ROCKHAMPTON - POP: 58,748/YAAMBA - POP: 6,074

MONDAY 1.8.2011: Spent the day at sprawling Rockhampton. Visited the Botanic Gardens and enjoyed lunch with the bird life.

JAPANESE GARDENS

 

Decided to try our first "pub stay" at Yaamba - almost missed the main road pub as the town was so small. Again thought we would support local business and with dogs in tow went to sit outside the pub and have a drink. The bottle of wine was purchased, Carole paid the $15.00 and asked for two glasses. "Oh, I have charged you take away prices, it will be $22.00 if you drink it here". SO, we retreated the 50 metres to the back of the hotel where Poodle Palace was parked and sat outside and enjoyed the afternoon refreshment. Thank goodness for the tourists!

EVENING ACCOMMODATION



KEPPEL SANDS - POPULATION: 302

KEPPEL ISLANDS

FRIDAY - SUNDAY 29-31.7.2011: Keppel Sands sounded like a nice place to visit - so we did! Stayed at Bill Kingel Caravan Park - thought we would fish. Every time we ventured out all we saw was sand - very low tide! Instead we visited Emu Plains and Yeppoon. The day of leaving yet again checked out the sands - very high tide! Maybe a daily tide check would assist!

Had a drink in the "wine garden" at the back of the hotel, with of course the puddles in tow. Rather expensive drinks, but then again a captive audience!



LOCAL KEPPEL SANDS HOTEL

BOYNE ISLAND/TANNUM SANDS

TOO MANY SIGHTS TO SEE!

WED 27.7 -THUR 28.7.2011: It was suggested that we visit Boyne Island and Tannum Sands. Whilst at Boyne Island and looking for a seafood lunch (not many fresh seafood shops up here), we coincidentally parked outside a hairdresser. Only $16 for the haircut, but Sybil has spent more purchasing the paper bag - only photos of Carole are to be taken for the next 6 weeks. Stayed at a 2 day stopover Freedom Camp - Calliope River Rest Area. So much for Sybil's desire for gun protection - there would have been some 50 caravans and motorhomes spread along the river. Some travellers are s-o naive!

AGNES WATER, 1770 AND ROUND HILL

SUN 24.7 – TUES 26.7.11: Kevin Grealy suggested we visit Agnes Water, 1770 and Round Hill. On the way to Agnes Water we stopped at the Strawberry Factory – felt like “Charlie and Boots”, $5.00 for a large tray of strawberries – only saving grace was that we were not passing any quarantine areas! Charlie (Carole) has quit on them, Boots (Sybil) is still munching her way through the tray. Pulled into the Discovery Eco-Friendly park at Agnes Water and were promptly advised of the 50 DON’TS whilst staying at the park. Plus there was a $20 per dog deposit for anti-social behaviour. This included barking at anything beyond people approaching your immediate area. The code of behaviour was somewhat vague – we were unsure if the dogs would even receive three warnings! 

1770



Spent most of our time at 1770, an area discovered by Captain Cook. Found a lovely park where the dogs could play, humans could fish, have a barbecue and watch the sun set. YES, we caught fish! Highlights included:

Sybil realising that the handbrake needs to be off, and foot on the brake before putting the vehicle into drive (thought the gear box had crashed).

At 1770 taking forever to park whilst being glared at by a family dining at the café. Humans and dogs exited the vehicle only to note that we had parked in a v-e-r-y, v-e-r-y faded designated Disability Parking area. We moved!

9.00pm (still haven’t adopted the caravanning dining ethic), cooking tea and the fire alarm went off. Shayden set off in his shrill bark whilst biting at Sybil’s calves - Sybil fans the alarm and tries in haste to open the door, Carole opens the windows, whilst warding off Shayden.

Outcomes: 

The wedges were burnt, calamari rubbery and fish like cardboard.
Madison slept through the entire event.

We nearly lost our $40.00 deposit.

The irony of the situation - not one amongst us thought to simply remove the food from the stove!

