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Out and About 2025 - Derek & Maggie (Read 96543 times)

Jan 13^th, 2025 at 1:57pm

Derek Offline
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We are hoping that this year will be another good one for us.

We have a family camping trip organised for Easter so far and I are working on an around the country trip to kick off not long after that.

Might try and organise a COG before then.

Image is first draft of the map

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Reply #1 - Jan 14^th, 2025 at 6:19pm

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How long will you do it over?

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Reply #2 - Jan 14^th, 2025 at 6:24pm

Derek Offline
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Don’t have a plan on time.

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Reply #3 - Jan 15^th, 2025 at 6:46am

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Derek wrote on Jan 14^th, 2025 at 6:24pm:

Don’t have a plan on time.

That's how I want to do it in 2026.
Too much pressure to be back on time last trip.
Lauren and Kris are heading off sometime this year for a year or two.

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Reply #4 - Mar 26^th, 2025 at 5:59pm

Derek Offline
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Well with the COG a no goer Maggie and I didn’t really want to go straight home.

Monday and Tuesday nights we stayed at the MacLean Showgrounds. We came close to moving there when we retired. I even bought a boat for fishing down this way. Grin

Grin

Alas it wasn’t to happen though.

Yesterday had a good look around Yamba and that part of the coast.

Left there this morning and are now at the Reflections Caravan Park at Lennox Head. The northern beaches of NSW are amazing and well worth a visit.

It has been showering with occasional heavy scuds but we are going ok.

Sat on the waterfront and had fish and chips for dinner.

Here are some photos from around here. The surf is up.

Going for a drive up to Byron tomorrow.

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Reply #5 - Mar 26^th, 2025 at 8:44pm

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Looks a bit bleak out to sea.

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Reply #6 - Mar 26^th, 2025 at 10:01pm

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Hi Derek
I hope you and Maggie are having a good break away
Thank you very much for the photographs
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #7 - Mar 27^th, 2025 at 8:32am

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Probably enjoy it more if I was a duck Kevvie. Rained here all night and still showery.

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Reply #8 - Mar 27^th, 2025 at 10:24am

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Hi Derek
enjoy where you are at least you can see a beach. You don't have that at home Grin

Grin

Grin

Kev

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Reply #9 - Mar 27^th, 2025 at 1:34pm

Derek Offline
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Byron Bay between the showers certainly hasn’t changed that much. Still has lovely beach’s and the lighthouse views are amazing.

$10 to park up the lighthouse but I am too old to climb that hill these days. Grin

Grin

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Reply #10 - Mar 27^th, 2025 at 1:36pm

Derek Offline
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Stopped in Bangalow for lunch at a little cafe.

I love that quintessential old architecture. The old red telephone box is well preserved and even had a working telephone.

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Reply #11 - Mar 27^th, 2025 at 8:00pm

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Hi Derek
Hope you had a great day.
Thanks for the photos
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #12 - Mar 28^th, 2025 at 4:02pm

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Lovely town.
Great when the market is on.

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Reply #13 - Mar 28^th, 2025 at 4:03pm

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Lovely town.
Great when the market is on.

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Reply #14 - Mar 29^th, 2025 at 8:12am

Derek Offline
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Been watching the flood cameras around home and wondering how long we should stay away.

Not much we could do about it anyway at home.

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Reply #15 - Mar 30^th, 2025 at 7:02am

Derek Offline
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Well a week of rain and the day we are going home have woken to clear skies and the sun shining.

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Reply #16 - Mar 30^th, 2025 at 8:27am

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Hi Derek
I can not understand how all that water stays up there and we have no where for the water to go and get stored. It is a shame.
Have a safe trip home
regards Kev

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Reply #17 - Mar 30^th, 2025 at 12:36pm

Derek Offline
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Home again. Just for a few weeks here then off to Hervey Bay with family for Easter.

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Reply #18 - Apr 15^th, 2025 at 1:31pm

Derek Offline
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On the road again.

Have pulled into a roadside free camp at Wooroolin near Kingaroy. Stayed here before about 10 years ago.

On our way to Hervey Bay for Easter. Staying 6 mights up there.

