Beaudesert Day One

You could say the balloon is up. The Beaudesert BlazeAid Camp officially starts today, the day after ANZAC day.

A small team has been very busy getting everything required to feed and accommodate about 30 volunteers with three meals a day. Cooktops, pots, pans, plates, cutlery, tables, chairs, cool room and fridges, laundry, pretty much everything but beds. Day one we have 3 teams going out and more people arriving tomorrow.

Most mornings a balloon or two floats past.

Work trailers loaded with tools ready to go.

Beaudesert - BlazeAid

Yep, back on the fences. Got the call to help out. This time at Beaudesert. 

Cyclone Debbie dumped lots of water and Logan and Albert rivers and tributaries overflowed onto low-lying grazing land. Seems mostly dairy farms. The farmers in the valley here say they have seen many floods over the years, but this one was bigger and faster moving. So lots of fences down and some completely washed away. Early estimates suggest a minimum of six weeks work for BA.

Along the way, after leaving Cotton Tree, dropped in to see the suspension guy re the MH new front-end coil springs that don't quite measure up. The upshot: new ones will be ordered and we have come to an agreement about the costs. But in retrospect, I think I should have originally ordered from the States. Even with the poor exchange rate and international freight, it would have been close to the same cost but all would have been right, first time round. That spring company insists on a weighbridge front-end load measurement before making and supplying any springs.

Cows riding the carousel. They know just what to do.  

Cotton Tree

Been back at Cotton Tree for a couple of weeks now and formulating a new escape plan, but more of that later.

Working towards the end of the list of things needs doing on the MH, last bit of work being the front suspension. But it's not without issues.

In the meantime, I have this to look forward to each morning. Not always this spectacular but hey what's not to like?

click on an image to enlarge

5:38am

5:53am

5:57am

6:08am

Moving On.

Anticipation running high.

Been assured the shocks are finally on the plane at LAX. The tyre guy has a new set waiting and the suspension guy has had the new springs for weeks now, so its all go. Just need to get her (the MH) back to Maroochydore. With Debbie dumping rain and flooding along the coast and the slip in overnight temperatures in the highlands, that rules out the M1 and New England, The Newell is the logical alternative. Not one of my favs but...

Went via Coolah and Binnaway, then The Newell to Narrabri. Coolah is an interesting town and its a shame we didn't get a BlazeAid camp up there, Black Stump and all. Deviated from the Newell via Mt Killarney Gap Rd and Mount Kaputar National Park for the night. Then on to Bingara, Texas, and Dalveen. Yep, a night on top of the divide on the New England. A testament to my dislike of The Newell I expect? Now a run down to the coast and then the Bruce. Never know what to expect with that one.

Coolah Pub

Mt Kaputar NP.

Volcanic Piping?

Dumaresq River, Texas. Never seen it this high.

Cassilis Woolshed - week 5 stats

A born and bred local took a group of us on a tour of the Cassilis Woolshed. This shed was built about 1850 and the craftsmanship is amazing. It's hard to imagine how horse and dray could be the main tools to erect this high-roofed structure. Because of the type of soil in the area, the shed has no foundations and sit on top of the ground. Plenty of timber wedges allow for the soil movement but it would have been like building a boat. Construction without a firm footing? An interesting building with interesting history. As the shed is back from the road a couple of kms, like Dalkeith, it's not a tourist destination and we were privileged to have the guided tour.

Unfortunately not much is on-line and the history of the construction, and who designed and oversaw the project, was lost (and is contentious) due to a homestead fire many years ago.

Week 5 stats.

129 - Volunteers

10(-1) - going out atm
41 - Properties
714 - FTE days
95km - cleared
45km - new fence