TUESDAY 11 - THURSDAY 13.10.2011: Arrived at Toormina and spent the time washing and preening "Poodle Palace" for the trip to Jayco - it has rained ever since! The motorhome and Leyland Sisters are out of action until further notice!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
YAMBA - POPULATION: 7,000
SUNDAY 9 - MONDAY 10.10.2011: Our destination was Maclean, but unfortunately we were unable to find accommodation suitable for the motorhome. Instead we headed for Yamba which is situated at the mouth of the Clarence River in Northern NSW, the biggest river on the east coast of Australia. Stayed at Yamba Waters Holiday Park - used the time to pack our bags for the stay at Coffs Harbour with Anette (Carole's sister) while the motorhome is having minor repairs at Jayco.
Monday, October 10, 2011
CASINO - POPULATION: 9,400
SATURDAY 8.10.2011: On our last morning in Tenterfield we stopped for 'brunch' at Amys on Clarence - beautiful B & B that also operates as a restaurant. Great way to start the next leg of the trip!
Arrived at Casino and headed for the Information Centre to source accommodation - not many Pet Friendly places listed! Were advised to try the Casino Motorhome Village. In June 2002 a new public company CMCA (Casino Village) Limited, now known as Casino Village RV Resort, was formed for the purpose of acquiring part of the then recently deregistered Casino Airport and to develop on that site Australia ’s first motorhome village. Purchase of the site occurred in June 2003 with development of Stage 1 commencing around the same time. Development of Stage 1 has progressed with powered sites becoming available for overnight or prolonged stays from October 2003. Highlight of the stay - off lead area for the dogs. Fortunately there were no other dogs in sight so both had time off lead. Madison ran round like a banshee, whilst Shayden was not even aware he was off lead as he was too intent on retrieving the ball!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
TENTERFIELD - POPULATION: 3,130
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| HERITAGE ESTATE |
Spent the night at Warwick Rose City Caravan Park then headed for Tenterfield. We stopped at Heritage Wines Stanthorpe. This is a family owned and operated vineyard located in Queensland’s popular Granite Belt wine country. Established in 1992 by Bryce and Paddy Kassulke, the winery is the home of award winning wines by their son and winemaker John Handy. Beautiful cellar door with lovely antiques and inviting fire.
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| POLICE STATION |
Absolutely loved Tenterfield, even found our new home - one problem, it is owned by the local 'Police' - minor detail! Home for the stay was at Craigs Caravan Park. We began our day at Tanglewood Christmas Treasures - yes, Sybil's idea of 'pig heaven'!
Ventured out to "Thunderbolt's Hideout". Frederick Ward known as Captain Thunderbolt (1836 - 1870), began his bushranging career by escaping from Cockatoo Island Prison in Sydney Harbour where he was serving a sentence for horse stealing. Thunderbolt's hideout was between the rocks, with a small shelter under a large rock used as a camp. Constable Walker & Mulhall caused his downfall at Uralla.
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| THUNDERBOLT'S HIDEOUT |
Next stop Bald Rock National Park, a 30km drive from Thunderbolt Hideout. Arrived at 2.00pm with the aim of seeing Bald Rock only to find that the walk to the rock would take 3 hours (normal walking time - not Sybil time). Figured that we would complete the walk by midnight so we conceded and drove back to down town Tenterfield!
Took to the streets for the "Walk Through Historic Tenterfield". Stunning architecture. Just a few of the beautiful buildings seen......
Tenterfield Saddlery built in 1860 of quarried blue granite. As a tribute to his Grandfather George Woolnough, the Saddlery was immortalised in Peter Allen's song "Tenterfield Saddler". |
Stannum House - stately mansion built in 1888 for John Holmes Reid, a wealthy tin mining magnate. |
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| Post Office listed by National Trust, built in 1881 by the MCGauran Bros. |
Tenterfield Railway Station and yard is managed by Tenterfield Railway Preservation Society. Listed as one of only 6 Rail Heritage Precincts in NSW, the railway station is an excellent example of Victorian Gothic architecture and was built in 1886 as the terminal station of the Great Northern Railway. Although no longer served by trains the building remains as one of the town's finest heritage structures. Internally the building retains its features as they existed on the last day of train operations in the 1980s.
