Here We Go Again

Didn't think the last trip was long enough, so decided that we would set off again, only this time we would go to Darwin - the long way around!!

Yep never do things by halves and we are heading for Darwin via, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide before heading up the centre to Darwin. So far we have travelled about 2/3rds of the way down the NSW coast only to be met with howling winds coming off the Antarctic. Oh gosh, it is a long time since I felt so cold!

First off we crossed over into NSW .....

before spending our first night at a pretty little fishing town called Yamba on the north coast of NSW - the last of the warm weather.

All went well the next day and we were amazed at just how much the roads had improved - it has been numerous years since we travelled the coast road, but now .... the only section left to upgrade and it is in the process of being done now is between Ballina and Woolgoolga just north of Coffs Harbour. We made such good time that we decided not to stop off at our planned o/night stop but to keep travelling for another couple of hours. We eventually pulled into Taree, after the last hour being buffeted by strong winds. And that was the start of it.

All night our van was a rockin' & a rollin' - well not quite, but it was bad enough for us to put the satellite dish down.

Following day, we set off again, continuing to be buffeted by the wind, but making good time,and we basically were near our night's destination by lunchtime! So again we made a decision to keep going, finding us threading our way through Sydney - not the easiest with a 21 foot van in tow - under the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, out the other side continued on our way south.

I cannot believe we had such a dream run. After leaving Sydney behind, we turned off near Helensburgh and took the Grand Pacific Drive towards Woolongong, including over the Sea Cliff Bridge - got out at a stop off area and near got blown over, so help me, it was S-O cold.

From here we continued on to our night's stop for the following night - we had actually made up a full day's travelling! We had actually travelled from Taree to Shellharbour in one day.

That gave us two full days here fighting the Antarctic winds and time to go visit Kiama. Now Kiama is where we spent my childhood Christmases each year until I was about 10 years old.

Golly gosh, it would be, what ...... 55 or so years (?) and yes it has changed. The 'New Brighton Hotel' where we used to stay  had many, many years ago been demolished leaving a big hole in the ground, however it was lovely to see a new hotel built on the site.

1950/60's

2019

I have a photo at home of my sister and I patting a cat near the uprights of the New Brighton Hotel - will add it later.

On our way up to the Blowhole, of course you see te majestic lighthouse - from here we used to watch the yachts making their way down the coast for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race each year.

We also went up to the famous Blowhole, but yesterday, with the winds they way they were and low tide, it was not functioning, but .... today on our return - yes! The blowhole was doing 'her thing', perhaps not to the heights that I saw all those years ago, but then again I guess the opening has worn away a little, but it was still impressive.

The ole girl can still put on a show.

The winds were supposed (?) to abate today, but are still hanging around, we can only hope that tomorrow as we hit the road again that they do in fact ease off.

For now though, it's goodnight from Shellharbour.

A Little Bit of Stitching!

As you can see from my previous posts, we have been 'on the road' for the last three weeks, well ...... I managed to sneak in a little bit of stitching on occasion, then on return home, and after Janine & Peter left Brisbane to fly home to the UK, I put together and finished off 3 more of my little kindness bears.

Bear #1 - made for the Asthma Australia Co-Ordinator that has been working with me the last 6 months.
Bear #2 - another one of my 'Hang in There' bears for a friend in need of a smile. Am finding this one very popular.
Bear #3 - Our neighbour across the road from us is a stop/slow man and I felt he needed a little 'mascot' and a big thank you for the job he does.

Ah, what will I do now? I have several projects 'in progress', but sometimes, I just don't feel like doing them at the moment. Need to sit and think about this situation.

For now though, I shall get my act together in readiness for another trip that just happens to beckons us to hit the road again.

As is my motto, make sure you .......

'Til next time.

To Cairns & Return Pt.5 - Heading Home

Day 16 of our trip - thought we would have turned left today to start heading east for home - no, that didn't happen, we took a right and headed west! For Mitchell some 87 kms west of Roma. The reason for this was to show our friends the benefits of a dip in the pool of the Great Artesian Spa. It provides a wonderful relaxing time as well as supposedly being good for the body and the soul. It surely was great followed by a lovely morning tea. Does a day get any better than this?

 

After returning to Roma, we called into the Big Rig Information Centre where the history of Roma and the oil and gas discoveries was on display. (My) Peter also decided to get up close and personal with a bull (no not a real one!  - cattle is just about the main stay of the economy in this area and the sale yards at Roma are the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere. Sadly because of our timing (not always the best) we were unable to avail ourselves of a tour of the sale yards.

Day 17 of our trip - now was the time to start heading east and our morning tea stop was at the Historical Village at Miles. What a fascinating place where you really could spend the whole day looking at all the displays and old buildings - oh my goodness, the memories that it brought back.

Our days driving continued and we ended it at Dalby. As this was to be our last night 'on the road' it was decided that we would have a night out. The Dalby Leagues Club was our choice and we were even able to get their courtesy bus to and from the club - well done Dalby Leagues Club!

A lovely dinner was had by all, including drinks and desert. I think we should have walked back to te caravan park rather than by the bus.

Just after this photo was taken (my) Peter's dinner arrived - a Big Foot Chicken Snitzel!! Look at the size of it, and well washed down with a schooner or two as well.

