2015 07 22

Day One

Well finally on the way - the weather was patches of drizzle and then a weak sunshine. We were just leaving and up roll Paul F, and so we stood out the front and had a fairly good chat and then Paul took this photo of us and we were on our way.

We stopped at Leonie's place at Cabarlah and had a light lunch with Dennis and Dorelle - which was sort of great because we had lunch with them at this same place when we were heading off last year to 1770 on the motorbike.

Good run up through the South Burnett and to our first tourist stop in Nanango to start the bucket list photos - a photo of Vicki in a bucket.

We camped at Kinbombi Falls. We were one of seven camping groups, so not really alone, but it is fine. We walked down to the falls and marveled at the green water. Is this copper or something more sinister.

Day Two - 23rd

We had some light rain during the night which sounded like fairies dancing in the rain on our roof and sliding down our curved canopy.

We had a slow start as the mist amongst the gum trees gradually dissipated.

By 9am we were rolling North towards Ban Ban Springs as we passed more caravans than single cars.

We took a secondary road towards Mount Perry until we stopped by the lake and had a cuppa tea overlooking a forest of dead trees with their saturated gum boots. Mount Perry was disappointing, it has been all tidied up and now has little character, however we found the small back road up to the old train tunnel - where we met Peter Wallace and his partner Bernie - what a delightful couple.

We sat in Vicki and chatted for a couple of hours before we went our separate ways. We took Duckpond Road to find a back way to Kalpower. There we found a empty piece of road reserve by an empty creeklet where we popped the roof, photographed the evening sky and poured a glass of wine to seal the day - it was a beauty - the sort of day one can never plan.

Day Three - 24th

The meadows were shrouded in mist and the outlines of trees were soft and only the mournful call of the cattle far off broke the stillness.

We saved time by not having breakfast and followed on down Duckpond Road to look for an exciting mist filled valley, but we reached the main Bruce Highway without and such encounters.

The Highway was fairly quiet and we had a good run through to Miriamvale - where we refueled and a little further on stopped for breakfast.

The traffic on the highway is interesting - the Police have been so effective in stopping people from speeding that that now driver's stay in long frustrating platoons of traffic behind inconsiderate drivers towing vans or old clapped out camper vans - then an overtaking lane will appear and a small handful of cars will creep past leaving the rest of their fellow frustrated drivers to slog along until the next overtaking lane appears.

We arrived at Gracemere to have a lovely curry lunch with Bruce and then Bruce and I examined the shed tools and discussed the relative merits of various tool purchasing options.

Mal's dear dear sister, had left a beautiful fruit cake for her little brother - now there is a true angel - thank you for the love.

About 5pm we headed off into Rockhampton to catch up with Russell and Deb. After a nice meal at a local pub and plenty of chit chat we climbed into Vicki - it was another day - they come - they go - they go so quickly and while the supply might be endless we are only going to see a finite number.