the four nations rugby. This pub is always a good place to stop, friendly people, good food, cold beer and a backyard with a view. Heating up out here next week expecting ~40 Monday and Tuesday. Good time to be heading to the coast.

Day break in the back yard of the Royal Hotel.

Mt Cooroora at Ponona

Well yesterday Mt Tinbeerwah and the days climbing Mt Coolum over the last two weeks were never as difficult as this. Somewhere on the Internet, Mt Cooroora in the Tuchekoi National Park was described as nothing like Mt Coolum, and in my opinion as well. Its steep in places and a tough going grovel over rocks in others. And without the chain it would be difficult if not dangerous coming down.

But the view at the top and the feeling of achievement makes it worth the effort. Isn't it always worth the effort?  For a fuller description click the link walkrideoz.blogspot.com

Mt Cooroora.

The View.

Heading North to Tewantin and Pomona

Well I finally gave up on mail ordering on-line and cancelled my order. Two weeks waiting is BS.

Drove north from Maroochydore along the trendy beach road to Noosa. Passing through Marcoola, Coolum Beach, Peregian Beach, Marcus Beach, Castaway Beach, Sunrise and Sunshine Beaches and on to Noosa and Nossaville on the river where I had lunch.  Considered inflating the SUP for a paddle but didn't.

Instead after lunch and a short drive I visited Tewantin National Park and walked to the summit of Mt Tinbeerwah. An easy walk. Talked to some abseiling climbers and was directed to a hidden track around and below the climbing rock face. This track is pretty rough but interesting especially if there are climber on the rock face.

Then on to Pomona for a couple of nights in the show grounds. Pomona is a lovely little town and is good for bike riding and mountain climbing.

It's a map!

Noosa and Tewantin.

Mt Coolum

Trying to stay busy here whilst waiting for my mail delivery. I hate waiting. If its a no show by Tuesday I'm off.

Bike rides along the coastal bike tracks, paddling the SUP around the Maroochy river and in the surf are helping to keep me occupied.

A favourite outing is to climb Mt Coolum. Drive or ride there then a 200m climb and about 1300 steps to the summit in about 15 mins. The sign at the base says you should allocate 2 hours, I wonder who they are talking to and whether those people would be doing it anyway.

The view back to Maroochydore makes it worth the effort.

Mt Coolum from Maroochydore beach. ~10km away.

Cotton Tree Caravan Park

Decided to stop in the caravan park till my mail arrives. Its too much hassle parking and leaving the MH on the street. A one hour parking limit, in built up areas, applies for vehicles over 4.5t and mine being about 8t has a tendency to attract attention. I have exceeded that many times in various places without issue but here I will be out and about for most of the day riding, walking or whatever. Its better not having the worry. 

Here's something else I seem to do a lot of: Waiting for the mail to arrive. I remember waiting seven days for a overnight delivery from Sydney to Warialda. On that occasion it would of been quicker for me to take the Greyhound to Sydney buy my bits and return. And they wonder why Apost is not profitable? Must be a sheltered workshop!

But Cotton Tree is not a bad place to be stuck, much prefer it to Warialda. The weather has been great most of the time.

Most afternoons the breeze picks up.

Not me! I'm sailing the yacht, I wish.

Kilcoy - Cruice Park

After 5 nights in Linville its time to move on. Short day driving just 58km. Kilcoy for lunch, water, dump and then Cruice Park rest area for the night.

I've booked the motor home in for a safety inspection in Maroochydore for first thing tomorrow. For the last few years I've had the annual inspection done by the same small one-man workshop in Maroochydore. He's familiar with the vehicle and is easy to get along with.

I've also got mail backing up that needs attention. And of course there are those on-line purchases I've been making and now can no longer remember what I've ordered. That's exciting, presents.

Can be a busy rest stop this one so it was a good idea to get here early. Probably the best FC west of and close to Maroochydore. Estimate time to appointment from here about an hour. Then the dilemma again where to after that? Might FC in the streets around Cotton Tree for a bit, till all is sorted.

Monday arvo and the tourists have gone, nice.

Back to normal in Linville. Lots of P&Q.

Walking around Kilcoy.

Desperate for a fourth shot for the blog?

Linville - NRL GF - Magpies?

Public Holiday. Now it makes sense. All these cars, camper trailers and caravans in my quiet little town. The pub jumpin' Sunday night with the NRL grand final and celebrations till 3am. In Linville? Mind you I was home in bed after the game. Hope everyone is heading home today. I'll give them a day to clear the roads before I must head to the coast myself. With mixed emotions.

Thought for the day: Is it only city or urban Magpies that swoop during nesting season? Having ridden about 60km in the last few days, mostly on the rail trail in the countryside, I have not been swooped once. Saw plenty of Magpies. Then when riding in down town Moore, near the main street and highway, was swooped by three different birds. Go figure? Maybe they get angry like their urban dwelling human neighbours?

Been reviewing my Camps Aust Wide maps. It might be time to turn the page on South East Queensland.                                                                 click an image to enlarge

Linville Bar - Note the TV. Stepping back in time?

Orange dots are memorable camp spots. 

Linville - Brisbane Valley Rail Trail - take two

Back to Linville for a couple of days and a second go at riding the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail from Linville to Blackbutt. Last month I was rained off and only managed ~6km up the trail before threatening weather made me turn around. Now I'm back to do it this time.

The Ride is up hill all the way to Blackbutt but a cruise coming back.

The next day I re-rode the trail to Moore.

A steady climb

Good place to rest.

Track surface is mostly good.

The view!

Harrisville

Stopped at Boonah, at the bottom of the range, for lunch and a walk about then considering where to next? It would seem I do a lot of this.

Here's how it works:
Consult the Camps Aust Wide book, WikiCamps on my smartphone, the Internet, Google, word of mouth and sometimes CaravanCaravan website before destinations start to materializes.
Then mentally turn on Avoidances:
Major hwys, extended sections of dirt roads, major cities and towns, school holidaying areas and crappy weather, if possible.
Then consider Preferences:
Distance less than 100km, minor sealed roads, somewhere new, one pub towns, quiet out of the way camps sites, rivers and creeks and camp spots with a view.

This time the answer comes up Harrisville (Hooterville to some of the locals) and the back yard of the Royal Hotel. A short drive on minor farming roads via some scenic terrain and only 30km from here. Turns out to be a great choice. The yard backs on to the Wirrill Creek, a tributary of the Bremer River, and the pub specializes in fine food, cold beer and free camping for patrons. Stayed two nights, had a few laughs in the bar with the locals, a great pub meal and did some paddle boarding in the creek.

I also enjoyed the company of other campers and traded life philosophies.
Don't wish it, do it.
Its better to be alone than wishing you were.
Its better to burn out than rust out.

Harrisville Royal Hotel

The back yard

At the bottom of the yard the creek

The creek

Kyogle to Woodenbong

Enjoyed a very picturesque drive to Woodenbong NSW along the the lower reaches of the Richmond River on the Summerland Way and especially around Wiangaree, very pretty.

Then a fairly steep climb up the Border Range to Woodenbong. Should of guessed it was going to be special when seeing an unusual number of motorcycles going through Kyogle over the weekend. Stopped at Woodenbong overnight and walked about the town. On toward Boonah Qld next day.

Mt Lindesay approaching from the south one day

Mt Lindesay passing to the north the next

Woodenbong at sparrows - no filter.

Woodenbong pub