I left Taroom this morning, and now at Gil Weir, just west of Miles. And who should be camped nearby but the famous Dougwe! Yes, we finally met.
It was no coincidence though. When I heard Doug may cross my path, I got in his way so he couldn't miss me!
We had a lovely chat until it just got too cold to sit outdoors any longer.
I'm homeward bound tomorrow. Not sure if I'll reach home or stop somewhere along the way.
Dougwe said
01:48 AM May 24, 2013
Yep we did finally cross paths Beth, after a couple of failed attempts it has happened. Not sure how you came up with the famous bit though as I am very shy really and don't mix well at all.
You are not wrong about it getting cold and I tell you that for free. I am rugged up already with all my eskimo cloths, layer after layer. I have no heater tonight but I am feeling warm now so I reckon I will survive the night.
I will be about 100 km north of Rockhampton this time tomorrow night so it should be a tad warmer at night there, probably have to drag the fan out.
Thanks for the catch up Beth, it was good chatting and we might cross paths again in a few months on my return south. I will try to be quiet in the morning on my departure.
Turtle Trekers said
01:55 AM May 24, 2013
Hello there Doug
How far north are you travelling? We have been in a few out of the way places of late without internet so we have missed quite a dew posts. We are currently at Home Hill and heading a little bit further north.
Louise and Alan
Beth54 said
01:58 AM May 24, 2013
Dougwe wrote:
Yep we did finally cross paths Beth, after a couple of failed attempts it has happened. Not sure how you came up with the famous bit though as I am very shy really and don't mix well at all.
You are not wrong about it getting cold and I tell you that for free. I am rugged up already with all my eskimo cloths, layer after layer. I have no heater tonight but I am feeling warm now so I reckon I will survive the night.
I will be about 100 km north of Rockhampton this time tomorrow night so it should be a tad warmer at night there, probably have to drag the fan out.
Thanks for the catch up Beth, it was good chatting and we might cross paths again in a few months on my return south. I will try to be quiet in the morning on my departure.
If I'm awake, I'll wave at my window.
pauline said
02:04 AM May 24, 2013
Keep warm both of you..............and Doug when we were in Mackay last year we had quite a few mornings aroung the 5-6 degrees, which surprised us but it does warm up fairly quickly........not like Pakenham.
dazren said
02:29 AM May 24, 2013
Geez ?? Dougwe the least you could do is cook Beth a big bacon and egg breakfast before you leave
Beth54 said
02:34 AM May 24, 2013
dazren wrote:
Geez ?? Dougwe the least you could do is cook Beth a big bacon and egg breakfast before you leave
I'll be barely awake when he leaves dazren. I'm not an early riser, especially when it's cold. I appreciate the thought though.
neilnruth said
02:36 AM May 24, 2013
Well at least you two have safety in numbers tonight. Stay warm. Travel safely tomorrow.
Beth54 said
02:41 AM May 24, 2013
Thanks Ruth. There was nobody else here when I arrived. I was a bit iffy about staying here. But Doug was not far behind me, then others started coming in, so no worries about security. Not the sort of place I'd camp if I was all alone.
Dougwe said
02:47 AM May 24, 2013
No cooked breaky sorry. Cereal with a splash of low fat milk and some sliced peaches for me then hit the road 7.00am all going well. Unless I am frozen solid off course. I'm nice and warm at the moment though with all the Eskimo cloths on. In bed and as snug as a bug in a rug.
Dougwe said
02:52 AM May 24, 2013
Turtle Trekers wrote:
Hello there Doug
How far north are you travelling? We have been in a few out of the way places of late without internet so we have missed quite a dew posts. We are currently at Home Hill and heading a little bit further north.
Louise and Alan
Hi Louise and Alan,
I am heading for Townsville and on target to arrive This Saturday afternoon all going well and hope to be there until mid/late August, everything being equal. Then heading south to Batemans Bay NSW South Coast to do some house sitting.
