Cania Gorge NP to Sapphire

Thursday 24 July 2014

After a few visits to the loo in the early night I had a good long warm sleep until first bird calls woke me to a pale, misty morning.

We were up, breakfasted and packed then reluctantly on the road again before 9am wishing we could stay longer. I started the driving today again as Kathy had done the second leg yesterday.

We continued north on the A3 to Biloela where we did a little shopping (but forgot the bread) and topped up the fuel. On again to find a morning tea pull off but all we found was a bit of dry gravel near the rail bridge. A freight train driver gave us a toot so we waved back.

By the time we got to Duaringa (via the A5 then west on the A4) it was time to stop again again for fuel, a hamburger lunch and the forgotten bread. On again through Dingo by which time Kathy was driving. Headed into Blackdown Tablelands National Park along the narrow, steep and winding road, and found our allocated camp site (Site 11). We had pitched camp by about 4pm then enjoyed our nibbles and coffee with the sound of birds and other campers settling in.

The currawongs were keen to sample our food and we were equally keen for them not to do so. They even recognised a loaf of bread in plastic.

We had another one pot wonder dinner of stir fried steak and veges then followed with a custard apple from Kathy's tree.

A few minutes spent watching the stars then decided to retire. Kathy and I both decided that as we had had two very cold nights and tonight we'd be over 600m that we'd wear our longjohns to bed.

Friday 25 July 2014

I had quite a warm night and actually had to throw off blankets. We got up after dawn and pottered over breakfast and coffee, eventually leaving camp to drive 8km to the start of the Rainbow Waters walk. We stopped many times along the road to photograph the wildflowers that were glowing in the early morning sunlight through the trees.

At the start of the walk we grabbed our water and some nibbles and again stopped often to look at birds and plants. We took a lot longer than the recommended 45 minutes to get to the lookout which gave us somewhere to sit and eat our nibbles and a beautiful view down the valley. However, our walk back to the car (mostly uphill) took us less than the 45 minutes.

The most significant plant we saw was masses of Hardenbergia violacea. It was just magnificent in the early sunlight.

Back to camp for lunch and had to fend off 2 very dirty kookaburras and a crowd of currawongs. One kookaburra swooped on Kathy and stole her sandwich, “injuring” her finger! We had to eat our custard apple dessert in the car.

Some of the afternoon was spent on diaries and accounts whilst sitting peacefully in the shade. After a sit and a rest we did the Goon Goon Dina walk. Along the way we saw more lovely wildflowers and some waterplants and Drosera in the South Mimosa Creek. Onward we came to some magnificent rocks then the rock art gallery with many small ochre hand prints.

Back again to salmon stir fry for dinner, fending off the birds again.

I was really tired so fell into bd at about 7pm. Unfortunately sleep alluded me until around midnight when our noisy neighbours fell asleep.

Saturday 26 July 2014

We both woke at about 6am in the pitch dark but wide awake. Not long after we heard the patter of light rain on the tent so decided to speed up our packing and leaving.

On the way out we stopped at the Horseshoe Lookout. What a magnificent view of the tablelands falling away into the flats below.

Down the scarp again and on Blackwater where we had our breakfast-morning tea coffee and checked phones and emails quickly at McDonalds. Luckily we did so because there were emergency calls from John about our stay in Mareeba.

On to Emerald to do a little shopping and then rang Robbie and Ernest in Charters Towers to find that we'll miss Robbie when we get there as she has grandmother duties in Townsville.

We then continued on to Sapphire and found the Sapphire Caravan Park. It was the same place Surrey and I had stayed in 2001 (although renamed) and the lady even showed us the same cabin. But we chose the self-contained cabin, Cockatoo Lodge, for a bit of luxury and space to dry out things after 4 days of tenting – no long walk to the toilet in the middle of the night, a sink and two burners for cooking, and even running water. We spent the afternoon sorting and washing then enjoyed wine and chips on our verandah.

Then it was wildlife feeding time – Pretty-faced Wallabies and Rainbow Lorrikeets – just like last time I was here.

Tonight I cooked dinner of steak and veges, then we enjoyed Saturday night TV on ABC till 10:30pm with a phone call from John as well.

On our way north

Monday 21 July 2014

It was very pleasant watching the dawn over the wetlands while I dressed and packed.

Once we had finished breakfast Bryan and Pam drove3 me to Oxley Station where I caught the train back to Banyo.

