Now in Charters Towers

I have added some photos to the last post and finally come out of the bush.

Lightening Ridge sunset

When I was leaving Lightning Ridge I had gone to pack up when the raffles were being drawn, then heard my name and won a beautiful solid white opal, not sure what I will have it set into.  I had bought myself a small red on black opal ring for my pinky finger in town Saturday, oh well a girl can't have to much jewellery.  After my time at Dunkeld I drove to Mitchell to meet up with some friends who are doing a Tag-A-Long through to Darwin, it was lovely to see some I knew who had come from Brisbane and the coast for just a few days.

Neil Turner Weir

Tues 12th June

Stayed a few days with Darryl & Rose who I knew from Gladstone Pipe Band days.  Took the bike off and rode around town, there was a great patchwork exhibition in the Gallery.  Rode out past the Neil Turner Weir to where others were camped at the Race Course for afternoon tea and a chat. There were campfires at night under the stars again, the weather has been very kind, beautiful days and just a bit cool at night. There was so much mud on all our vehicles, Darryl brought out his pressure washer which was kept busy for the next few days.

Sat 16th June

After a visit to the local craft shop where Rose and other locals sell there hand made goods, I bought a bottle of lemon butter Yum.  I stopped at Roma and visited the farmers market then I drove to Injune to camp the night.

Sun 17th June

The Information centre recommended a trip into Carnarvon Gorge and I wasn't dissappointed.  Expensive to stay a few nights but all my free camping makes up for the nights I treat myself.  Walked around the park and found a family I had met down in Victoria so a pleasant happy hour + was spent with Rob, Leonia & Damon.

Ward's Canyon

Monday after a talk with Fred the aboriginal guide, I walked to the Art Gallery with Rod & Jenny who invited me to join them.  It was a great day, the art work I can't describe the feeling of just being there, I felt I had to speak quietly, a truly spiritual place.  We walked into Ward's Canyon then the Moss Garden on the way back to our camp and had quite a few stops to just sit on the warm rocks and enjoy the scenery.  I walked to the lookout back at Takarakka to watch the sunset, then an early night.

Tuesday I was to be at the Helipad for my first helicopter ride and I was so excited.  It wasn't meant to be as the oil gauge wasn't working so his 3 passengers got their money back and went on their way by road!!  I drove into Emerald, stopping at Rolleston & Springsure then camped beside the river which was still running very fast after the floods.

Wednsday 20th June

Maybe next time!!

Walked through town checking out the Art works some were by Margaret Worthington of Gladstone.  Then just had a relaxing afternoon, a couple from Vic I had met at Kyabram last Dec were near me so we enjoyed catching up over Happy Hour.

Thursday morning I had a new radio/CD and outside aerial put into the van, then drove out to Fairburn Dam for the afternoon.  I met a Solo for afternoon tea, she is working in Emerald just now not travelling but answered an email I had sent looking for company.

Friday morning woke Tess another Solo who had camped near me during the evening, then left about 9.30 to drive to Belyando Crossing, not much here but it had started raining & I needed to stop.  The road is long straight stretches and can get a bit boring. 

 Saturday I drove to Charters Towers, another little town with lovely old buildings,  I did the a Heritage Walking Trail, drove to the Lookout before going to Macrossan Park, a free campsite beside the Burdekin River, amazing to see the height the water came during many floods over the years. My camp spot was at Fletcher Creek and I was backed up to the water and could hear the water over the rocks, very relaxing, stayed 3 nights (the maximum stay is 1 month, not to many like that).  The Van got a thorough spring clean, after that nothing to do but read and enjoy.

Carnarvon Gorge stepping stones

Bye for now

In Dunkeld Qld

Jan with Dingo pup!

My last post a month ago was from Costerfield.  I drove from there to Shepparton to drop off the quilts I had made, then met the Goulburn Valley Gypsies at the Dingo Farm at Nalinga.  The afternoons activity was to catch yabbies in the dam which were then to be raced for the opportunity to win a great trophy.  No luck and only one yabbie was caught despite our best efforts.  Those who wanted could then go and help feed and mix with the dingoes.  After a BBQ dinner we sat around the camp fire under the stars.  Sunday was cold and wet so all headed off before lunch, I had to drive through a wine growing area called Upottipotpon!! just to see the sign for myself and make sure someone wasn't pulling my leg.  It was Mothers Day and all the family phoned I stayed with a friend in Corowa the night.



I arrived at the Blaze Aid Camp in Wagga Wagga about 3pm and was met by Eugene the co-ordinator, I had a guided tour and then met other workers over dinner.  Tuesday the alarm went off at 6am and the temperature inside my van was 2.1o Brrrrrr  Cam drove the team of 5 30klm to our farm where we removed debris most of the day.  It was good to get in a hot shower as I hadn't done anything that physical for a while. 

Wednesday went to Wantabadgery Station and Sally Sara from ABC and a team flew in by hellicopter to do a story on the floods in the area and Blaze Aid's involvement.  I was asked if I was willing to be  interviewed and photographed, they spent the day with the team and then came back to the camp ground that evening.



