It’s only been three weeks since my last blog entry but we have seemed to do so much in that time.
After we left the weir at Miles we headed for Roma, staying out at the Gun Club for 4 nights and exploring the area from there. We looked around the old church in town , saw the biggest bottle tree, did the cattle sale yard tour and wandered around the quirkiest, fullest craft shop we’ve ever seen.
We had great neighbours at the Gun Club for our first two nights, sharing happy hours with Neville and Janine who were then going on to Carnarvon Gorge. We decided that as we were so close and hadn’t been to Carnarvon Gorge before that we should also go there, so 2 days behind Neville and Janine and then parking close together again at Sandstone Park, just out of Carnarvon Gorge, we managed to continue on with our happy “happy hours”
Sandstone Park was a great camping ground high on an escarpment with the most glorious sunrises and sunsets that our photos could not do justice to. We spent four nights here and spent our days walking in the gorge. I surprised myself by walking 19 kms in one day (Chris did 26 that day!) and another day 6 kms and 1000 steps up to the Boolimba Bluff, towering 200 metres above Carnarvon Creek. In total I walked 32 and Chris 40 kms those four days. I’m still shaking my head as I can’t believe I did it!
After leaving Carnarvon Gorge we headed through Blackwater towards Duaringa, a really great free camp that we have stayed at before. With toilets and hot showers, a dump point and water to fill your tanks, it has everything a traveller could ask for for just a small donation. Not much to ask you wouldn’t think but still so many don’t donate. What is wrong with people? I get so cranky at how mean some travellers can be!
From Duaringa we went to Gracemere, out of Rockhampton to spend a night in the caravan park to catch up on washing, shopping etc. before heading out to revisit Fardooley’s bush camp.
As we drove into the camp we were met by Robyn (and Kevin the dog) and another couple Arthur and Sue who we remembered from 2 years ago who were also there. They, like us had such a good time then that they were hoping for another good State of Origin 2 night this year. Robyn and Peter did not disappoint and a good night was had by all with Robyn putting on Pie, chips and mushy peas for $5 a head. I’m sure that didn’t even cover the costs! And the best of all, NSW beat QLD 38-6 so Chris was just a little bit pleased.
While we were at Fardooley’s we drove out to explore the Capricorn Caves and we couldn’t have picked a busier day. The one day of the year they have an official open day and we chose that one. There were people everywhere, face painting, sausage sizzles and SES volunteers along with hundreds of visitors. We did manage to do the Cathedral tour with about 20 others before making our escape.
After four nights at Fardooley’s we said our fond farewells to Peter, Robyn, Kevin the dog, and the other travellers, then with my two bottles of Bundaberg liqueur on board (thanks Squiddy) we headed to Mt Morgan and a good little caravan park that we had been told about. The Silver Wattle is a small friendly park with happy hours at the camp kitchen around a big camp fire. Debi and Dave, our hosts, put on free food as well. We enjoyed savoury slice, damper and toasted wraps which meant we didn’t need dinner those nights, along with the plentiful supply of mandarins that we could help ourselves to. Another great spot. Thanks guys!
From Mt Morgan it was on to Cania Gorge and more walking. We stayed at the Cania Gorge BIG4 caravan park and again met up with Arthur and Sue. What a surprise, and we enjoyed another 2 good evenings with them. Fish and chips one night and then Homemade Pizzas the next night, both supplied by the caravan park. We watched the many birds that came to the park at 4.30 every afternoon for a feed. There were so many Lorikeets, Cockatoos and Red Parrots. Then as they flew off the Apostle birds and Galahs would come in to clean up. I enjoyed watching and feeding the birds as much as all the kids!
We did most of the walks in the Cania Gorge, Chris more than me though as he did the 22km Castle Mountain Lookout walk. I chose to opt out of that one! We enjoyed both gorges but agree that Carnarvon was our favourite by far.
From Cania Gorge we drove all of 26kms to Monto and the little RV camp in town. We were only going to stop one night but the friendly feel of the town and our hosts encouraged us to stop another night. The next morning Chris went off to play golf and I wandered around the town. As I came out of the Vinnies Opp shop I bumped into a couple we haven’t seen for 4 years. Trevor and Julie were people we met at Tumbling Waters, out of Darwin. They used to work at the park every holiday season but now have decided to leave their caravanning life behind and settle in Monto, Qld. When Chris came back from golf we wandered around to their place for a catch up and see their new home (new to them anyway) an old Queenslander on a 1200 sq meters block, not bad for the price of $115,000. Funny how things happen, if we hadn’t decided to stop another night we wouldn’t have met up with Trevor and Julie.
Now we are on the road again heading out of Monto and towards the coast. Next stop, RM Williams Centre bush camp at Eidsvold.