Happywanderer said
02:52 AM May 24, 2013
Great to see you have met up. Always a good feeling when you meet another one. Hearing about the cold I will be making sure I have several layers of winter woolies when I head south next month. Don't have a heater, might think about getting one for 240 when I go into c/ps.
Dougwe said
02:56 AM May 24, 2013
pauline wrote:
Keep warm both of you..............and Doug when we were in Mackay last year we had quite a few mornings aroung the 5-6 degrees, which surprised us but it does warm up fairly quickly........not like Pakenham.
Thanks for that info Pauline and here am I thinking you are my friend.
kiwi rainbow said
06:40 AM May 24, 2013
Doug, have you kept a tally of all the forum members you havemeet up with? I seem to recall someone stating a few weeks ago that you must hold the record (if there is one) for meeting the most forum members.
valnrob said
01:32 PM May 24, 2013
Dougwe wrote:
Turtle Trekers wrote:
Hello there Doug
How far north are you travelling? We have been in a few out of the way places of late without internet so we have missed quite a dew posts. We are currently at Home Hill and heading a little bit further northHi Louise and Alan,
I am heading for Townsville and on target to arrive This Saturday afternoon all going well and hope to be there until mid/late August, everything being equal. Then heading south to Batemans Bay NSW South Coast to do some house sitting.
Hi Dougwe, Rob and I slowly heading TownsvIlle. Now at Theodore for a few days. Hope to catch you up along the way, cheers ValnRob.
Beth54 said
02:35 PM May 24, 2013
I thought Marj held the record for how many members she's met Lorraine, but Doug could have overtaken her.
I'm now at Yarramalong Weir, between Leyburn and Millmerran Qld. It's been spoken of so often on the forum, that I felt I just hadto check it out on my way home. It's much nicer than Gil Weir, near Miles, where Doug and I were last night.
While I was in a queue at roadworks west of Dalby today, the phone rang and who should it be but Jules! They'd just passed me going in the opposite direction. I tell you, this nomad world is getting smaller and smaller!
I haven't made up my mind whether to stay one or two nights here. Decisions decisions.
-- Edited by Beth54 on Friday 24th of May 2013 02:36:03 PM
jules47 said
10:36 PM May 24, 2013
Beth54 wrote:
I thought Marj held the record for how many members she's met Lorraine, but Doug could have overtaken her.
I'm now at Yarramalong Weir, between Leyburn and Millmerran Qld. It's been spoken of so often on the forum, that I felt I just hadto check it out on my way home. It's much nicer than Gil Weir, near Miles, where Doug and I were last night.
While I was in a queue at roadworks west of Dalby today, the phone rang and who should it be but Jules! They'd just passed me going in the opposite direction. I tell you, this nomad world is getting smaller and smaller!
I haven't made up my mind whether to stay one or two nights here. Decisions decisions.
-- Edited by Beth54 on Friday 24th of May 2013 ipp
Yep passing through the roadworks, saw the little red car towing the Nipper - then saw Beth driving - decided to ring her straight away - it sure is getting smaller!!!!!
Beth54 said
10:42 PM May 24, 2013
I meant to ask you on the phone Jules, were you the one I waved to absently? I think we'd just got the go sign.
Happywanderer said
11:47 PM May 24, 2013
Now now Jules. How was beth su;pposed to answert whiule driving. You will get her in trouble. Beth, I see you are doing a big circle as you are now below Brisbane. It might be a place I wilLl stay on my way down.
I just did I rough recount, my grey nomad meets is at 60, roughly I said. Might be 1 or 2 either way.
Beth54 said
11:57 PM May 24, 2013
Happywanderer wrote:
Now now Jules. How was beth su;pposed to answert whiule driving. You will get her in trouble. Beth, I see you are doing a big circle as you are now below Brisbane. It might be a place I wilLl stay on my way down.
I just did I rough recount, my grey nomad meets is at 60, roughly I said. Might be 1 or 2 either way.
I had the Bluetooth on Marj, so answering wasn't a problem. Other than the fact that I had the radio on and the UHF chattering away.