It has just started to rain. Roll Eyes

Roll Eyes

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Reply #19 - Apr 15^th, 2025 at 1:36pm

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Doesn't look real busy there.

Can't Get Full On Fancy

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Reply #20 - Apr 15^th, 2025 at 1:53pm

Derek Offline
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Sign of the times but quite a few permanent/homeless folks here. It is a big area.

When the grey nomad tribes start migrating north I believe it can get quite busy as an overnighter.

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Reply #21 - Apr 15^th, 2025 at 3:28pm

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Hi Derek
That looks like a good spot you have there Thanks for photos
Happy easter
Have a great time with the family.
regards Kev

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Reply #22 - Apr 15^th, 2025 at 5:05pm

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Kevvie wrote on Apr 15^th, 2025 at 3:28pm:

Hi Derek
That looks like a good spot you have there Thanks for photos
Happy easter
Have a great time with the family.
regards Kev

Thanks Kev. Looking forward to some fresh Hervey Bay seafood.

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Reply #23 - Apr 15^th, 2025 at 8:09pm

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Hi Derek
I agree with that YUM Cheesy

Cheesy

Grin

safe travels
Kev

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Reply #24 - Apr 16^th, 2025 at 2:42pm

Derek Offline
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Have settled into the Windmill Caravan Park at Hervey Bay. Been on this same site six for three times now. All sites are pretty small here so we just.

Surprising that school holidays and Easter it is only half full. Maybe fill up on the weekend.

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Reply #25 - Apr 16^th, 2025 at 3:38pm

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Hi Derek.
Looks a great spot to put every thing.
Also
Don't fear they are will come Shocked

Shocked

Shocked

Cheesy

Grin

Grin

Lookout I bet tomorrow night bang, bang tents etc Shocked

Shocked

Cry

Cheesy

Grin

Regards Kev.

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Reply #26 - Apr 17^th, 2025 at 8:12pm

Derek Offline
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This morning threw a couple of loaves of crusty bread in the Weber. New way of cooking these. Mixed the ingredients the night before and let it sit on the bench overnight.

Some very big king prawns and whammo, lunch was delicious.

I have mixed up another batch of bread dough tonight.

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Reply #27 - Apr 18^th, 2025 at 10:29am

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Hi Derek
That bread looks very nice. Hope you got some nice prawns
Kev

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Reply #28 - Apr 20^th, 2025 at 7:01pm

Derek Offline
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Do like a nice curry, even when camping. This is a Chicken Korma finished with fresh real cream. Home made of course.

Delicious. Smiley

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Reply #29 - Apr 22^nd, 2025 at 11:02am

Derek Offline
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Seeing scenes like this often have me wanting my boat back. 😊

Urangun Jetty in the background and behind that K’Gari or Fraser Island as it used to be known as.

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Reply #30 - Apr 23^rd, 2025 at 6:18pm

Derek Offline
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Bit the bullet as we were both feeling pretty good and did the run home in one day today.

Motorhome is unpacked. Now for a good clean and off for a service before we hit the road again late in May for the big trip north and across the top.

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Reply #31 - Apr 23^rd, 2025 at 7:44pm

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Hi Derek
It would have been a long day of travel for you.
but I bet it is nice to be home.
Thanks for the photos and story of your time away.
regards Kev

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Reply #32 - Apr 23^rd, 2025 at 11:07pm

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Glad you both are home safe cheers Robert.

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Reply #33 - May 2^nd, 2025 at 12:53pm

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Truck booked in for a service next week ready for the upcoming big trip.

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Reply #34 - May 3^rd, 2025 at 6:00pm

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Hi Derek
Yes the time is going pretty. nearly time for lift off and putting
travel plans into action
regards Kevvie Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #35 - May 5^th, 2025 at 10:44am

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Maggie bought a new lightweight doona for the bed.

It’s a bit fancy. Grin

Grin

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Reply #36 - May 5^th, 2025 at 1:21pm

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Derek wrote on May 5^th, 2025 at 10:44am:

Maggie bought a new lightweight doona for the bed.

