Well, we did hit the road from Port Macquarie on the 8 April 2015 after some mucking about, but all was good. We had a few stops on the way to Muswellbrook to set a few things up correctly and arrived at Steph's Dads place around 4pm. It was a bit of a challenge to back down his driveway and into his backyard, but with a bit of tree trimming and manouvering we made it.If you live in Muswellbrook and don't know Steph's Dad, Steve Gumb, then you haven't been there long enough as he knows everyone, and everyone knows him ! We caught up with Steph's other relatives, Kathryn, Garry and Dean and had a good chat and cuppa.
I played golf and caught up with the Pro, Jason Taylor, who used to be at Wauchope and also meet up with Dave & Cheryl Peachey and Rowley Gaffney who we met on our trip last year....nice people. Golf was pretty good and Muswellbrook is a bit of a challenging course, but OK. Whilst I was at golf, Steph spent some time with her step mum, Dianne and her Aunty Kate at the park, catching up whilst the kids played and wore themselves out.
Steph's brother, wife and kids (Kelvin, Bec, Taylor and Sophie) all showed up in the next day or so and we all had a laugh, a few drinks and a BBQ. Great stuff and great people !!! Catch them all soon again we hope !
Headed off from Muswellbrook on Monday morning and it was a little easier getting out of Steve's driveway than getting in and I think I left him a permanent marker when the tow hitch dragged on his driveway...ooops, sorry Steve ! Travelled north through Narrabri and stopped at a campsite at Tookeys Creek between Narrabri and Moree. Nice enough place, but a bit close to the road. No one there when we stopped but in the morning there was at least 6 trucks who were all courteous enough to stop without making too much noise...and the girls stayed in their beds ALL NIGHT...bonus. One bad thing was some old chook came over walking her small dog to say hello and she just let the dog piss where the kids were playing....I didn't say anything as I thought Steph might be annoyed at me, but she said later I should have...so, look out idiots wherever you are as I will tell you that you are an idiot if you get in our face...:)
We had a slow start to the day we headed into Moree and stayed at the Gwydir Caravan Park after being advised by Steve as it has it's own Artesian baths....up to 39 degrees...hot and refreshing. We then went to the Amaroo Tavern for dinner which was just pub grub and ok. Off tomorrow to head towards Goondiwindi and see where we stop...stay tuned.....
Stopped in Goondiwindi for a snack and a couple of required items. Big town and nice !! We then travelled a little further and found a rest stop, Monte Cristo, watch video here...which was quite large, no dirt but bitumen, clean drop toilets and ended up fairly quiet during the night. We were the first to get there and the last to leave in the morning after 4 other vans pulled in during the afternoon and evening.
After and early night and early morning we went into Miles and did some grocery shopping. Small enough place and I wonder about the smaller places nearby as I cannot understand why you would live in them ??? Peace and quiet I suppose, or you may be a Serial Killer :)
After stopping at the next rest area for lunch and leaving the girls asleep, we went further up the road to a rest area called Chains Lagoon. Nice little lagoon with a fair bit of birdlife about and later in the afternoon another car/camper pulled in but ended up leaving and going over and down the river a bit so we were relatively alone for the night....wow....so peaceful, except for heckle and jeckle waking up and crying. Great little spot for the night and well off the highway which meant no noise from cars and trucks...watch video here
Morning was beautiful by the Lagoon with plenty of birdlife around. Went north from there and went to Mount Morgan for lunch and Steph was not keen to stay there so we moved on and decided to travel to the Coast from Rockhampton and went out to Bell Park Caravan Park at Emu Park...plenty of Parks there.....nice enough park.watch video here A little run down but walking distance to town. Picked a site as no one else is really here except a few permanents. Right on the coast with wave noise to make you sleep and a coastal breeze to help cool things down as it is still quite muggy up here. second day we were sitting under the awning in the shade and some boofhead in a motorhome parked RIGHT next to us...bloody hell, there were at least 30 sites available for him...and to top things off he started the truck at 5.45am !! Turned out he went over to the markets to sell his wares. When we walked past them, the wife asked did they wake us....SURE DID, we told them...arseholes !!!!
Played golf on Saturday at Emu Park G.C. with some other visitors and one local lady. Good day and I played pretty well. Went to the pub for dinner and had some nice pub grub and a few drinks. Just chilling out here as it is a nice place. Steph reckons she would move here. Had another game of golf at Yeppoon G.C. on Monday and had a shocker. Bad greens that had not been cut and I nearly had to use a driver to putt !! Then it reained and I got soaked and that was the end of my game ...hate playing in the rain. Went into Rockhampton on Tuesday to do some shopping and have a look around. I also had to pick up a new tyre sensor for my tyre monitor system as I ordered it through a place in Rocky when I was in Muswellbrook which gave me time for it to be delievered. All good now
Will have a lay day today and do a little maintainence as we leavere tomorrow to do some more free camping. Water tanks filled, tyres pumped up etc...and sit back in the sun and cook a Roast Lamb for dinner on the Baby Q. We've also had a visitor here over the past few days...a nice dog...wanting food. Would love to keep him, but someone must own him and I don't think I would have the room to take him...shame. He is a good dog
Moved on from Emu Park and travelled to a place called Carmila Beach, which is about 100km south of Mackay. We stopped at a Free camp site about 6km off the highway, right on the water. There were about 30 other vans there along the coast and we went in a place where there were about 10 vans...watch video here.......a nice peaceful place, but plenty of dirt for the kids to make a mess with. We stayed there 2 nights and left on ANZAC Day and traveled to Airlie Beach as Steph has never been here and have booked in a Island Gateway van park for a couple of nights ....and there is a Tavern across the road ! Hot when we arrived, but it is starting to get a little cooler at night for us
Watch video of Shute Harbour, Airlie Beach here
Had to get a new rear tyre as I put on an older tyre that was the spare for some years. Although brand new still, it had aged and caused it to delaminate inside which gave it a bubble....so, $390 later...bummer, but lucky we decided to stay a week here as it may have blown on the highway !!
Played golf with the Proserpine Vets and although I hit them OK, I had a bad day as I am losing my consistency...gotta try and practice more so I don't lose the way I was playing before I left.
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