Kathy arrived not long after me and then Kelly and Hamish arrived for lunch. We enjoyed some time picking tomatoes with Hamish.

After lunch Kathy and I left to drive to Kilcoy where we spent the afternoon and evening sorting out gear and wondering how on earth we would fit it all in the car. Tomorrow we will test it out.

Tuesday 22 July 2014

We enjoyed breakfast on the verandah watching the cold mist rising and wetting my washing. We then set the drier to complete the drying of my clothes before they were packed.

We spent some hours packing and yes, it all did fit except the generator. We left Kilcoy at about 10:30am. We enjoyed our late morning tea at Blackbutt. This gave us an opportunity to test out our food system and all was OK for morning tea anyway. By now the day had warmed up enough to take our jumpers off. I had already changed from a wooly singlet to a cotton one. In the street there was a magnificent Flindersia tree and a very fresh fruit underneath it.

Onwards to Goomeri for lunch at about 12:30 then on again. At about 2:30, out of Gayndah, we saw two emu. We arrived at Mundubarra by about 3:30pm and checked into the Three Rivers Tourist Park. Kathy's tent is really easy to put up and absolutely palacial. We had our beds all set up by about 4:30pm.

We had time to enjoy wine and nuts looking over the wetland watching the kangaroos, cormorant, plover and cattle before we went down to the camp kitchen to make our first dinner. Tomorrow when we pack the car we now have a better idea of the things we need to access during the day to make our stops quicker and easier.

After dinner I spent a while in the kitchen typing up diary then we both retired to the tent to enjoy our first night out.

Wednesday 23 July 2014

We had a reasonable sleep after we'd got warm. It was a beautifully clear cold night and probably got down to about 5 degrees. Thank goodness for Kathy's sheepskin seat cover.

It was a steady but efficient pack up and breakfast leaving Mundubarra by about 8:45am. I started the driving today and only took a short while to get used to Kathy's car.

At Monto we stopped at the Duck In takeaway shop and bought roast pork and salad sanwiches for lunch. Kathy and Barbara had been there before so Kathy knew the sandwiches were excellent. We found a park in Monto for morning tea. Just as we pulled out of town we remembered we needed fuel so went back in before we then headed for Cania Gorge National Park.

We booked into the caravan park for one night soon after 11am and had set up camp and were enjoying our sandwiches around noon. We are getting efficient!

For our afternoon activity we did a walk to Dripping Rock. It was a slow walk because we both kept finding plants (including sandpaper fig, Cupaniopsis anarcardioides), birds (including a Brown Cuckoo Dove), and even a rock wallaby we have yet to identify. We are keeping a bird list for the trip and so far have 18. Near the Big Foot rock there were dozens of butterflies but unfortunately I could not get any photos. There were grass blues, grass yellows, two different wanderer types, a black one with white spots (probably Australian Crow) and a white one with black body and wing edges, there was also a beautiful pale blue one.

By the time we got back to camp we'd done 15000 steps for the day. Not bad for two grey nomads. Lots of water, tea, and nibbles to rehydrate while I wrote up the diary.

We then prepared another stir fry for dinner and enjoyed it while it was still light. Unfortunately this meant that we were all done and dusted by about 6:30pm so Kathy had a shower and I typed up the diary in the camp kitchen where there was a bit of light.

Brisbane

Friday 18 July, 2014

I arrived at the airport in good time for my flight to Brisbane to start my North Queensland holiday. Unfortunately the flight was cancelled due to strong cross winds at the airport so I spent another two hours hanging around the airport waiting for my new booking. At least it made for plenty of reading time and extra step opportunities.

I arrived in Brisbane at about 2:30 and after working out how to manage my carry on bag that broke as I was unloading I arrived at Aunty Dot and Uncle Des's by about 3pm. Uncle Des was able to take the broken handle off my bag so that it is now managable but not wheelable. It was great that Garry, Eliza and Alice were also there so we had lots of time chatting and catching up on family news. Dinner and bedtime in the “girls” dorm provided more time together.

Saturday 19 July 2014

After farewelling Garry and the girls for their flight home, Aunty Dot and Uncle Des drove me to Banyo station to catch my train to meet Bryan and Pam at Auchenflower station. I was a little early so had time for some reading. After we found parking we had a brisk walk down to Regatta Wharf and caught the CityCat downstream. It was a glorious day to be out on the water – not too windy, crisp and sunny.