It’s a bit fancy. Grin

Grin

That doona is loud enough to keep me awake at night. Grin

Grin

Grin

Can't Get Full On Fancy

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Reply #37 - May 6^th, 2025 at 4:49am

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Hi Derek
that looks very nice. Good shopping Maggie
Kev

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Reply #38 - May 20^th, 2025 at 2:53pm

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I managed to move the motorhome out of its boggy hole in the yard to down beside the house for easy packing. The big heavy thing doesn’t like wet ground. Roll Eyes

Roll Eyes

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Reply #39 - May 21^st, 2025 at 6:23pm

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Everything is packed for a tomorrow getaway.

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Reply #40 - May 21^st, 2025 at 7:28pm

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Hello Derek
Thankyou for the great song. Cheesy

Cheesy

Cheesy

Grin

Grin

Good luck to you and Maggie enjoy your trip. looking forward to seeing any photos and hearing any stories you might put up on the forum with regard to your trip.
So Hitch them up move them out
Take care
regards Kev. Wink

Wink

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Reply #41 - May 22^nd, 2025 at 12:33pm

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Finally away on our northern trip. Only two and a half hour drive today. Always a good distance/time on the first day to get everything settled.

We are at the free camp in Wooroolin near Kingaroy.

Just made a pot of coffee and soon heading for a walk around the Wooroolin Wetlands.

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Reply #42 - May 22^nd, 2025 at 2:54pm

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Couldn’t get to the wetlands as all overgrown but spied a koala on our walk and of all shops to find in this little one horse town it had to be this one. But it is closed.

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Reply #43 - May 22^nd, 2025 at 4:07pm

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The view from our bedroom window overlooking the wetlands.

There is now a caravan on that nice grassed spot. Huh

Huh

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Reply #44 - May 22^nd, 2025 at 7:31pm

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Hi Derek
Thankyou for the photographs. Another great place to camp.
Take care
Kev.

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Reply #45 - May 23^rd, 2025 at 8:39am

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Was 4.1 degrees outside at 6.00 am so threw the diesel heater on for an hour before getting up. Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #46 - May 23^rd, 2025 at 9:29am

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Who needs to go to McDonalds for a sausage and egg muffin when you can cook your own?

I made the sausage patty when I was making breakfast sausages last week.

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Reply #47 - May 23^rd, 2025 at 2:31pm

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We have pulled in for a night at the rest area at Gin Gin. Quite a large area and has a dump point, toilets and potable water if you need it. Got the awning out to give the western side some shade as the afternoon sun has quite a bite in it.

Today we wandered around the Burnett Districts to places we have never seen before. It is a very interesting region. I was impressed with the signage going into Ban Ban Springs.

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Reply #48 - May 23^rd, 2025 at 4:23pm

Kevvie Offline
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Hi Derek
Another great camp site. The caravan looks like it is parked a little close to you Grin

Grin

Grin

Your breakfast looked spot on.
Have nice night. Thanks for the photographs.
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #49 - May 23^rd, 2025 at 4:47pm

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Caravan was here when I came in. Photo is a little deceptive, he is actually a good distance from us. Since I took the photo they have been lining up like little soldiers everywhere. Busy place tonight.

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Reply #50 - May 24^th, 2025 at 1:52pm

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We have arrived at Boynedale Bush Camp on the shores of Lake Awonga west of Gladstone. A place i have heard so much about and often thought of visiting.

Lake you say, what lake? There is currently no water to be seen which is a bit disapointing. All that valley you can see in the last photo used to be water.

However, it is a lovely free camp that is all grassed over with of course the usual country prickles. Heaps of room. A good longdrop toilet and a dump point. There is no water but we have enough for a few days. And surprise, surprise pretty good internet.

We are planning on stopping several days here.

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Reply #51 - May 24^th, 2025 at 5:01pm

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Hi Derek
Looks a nice place to settle for a few days.
It is a shame no water. It must have been there before
take care
Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #52 - May 25^th, 2025 at 9:50am

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I expect this sign wouldn’t have looked so out of place when the dam was full. Grin

Grin

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Reply #53 - May 25^th, 2025 at 9:51am

Derek Offline
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Amazed at the bird life here this morning. It’s an amazing place.

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Reply #54 - May 25^th, 2025 at 12:34pm

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Interesting the amount of Victron electronics we are seeing in RV’s.