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| TENTERFIELD TRAIN STATION |
Thursday, October 6, 2011
COOYAR - POPULATION: 289
MONDAY 3 – TUESDAY 4.10.2011: Set sail on the next leg of the rally first stop - Murgon to do the fortnight’s washing we had planned to do at the caravan park! Saw beautiful countryside and small towns that made for an enjoyable drive. Had to stop at ‘Jo’s Country’ – Kingaroy and purchase all the peanut varieties! Morning tea was at the Nanango Art & Craft Shop – 3 paintings constituted the art, with a few souvenirs the craft. Devonshire Tea was beautiful! Swinging Bridge Park, a rest area behind the pub at Cooyar was the final stop for the day. Huge, well maintained area that stretched along the local river – stunning. Sun was shining, birds were singing – we erected the clothes line, hung the washing out, pulled up our chairs, poured a drink and reflected on our contentment. Good news/bad news! Bad news is that we were about to encounter our first thunderstorm – with relative haste, washing line was pulled in, chairs, dog beds, plus dogs thrown in the motorhome. We spent the rest of the day indoors accompanied by bags of wet washing and a serious Chinese laundry. Good news – for the first time ever we both saw where the rainbow touched the ground. Our fortune is guaranteed!
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| HARD TO SEE - THE RAINBOW IS BEYOND THE CARAVANS |
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
MURGON
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| CAROLE, SYBIL, ANNE, MARCIA & NEV |
SUNDAY 2.10.2011: The fire has been extinguished, but not before Marcia and Nev had spent most of the night ensuring their barns and property were safe. The caravan park also had to recall the fire trucks at 2.30am. We decided to make our way back to the park and stay another night. Have to say a big thank you to Marcia and Nev – their kindness was greatly appreciated.
Caravans in convoy slowly returned - we assume they were also housed overnight by locals. The smoke in the air was still strong, with evidence of smouldering debris everywhere. Flames had reached the edge of the park and it was reported that the fire had been accidently started by teenagers trying to cook yabbies.
The park owners completed a wildlife check of the burnt out area, but could find no evidence – hopefully animals will return when regrowth occurs. Whilst the smoke smell in ‘Poodle Palace’ will be a reminder for some time to come you have to feel extremely thankful that this fire was quickly contained.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
MURGON - POPULATION: 1,600
SATURDAY 1.10.2011: The smoke eased off as we drove so we continued on our car rally way, with an intended overnight stop at the Barambah Bush Caravan Park. Lovely park which offers "quiet natural surroundings and peaceful atmosphere" - we pulled in, set up the electricity and organised to sit back and watch Australia play Russia in the Rugby Union. AND SO THE STORY BEGINS..........fortunately the football had finished, but the smoke smell had returned! 2000 SOCOG training came into play and Fire Warden Peel went out to investigate - yes there was a bush fire and yes it was time to take in the cords and prepare to evacuate to the front of the caravan park.
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| EVACUATION TO THE FRONT OF THE CARAVAN PARK |
We watched the fire unfold for about 2 hours, with the fire trucks, police and ambulance arriving during that time. Roads were blocked off and the fire continued to grow. Word was then passed around that we were to move further away from the area - your immediate response, where to? Fortunately Marcia Hunt, a local that resides up the road from the park was on site and suggested that we drive to her property.
Without hesitation 'Poodle Palace' headed towards Marcia and Nev's home. Another couple from South Australia, Anne & Lyndon Mader also took up the offer of refuge.
Without hesitation 'Poodle Palace' headed towards Marcia and Nev's home. Another couple from South Australia, Anne & Lyndon Mader also took up the offer of refuge.
Marcia and Nev have macadamia and olive trees on the property and Nev took time to show us the processing of the macadamia nuts. Due to Marcia and Nev's kindness and reassurance we felt safe tucked away behind their home.
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| SUN SHINING THROUGH THE SMOKE -EERIE! |
BINJOUR
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| VIEW LOOKING TOWARDS GAYNDAH |
FRIDAY 30.9.2011: This was the first ime we felt a little uneasy about our support 'Wagon Train' being in place. We stayed at the Binjour Range Rest Area, with only 2 other vans - survived the night, though we are somewhat tired! Binjour, or Binjour Plateau is a very small farming area, with a primary school, agriculture and cattle. At the top of the plateau is a rest area. The area was opened up by German immigrants in 1910 and was a German settlement. We woke to the smell of smoke, but wrote it off as yet another hazard reduction exercise.
MONTO - POPULATION: 1,159
THURSDAY 29.9.2011: Pulled up at Coominglah Range Rest Area which is 22 kms NW of Monto. Somewhat off the beaten track with only 3 other vans staying the night.
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| MADISON HELPING WITH 'THE BLOG' |
DULULU
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| DULULU HOTEL |
WEDNESDAY 28.9.2011: Welcome to the Banana Shire! The motorhome has been booked in for a few repairs so in an effort to make it back to Coffs Harbour in time we have embarked on what feels like a minor car rally. Whilst driving we have seen some amazing scenery - every area is so different. Our first stop on the rally was at Dululu Rest Area. Dululu is a quiet, small town that is becoming popular with the 'Grey Nomads'. Many of the towns have painted stunning murals on walls, tanks and buildings.
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| The Lawgi Hall at Thangool is just one example. |
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