GOOMBOORIAN - POPULATION: 463

 

THURSDAY 20.07.2017: Decided to take a trip down to Tin Can Bay so thought we would stay at a nearby free camp. Ross Creek Store has set up a free camp at the back of their premises and really only ask that you either make a donation or purchase goods from their store. There is access to toilets and a rather rustic camp kitchen. Drove in, parked and marvelled at the available space - well, by nightfall the area was full of cars, tents and 'youngins'! Managed to gain a photo in the morning before the exits began, but it does not really capture the extent of the influx of cars.

Samsung Update: Our friend John sent a text advising us of the process required for answering a telephone call. We asked that he then call us - magic happened, we were able to take the call!

EUMUNDI - POPULATION: 1,924

MON 17 - WED 19.07.2017: Yes, we have returned to Eumundi to revisit the markets - we were not joking when we advised that at our last market visit we had spent our allocated funds by the time we reached the end of the first row of stalls! SO, this time we are starting at the opposite end and slowly working our way past all the stalls. Soooo many shops, soooo many nice things to buy, soooo little money! Came back with many great purchases and thoroughly enjoyed our morning although the feet were rather weary. The town name is thought to be derived from "Ngumundi" or "Huomundy". This is the name of a local Aboriginal warrior said to have adopted escaped convict Bracefield as his son in 1831. Eumundi has the same quaint appeal as Morpeth and Leura in NSW. We are staying at the Eumundi markets car park which doubles up as an RV rest area. $15.00 per night with/without power. You are permitted to stay for two nights, plus you do not need to leave until 2.00pm the day of the markets which are open on a Wednesday and Saturday morning. Plenty of room, amenities, garbage bins and dump point.  

Amazing what a difference a day makes in a car park!   Spent the evening at the Cooroy RV Stopover $10.00 per evening, unpowered, garbage bins and dump point.

BEERBURRUM - POPULATION: 600

WED 12.07 - SUN 16.07.2017: Almost 12 months to the day we are making a return visit to Susan and Kevin Grealy's Old Bakehouse at Beerburrum. The name is derived from that of a nearby mountain, Mount Beerburrum. In the language of the Indigenous Kabi nation, bir means green parrot and burru mountain. Susan and Kevin's backyard is lovely, but requires a little pruning and weeding. SO, this trip we threw in our gardening tools and spent some time fossicking around in the dirt. Of course it would have made sense to take a 'before' and 'after' photo of the work completed, but one only thought to take a photo after the event! Resurrected many of Kevin's pottery pieces and placed them throughout the garden.

"YOU ARE MEANT TO BE IN THE PHOTO, NOT TAKING IT!"

Being an annual return trip it was imperative that we have our catch up dinner with the ladies from Special Olympics. Again, much laughter, too much food and a great time. For whatever reason, it becomes important to recreate the photo taken 12 months earlier - how many attempts does it take, too many!

 

L TO R: CAROLE, SYBIL, ANNA-LOUISE, DEBIE, SUSIE & SUSAN

 

KILCOY - POPULATION: 1,714

MONDAY 10 - TUES 11.07.2017: Onward to Kilcoy for washing, shopping and resting. Stayed at the Kilcoy Seib Street free camp opposite the cows and ducks. Smartphone Update: Our friend Judy rang us last night - we were still unable to answer the call and had to ring her back. Some phones are 'smarter' than their users!

TOOGOOLAWAH

SATURDAY 8 - SUN 9.07.2017: 4.30 AM IN THE MORNING - REALLY! The folk that claim this is the best part of the day - bitterly cold, pitch black, did we mention early and the pièce de résistance F-R-O-S-T! We fumbled around the motorhome preparing to exit, took the bewildered dogs to the toilet and then finally hit the road. Arrived at 5.30 am and were guided into our position - so tempted to catch up on a bit more sleep!
Tables were organised, gloves donned, along with three layers of clothes and the external gas heater in place. We were placed alongside a 91 year old lady selling all the craft that she had completed during her lifetime. We learnt of her occupations, children, like and dislikes - in fact, she probably spent more time talking to us than manning her stall! Had expected the Esk markets to be much larger and far more people browsing, but apparently Gatton were holding a fundraiser for the slain policeman and many had headed off to support that function.
The weary campers made their way back to the Railway Museum free camp at Toogoolawah. Needless to say that Sunday was very much a day of rest! Unusual sky on Saturday afternoon, then on Sunday we watched the local sky divers go through their paces - photos were not that good!

TOOGOOLAWAH - POPULATION: 1,162

LAIDLEY PIONEER VILLAGE & MUSEUM

FRIDAY 7.07.2017: The rain has not stopped all night and on waking we determined that the ground was starting to become a little too wet for our liking so we packed and moved across to the sealed road. Parked outside the Pioneer Village waiting for a break in the weather - did not come! Took a photo 'from a distance' and then set sail. Driving to Esk today as a reconnaissance for the markets being held tomorrow. Carole rang and spoke to the organiser, determined the necessary information and was given the oh so good news - you will need to be on site at 5.30am - we do not even have that hour on our alarm clock! Having absorbed the terrifying news we decided to do our 'Swap and Go' whilst in town. Headed to the hardware, "no, the newsagent does that." Paid the $23.95 at the newsagent and accompanied the lady to pick up the cylinder, "oh, we don't have any filled." Pocketed the money and headed to the final option, "yea, we can do that, $17.50." All this occurred in a one street town! Next stop the Poll Crandell (B.E.M.) Park at Toogoolawah to prepare for the early morning adventure!