Ours at the top and a few others I am picking up in the App from around the camp. Our solar is doing what it should. Partly overcast morning but now fully charged. It was down to 82% when I first looked this morning.

Good internet here. We were able to stream BritBox on the TV last night. Currently watching the Poldark Series set in old Cornwall.

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Reply #55 - May 25^th, 2025 at 2:40pm

Derek Offline
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The waste land in front of us where the dam used to be is full of wild pigs. You can hear them at times and have been told they often wander through the camp.

Managed to grab this when it poked its head out from under a shrub

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Reply #56 - May 25^th, 2025 at 5:52pm

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Hello Derek
It would be great to have all the birds being around.
No don't fancy the wild pigs. Shocked

Shocked

regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #57 - May 26^th, 2025 at 11:30am

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Camp is a bit quiet today as a mass exodus late yesterday and this morning so I took a video to show what it is like.

We are staying an extra night and moving off tomorrow.

You can watch it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO904IIsK5w

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Reply #58 - May 26^th, 2025 at 5:03pm

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Hi Derek
Hope you had a great day. Thanks for the video
It looks a great space with plenty of room for every one.
regards Kev.

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Reply #59 - May 27^th, 2025 at 2:40pm

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Well we went to Gladstone this morning fully intending to stay at the Showgrounds for a couple of nights however unbeknown to us a Caravan Club had booked the place out.

Maggie lived in Gladstone around 40 years ago and it was to be a memory lane trip for her.

So a quick executive decision and we swung by the harbour and refilled our water tanks, called into a shopping centre and stocked up on essentials and are now back at Boynedale Bush Camp about 30 cm from where we were the last few days.

Will drop the the car off trailer tomorrow and do a day trip into Gladstone to have a look around.

The photo was taken from a lookout about 2 kilometres from here and shows the back end of Awonga Dam.

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Reply #60 - May 27^th, 2025 at 3:15pm

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Hi Derek
Sorry you missed our camping in the show grounds but at least the camp ground is a nice place to stay. It great you have the car to get around in
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #61 - May 27^th, 2025 at 7:21pm

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We camped at Boyendale a few years back.
Huge area for hundreds of vans.
We had water in the lake.
Hard to imagine where the water went.

Safe travels

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Reply #62 - May 29^th, 2025 at 10:12am

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A drive into Gladstone yesterday. Found the two houses Maggie lived in when she was in her 20’s.

Had a look around the harbour and the Alumina Works then down to Tannum Sands for a walk on the beach.

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Reply #63 - May 29^th, 2025 at 10:13am

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Main Beach at Tannum Sands.

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Reply #64 - May 29^th, 2025 at 10:16am

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TBF wrote on May 27^th, 2025 at 7:21pm:

We camped at Boyendale a few years back.
Huge area for hundreds of vans.
We had water in the lake.
Hard to imagine where the water went.

Safe travels

Aart, the signage now says only 20 sites but as you say could get a lot in here. In our 5 days here have never seen a Ranger so not sure if the come around.

Would be a good spot for an off grid COG.

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Reply #65 - May 29^th, 2025 at 3:38pm

Derek Offline
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Well, here we are at Emu Park. All set up and taking advantage of their pay for three and stay four nights. Lovely big site that fits the car and trailer.

This caravan park has special meaning for me. It is where my journey to camp oven cooking began 50 years ago.

Was camping here and came across a woman cooking in what I thought was a big tin with a lid that turned out to be a Bedourie Spun Steel camp oven. She was roasting a chicken using coals from the wood fired barbecue.

Got talking to her and she lent me her copy of Jack Absalom’s book, Outback Cooking in a Camp Oven. I sat and read it from cover to cover and was absolutely amazed that you could cook anything in a camp oven using coals from the fire.

On our return I bought a Bedourie Camp Oven as well as Jack’s book. I started cooking just about everything and our meals while camping changed.

My collecting of camp ovens of all types started, I wrote articles for magazines on camp oven cooking, started a website as there wasn’t anything on the internet back then. I got involved in camp oven cooking cooking demonstrations and even featured in 13 episodes of a TV program cooking in my camp ovens.

I started this online forum that has literally thousands of recipes for outdoor cooking and I believe we have all proved on here that what I thought back 50 years ago is that yes, you can cook anything in a camp oven.

