Full Moon Rising

 Back to Cotton Tree for mail and stuff. Timing not the best, school holidays. 

Queensland beautiful one day, full of Victorians the next!

Full moon rising.

Maintenance and repairs 2020

 

Imagine sometime in the future... the conversation goes a bit like this. Hey Grampa how did you survive the 2020 pandemic? What did you do during the lockdown and travel restrictions to stay sane? Well, son, I refurbished my motorhome.

The work gets done at a local workshop, it's a team effort, the mechanic does all the spanner work and I do all the bill paying. It matches our individual skill sets.

Currently, the motorhome is still in bits, awaiting some other bits from the states, metal bits, not animal bits, but they have to go through quarantine apparently?

But the patient is progressing well she should be back together soon and better than ever. All that's needed then is; restrictions lifted, borders open, free travel everywhere. We'll have to wait and see on that one.

Had to take the front end assembly off to drop the engine out.

The cylinders, pistons and block are all good.

Both heads when tested leaked like sprinklers.

Bird of Prey

Wow, how things have changed in a month - COVID-19, but hey life goes on.

The MH is in the workshop with no indication of exactly when she will be ready for the road again. But as things stand there is no hurry.

So yep I'm in lock-down like the rest of the nation - pleased not to have found myself on the road at this time. I'm able to get out for exercise, bike riding and Stand-up Paddling are my preference. The weather here has been pretty good of late for both.

My accommodation here in Cotton Tree comes with a roof garden giving me a bit extra space to hang out in. It's complete with pergola and shade sails and I have a $20 inflatable swimming pool for when it gets really hot.

Of late I've noticed I've got a freeloader perching on a corner of the pergola keeping an eye out for fish in the river. This bird of prey seems not to worry when I walk past or stop to take a photo from just a few feet away and I feel privileged to be able to be this close.

I added an extension to his perch so his poops go over the side

Magnificent!

Not everyone is happy Ol' Mate is here!

Goorambat Silo - Barking Owl

Here is that better shot of the Barking Owl at Goorambat.
Click this link to hear the bird call.

Jimmy D - www.graffixcreative.com

Noosa.

Left early in the morning as the kids will be rocking up for school today. Checked the mailbox one last time then hit the road, its been a while. I do like the feeling, freedom to go anywhere any direction. Today just 36km to Noosa, Noosaville actually.

Its a small world, or so they say. Having just arrived and setting up at the Noosa River CP when who should I meet but Gary, last seen at BlazeAid Thoona, back in January.  And Thoona just 1,704km south of here in Victoria.  How random is that?  We worked on the same team, for a couple of weeks, rebuilding farm fences after the fires down there.

Noosaville on the banks of the Noosa River and the CP right on the waters edge.  What a great spot when the weather is like this, low teens overnight then high 20s during the day with a light breeze. Absolutely perfect for paddling on the river, walking in the Noosa National Park or cycling the bike paths.

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Pre dawn Noosa River.

Hells Gate - Noosa National Park

Cotton Tree - waiting.

Thought for today: Time slows whilst waiting.

So more than a week has ticked by. Got some stuff done, some must do stuff. Now working on the not so important list and playing with the gunna list as well. Wow! Impressive, for me anyway.

Making plans, departure date, destination, stopovers, generates pleasurable anticipation that should not be underestimated or discounted. And making new lists, I'm in heaven!  Being on the road would be better but this will have do for now.

Pelican Sunrise - Cotton Tree Qld.

Cotton Tree - Dawn

Well all things even out over time. Pottsville to Cotton Tree about 250km, lifted my daily average.

Don't know what I was thinking leaving Pottsville at first light to be just in time to catch the peak into Brisbane. Stopped at Beerwah SG dump point as Dora needed to go. Then on to Cotton Tree. Unloaded what needed to be unloaded and off to Diddillibah and a 10km bike ride back again.

Plenty of photographic opportunities here. Out walking early this morning and snapped this with my Samsung Note 4. As well as everything else you get an amazing camera, nice. Tempted MGB?

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Maroochydore surf beach on a quiet early morning.
No surf today. Good day to get a tradie in?

Iluka to Maclean

Sunset at the CP.

Iluka certainly turned on a spectacular sunset the night before departure.

Next morning did a last walk around town along the foreshore path to the marina and then via the Iluka National Reserve to the beach lookout.

Packed the Escape Module and headed out of town to Maclean another big drive 36km.

Decided to stop for the night at the show grounds in Maclean. Right on the river with a view of the old bridge. Cane trucks again! Bouncing across the bridge through the night this time.

It's a shame that the bridge doesn't still work, originality built to lift and open, for cane carrying barges to pass upstream to the mill.

Walked into town, interesting, unusual building, unusual layout, nice.

Before heading out of town next day I did my morning walk to The Lookout.

Fairly steep walk on paved roads but it

was good exercise and the view was

worth the effort.

Iluka Beach lookout.

Maclean Lookout early morning.

The view walking down Clarence St.

Maclean part of the main street.

St Lawrence - Townsville and about.