Part of my thinking in coming this way was so I didn't come down the Toowoomba Range. From here I'll go through the Gatton-Clifton Road. Much easier and nicer. Plus I'd often heard about Yarramalong Weir and wanted to see it.
Dougwe said
12:14 AM May 25, 2013
I made it to St Lawrence free camp, busy busy busy, took me 5 minutes to find a spot to fit my big rig and weather is not hot, not cold just right, mmmmm, just like that famous porridge.
Dougwe said
12:17 AM May 25, 2013
valnrob wrote:
Dougwe wrote:
Turtle Trekers wrote:
Hello there Doug
How far north are you travelling? We have been in a few out of the way places of late without internet so we have missed quite a dew posts. We are currently at Home Hill and heading a little bit further northHi Louise and Alan,
I am heading for Townsville and on target to arrive This Saturday afternoon all going well and hope to be there until mid/late August, everything being equal. Then heading south to Batemans Bay NSW South Coast to do some house sitting.
Hi Dougwe, Rob and I slowly heading TownsvIlle. Now at Theodore for a few days. Hope to catch you up along the way, cheers ValnRob.
As I just said above ValnRob I am currently in St Lawrence free camp just up from Marlborough and will go straight up the Bruce to Townsville tomorrow, Saturday, should be there early afternoon as planned, well everything being equal of course. I will leave at first light.
jules47 said
01:18 AM May 25, 2013
Beth - you were actually looking down when we passed you - you were surrounded by trucks! Think there may have been a wide load in front of us. We came up the Toowoomba Range on Wednesday in the rain - scary trip, a B Double lost traction on diesel spills on the road, and while he was trying to correct his slide idiots were passing him on the left hand side!!!! The road was at one lane!
And going down, it was backed right back to the corner where you turn up to Picnic Point!!!
Dougwe said
01:40 AM May 25, 2013
Are, that's what I heard truckies talking about today, they were of the same opinion Jules.
Dougwe said
02:05 AM May 25, 2013
kiwi rainbow wrote:
Doug, have you kept a tally of all the forum members you havemeet up with? I seem to recall someone stating a few weeks ago that you must hold the record (if there is one) for meeting the most forum members.
No I have never really bothered KR. I just worked it out though and I think I at least beat HW. I have had the great pleasure of meeting exactly 71 really nice people from this Forum. I will never catch HW for the most post's though. Wombat must run a close second to that as well.
Who said being solo is lonely. Not once did I feel left out of it.
Thankyou everyone I have met and,
Thanks heaps Cindy and your team, without you that would not be possible.
Beth54 said
02:26 AM May 25, 2013
I heard about it on the radio. They had to close it off completely to get it cleaned up. I also heard on the radio that the twowestward lanes will be open next Friday. For those who don't know the range, the westward lanes are more crucial to traffic because the heavy vehicles are a major holdup on the climb. With two lanes open, the trucks stay in the left lane and give the cars a clearer run.
The people of Toowoomba have been pushing for years for a bypass. Not only because of the danger of the range these days with all that heavy haulage, but also because said heavy haulage goes straight through the middle of Toowoomba. I don't think there's another major city in Australia that has a major highway running through the middle of it.
An it's all in the hands of Canberra! I know this is leaning towards politics, which we're not supposed to touch on, but I hope Cindy doesn't mind me bringing this up.
Beth, have you travelled through the Clifton to Gatton road yet?
I am heading out to Cunnamulla and down through Bourke in August and was intending to go through that way from Brisbane to Goondiwindi via Warwick. I have never been on that particular road before and was wondering what it was like.
Beth54 said
05:48 AM May 25, 2013
Douglas wrote:
Beth, have you travelled through the Clifton to Gatton road yet?
I am heading out to Cunnamulla and down through Bourke in August and was intending to go through that way from Brisbane to Goondiwindi via Warwick. I have never been on that particular road before and was wondering what it was like.