Now today I am back where it all started and am feeling quite nostalgic.

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Reply #66 - May 29^th, 2025 at 5:13pm

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What a journey Derek.
Thanks to that lady that set the wheels in motion.

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Reply #67 - May 29^th, 2025 at 5:15pm

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HI Derek
Thanks you for the great photos and also the story about your beginning.
regards Kev

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Reply #68 - May 29^th, 2025 at 7:02pm

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Yes Camp Oven Cooking and the forum have come a long way.
But I feel they are taking a back-seat to the Weber. Sad

Sad

Can't Get Full On Fancy

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Reply #69 - May 29^th, 2025 at 7:23pm

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I think Brian, and can only really speak for me, is that as I have gotten older the energy has waned quite a bit and the effort to light a fire, wait for the coals and then cook in a camp oven is getting a bit taxing.

The ease of having the Weber and being able to just flick the switch and be cooking has a lot going for it.

Sadly Facebook has taken over from this type of forum as well and we no longer are getting the younger people interested in joining here anymore.

Unfortunately we have been down to just a small group of regulars for a long time and not many of them are regularly posting either.

I have tried to maintain some interest to keep the forum alive but at times I wonder if I am just posting for nothing.

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Reply #70 - May 30^th, 2025 at 8:20am

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Been pouring with rain here since about 8.00 last night and currently only 12 degrees so not a very inviting day outside. More rain expected so might have to write this day off.

Funny though I received a text from the park here offering ann extra nights stay for $38. Another executive decision made and now stopping five nights instead of four.

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Reply #71 - May 30^th, 2025 at 4:45pm

Derek Offline
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A wet drive to have a look around Yeppoon this morning. These pics are from the Wreck Point Lookout at Cooee Bay with the Keppel Islands in the background.

I lived here for 6 months while on a work assignment in Rockhampton back in 2000. Saw the change of the Millenia here.

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Reply #72 - May 30^th, 2025 at 5:41pm

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Hi Derek
It was very kind of you to brave the elements and take the photographs
being a cold day did you find you and Maggie some nice fish and chips or maybe a hot pie

regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #73 - May 30^th, 2025 at 6:43pm

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Kevvie wrote on May 30^th, 2025 at 5:41pm:

Hi Derek
It was very kind of you to brave the elements and take the photographs
being a cold day did you find you and Maggie some nice fish and chips or maybe a hot pie

regards Kev Wink

Wink

Cooked up a big hearty beef stew full of vegetables Kev. Enough for two meals as well as some to go in the freezer for a later time.

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Reply #74 - May 30^th, 2025 at 7:15pm

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you bet that is the way to go YUM
Kev

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Reply #75 - May 31^st, 2025 at 11:56am

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In camp day today. Washing on the go and motorhome cleaning. It is amazing how much dust you pick up camping.

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Reply #76 - May 31^st, 2025 at 2:38pm

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A walk out on the beach here at the park then up onto the old stone jetty. Lovely big wide sandy beach.

The weather is still close though.

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Reply #77 - Jun 1^st, 2025 at 9:23am

Derek Offline
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Kevvie wrote on May 30^th, 2025 at 7:15pm:

you bet that is the way to go YUM
Kev

Kev, turned some of the leftovers into pies for dinner last night. Smiley

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Reply #78 - Jun 1^st, 2025 at 9:29am

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Looks like you have had a good trip so far, certainly the food is excellent. Cheers Robert

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Reply #79 - Jun 1^st, 2025 at 10:21am

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good day Derek
The pies look great something to enjoy.
Thanks for the photos of the beach.
The first time for a while seeing a beach that has no foot prints Shocked

Shocked

regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #80 - Jun 1^st, 2025 at 1:25pm

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Woke this morning to an awful screeching. At first thought it was corellas however a mob of flying foxes had moved into the trees beside the park.

They are the black flying foxes unlike the red ones around home.

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Reply #81 - Jun 2^nd, 2025 at 3:41pm

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The singing ship here at Emu Park in all its glory. No wind today so she wasn’t singing.

Also went for a look around the little sleepy village of Kepple Sands. This far north we are in crocodile country now.

