Happy birthday Dad

89th Birthday

Spent today with Dad. He made his 89th birthday. Well done. As we all know, this will most likely be his last. At least he is hoping so.

So a tribute to him, I would like to say that he has provided a moral compass to me all my life ( well at least since I grew up and stopped giving everyone dramas.).

I learnt from him that you should think of other people, do the right thing morally as best you can and how to grow vegies.

He is a good man.

Mt Tamborine

Photos

I went to Curtis falls at Mt Tamborine this morning to try and perfect waterfall photography. Still not quite there but I am improving. I just love the blurred falling of the water within a green rainforest type of setting. See what you think of these. One day I hope to make the  perfect shot.

Bendemeer to Gold Coast

12 December 2012

Got up early this morning and was on the road by 6.00am. Uneventful drive to the Gold Coast via Cunninghams Gap. Decided to go through Boonah and Beaudesert to get to the coast. Went up the western side of Mt Tamborine and then down the eastern side, just for something different. Will be going back to Mt Tamborine on Thursday morning to get some photos of Curtis falls and of Mt Tamborine itself.

Todays travels

571 kms

Holbrook to Bemdemeer

11th December 2012

Left Holbrook around 7.30 in the morning and as I have gone about everyway to Noosa and the Gold Coast, I thought I would head up the New England Highway. So (I know I am stupid) I put my trust in the GPS. From Holbrook I headed to Young ( cherry capital of Australia), Cowra, Blayney and Bathurst. I have not been to Bayney and Bathurst for probably 25 years so it was an interesting  drive. Forgot my pillow so called into Big W in Bathurst and picked up a $6 pillow (and a hotdog). From Bathurst I headed towards Mudgee and then across to the New England Highway. Between Bathurst and Mudgee is the old Gold mining town of Sofala. I have never been there before so I thought I would drop in. Took these photos of the town, albeit a very small town with extremely narrow streets. All the houses would be lucky to be 50 sqmts in size. It was a worthwhile stop though. Still having trouble stopping at interesting places as I drive, Eventually I organise it. 

Sofala main street

The Goodfellows hall turned into a house

This bridge was made in England and transported to Australia. It was originally used on the Eastern  side of the Great Dividing Range and then dissmantled and brought to Sofala by bullock teams.

After Sofala it was onwards to Mudgee then heading east on Ulan Rd. I didn't know that there was coal mines around Mudgee. There was three coal mines on Ulan road and lots of mining vehicles. After Ulan rd I followed the GPS which had me heading to Merriwa. Merriwa is a small town 65 kms west of Scone. This is where the GPS decided it was time for some fun. So instead of going on nice sealed roads to Scone, it had me turn north and head towards Willow Tree on the New England highway. This road takes you through the Liverpool Range and is a dirt track with a lot of corrugations  Beautiful!!!!!! I cannot believe that there was traffic on this road, are these people stupid.

As you will see from the pictures below, I was high on the Liverpool Range on a dirt trck overlooking the Liverpool Plains. Actually it was a great view and I dont think many people have seen it.

Liverpool Plains

57Kms of this!!!

After getting to Willow Tree it was an easy drive to Bendemeer, which is 40kms north of Tamworth. the camping spot is at the back of the showgrounds beside (I think) Macdonalds River. Met a couple from Hervey  Bay and had a good talk  for an hour or so.
Would stay here again and might even go for a meal at the pub, could be interesting.

Bendemeer Camping

More Bendemeer

Todays travels, 845 kms.

Holbrook Photos

Thought I had better keep my hand in so on Sunday I took a drive from Holbrook to Jingellic via Woomargama.

This drive takes you to the upper extremities of Lake Hume onto the Murray river which feeds lake Hume and back to Holbrook.

at Jingellic below the Pub is a camping area which is free and has a 4 week continuous limit on camping. Great little spot on the banks of the Murray. I have uploaded some photos onto Wikicamps if you want to see different photos.

