Hello all, back in the road again. I had a lovely time with Jules and ended up staying for five nights. I went to some lovely areas and met up with a few of the locals - at both Boonah and Rathdowney bowls clubs. There is some gorgeous scenery in the Scenic Rim area - including mountain views to die for and beautiful lakes. Monday I dropped Jules in Canungra to play bowls and drove up Mt Tamborine and had a lovely day taking in the sights, making it back down the mountain just in time for the last end of bowls.
Jules is a great person - a truly lovely human being.
Today I took the tourist route to Oakey - via Esk There was lots of roadworks on the back roads with evidence of water damage to roads and creek beds - one bridge seems to have disappeared but they have put in a ford in the creek bed while they repair it (at least that is what it looks like.
Off to Miles tomorrow - I have heard Possum Park is OK. By the way I am staying at Top Tourist park in Oakey tonight and I only paid something like $20. Looks like they have a solo rate.
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Esmeralda
It aint over until the fat lady sings, and I dont feel like singing just yet!
Glad to see you're mobile again. Most of Qld is subject to road works. I should have stayed up there to use my "stop and slow" ticket. The poor state took a beating over the past 12 months, so they now have to patch it up again before the next flood and cyclone. Take your time and I'm sure you'll have safe travels. Some of the Top Tourist parks do offer senior or single rates even in addition to the member discount. Don't expect it everywhere. There are very diverse attitudes between park owners and managers. To some we're their retirement fund. To others we are their personal guests. I know which one I prefer, but it's hard to pin them down. Maybe we could include this sort of info in the "recommendation" thread. Safe and happy travels.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Bugger! I must have missed the thread that you were at Jules, Esmerelda.
Tamborine is 'just up the road' from me, I could have met you!
You'll enjoy western Qld too. My Mum's large extended family are all over the west, so I've spent a lot of time out there, particularly Roma to Mungallala areas.
I'm sure we'll meet somewhere, sometime in the future.
Thanks Helen for your lovely comments - glad you enjoyed yourself - apart from the "plumbing" problem!! And Beth - if Helen had stayed a few more days we could have met up - but we were busy every day - and by the end of the days we were happy just to sit and have a wine then early to bed, hope to see you soon.
ps - Helen - sitting here with a glass of ........ and enjoying my goats cheese and olive tapenade - yum - thanks heaps!!
-- Edited by jules47 on Thursday 18th of August 2011 04:39:26 PM
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Glad to see you're mobile again. Most of Qld is subject to road works. I should have stayed up there to use my "stop and slow" ticket. The poor state took a beating over the past 12 months, so they now have to patch it up again before the next flood and cyclone. Take your time and I'm sure you'll have safe travels. Some of the Top Tourist parks do offer senior or single rates even in addition to the member discount. Don't expect it everywhere. There are very diverse attitudes between park owners and managers. To some we're their retirement fund. To others we are their personal guests. I know which one I prefer, but it's hard to pin them down. Maybe we could include this sort of info in the "recommendation" thread. Safe and happy travels.
CG there are road works everywhere and some of the roads marked 110 well, only an idiot would do that in some places. You can see the improvements which is good but there is still a lot to be done.
I will check the receipt for the exact amount I paid and put it in the recommendations.
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Esmeralda
It aint over until the fat lady sings, and I dont feel like singing just yet!
Bugger! I must have missed the thread that you were at Jules, Esmerelda.
Tamborine is 'just up the road' from me, I could have met you!
You'll enjoy western Qld too. My Mum's large extended family are all over the west, so I've spent a lot of time out there, particularly Roma to Mungallala areas.
I'm sure we'll meet somewhere, sometime in the future.
Beth, I am sure we will meet up somewhere "in the great outdoors" to steal a phrase. I am in Miles and it is lovely.
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Esmeralda
It aint over until the fat lady sings, and I dont feel like singing just yet!
Thanks Helen for your lovely comments - glad you enjoyed yourself - apart from the "plumbing" problem!! And Beth - if Helen had stayed a few more days we could have met up - but we were busy every day - and by the end of the days we were happy just to sit and have a wine then early to bed, hope to see you soon.
ps - Helen - sitting here with a glass of ........ and enjoying my goats cheese and olive tapenade - yum - thanks heaps!!
-- Edited by jules47 on Thursday 18th of August 2011 04:39:26 PM
Hey Jules, I am just about to pour a glass of ... and enjoy some olive goats cheese myself.
I am here in Possum Park just outside Miles and there are no sounds but those of birds (slightly annoying at times - actually only the one that sounds like it is saying "mine, mine" and it is not a seagull - shades of Nemo). There are also ones like in your backyard, so I might find out what they are called.