Blaze Aid in Wagga



By the 3rd morning I was getting used to the cold, with frost on the fences till about 9am, got some great photos.  We were working along the Murrumbidgee River bank today and it is a thrill to see the before and after and know I helped a little.

A day off and went into town, met Allan free camped and he helped put Wikicamps on my phone.  I am enjoying all the technology now even though it takes me a while to recall the instructions some times.
Back to work on a different farm, clearing debris then rolling damaged wire and afterwards setting fire to the dry grass. Sunday was my last day and a new skill was learned.  I am now officially a twitcher!!  This is simply tying the wire onto the fence post with a small piece of plain wire. Back at camp after dinner I played a few tunes on my Ukulele as a few of us sat in front of the log fire.  Before leaving on Monday I did some mending of trousers for Eugene and Graham.  Graham and I had gone to Nimbin High School together, it really is a small world.  Went into Wagga at lunch time then drove to Jugiong to camp for the night.
Tuesday did my usual check of the van before taking off and found a flat tyre, Oh Bother.  The NRMA man came and changed it but it couldn't be repaired.  Drove to Yass they had none the right size, drove to Goulburn and thankfully they checked all my tyres and I had odd sizes so now have 2 new tyres.  Finally arrived at my cousin Marilyn and Keith at MossVale at 4.30 not before lunch as planned.  We hadn't seen each other since teenage years and she is doing family history and contacted me, it was a wonderfull time of catching up.
 I left after lunch next day to drive to my sister-in-law at Barrack Heights not enjoying the trip down Macquarie Pass.  I am now the proud owner of 2 Ukulele's as Sue has given me a very old one that has been in her family, I will have 2 new plugs made for strings and look forward to playing it.  Then it was off to Sydney to spend a week with Cath's family who are still settling in after moving from Melbourne.  I slept in the Van and Georgia would phone me to say breakfast was ready, they loved to come a have a picnic or watch TV.  Lily was home from school with a bout of Croup and with wet cold weather they were getting cabin fever.
One of my great highlights was sailing on Pittwater, I met Barbara & John while in Tasmania and they had invited me to come and stay.  I took them up on the offer and enjoyed 2 nights stay and a beautiful day on the water.  Barbara also took me Square dancing with her, I hadn't done that since I was very young.


Georgia & Lily



Back at Cath's and on Friday night I went to her Craft Group and helped prepare the goodie bags for the 'Sew It Together' workshop she is attending in Canberra next weekend, sounds like lots of fun except for the cold weather -7o forecast.

Saturday afternoon I went to Sydney Wanderer's weekend at Wheelers Hill just up the road from Cath's, I took Lily for a sleep over which she enjoyed despite the rainy weather.  She was delighted to win a box of chocolate coated shortbread from the raffle.  A very interesting talk on tyres after dinner I learnt a lot.  Pancakes and maple syrup for breakfast next morning before Lily was picked up to go out for the day.

The beret I had crocheted for myself was far to big so Cath got that one and I will make another.  Said goodbye to them all and drove to visit my sister Marion at Berowra for lunch and afternoon tea before leaving Sydney.



Hunter Valley Gardens



Tonight's camp was at Ourimbah and I woke Tuesday to the sound of the Bellbirds.  Thankfully it was a lovely fine day, I went to Wyong for Gas along the old Pacific H'way.  Stopped at the Cessnock Info Centre who recommended the Hunter Valley Gardens, I opted for the guided tour in a gold buggy but then went back to take photos and was there for hours. It was just beautiful.  My camp tonight was at Casillis as the book said power and showers and I needed my heater there was a bitterly cold wind blowing.

Wednesday 6th June - The Transit of Venus a once in 100+ years event.  I got updates thanks to a facebook friend who was able to take photos.  Stopped at Dunedoo for a hot pie lunch then as I drove through Mendooran saw Allans van parked and stopped to say hello.  This was a good free camp so I stayed the night, the offer of a camp fire was a good decider but the rain chased me in at 6pm.

This orning it was athe Kookaburras laughing that I could hear from my bed.  Drove to Coonabarabran and then in through the Warrambungle National Park.  I visited the Siding Springs Observatory then walked ato Fan's Horizon a steep rise with over 1,000 steps.  It was getting late so I stayed in Camp Wambelong for the night.

View from Fan's Lookout - 1,000 steps up!!

There was some dirt road but only for 8klm on the way to Gulargambone, stopped at Coonamble for groceries, at Walgett for water and a gas bottle refill and arrived at Lorne Station, Lightening Ridge about 5pm.  The road into here was not what I had expected, I almost turned around but pulled over and waited for another vehicle to go through a huge mud crossing then I followed. I was driven into town to experience the Hot Springs and sat in 40o water for about an hour, thoroughly enjoying it.  Spent the next few days with some new and old friends enjoying the bush, cricket matches, sight seeing and sitting under the stars in front of a log fire.

I left Sunday to drive to Dunkeld to help with Blaze Aid again, have never seen so much wildlife on the road emus, cattle, echidnas, deer & roos.  I worked at the base this time helping in the kitchen, cleaning amenities and tidying the garden around the golf club rooms where we were staying. 

Bye for now