LAIDLEY - POPULATION: 3,518

THURSDAY 6.07.2017: We are staying at Narda Lagoon Laidley free camp and intend visiting the Pioneer Village opposite in the morning. The local industry has been dominated by agriculture since the end of the 19th century. Laidley has long regarded itself as "Queensland's Country Garden". Fruit and vegetable production features prominently, with the majority of beetroot grown in Australia coming from the Laidley district.

WHAT???????



ARATULA - POPULATION: 505

HARD TO FIND A COMPETENT DRIVER!

WED 5.07.2017: Pub crawl continued to the Aratula Hotel Motel which is another free camping area. The area was originally known as Carter's Gate, but the name was changed to reflect the railway station name of Aratula. 

On our drive today we saw an excellent display of wattle, plus some beautiful scenery which we unfortunately were not quite able to capture!

 

 

 

 

MARYVALE - POPULATION: 350

DOG OF A DAY!!!!!!!!!

TUESDAY 4.07.2017: Sun was shining, grass was growing, all was good in the world, then the toilet cassette broke!!!!! As most know, Carole without a toilet means the cancellation of the road trip so immediately calls were made to the RV Centre in Toowoomba (1300 767 055). The lady was so obliging and advised that yes we could be seen today. First stop before Toowoomba was of course the dump point - to cut a rather ugly story short, Sybil "the fixer" Pine was able to resolve the problem. Carole advised the RV Centre that for the moment all was good and thanked them for their support.

Onward to Maryvale and the start of our pub crawl - much better way to finish the day! The Maryvale Crown Hotel allows free camping at the back of their building. Had lunch at the pub and then returned to the motorhome for a relaxing afternoon - did do a quick pack up when we saw this storm cloud!

ALLORA, QLD - POPULATION: 889

MONDAY 3.07.2017: Before leaving Nobby we called in at what looked like the grounds of Steptoe & Son - of course managed to pick up items for the garden! We are again taking a different route from last time and as such are headed for Dalrumple Park, a free camp at Allora. Allora is a town and locality in south-eastern Queensland. The region surrounding this small farming community was first explored by Europeans in the 1840s; the town was surveyed in 1859. Its name is believed to derive from an Aboriginal word "gnarrallah", meaning waterhole or swampy place. The parklands are dedicated to Eric Ireland. His foresight and constant maintenance of the area has made it what is today.

Smartphone 6: Take one photo by pressing the white button, take 5,555 photos by "hovering" over the white button!

NOBBY, QLD - POPULATION: 484

FRIDAY 30.06 - SUNDAY 2.07.2017: Smartphone 4: Rang our friend Judy and put the phone on speaker. Finished the conversation and realised the line was still open - okay, how many conversations have we been overheard having!

Enjoyed Nobby so much last year that we decided to make a return visit. In her wisdom, Buffy had long ago advised us not to travel the road from Woodenbong to Legume - "she'll be right!". Yep, took an hour to replace everything on the shelves, beautiful scenery, but just a LITTLE bumpy! Picked up the $2.00 pumpkin at the unmanned store at Warwick and then onward to Nobby. Arrived at Nobby (free unpowered site), and headed for the infamous Nobby pub to spend a relaxing afternoon.

Decided to venture over to the Nobby markets and again "flog our wares". There has been a change in organisers since last year and it is now known as the "Morning Tea." There were Tai Chi and cooking demonstrations, plus a presentation by the local Men's Shed.
Smartphone 5: Note to Self: Allow one day to set the Smartphone up as the modem for the computer!

OKAY - "SELFIES" ARE STILL NOT THERE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WOODENBONG - POPULATION: 332

THURSDAY 29.06.2017: Smartphone 2: "The phone is ringing", "I know", "the phone is ringing", "I know", "the phone is ringing, "I know - "I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO ANSWER IT!!!!"

Shopped at Casino and Kyogle, then headed to Woodenbong Camping Ground ($5.00 unpowered site). Woodenbong is a rural village - the name is derived from a Githabul Tribal Nation word meaning wood ducks on water. Dairy farming and cattle grazing are the two main industries. A number of National Parks are close to Woodenbong, some of which are declared World Heritage areas.

Smartphone 3: Note to Self: When recording on message bank do not have the phone on speaker. Sounds as though the phone has been swallowed!

COFFS HARBOUR, NSW - POPULATION: 69,403

TUES 27 - WED 28.06.2017: Just for something different we delayed our departure a day in order to complete the housework! Finally hit the road - destination Coffs Harbour in one day, yep, big day!. First stop Buffy (aka Sue Pearsall), and Cheryl - first time ever we will not be visiting Jayco. Stopped for lunch and toilet break - ha, toilet break literally, electronic flush is not working - "hello Damo, this is the Peel/Turner motorhome, can we call in?"

CHERYL, SUE & CAROLE

Spent a great night catching up with Buffy and Cheryl, then before setting off to Jayco Sybil requested a photo. The theme for this trip is how to drive the new Smartphone - yep!

Smartphone 1: "IT'S ALL ABOUT SYBIL." Found the "selfie" screen, Sybil being the tallest prepares to take the photo. After three attempts Cheryl realises that Sybil "front and centre" has secured her place in the photo while everyone else bends and strains to gain a place on the screen!

Jayco repairs were completed and we headed for Whiporie, a free overnight rest area.