SUN SET AT 1770

TORBANLEA - POPULATION: 420

TUES 19.7 – SAT 23.7.2011: On Tuesday morning The Davies (Denise and Terry, our LTP neighbours), called into the freedom camp to say hello. We then set sail for Burrum River Caravan Park at Torbanlea. The plan was to only stay for two days so that we could do the washing, wash the dogs and dry out the carpet and mats – two “spillage incidents” where we forgot to empty water prior to taking off. SO well organised! We enjoyed the environment and friendliness shown by Avril and Charles (Park Managers) so much that we extended the stay. Activities included: 

THE GRAND HOTEL

Tea at the Grand Hotel (the only pub in town since the other one burnt down!). Pokies not so profitable, but the meal was half a cow, plus salad and chips for $10.00 – beautiful! Day trip into Hervey Bay, with the proverbial fish and chips for lunch. Way too commercial for us, with whale watching as the main attraction. We have been on a number of  whale watches at Port Stephens so this time we elected to sight see instead. Dropped into the Australiana Cottage Crafts & Herb Farm – yes spending was kept to a minimum!
Fishing at the caravan park which backs onto the Burrum River – no meals as yet.

We were treated to a fabulous night of entertainment. Fellow travellers staying at the park – one couple singing country music and two bush poets provided 3 hours of non-stop enjoyment. The first washing of the dogs whilst on the road – interesting experience! Both were dosed up with FrontLine the following day and Madison who must always make a statement rolled over and over in a massive dust bowl – one cannot explain how impressed one was!

OUR DAY WITH SUSAN

CAROLE, SUSAN & SHAYDEN

MONDAY 18.7.11: The Glass House Mountains are all that remains of volcanoes that were active throughout the area some 25 million years ago. The legend has it that back in the mists of time a family lived by the sea. The father was named Tibrogargan and the mother Beewah. They lived happily and had many children. The eldest was Coonowrin followed by Coochin, Beerburrum, the Tunbubudla twins, Ngungun, Tibberoowuccum, Miketeebumulgrai & Elimbah. Tibrogargan was once down at the shore when he noticed with alarm that the sea was dramatically rising. Running to find his family, he shouted to Coonowrin to help his mother, who was pregnant at the time, to gather up the young children. Coonowrin was instructed to lead them to the safety of higher ground. Tibrogargan looked back to see how Coonowrin was managing, only to see him running away intent on saving his own life. Tibrogargan was really angry at this display of cowardice and went after Coonowrin. When he finally caught up with him, he struck him a mighty blow. His neck was dislocated and Coonowrin (Crookneck) has not been able to straighten it ever since. When you look at the mountains today you will see that Tibrogargan still sits with his back to his son and gazes out to sea. Coonowrin has still not been forgiven by the family and hangs his head in shame. Late on a cold brittle winter’s night you may hear him softly crying as his tears roll down to form the many streams which flow down to sea from where his troubles began.

COONOWRIN

Next stop was to the Maleny Cheese Shop (founded in 2004). Markus Bucher is a master cheese maker who learned his art in Switzerland. The Gold Medal Creamy Brie – excellent! We finished off the day with an ice cream and a walk through the village – poodles on their worst behaviour! We did not make it to Montville, but it is another area well worth the visit.  

SYBIL, SUSAN, KEVIN & MADISON

"THE OLD BAKEHOUSE"
SUSAN & KEVIN'S
BEAUTIFUL HOME


 

 

 

Spent the night back at the Landsborough Freedom Camp.

LANDSBOROUGH: QLD - POPULATION: 2,805

SUNDAY 17.7.11: Freedom camp stopover, then a day spent at Australia Zoo. Established in 1970 and originally known as the Beerwah Reptile Park, the once 4 acre park is now some 70 acres with over 1,000 animals - beautiful environment. Tours of the animal hospital are also on offer.

We had a very interactive day!

FEEDING THE ELEPHANTS!

Later in the day caught up with Susan and Kevin Grealy at Beerburrum. Susan and Sybil worked together on the Special Olympics Australia and Asia Pacific programs. Spent the night at the "Old Bakehouse", Beerburrum.

RAIN FOREST (SELF PORTRAITS!)