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Reply #82 - Jun 2^nd, 2025 at 4:02pm

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We are packing up in preparation to hit the road again tomorrow. Will only travel around 200 klm I reckon.

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Reply #83 - Jun 2^nd, 2025 at 6:47pm

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Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos. It looks like you had a nice day.
We had a couple of showers here today.
Take care
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #84 - Jun 3^rd, 2025 at 3:01pm

Derek Offline
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Have moved a bit further up the coast to the BarraCrab Caravan Park at Clairview.

Have heard quite a bit about it over the years and always thought it would be worth a look.

Quite an old park here with bore water only. Lucky I filled our tanks up at Emu Park this morning. Amenities look clean. Big laundry available. Unfortunately no dump point. Have to drive half an hour to find one.

I have the trailer chained and padlocked to the bullbar as it is all open to the road.

The waterfront is quite inviting and the photos do not really do justice to the water colours.

Staying here three nights.

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Reply #85 - Jun 3^rd, 2025 at 5:23pm

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Hi Derek
Thanks for the photographs. I see they must have you camping in the motor home section.
I hope you have a nice few days there.
take care
Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #86 - Jun 3^rd, 2025 at 5:53pm

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Seems to be more motorhomes in the whole park than caravans today.

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Reply #87 - Jun 3^rd, 2025 at 5:55pm

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Stopped there on our way to the Cape.
Top spot with lovely sunrises.

Have you ever stopped at Cape Palmerston?
On the coast just south of Sarina.

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Reply #88 - Jun 3^rd, 2025 at 5:56pm

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Stopped there on our way to the Cape.
Top spot with lovely sunrises.

Have you ever stopped at Cape Palmerston?
On the coast just south of Sarina.

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Reply #89 - Jun 3^rd, 2025 at 6:54pm

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Many, many years ago Aart went out there.

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Reply #90 - Jun 4^th, 2025 at 10:16am

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Kevvie wrote on Jun 3^rd, 2025 at 5:23pm:

Hi Derek
Thanks for the photographs. I see they must have you camping in the motor home section.
I hope you have a nice few days there.
take care
Kev Wink

Wink

Kev. And just like that they have all gone this morning.

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Reply #91 - Jun 4^th, 2025 at 10:39am

Derek Offline
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We carry both Optus and Telstra dongles for internet as well as Maggie’s iPhone is Optus and mine Telstra.

Here at BarraCrab Telstra is very, very weak so switched over to Optus and it is good enough for streaming the TV.

It is good to have options.

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Reply #92 - Jun 4^th, 2025 at 10:44am

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Interesting thing.

This trip so far, diesel is averaging 50 cents a litre less than it did when we traveled to West Aussie and back in 2023.

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Reply #93 - Jun 4^th, 2025 at 11:26am

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Hi Derek
That is unreal not surprising with the amount of RVs I have been seeing going north and south on the M1 while I have been traveling to and from the doctor at Southport the last few weeks,
Also that many leaving in the morning I bet a bit noisy Shocked

Shocked

Grin

enjoy the today
Kev

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Reply #94 - Jun 4^th, 2025 at 1:38pm

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I worked out if I can get the front of the trailer near the front of the truck I can wind the jockey wheel up and use the chain wrapped around the bull bar to lock it on. Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

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Reply #95 - Jun 4^th, 2025 at 1:41pm

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Went for a drive down to St Lawrence. What an amazing old town. The architecture is so old world.

First image shows the type of house structure. The floor bearers looked like they had been hand hewn with an adze. This place would have had verandahs at some stage.

The butcher looked like it had been closed for a long time.

The shop is still open with one fuel bowser. Diesel one side 91 petrol the other. Stock in the shop very limited

The cop shop is ancient and still in use.

More surprising you can catch the Sunlander train at the station

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Reply #96 - Jun 4^th, 2025 at 1:42pm

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Still at St Lawrence and this was the turnoff down to the wetlands. All planted in bougainvillea and trimmed to a hedge.

Absolutely beautiful.

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Reply #97 - Jun 4^th, 2025 at 7:45pm

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Hi Derek
Looks like you had a great day looking around.
I liked see the old police station.
Thankyou for the photographs.
Have a great day tomorrow
Kev

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Reply #98 - Jun 5^th, 2025 at 9:13am

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Do you know how much flour for the two loaves Derek.