Doing another trip to the Gold Coast, leaving here on the 11th December and returning on the 18th December. Have to be back for school holidays, it gets busy.

Heading up the New England Highway this time as I have done the Newell and Pacific tooooo many times.

Anyhow here are the photos of my very little trip.

Playing around with photos

Just fiddling around here to work out what I can do with photos. This will be a main part of my blogs.

I will eventually have a link to a web based album. Easy when you know how. Just hard to find out how!!!!

Click on the photos to enlarge
and click on the speech bubble to see the captions

Thought that while I am on a roll, I will add a Youtube clip of Adam my Electus parrot playing ball. Lets see how this goes.. I even worked out how to centre these things..

 This is going to be fun in the future

Day 10  and final Gold Coast trip

Had a good nights sleep, apart from the bandicoot who decided to rummage through my rubbish at 1am in the morning. Couldn't put up with it anymore so got up, picked up the spread rubbish and put it in the car.

As normal I was up at sunrise with the thought I will get away early. Duh! forgot about daylight saving. Thought I would get back to Holbrook around 2pm but it turned out to be approx 3.30 pm.

Nothing interesting in the drive and as I have done it countless times you just seem to go into a trance like state. Today was about 880kms.

Here is the map:

So, there probably will not be anymore blog entries until I travel next time. But some information from this trip.

I drove 4952kms in 10 days.

I stayed at a motel the first night for $99

Stayed at Emerald for $27 (GRRRR) for a piece of dirt.

I spent 3 nights free camping for $0

I estimate that I saved $200 net on this trip by buying the cot bed and bits and pieces and not staying in motels. I will do it again next time I travel.

All good practice for when I end up on the road full-time.

Day 9 Gold Coast Trip

Spent sometime yesterday packing the car and making sure everything was good.

Left the Gold Coast to head to Coopernook Forest Park, just north of Taree.

Had a very uneventful trip down with plenty of traffic. Was about 40k's north of Coopernook when I noticed a car facing me about 200mts away. The car was on the side of the road so as I moved over to go past I noticed that there was vegetation over the middle lane of the road. Apparently he had come across from the north bound lanes, through the median strip and ended up facing the wrong way on the south bound lanes. He and the car looked in perfect condition , so I kept heading on my way.

My GPS still has updated for the new road works, so adjusted where it wanted me to go to be able to find Coopernook FP. It is about 3-4km from the road, but a really nice place. The dirt road going in was fine, just take your time. Plenty of people there but nowhere near crowded.

Set up the cot tent with a fly that I had bought on the weekend as it looked like there was going to be rain.

Here are some photos:

Here is the travel for the day:

Day 8 Gold Coast Trip

Spent the day on the Gold Coast to recover from the trip north. The wind on Saturday was amazing, must have been 50 -60 knts. Greg was not here so just relaxed. Treated myself to pizza on Saturday night.

Sunday brought some relief. Had a phone call from Greg that the nursing home was organising a way for me to see Dad even thought they were still in lock down.

Arranged to see Dad at 3pm. It was good that we had a 20 minute chat and then he was getting tired so I took him back inside. At least I got to talk to him and we agreed that I would be back up for his birthday on the 16th December ( he will be 89 then).

Day 7 Gold Coast Trip

Got up early this morning, about 5.45am. Had a coffee and headed off. The tent cot is just so easy to pack up. Drove to Gin Gin, fueled and off. Nothing to report apart from an amazing amount of roadworks on the Bruce Highway, be prepared to travel at about 80kms for most the way. Not being in hurry, it didn't bother me. Got back to the Gold Coast, Greg is still on the Sunshine Coast, so I rang Dad. Still in lockdown till at least Wednesday. I think I will head off on Monday, stop at Coopernook Forest park near Taree.

Thought I would throw in a picture from the unit as it is a great day on the Gold Coast, and I have very little to say.

.

Here is todays drive and for anyone interested, I have traveled 1903km's in 4 days and my accommodation cost excluding meals is $27.00 - not bad eh?