By the time we got to the far end of the journey at Northshore Hamilton the day was really quite warm and pleasant. We spent a while looking at the historical snippets etched into the pavement then decided it was time for lunch. We shared 2 meals between three and it was plenty of food – chicken skewers and fish and chips – all delicious.

Back on the CityCat for our return journey. We got off again at Bulimba to take the tourist stroll along Oxford Street and have coffee and a shared dessert at Delizioso, one of the many cafes along the strip.

On the CityCat again (they come every 15 minutes) and retraced our journey out, found the car then drove home to Durak where Bryan and Pam live in a well established retirement village with fantastic gardens and views, pools, various games areas and a gym. Apparently there is a lot to become involved in. We had a stroll around the complex then settled in for the evening.

Dinner was a surprise – we were booked into the on-site restaurant and were joined by Caroline. After dinner Bryan and I stayed for dessert while Caroline and Pam went for a dip in the hydrotherapy heated pool.

The evening finished with a cuddle by pussy while I finished my diary for the day.

Sunday 20 July 2014

Up at 6am to be at church for the 7am service. St Matthews is an Anglican church where Bryan and Pam used to live. Church was followed by a light breakfast in the hall after which we drove to Auchenflower Station again, parked and caught the CityCat to QUT to look at The Cube, an interactive wall. Because there was a conference on there was only one display working – one about the relative gravity on each planet of the solar system. It was lots of fun trying to work out what the them actually was without reading any instructions.

We then went into Old Government House for a visit and had morning tea in the cafe there, entertained by a noisy miner who was intent on trying to get his share. We had to guard ourselves and defend our food quite actively.

This was followed by a long walk through the city looking at various art installations and historical plaques and signs. On fantastic site that Pam knew about was the roof top view from the new Four Points by Sheraton hotel. We were escorted to the top and had our own personal tour.

At Roma Street Station we caught the train back to the car and headed home for a quick lunch during which Deanna arrived to say hello.

David and son Ian also came for a chat then we took afternoon tea down to the tennis court where we were joined by Mary-Anne, Michael and their two, Fleur and Henry.

Much fun was had playing hit and giggle, looking after grand children and generally chatting before heading back to the house and getting ready to leave for dinner at Sang-Hee and David's.

Yum! What a delicious meal it was too. It was so great to just have a long hug with Sang-Hee as we both remembered very traumatic times we'd shared in 2008. How great too to see her in her home.

Back to Bryan and Pam's where we did a little on computers then had a relatively early night, in bed soon after 9pm.

Tree work in winter

This week I've been busy preparing some trees for the coming summer. First there was the pecan to be pollarded. It looks a bit bare now but should leaf up well by summer.

It gives a bit more light to the garden near the ramp which is looking particularly good at the moment. The birds just love the Grevillea at the back.

Arianne then helped me plant a persimmon in the chook yard. Hopefully it will be tall enough to deter the chooks from pruning it when the leaves grow. I'll also have to keep Ponyo out as she will think it is a stick to play with and liberate from its burial.

Unfortunately the bananas are still not ripening though. They are close though.

Winter holidays

What a busy time it's been for the last month or so. Ellen, Rod and the boys have been in the USA and Geoff and Jen have been in Europe. What a great time they have all had.

I have had lots of patchwork jobs to tidy up and finish off and lots of singing concerts.

The best part of it all has been that Ponyo has come to stay for a few weeks.

Lots of sticks to chew

Breakfast with Ma at the back window in the dark.

Naughty times. She gets black blotches when she anihilates my water gardens.

 

I've had visitors too. Pernilla has come to stay and we visited Camelia Gardens which is beautiful at the moment with all the camelias out.

This one is my favourite "Winter's Own" - Camelia reticulata.

I also love the Pyrocanthus around Sydney at the moment so bought one to grow in an ugly corner of my garden. It might look like this one day.

And of course I love violets.

Yu (from Japan) came to dinner with Karen and Alastair. And I had a special outing to see Strictly Ballroom (the musical) with the Ingold family.

Concerts over the last month or so have included one with the Sutherland Choral Society, Chorus Oz with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and of course every Sunday and even a Friday funeral with the St Stephens Church choir. I am loving all the singing and the brain work of having to learn alto parts for at least four hymns and an anthem each week (sometimes more) must the doing the grey matter some good.

All this has happened squished in between my normal activities so I've been busy but this has been good because there is absolutely nothing on TV with the world cup interrupting a lot of my normal shows.