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Reply #99 - Jun 5^th, 2025 at 9:19am

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I have never been into St Lawrence, always say i should when going south.

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Reply #100 - Jun 5^th, 2025 at 10:31am

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jclures wrote on Jun 5^th, 2025 at 9:19am:

I have never been into St Lawrence, always say i should when going south.

Like a lot of small places John, it is dying. Used to be a meat works there years ago. Still worth a drive though.

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Reply #101 - Jun 5^th, 2025 at 10:32am

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jclures wrote on Jun 5^th, 2025 at 9:13am:

Do you know how much flour for the two loaves Derek.

John, that is the basic two cup recipe that I regularly use.

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Reply #102 - Jun 5^th, 2025 at 10:55am

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Does St Lawrence still have the salt works mate. Can rember in the early ‘70 you would get booked for sleeping in your car or a van. Most certainly not welcome in those days. Cheers

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Reply #103 - Jun 5^th, 2025 at 11:01am

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Bear wrote on Jun 5^th, 2025 at 10:55am:

Does St Lawrence still have the salt works mate. Can rember in the early ‘70 you would get booked for sleeping in your car or a van. Most certainly not welcome in those days. Cheers

Didn’t see any sign of it. You can now camp at the Recreation Ground but plenty of signs around saying no camping in the public spaces.

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Reply #104 - Jun 5^th, 2025 at 3:05pm

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Drive up to Carmilla Beach campground to have a look around today. No water here when the tides go out.

Amazing creek that looked very fishy.

Last photo is of a typical campground along the waterfront.

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Reply #105 - Jun 5^th, 2025 at 3:07pm

Derek Offline
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Maggie was very impressed with the height of the sugar cane and wanted to hide in it, Ugg boots and all. That shows how cool it has been here.

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Reply #106 - Jun 6^th, 2025 at 2:12pm

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We have moved today and now sitting at the Finch Hatton Showgrounds. Will be here for five nights.

Going to be exploring all that Eungella and the National Parks here have to offer. One of our goals is to photograph the platypus that abound hereabouts.

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Reply #107 - Jun 6^th, 2025 at 6:33pm

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Hello Derek
It looks like you and maggie have a great looking spot
to camp at. The grounds there look very well looked after.
Thanks for the photographs.
take care
Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #108 - Jun 6^th, 2025 at 9:02pm

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I heard they close Finch Hatton.
Top spot, but noisy during the cane train season.

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Reply #109 - Jun 6^th, 2025 at 9:07pm

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Closed what Aart????

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Reply #110 - Jun 7^th, 2025 at 6:14pm

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Went for a drive up to the Finch Hatton Gorge this morning. Unfortunately the walk to the main Gorge waterfalls is closed. Not that us oldies may of got there anyway.

We did see a smaller waterfall and have a pleasant walk through the rainforest though.

The drive in over lots of creek crossings was quite spectacular.

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Reply #111 - Jun 7^th, 2025 at 6:49pm

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We went to the old Eungella Chalet that was built in 1934 and overlooks the Pioneer Valley. Maggie has an old memory of being there over 40 years ago.

In one photo you can see a ramp where hang gliders used to jump off the top although looks like it is no longer used.

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Reply #112 - Jun 7^th, 2025 at 6:50pm

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The road up and down to Eungella from the Pioneer Valley is quite amazing.

You can see it snaking up and down in these photos

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Reply #113 - Jun 7^th, 2025 at 8:04pm

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Hi Derek
That brave little Suzuki Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Thank you for the great Photos
Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #114 - Jun 7^th, 2025 at 8:07pm

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Kevvie, it’s wheels got a wash in the creek crossings. Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

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Reply #115 - Jun 7^th, 2025 at 8:46pm

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Derek
We have a 2010 Suzuki Swift. They are a Great little car.
Take care
Kev

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Reply #116 - Jun 7^th, 2025 at 11:31pm

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Went there when Molly was working at Glendon. Great view but the smell in the creeks from the dairy farms effluent was disgusting. Cheers

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Reply #117 - Jun 8^th, 2025 at 8:11am

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Kevvie wrote on Jun 7^th, 2025 at 8:46pm:

Derek
We have a 2010 Suzuki Swift. They are a Great little car.
Take care
Kev

Ours is it’s little brother, the Suzuki Ignis.