Day 6 Gold Coast Trip

Picked up Ashleigh and took her to work. I plan to drive to somewhere around Gladstone to Gin Gin today. Well the day got off to a good start with saying goodbye to a family in the caravan park I had spent some time with, fueled up and off to the next camp. Cruising along the highway I still cant believe how towns have changed over the years, Blackwater is so much bigger and more modern than it used to be, Dauringa has what looks like a brand new motel. Don't tell me that mining doesn't have an enormous impact on regional communities.
Got to Comet and I had seen to sign to Liechardts dig tree when I was heading to Emerald but didn't have time to stop ( or I am not used to stopping when I am travelling) so I decided to call in. If I remember rightly it was is 1847 expedition to North Queensland, however they abandoned it and returned to the Darling Downs. Under the tree they left a powder box with messages about when they where there and when they would be returning ( you think they would have just texted, probably no reception). the tree is of course behind wire , so I did my best with the phone. Must get a better camera than the phone.

Plaque at from of display - Comet

actual tree - cant see dig sign anymore

So left Comet and headed on my merry way just cruising along listening to books. That is until I am about 50k's from Rocky. I see this police car on the side of the road and as I am not speeding or anything just keep cruising. He follows me with lights on. Not thinking he was after me I kept driving, however the flashing lights and siren soon made me aware it was me he wanted to stop. Pulled up on the side of the road, got out, more inquisitive than anything else and he asks me do I know the date of my registration, shit, I knew it was a couple of days over. anyhow to make a long story short, $264.00 fine, 1 1/2hrs to get to Rocky and pay my rego ($700) and I am on my way to find a camp for the night. Looked in CAW6 and planned to go to Granite Creek rest area about 35k's south of Miriam Vale. It is ok, but the toilets were disgusting, couldn't use them. With picnic tables there however I could set everything up and was most comfortable.

Cedar Creek Rest Area CAW6 #115

Tomorrow I am back to the Gold Coast.

Travel for today:

Day 5 Gold Coast trip

Had a great nights sleep in the cot tent. Thanks Michael. They are a great idea. I intend to use when I go to places where I can't take a caravan to.
Went down to the waters edge this morning and took a photo of mist on the water. Hope the photo does it justice.

Met up with Ashleigh. Had not seen her for quite a while so was really good to catch up. It has been years since we could sit down and have a one on one talk. I miss not being able to be a big part of my kids life.
Anyway the trip from Gayndah to Emerald was uneventful. It has been about 25 years since I have been through this country. The mining has made an incredible difference in those years. Emerald is almost unreconisible now.

Just a sidenote, booked into a caravan park in Emerald. $27 for a upowered tent site (which is just a bit of dry dirt). If it had not been for seeing Ashleigh would have free camped at the gardens. Would have been nicer.
I am posting from my phone so I can't see where the photos end up.
Here is todays track

Day 4 Gold Coast trip

With dad still in lockdown, I decided to head halfway to emerald in case Ashleigh called and I could get to see her. Having picked up the cot tent from Michael, I packed up some basic camping gear and headed to Claude Wharton weir free camp at Gayndah. I have not been to Gayndah for maybe 35 years so am interested to see it. Drove from the Gold Coast to Kilkivan and up the Burnett highway to Gayndah. I was about 90k's from Gayndah when I turned off the audiobook and decided to wind down the window and just cruise along taking in the smells and sights. Made a very relaxing drive. I have always been a driver who has a destination and has to get there asap. So it was hard for me to do but i really enjoyed just cruising along and soaking up the country.
Here is a couple of snaps I took on the road.

Got to Gayndah and it was just as I remembered it. a sleepy Queensland country town. Bought some batteries that I forgot while packing and headed to Claude Wharton weir. Ended up with the last reasonable site. Looked strange with all the other caravans and motorhomes and me in a small cot tent. Anyway the site is good and apart from working out how to put up the cot tent, I was organised pretty quickly.