Yes I have, several times actually Douglas. It's a good road generally, and no big climb. Last time I went through one section was down to one lane because of a landslide when the floods went through. That may be fixed now. And there's a free camp at Heifer Creek.
ShortNorth said
06:34 AM May 25, 2013
Another alternative to the Toowoomba Range is the road from Esk to Hampton - basically the same rise in height, but over a longer distance - a few tight turns here and there, but quite OK for smaller vans like the Avans. However this road is mainly of advantage if you are traveling north or north-west of Toowoomba rather than out through Millmeran.
I have been down the range once only - got stuck behind a VERY slow wide load going down - was on the brakes almost constantly - I was able to pass him just before the roadworks at the bottom, where it changed to a single contra-flow lane. Waiting at the eastern end was another wide load to go up the range - I wonder how they were able to pass each other.
Beth54 said
11:59 AM May 25, 2013
I've often wondered about going that way. If you missed my post earlier in the week, I towed the van up the range for the first time last Sunday. I was heading to a funeral at Taroom, so wanted to take the quickest route. I was down to 2nd gear, but the i30 didn't really struggle. But I don't want to do it again, and I wouldn't want to tow down either.
I wouldn't normally come this far south to go onto the Gatton-Clifton Road, but I wanted to check out this weir.
-- Edited by Beth54 on Saturday 25th of May 2013 12:00:33 PM
I left Taroom this morning, and now at Gil Weir, just west of Miles. And who should be camped nearby but the famous Dougwe! Yes, we finally met.
It was no coincidence though. When I heard Doug may cross my path, I got in his way so he couldn't miss me!
We had a lovely chat until it just got too cold to sit outdoors any longer.
I'm homeward bound tomorrow. Not sure if I'll reach home or stop somewhere along the way.
You are not wrong about it getting cold and I tell you that for free. I am rugged up already with all my eskimo cloths, layer after layer. I have no heater tonight but I am feeling warm now so I reckon I will survive the night.
I will be about 100 km north of Rockhampton this time tomorrow night so it should be a tad warmer at night there, probably have to drag the fan out.
Thanks for the catch up Beth, it was good chatting and we might cross paths again in a few months on my return south. I will try to be quiet in the morning on my departure.
How far north are you travelling? We have been in a few out of the way places of late without internet so we have missed quite a dew posts. We are currently at Home Hill and heading a little bit further north.
Louise and Alan
If I'm awake, I'll wave at my window.
I'll be barely awake when he leaves dazren. I'm not an early riser, especially when it's cold. I appreciate the thought though.
Thanks Ruth. There was nobody else here when I arrived. I was a bit iffy about staying here. But Doug was not far behind me, then others started coming in, so no worries about security. Not the sort of place I'd camp if I was all alone.
Hi Louise and Alan,
I am heading for Townsville and on target to arrive This Saturday afternoon all going well and hope to be there until mid/late August, everything being equal. Then heading south to Batemans Bay NSW South Coast to do some house sitting.
Hearing about the cold I will be making sure I have several layers of winter woolies when I head south next month. Don't have a heater, might think about getting one for 240 when I go into c/ps.
Thanks for that info Pauline and here am I thinking you are my friend.
Doug, have you kept a tally of all the forum members you havemeet up with? I seem to recall someone stating a few weeks ago that you must hold the record (if there is one) for meeting the most forum members.
Hi Dougwe, Rob and I slowly heading TownsvIlle. Now at Theodore for a few days. Hope to catch you up along the way, cheers ValnRob.
I thought Marj held the record for how many members she's met Lorraine, but Doug could have overtaken her.
I'm now at Yarramalong Weir, between Leyburn and Millmerran Qld. It's been spoken of so often on the forum, that I felt I just had to check it out on my way home. It's much nicer than Gil Weir, near Miles, where Doug and I were last night.
While I was in a queue at roadworks west of Dalby today, the phone rang and who should it be but Jules! They'd just passed me going in the opposite direction. I tell you, this nomad world is getting smaller and smaller!