Guess what? the people in the van next door to mine live in Pakenham, but until they retired used to live aroud the corner from me!! Probably about 200m all up.
By the way the van came off very easily today - no problems at all - I must have the air bag settings just right.
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Esmeralda
It aint over until the fat lady sings, and I dont feel like singing just yet!
Good one re the air bag settings - won't have to sit on the rear bumper now!! Must be the Boonah air?? It's amazing isn't it? 1000k odd from home, meet someone from around the corner - Cheers!! -
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Let me know when it suits you Jules, and I'll come out for a visit. My girlfriend and I are always itching to go for a drive somewhere...if you don't mind me bringing her along.
Hi, Beth -Mid week? or weekend? and no worries - bring your friend - will be good to see you again - at this stage - Monday or Tues 29th or Tuesday 30th - or anyday that week except Wednesdat is fine by me - or the following Saturday or Sunday ok as well - just let me know - will put in the diary !!!
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
As Possum Park is so nice I have decided to stay until Monday and hopefully by then I will know where I plan to go next. Tje amenities are lovely and clean and the showers are big enough to hold a party. The photo I have attached is just outside the back of my van.
I went to the historical village this morning and think that I may have found my new van - what do you think?
-- Edited by Esmeralda on Friday 19th of August 2011 06:00:27 PM
Oh, absolutely Es - wouldn't need the air bags for that one would you? Must get up to Miles myself one day - been told it is a lovely spot - enjoy your weekend - doing some patchwork?
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
Will be back on the road tomorrow - have booked in at Mitchell for tomorrow night and will stay for one or two nights. Have met a few people who have been there recently and have received good reports.
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Esmeralda
It aint over until the fat lady sings, and I dont feel like singing just yet!
Made it to Mitchell late yesterday afternoon. The Major Mitchell Caravan Park just by the river was a nice van park. The toilet/shower block is unisex with a number of individual rooms containing a toilet, shower and basin - quite a good idea. It was terribly windy though but it settled at night and sprang up again this morning.
Arrived in Charleville and am staying at the Bailey Bar CP. Windy here too, but again it dropped as it got dark.
I have decided that the Warrego Highway should be renamed the Killing Fields, as I have never seen so many dead animals on one road. Quite a bit of roadworks going on but so much more is needed. I loved the signs saying "rough surface" when you had already been shaking for miles. It is a pity that shaking doesn't get the fat cells moving as I would be as thin as a rake and flat chested - and I am neither
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Esmeralda
It aint over until the fat lady sings, and I dont feel like singing just yet!
Well it is update time. I spent four nights in Charleville and checked out all the sights in town. I went to look at the stars at the Cosmic Centre - there are definite some amazingly beautiful sights in the sky if you have a good telescope. Also went to the Bilby conservation centre which was interesting - goodness those little guys are so cute. I now own a very cute little furry creature called Boo - it was going to be Boedicea after Queen Boedicea but ... The School of Distance Education (the old School of the Air) was very interesting and it was great listening to the littlies doing their class.
I left Charleville Saturday morning and headed for Cunnamulla. It was great seeing the emus walking along the side of the road on the red dirt. Also those a little further off the road - they looked like bushes with legs. Saw 7 altogether - two lots of 2 and the rest as singles. Also saw one kangaroo (alive) and a lizard on the gravel road at roadworks. Not as many dead animals on the Mitchell and Baronne Highways which was great.
Nearly everything was shut when I got to tCunnamulla, so I grabbed a coffee and petrol and hit the road for St George - everything also closed there early but the supermarket seemed to be open. It was very wet at the park I stayed in and the amenities were clean but smelled dreadful. The water out of the tap near my van was brown.
Left earlyish this morning and headed to Goondiwindi where I will stay for a couple of nights before heading to Boomi to check it out and hopefully stay a night or two. Thought I would check out the Nindigully Pub while I was on the road but it was closed.
So I missed the butcher in Cunnamulla with supposedly great meat and the Nindigully Pub which I am assured is well worth the trip. Lots of red mud around there though.
According to the owner/manager here at the Top Tourist Park there was an inch of yesterday or whenever it rained.
It will be time to head home soon, which is very sad
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Esmeralda
It aint over until the fat lady sings, and I dont feel like singing just yet!
There was lots of roadworks on the back roads with evidence of water damage to roads and creek beds - one bridge seems to have disappeared but they have put in a ford in the creek bed while they repair it (at least that is what it looks like.