Took some nice shots around the wetlands at St Lawrence before hitting the road.  Stopped at Marion Creek Landing, a big mistake as whilst sleeping I got bitten by sand flies, not nice! Stopped in a caravan park in Calen and did housework washing etc.

Overnight at Guthalungra is always interesting for people watching.  Then Home Hill for 2 night in the welcome stop, drizzled rain for two days, not nice.  I'm way ahead of schedule and not sure how to use the time.  Stopped at the BP truck stop at Townsville a bit noisy but convenient for Bunnings and Woollies. Spent the next 6 nights between Macrossen, Reid River and Fletchers Creek.  Still got days to burn so will probably head to Home Hill to meet up with other Highway Wanderers after watching the State of Origin on the telly here at Reid River.  

Wetlands St Lawrence

Townsville

Mt Kaputar and the Oxley

Finally left the Gwydir River and Bingara and headed to Narrabri.  Stopped on the way for lunch at Mt Kaputar NP and decided to stay the night.

The guide book said the area was a really good example of geological organ-piping, of course it is.  On to Narrabri the next morning for provisions and fuel.  The Newell being so unattractive to me I decided Boggabri would be different, lunched there then spent the arvo in the swimming pool with all the town kids.  Not that bad actually a nice facility.  Drove on to Curlewis for a look see then decided the Oxley toward Coonabarabran was the go.  Overnighted at a rest area and had a quiet night with very little traffic.

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Snapped this at about 9pm on a 35 second shutter and with my torch providing extra illumination to the foreground.  Note the Southern Cross constellation above the tree.

Cotton Tree - Pelicans

Cotton Tree

Piss off Mac no space here!

Time for a snooze

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Our jetty is a favorite snoozing spot after a busy night of fishing but landing space can be at a premium.  Another fantastic weather day at Cotton Tree its the start of the school holidays and things are ramping up..

Maryborough Marina - Photos

An overnighter in Maryborough to provision then back to the farm.

Up before the sun. Did the provisioning got the gas bottle filled and booked in overnight at the Marina only a handful of powered site but with lovely views of the river and close to town. Had a long chat with Neville the owner here at the Marina. Two major floods this year have had a major affect on his health, but he goes on, I admire that!  I updated WikiCamps and created an entry on caravan caravan site for the park, least I could do. Took some nice photos whilst here and emailed him a copy.

Mixed night here at the Marina mostly quiet until the night club up the road closed at 3am. But a good place to stop. Dumped at the showgrounds, brought some wine and headed back to Bauple.

The Marina

Early Morning

The Marina

The campsite at the Marina

Cooktown - Cotton Tree

Mt Molloy - Bramston Beach.Stopped to provision at woollies in Cairns, then dump at Babinda and on to Bramston Beach for a couple of nights. Took a photo of Ray (HW) fishing, nice.

Stopped at Innisfail River Drive CP for a week and rode around town and along the river down the south bank and out Coquette Rd via the Moresby Range National Park to Coquette Point. Some steep hills here but a nice ride with some good views.  Did some maintenance on the MH. Then moved on to Kurrimine Beach where I came across Ken and Carroll last seen in Chillagoe, small world. Stayed a week then on to Cardwell CP. Time to do the laundry and housework.

Bluewater then Home Hill. Stayed a couple of nights and fixed more minor maintenance issues with the MH riding back and forth to the hardware in town. Decided to stay one more night. Go for a ride watch the NRL then head south tomorrow. So rode to Inkerman Hill a 12km ride before pushing up (walking) the very steep 1km long a 200m high hill. Coming down was smoking the brakes, 24km return a nice workout.

Headed off about 9am. Dumped. Stopped at Proserpine for lunch then on to OConnell River ~50km south of Proserpine and about 2 km off the Bruce highway right on the river, nice just me here. I think it is part of the Eungella National Park but not sure. A smouldering fire rekindled for tonight, nice.

Anna on HW Facebook page says she is looking for a house sitter in Hervey Bay, I agreed. Mid October fits nicely with Bauple. I have previously agreed to do a farm sit at a macadamia farm in Bauple.

St Lawrence. Decided I will stay another night and look around town. Rode 10 km into and around town, not a lot to see. Mid arvo walked around the dry wetlands and then to the pub for a schooner.

Headed of early. Stopped for fuel in Rockhampton and lunch somewhere south of there. Drove a bit over 230 km but it was worth it as Calliope stop is really nice. Grass and shade. Might stay another night. Rode the 20 km return to town via the old bridge and almost disused highway just to see how big it was, surprisingly large and busy town. And they have bats.

On to Gin Gin and Bauple where I checked out the farm by bike. Should be OK for two weeks.

On to Cotton Tree booked into the the Cotton Tree CP, back on my site for a bit. Do the mail catch up with people all the normal stuff I do here then its back to Bauple to eat macadamia nuts for two weeks.

Innisfail looking from Coquette Point

Ray fishing at Bramston Beach

Inkerman Hill near Home Hill

Calliope free camp

Bats near the town at Calliope

Mareeba and Cooktown

Arrived at Mareeba mid morning, did the provisioning before joining all the CMCA at the rally. Maintenance time for the MH, leaky plumbing. Rode to a caravan spares place twice once to get plumbing bits and then a second to get a new gas strut for a bin lid. Met up with Chook and Deb again and a few others.  Watched the entertainment at the main tent, over 300 motor homes here.