Ah, time to head for bed after that meal I can tell you, for tomorrow it is our last day and we will be home!!

Day 18 of our trip - well, we started our road trip with rain and we ended it with ........ rain and a pea souper of a fog coming through Toowoomba and down the Range.

It was quite nostalgic for us as we called into Oakey for fuel at the roadhouse that Peter & I used to manage some 23 years ago.

Have to say, the driveway has not improved at all by the look of it!

Now with a full tank of fuel on board, it is time to head through Toowoomba, down the Range and along the motorway towards home.

Oh dear me! e could see the weather rolling in from quite a distance out, but this we did not expect.

As I said - a real pea-souper!

Once we got down the bottom of the Range, it was as clear as a bell again, and our journey home was without further problems.

At home it was time to unpack our van and Janine & Peter's motorhome as our road trip had come to an end. All agreed that it had been a fabulous time. Tomorrow the motorhome is returned.

It was still three days before Janine & Peter were to board their plane and return home to England, so we took them for a quick whizz around Brisbane and the Blackall Range up behind the Sunshine Coast.

This included:

Lone Pine Sanctuary

Mt Cootha

Boat trip on the Brisbane River

Day up to Montville & Maleny on the Blackall Range - our last morning tea together.

After returning home, it was time for showers and final packing before heading off to the airport and their flight home.

Thank you for coming to visit us Janine & Peter, don't think we will make another 50 years between meeting up again!

To Cairns & Return Pt.4

My apologies for this post being behind time - simple explanation, however it has been very frustrating. You see I lost (on the camera) 3 days of photos, however I have been able to retrieve some of them.

Day 10 of our trip - the day began with the climb up the mountain range, through Kuranda and onto Atherton. What lovely countryside, the lush green rolling hills before wandering our way into Atherton. It was here that I found (another) coffee/tea/chocolate shop - oh yumm!!

We continued on to Ravenshoe where the Visitor Centre is the highest in Queensland. Sadly some years ago a terrible accident happened in the town and a café exploded after a ute ran into the back of the café and it's gas bottles. From what the lady in the bakery was saying, a parkland will be created on the vacant allotment with a memorial to those that died.

After a lovely lunch at Ravenshoe, we headed for our nights stop at Mt Garnet. A non-descript quiet little town that really is just a stopping off point for people, especially those heading north up to Cape York.

Day 11 of our trip - after some kms along the Kennedy Highway, we turned off and continued down the Kennedy Development Road stopping off at 'The Lynd' and the Oasis Roadhouse for lunch. Again we turned and continued along the Gregory Development Road to Greenvale. Now this little town has some history. The caravan park here was a much nicer one than last night - but hey, one not so good one (Mt Garnet) in the whole of our trip is not bad!

Anyway, here at Greenvale is the '3 Rivers Hotel' made famous by a song written by Stan Coster and sung by Slim Dusty. Have to say, their meals are incredible and a lovely dinner - and a few drinks - was thoroughly enjoyed. What made it even better, it was in easy walking distance there and rolling distance back!

Again this is another of those overnight stops for those making the trek further north to either the Cape or the Gulf and Kurumba.

Day 12 of our trip - today we continued on our way south heading for our overnight stop of Charters Towers. This is a long ago gold mining town and it's history is quite something. They even had their own Stock Exchange and had a booming business in the late 1890's through to the 1920's.

There are many beautiful buildings in Charters Towers from those by-gone days.

The Post Office building is still operating as the post office for Charters Towers.

I think the post office building in just about every country town had a clock tower!

The pantry and fridges/freezers were replenished at Charters Towers, for our continuing trip south, including a yummy salted caramel cake that was to celebrate Mother's Day the next day.

Day 13 of our trip - today was a day of just driving, there really is not a real lot to see on the road  between Charters Towers and Clermont.

We stopped off (as you do) at the Belyando Crossing Roadhouse for a break before continuing on to Clermont.

Jumped back in the car and continued to head south for Clermont. As previously mentioned there was not a lot to look at on the road from Belyando Crossing to Clermont.

 Our overnight stop here was interesting with a memorial and flood level marker from December 1916.

There is a replica of a piano that got stuck up a tree during the flood!

Day 14 of our trip - from Clermont it is on to Springsure. From here we took a diversion to check out Fairbairn Dam and Lake Maraboon - quite impressive.

Again a lovely caravan park at Rolleston where we caught up with the washing - some things you still have to do when you are 'on the road'. It was nice to just have a quiet evening.

Day 15 of our trip - After Rolleston we were still heading south where we passed through Injune and onto Roma.

We stopped off at Injune for a break and discovered they had in the last few years built a lovely new Information Centre - oh yum, the scones, jam & cream were to die for - country cooking at it's best!

After leaving Injune, we came across some cattle being grazed in what is called 'the long paddock' - in other words along the side of the road - sometimes they even wander across the road in front of vehicles.

At Roma we set about exploring the place including the 'Big Rig' Information Centre
 where everything you want to know about the oil and gas explorations in the area can be found.

We also enjoyed the sight of many, many bottle trees along most of Roma's roads, including the biggest bottle tree which I believe is some 100 year old.

 

Now it is time to have a roast dinner in the camp kitchen before heading for a good nights sleep.

For now though, it is goodnight from Roma.