Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Burnett Heads

Burnett Heads “Lighthouse” Holiday Park, we decided to stay in a park for the night to dry out the van and us. What a lovely little park on the ocean. We ended up staying for three nights as it was so peaceful sitting under the trees at sunset for happyhoursssss!!. We met a nice couple, Ian & Sandra, also with a Jayco, with whom we shared many a wine or GT. There were some very friendly Magpies in residence who insisted on being fed. Beautiful walks and scenery. Watching the wind surfers and the prolific bird life also took time. Fae got her hair cut and was offered a job teaching the hairdresser how to do waxing!!
I went in and sorted out the repairs on my port cask that we purchased 15 years ago from the same place. It will have to be posted to us when it is fixed."Bugger"
Time to leave came much too quickly and we left in the rain. The further south we went the worse the weather became, we stopped at Childers at a "day only" park and waited to see if the road was to be opened again. Both roads in and out of Childers were closed for a time. I heard on the radio (UHF) that the road was open again so we went for it. There was so much water over the roads and alongside of the highway. We were not game to stop any-where and get held up so we kept going to Broard Water Stopover Caravan park where we are staying for two weeks for our son’s wedding and Xmas. Again the people at this park are very friendly, a small park with all amenities, BBQ’s . Bart showed us to our spot and helped set up, Fae has got here home ready again, with things where they should be, even Misty is settled. And so life goes on, is it time for a beer yet????

The Sherriff Cometh

We ended up staying seven nights at St. Lawrence free park. As I said it is a great place if you don’t upset the local “Sherriff”. A council guy came over to us on Tuesday and told us we were not allowed to run our generator where we were. The wrong side of the sign, I told him that the old couple next door to us were the only people in the whole park!!! We both had genies going and were not disturbing anybody but the birds. We could not park on the other side as it was too muddy from the six inches of rain we had over night. He said any one who came in would go straight to the council and complain!! Oh! Well OK then. I moved the genie 15 mts to the left of the sign and ran it as I needed to charge the batteries. He came past again, saw what I had done and just drove off. I think I inflamed the situation when I told him to go and get a plastic Sherriff’s badge. Never mind, my mate next door left the next day as he was a bit pissed off with the guy, we had both spent money in the town and liked the place.
We left on Monday to head further south, it rained all bloody day. We spent a night at Boyne River Free camp, not bad but the toilets were very dirty. From there to Gin Gin Rest Area where they were doing road works, we met a couple from earlier in the last two places, Rod & Terri were going to their mothers place for a few weeks R&R. Nice couple and a bit of fun, with a big dog too!!
The next port of call was to Bundaburg Caravan Repairs to get a leak fixed. We followed the mud map I had written down from Barry’s wife Kerry. We went over the Cedar Creek crossing, bloody hell !! the water was lapping at the edge of the concrete pathway, very narrow too. We finally arrived and had to negotiate the very muddy driveway.Barry and his wife looked after us very well indeed. We stayed at their mini park as they were all set up for visitors, power water etc. Misty loved the place, she had a hundred acres to explore with her new found friend “Bennie” the boarder collie pup, dad’s name is “Jack”. They played for hours, Misty saw her first chickens!!!! And tasted Chicken food and chicken droppings as well, Yummmmm!!! She was a mess, Fae got a bath ready for her , too bad little dog, she was not coming in like that.
The next morning Barry and Kerry came to say goodbye as they were off to Bundy for the day. See Ya Later we said, not knowing how soon that would be!!***###
We hooked up and headed off down the drive, dodged a couple of holes and slid a bit in the mud. Went off the very cut up track for a piece and ended up in a drain at the side of the drive, Tug down in the LH rear, van down RH both axels, Hopelessly bogged in Barry’s driveway. Shit ,Dam!!!***###
No phone reception, van looked as though it should have been in a cross country derby, mud every- where from the tugs spinning wheels. The tug was a complete mess. No phone coverage, hell what else could go wrong. We walked back to the house and Fae picked up one bar of signal on her mobile. We called Barry and asked when he was going to be home!!!!! How embarrassing.
Barry turned up with his Hyundia to provide the extra grunt I needed and we were out. He had a bore outlet about 50mtrs from where we were so the van and tug had a quick wash to get the very sticky mud off. Thanks again Barry Wells from Bundaberg Caravan Repairs 0408 757678

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Further South

Monday 29th we are travelling south still down to Jolimont Caravan Park, what a disappointment!! We did not even stay, the place looked a mess, I was greeted at the office door by a couple of children that looked unloved. The place was a mess as far as I could see and full of mud etc. I asked where we could turn around and leave. The lady stated that we would not get anything else in Mackay at this time of year!!! The place is almost deserted. We ended up at Sarina in a little park, quite old but the owner has tried and the amenities were very clean with piped music and fresh flowers arranged everywhere. The caretaker, Richard, showed us to our site in the rain and could not do enough for us. We only stayed the one night because we wanted to get further down the track but the park was a place we would return to. (Tropicana Caravan Park).
Next day on to our current position, St Lawrence, about half way between Mackay & Rockhampton. You turn left at the St Lawrence sign and on the left is the biggest free park we have seen, toilets, handicap toilets, hot showers, water, electric BBQ, more shaded tables and seats than you can shake a stick at, a beautiful walk around a wet area and plenty of wild life. It takes a bit of a look around to find a site that does not get too wet in the rain though. I set up at one point close to everything, just to step into a couple of inches of mud at the door after the rain that night. Bugger etc!!!***###
Never mind we shifted and have a good area now, we are here for o couple of nights more at this stage before we move on.
Fae has settled into a routine now and everything seems to be where it is suppossed to be and all clean, even in the wet. What would I do with out her, Well its time for happy hour so
Have a great day and we will see ya later.

On The Road

On The road now, left Walkamin on the 26th and headed off south towards Townsville. We went down the Palmerston Range and came out on the main highway at Innisfail. Just as well too, as the radio told us the main road was cut at Derall overnight and closed. We overnighted at a free park called Bilyana (22) what a great little place, off the road and room for around eight large vans. Toilets and water available. This place had a blocked toilet in the men’s and I rang the number displayed, a lady in Townville answered and told me they would be on to it, Yeah! Right. There was a service vehicle there within the hour and all was fixed. The gent even apologised for the inconvenience, how’s that for service?? Go Qld Main Roads.
We left the next am to head to Blue Water (36) just out of Townsville, what a huge, beautiful rest area, Toilets, water, lawned areas and a nature outlook over a creek. The was even a cricket match to watch on the oval. A sign in the loos said not to be bashful as all were welcome at the sporting and social club for meals etc. There was a function on the first night and we heard nothing. We would recommend this area to everyone. It was spotless, as I said beautifully lawned and on the banks of a river where people we swimming. There is also a nature walk and fitness track around the site. Congratulations Townsville.