Murgon BlazeAid

Cut 'em up and drag 'em clear from the paddock fence. Build a pile. One farm is much the same as another, then sometimes a bit of variation. It's usually paddock fences that cope it but not in this case.

This cattle yard is a work of art. Must have been built many many years ago and it's still good today. Well, it will be when we get all the tree out.

Lucky technology has moved forward with solar pumps and these windmills will not need to be replaced. Lots of them laying on the ground wherever you look.

Before

After, well nearly finished.

Yet another!

Murgon

Spent a night at Cotton Tree, provisioned then headed toward Murgon. Stopped for the night at Kandanga being a day ahead of the commitment made to be in Murgon to help at the BlazeAid camp.

Just after Chrismas, a very destructive storm cell ripped a path north from Dalby through Kingaroy and Murgon. Lots of trees downed and fences trashed.

The camp will be relatively short as we need to finish and vacate the showgrounds by mid-March. Show season approaches. But we should be done by then.

Good facilities here at the Murgon Showgrounds with some caravans able to be under shelter. 

Misty morning. Cool! Nice sleeping weather but hot days.

A mini tornado they say.

Late in the day, he turns up to help. 

Bushfire, truck fires and houseboats

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday I could have been delayed, re-routed, whatever. I was heading north from Mooney Mooney just in time to be behind the truck as the incident unfolded, except I was 24hours in front, whew! As it was I drove through lots of smoke from the bushfire near the Newcastle Airport being blown across the A1 north of Raymond Terrace.

Spent the night a Bulahdelah and it rained all night, nice. Helped put the bushfire out they say, but then today the truck!

Stopped to purchase a new roof hatch lid in Coffs Harbour after one of the oldest, yet to be replaced, sun degraded lids blow off in the high winds. 14 years in the sun and elements is a good run for any cheap plastic part, I think. But when one goes best to replace all:- next time.

Stopping at Maclean on the Clarence River tonight and fantasizing about a houseboat and living on this river. Really good access to extensive waterways and lots of towns like Yamba/Iluka on the coast and Maclean, Lawrence and Grafton upriver. But a motorhome has far greater reach. I'll stick with what I have :)

Tonight's view from my lounge room.

Batlow, Barnawartha and Belanglo

Belanglo State Forest tonight. Yep, keeping an eye out for Ivan or his great-nephew Matthew. Actually, Daly's Clearing is a nice spot to stop away from the hustle, bustle and drone of the Hume Highway. One of the better overnight northbound options heading into Sydney, IMO.

Today sees me heading north after spending time in Batlow, in the southern highlands of NSW, and Barnawartha in Victoria. Been watching MetEye online waiting for cooler weather in between what seems are cycling hot spells. So jacks up and headed off as it was high thirties yesterday but low twenties today and for the next few days along the NSW coast. All a bit different to Qld. but makes for comfortable sleeping at night and easy driving in the day.

Daly's Clearing

Belanglo State Forest Map

Canberra

It's a long time since I've been to Canberra but first impressions this time were lots of construction going on. Northbourne Ave the main divided dual carriageway leading to Parliment House is a huge mess with barriers everywhere. Lots of old (was probably low-cost) high-density housing boarded up awaiting the wrecking ball. 

But what a great place to ride a pushbike! Stopped on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin and fired up the pushy for a ride around the lake and taking in Parliment House. Chained my treadly to the rail out front and did the walking tour of the place admiring the portraits of past dignitaries. Was amazed to see the huge scaffolding set up under the main glass roof over the Members Hall. So yeah builders scaffolding inside and out to repair/replace the leaking glass roof.

The old.

and the not so new!