Xmas in July lunch today, sorry NOT me, bah hum bug! Drizzled most the day and all night so I expect the gods had the same opinion. Rode around town between the showers.

Walked around the market set up here at the rally, interesting, not very. Still full of head cold so lazed around most of the arvo. Went to happy hour talk about Cooktown, sounds good so might spend a week there and do the show.

Headed off toward Cooktown at about 1030am after topping water and dumping. Easy drive to Rifle Creek camp spot at Mt Molloy. Headed off very early next morning as I did not sleep to well. Showered about 100km down the road.

Arrived at Cooktown, disappointed in both the new $5 camp and the showgrounds so headed 10km back out of town and stayed roadside, a much better option. Named it Chook's Gravel Pit and entered it in WikiCamps.

Good night by the highway at Chook's Gravel Pit. Drove into town and rode the bike up Captain Cook's lookout, hard work, but great view.

Next day back to town to Mt Cook National Park, about 930am. Climbed the mountain 440m (according to my smartphone GPS) and 6 km return. A tough climb best done in the cool of the morning as it can be stifling climbing through the thick undergrowth and under the tropical canopy.  The path is marked with tree tags but is hard to ID in places.  The best view is about 50m south of the transmitter equipment shed on a rocky outcrop.  Took some nice photos.

When staying at CGP I met a lady I've been sharing the gravel pit campsite with most nights and had a few drinks with her each afternoon exchanging travel stories.  Heading south tomorrow after a week here.

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 View from the Top of Mt Cook

There is a logbook at the top of the mountain and I entered several world records in  the book for the date 1/8/2013: First to the top that day. Fastest in my age group for the day (to be confirmed) 

Ravenswood - Fletchers Creek - Chillagoe - Dimbulah

Decided to go to Mareeba MH rally via the Gregory Dev Hwy rather than the coast like everyone else.

Easy drive to Ravenswood. Nice spot, nice showgrounds, booked for two nights. Laundry day, doing it by hand, this is new. It all smells better than when a machine does it!  Went for a ride around town, cemetery of course, pubs and other old buildings including the gold mine, very interesting place.

On to Fletchers Creek, nice. Got a spot right by the river, lucky! Lots here! Easy drive to Greenvale booked into the Caravan park $18/n and had a few beers at the Three Rivers Hotel, nice. 75 houses in town, no cell phone service, no free to air TV and just one small shop, pub and servo.

Archer Creek (Ravenshoe) for lunch and the night. Drizzled and wind blew all afternoon, cold! Next day stocked up with veggies before driving to Almaden in time to see the Savannahlander train arrive at lunch time. Met the stationmaster Dennis who told me all about the town and rail in its heyday. Set up camp out front of the pub for the night. Had a few beers with the local station owner and roustabouts. A friendly bunch, working on getting pissed ASAP, usual thing for Saturday night I suppose. Wayne ex jockey, Brad cattle station owner, his missus and about 10 others, good time had by all.

Arrived Chillagoe about 9am dumped and payed $6/n for the next 7 nights and set up at the showgrounds, basic but good enough. Met Ken and Carroll. Turns out Ken and Carroll are from Meandarra, go figure. Rode around town, the water hole, the weir, the cemetery, a really good town for tourist as all the streets are named for where they go. Weir St, Hospital St, Hill st, etc. Not showing much imagination but... Stopped off to check out the general store, veggies come in Wednesday, nice. Went for a beer at 4pm to the other pub, I was the only customer for nearly an hour. It is Monday.

Went out to the Balance Rock and the Chillagoe Caves and got some good photos. Then rode over to the smelter, very interesting! Got some good shots here too. State of Origin tonight. Queensland victorious again!

Left early Sunday stopped at a campsite at Eureka Creek for lunch, nice, but no internet or phone. Headed off at about 4 pm just in time to get the last powered site at Dimbulah CP. Met Ferrell Erroll a Highway Wanderer staying at the CP, came over for happy hour, gunna have to hide from him from now on.  Don't think he is likely to read my blog.

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 Ravenswood

 The Savannahlander at Almaden 

 Balance Rock - (camera may not have been  level)

The smelter

Wagga Wagga - A new dawn

Well it's just me now after 33 years.  I'm not sure what I'll do but this is the start of the rest of my life.  To view the story so far:  trishmaddenbatlow.blogspot.com

Been staying a while in Wagga at Wilks Park on the north east side of town, I have some stuff to attend to before I'm free to go.  Wilks Park is about a 10min walk from the centre of town.  Large mostly flat area with some shade, toilets, water, dump point and green grass, what else could you ask for?

Wagga is a nice town good shopping and usually good weather.  A bit out of town along the Murrumbidgee River to the east is Oura beach and Sandy Beach at Wantabadgery both having excellent camping, drop toilets but no showers or fresh water.  But right on the river.

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A new dawn - Murrumbidgee River near Wagga