Sundown Adventure with Ken Hoadley

Tuesday May 5th - Thursday May 7th 2015

Ken was over a few minutes early and we were already parked outside ready to roll. We ran out through Westbrook and down through Cambooya to Clifton - we snuck under the low level bridge - Vicki sticks up 2850 - so one has to be careful - and out through Leyburn - where we spotted an older slide on in a yard - a bit further on an older chap walking two dog waved cheerfully - Sue reckoned he owned the slide on - Mal nodded in agreement - reckon your right.

We came out at Kara and ran through to Gore where Mal fuelled up and checked his tyre pressures - then we were off on a smaller bitumen road before turning left into Spring Valley Road - we thinks - it was a good gravel road and we poked along stopping here and there to take photos - it was good to be travelling with Ken - as he also likes to take photos -

There was plenty of water laying around and the creeks are all running, We stopped for morning tea by the road side - Sue popped into Vicki and our little kettle, "Bubbles" was chugging away, and in no time puffing steam to show she was ready.

We zig zagged around and eventually found our selves - after opening and closing numerous gates - down at Nunnabebbera Falls - we had lunch and the walked down to the falls. Just fantastic -the rain had delivered a powerful flow - Mal was in his element and already talks about returning for at least 5 days of photography and painting - who could blame him - but it will have to be after a significant rain event because this flow will not last for more than a week from now at the most.

Ken had brought a 5 watt hand held UHF 2 way to compliment his in car UHF - well the reception is pretty average - so maybe an in car with aerial is what we will get if we decide on a UHF in the future.

We headed off at 3pm and had a quiet run around to the Broadwater Campground in Sundown - we set up in campsite 9 -

Ken had cooked a great meal in his hot pot thingy, so we set up camp and tried to coax flames out of wood - it was a slow process and the campfire will not go down with a rating of grand or glorious.

Mal went off to bed a bit early and Ken and Sue sat up for a while chatting. The shower in Vicki works a treat and this time we nailed the drainage so that it worked perfectly.

Wednesday

A family of Cheogs woke the camp around 6am - they are such a cheerful band of gypsies - chattering in their exotic lingo and all in all having a boisterous time.

Well we all got off to a slow start - well excluding Ken who was up, bright eyed and busy tailed at the crack of dawn. Well we dawdled over breakfast and finally headed off up the trail around 10.am.

WE walked up to the waterhole - which they say is permanent - at present the river is running really quickly, so the waterhole is full.

Sue and Mal stopped off for a few photos on the way back to camp and Ken poked on ahead.

In the afternoon after lunch we sat around and chatted - Mal tinkered with his guitar, and all in all we had a very relaxed afternoon. Sue and Ken sorted out a campfire and under the firey hand of Sue we ended up with a great cvampfire.

Sue with a little "help" from Mal prepared lamb chops for tea and we all had the most pleasant evening watching the bush tele and chatting. We all showered in Vicki's onboard bathroom - needless to say we did not group shower only because the shower is a little squeezy.

Thursday

Well Ken was up at the crack of dawn and Mal came a very distant second. Mal chooffedoff with his camera and somebody else slept in. So we cooked crumpets for breakfast and were on the road a bit after nine. Ken had waited paientenly for the slow coaches in the slide on to get ready.

The water in the river had dropped over night so Mal decided it was not worth it to race around to Red Rock Gorge Falls - so we went with the flow.

We ran down over the border and took some dirt roads to More Station campsite for morning tea. Then arced around and back through Tenterfield and headed for the Black Swamp National Park for lunch. We trickled down a dirt track with the water seeping out of the decomposed granite - and found ourselves at a fantastic waterfall.

After lunch Ken started for home and Mal puddled around with his camera and tripod trying to take a photo or two. Around 3pm we started up the winding track for home. If I have not told you before the Mazda BT50 we have Vicki on is just fantastic on steep rough tracks - and this run was a breeze.

We stopped at Bald Rock for a cuppa - a sort of special place for us where we have camped before.

On the way home we spotted a small echidna crossing the road which is always a treat and then stopped at the old hut for the mandatory snap. We drove home as sunset warmed the sky and then faded to night. We arrived home safe at around 7pm

Another short adventure experienced.