Received a text from Ashleigh so I will ring her in the morning and see if I go to Emerald otherwise I am thinking of going through Biggenden and maybe staying a Tiaro on the way back. We will see what happens.


Forgot to my my track in for the day.

Day 3 Gold Coast Trip

Had a good nights sleep and still can not get to see Dad and it looks like being at least Friday before I can.
I decided to go to Brisbane to see my sons Ben and Michael. Ben has just come back from 9 months overseas on an exchange with  a German uni. Michael is working at BCF until next year when he is looking at studying radiography. Anyway, had a great time with them and was really glad to catch up. Bought some stuff from BCF on Michaels discount - well worth it. Here is a photo of the 2 of them today.

Ben and Michael at Hungry Jacks

Trying to ring Ashleigh today and organise to go to Emerald, where she works, to see her and return to the Gold Coast by Friday/Saturday so I can see Dad before I go back. Who knows how this will turn out.
Let everyone know tomorrow.

Day 2 Gold Coast Trip

Left Taree around 7.30 this morning after a horrible night with the cold I have got. Couldn't breathe, hopefully Queensland will fix it all up.

Had an easy drive to the Gold Coast. Now that I have audiobooks on my phone it makes long distance driving a breeze. The only downside to it is that you want to keep driving to hear what is going to happen next in the story.

Here is todays drive

Having trouble with google tracks, so will spend sometime on it tomorrow.

Worked out that it is easier to take a screen shot off my phone and then upload it here through google drive. Eureka!!!!!!

dont look at  the max speed, GPS must be wrong

This time I am able to add stats of the trip. This will be useful to look back on for me.


Anyway, after driving 15 hrs over the last 2 days finally get to the nursing home to see Dad , and it is in lockdown due to an out break of gastro. Hopefully we can get in tomorrow.

Day 1 of Gold Coast trip

Left Holbrook around 9.30 in the morning after finishing what I could at the motel.
made it to Bookum rest area before I needed a 1/2hour nap. It has been busy at the motel lately and I didn't realise how tired I was. Bookum rest area is on the Hume highway and would be a good overnight stop if you dont mind a bit of noise.  As I currently sleep 10 metres from the Hume at the motel, I didn't have a problem. Took these couple of photos on the phone, and that is about all there is a Bookum.




An uneventful trip from Bookum to Taree. Booked into the Golden Chain there ( in town motor inn) and it was a nice motel. Went to the Taree Aquatic Club across the road to see the end of the ARL Grand Final, but by that stage it was all but over. Anyway here is a map of the days travels.

View 30/09/2012 9:20am in a larger map

The Start

First Entry

Well, after trying different things on blogger, I am ready to start my journal entries. I am heading off on Sunday (30/9/12) to go to the Gold Coast to see my Dad. He is in a nursing home and doesnt have a lot of time left. Having been here in Holbrook NSW for the last five years I have not had a lot of time to share with him. Therefore I am trying to get up and see him as much as possible while he is still alive.

We have just had the Henty field days here and the motel and it has been extemely busy. I will look forward to the change for a while.

I intended to be away for approx. 10 days, 5 to see Dad and I want to catch up with my daughter in Emerald QLD. I intend to travel back to Holbrook via Roma, St George ,Gilgandra, West Wyalong and home. Interesting point, to go from Holbrook to Gold Coast is 14hours. Then to Emerald is about 9-10hrs. But to come back from Emerald to Holbrook via the inland is only about 18hrs. I will find out exact times when I do the trip. I am planning to stop in a free camp somewhere on my way to Emerald and somewhere around Walgett on my way back. If this works there will be a map of my planned route under this.


View 15/09/2012 12:53pm in a larger map

I will update the blog on my progress etc as I travel.
I should be able to do a lot of posting from my phone and this will be the trial of how to get things right for when I finally hit the road fulltime.

I thought I would add some pictures of the Motel so everyone can see where I live.