I haven't made up my mind whether to stay one or two nights here. Decisions decisions.
-- Edited by Beth54 on Friday 24th of May 2013 02:36:03 PM
I meant to ask you on the phone Jules, were you the one I waved to absently? I think we'd just got the go sign.
Beth, I see you are doing a big circle as you are now below Brisbane. It might be a place I wilLl stay on my way down.
I just did I rough recount, my grey nomad meets is at 60, roughly I said. Might be 1 or 2 either way.
I had the Bluetooth on Marj, so answering wasn't a problem. Other than the fact that I had the radio on and the UHF chattering away.
Part of my thinking in coming this way was so I didn't come down the Toowoomba Range. From here I'll go through the Gatton-Clifton Road. Much easier and nicer. Plus I'd often heard about Yarramalong Weir and wanted to see it.
As I just said above ValnRob I am currently in St Lawrence free camp just up from Marlborough and will go straight up the Bruce to Townsville tomorrow, Saturday, should be there early afternoon as planned, well everything being equal of course. I will leave at first light.
We came up the Toowoomba Range on Wednesday in the rain - scary trip, a B Double lost traction on diesel spills on the road, and while he was trying to correct his slide idiots were passing him on the left hand side!!!! The road was at one lane!
And going down, it was backed right back to the corner where you turn up to Picnic Point!!!
No I have never really bothered KR. I just worked it out though and I think I at least beat HW. I have had the great pleasure of meeting exactly 71 really nice people from this Forum. I will never catch HW for the most post's though. Wombat must run a close second to that as well.
Who said being solo is lonely. Not once did I feel left out of it.
Thankyou everyone I have met and,
Thanks heaps Cindy and your team, without you that would not be possible.
I heard about it on the radio. They had to close it off completely to get it cleaned up. I also heard on the radio that the two westward lanes will be open next Friday. For those who don't know the range, the westward lanes are more crucial to traffic because the heavy vehicles are a major holdup on the climb. With two lanes open, the trucks stay in the left lane and give the cars a clearer run.
The people of Toowoomba have been pushing for years for a bypass. Not only because of the danger of the range these days with all that heavy haulage, but also because said heavy haulage goes straight through the middle of Toowoomba. I don't think there's another major city in Australia that has a major highway running through the middle of it.
An it's all in the hands of Canberra! I know this is leaning towards politics, which we're not supposed to touch on, but I hope Cindy doesn't mind me bringing this up.
Anyone interested in more info http://www.toowoombarc.qld.gov.au/our-region/transport/toowoomba-bypass
I'll get off my soapbox now.
I am heading out to Cunnamulla and down through Bourke in August and was intending to go through that way from Brisbane to Goondiwindi via Warwick. I have never been on that particular road before and was wondering what it was like.
Yes I have, several times actually Douglas. It's a good road generally, and no big climb. Last time I went through one section was down to one lane because of a landslide when the floods went through. That may be fixed now. And there's a free camp at Heifer Creek.
Another alternative to the Toowoomba Range is the road from Esk to Hampton - basically the same rise in height, but over a longer distance - a few tight turns here and there, but quite OK for smaller vans like the Avans. However this road is mainly of advantage if you are traveling north or north-west of Toowoomba rather than out through Millmeran.
I have been down the range once only - got stuck behind a VERY slow wide load going down - was on the brakes almost constantly - I was able to pass him just before the roadworks at the bottom, where it changed to a single contra-flow lane. Waiting at the eastern end was another wide load to go up the range - I wonder how they were able to pass each other.
I've often wondered about going that way. If you missed my post earlier in the week, I towed the van up the range for the first time last Sunday. I was heading to a funeral at Taroom, so wanted to take the quickest route. I was down to 2nd gear, but the i30 didn't really struggle. But I don't want to do it again, and I wouldn't want to tow down either.
I wouldn't normally come this far south to go onto the Gatton-Clifton Road, but I wanted to check out this weir.
-- Edited by Beth54 on Saturday 25th of May 2013 12:00:33 PM