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Reply #118 - Jun 8^th, 2025 at 8:27am

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Just before we started this trip I put up a post saying I had updated my iPhone to the new 16 Pro version as the newer ones had access to satellite texting in the event of an emergency where no mobile service is available.

Yesterday when we were walking through the Finch Hatton rainforest I was taking photos with it and a message popped up saying satellite was available, or something like that and on the screen where you would normally see your bars of service was a little satellite image.

I took this screen shot of it.

Quite comforting to know it is there and working considering there was no clear view of the sky in the forest.

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Reply #119 - Jun 8^th, 2025 at 9:44am

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When we were at Eungella yesterday there were signs advertising the monthly local markets so decided this morning to go have a look.

Bit if a record for me, only 7 minutes to walk through it. Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Maggie took a little longer as there was some crochet bits and pieces.

We didn’t buy anything and was disappointed as no fresh local fruits, veggies or eggs.

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Reply #120 - Jun 8^th, 2025 at 12:40pm

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Is this cheating or am I smart for wanting to keep the Weber a little bit clean. This box is unopened and been in the motorhome for near on 8 years.

Sunday roast lamb shoulder coming up for dinner. Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #121 - Jun 8^th, 2025 at 6:58pm

Derek Offline
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Well we were quite impressed with the lamb in the oven bag. Sunday roast dinner of lamb, spuds, peas and gravy was extremely nice.

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Reply #122 - Jun 8^th, 2025 at 7:34pm

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Hi Derek
Your meal looks great. I love lamb. thanks for the photos
Yes the old oven bags are great value. I remember years ago buying a marinated chicken at the super market in the oven bag and taking it home and cooking it.
Regards Kev Wink

Wink

PS where did you buy the lamb

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Reply #123 - Jun 9^th, 2025 at 11:22am

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I've used them in a CO as well.
Saves a lengthy clean up.

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Reply #124 - Jun 9^th, 2025 at 6:16pm

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If I had a bucket list, which I don’t, I guess this evening would have been a tick off.

We did want to see the Eungella Platypus in the wild and were not disapointed.

I put together the best of the videos and here they are. You will hear me chuckling I was so excited.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMh0jveeUK8

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Reply #125 - Jun 9^th, 2025 at 7:16pm

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Hello Derek
How lucky are both of you.
Thanks for the video.
Kev

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Reply #126 - Jun 11^th, 2025 at 11:41am

Derek Offline
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Well this wasn’t on our itinerary, not that we have a strict one. We are at Halliday Bay Resort that also has an RV Park just north of Mackay and near the Cape Hillsborough National Park.

I was looking at places along the coast and it on WikiCamps it showed photo of a site right on the water and I thought, wow if we can get that one.

Well we did and here we are. Prime position 50 metres from the beach and the swimming enclosure. We have power and water connected. Not a budget site though. Surprised it isn’t busier.

Here for seven nights. I might even throw in a fishing line off the beach. I see some down there fishing now.

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Reply #127 - Jun 11^th, 2025 at 3:22pm

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Looks good.
What was the price?
I'll put that on my list for next northerly jaunt.

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Reply #128 - Jun 11^th, 2025 at 3:33pm

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TBF wrote on Jun 11^th, 2025 at 3:22pm:

Looks good.
What was the price?
I'll put that on my list for next northerly jaunt.

$55 Waterfront Power & Water
$40 non Waterfront Power & Water
$30 unpowered site.

No amenities but has a Dump Point

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Reply #129 - Jun 11^th, 2025 at 3:48pm

Derek Offline
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This is at Smalleys Beach Camp Ground which is part of the Cape Hillsborough National Park. We camped at this site (site 11) around 40 years ago and it has hardly changed. There are 11 sites that run along just behind that lovely bay.

I couldn’t get a booking in there this trip.

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Reply #130 - Jun 11^th, 2025 at 3:50pm

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Lot’s of lovely quiet bays around here where you could just lose yourself. First two are at Seaforth and second two at Cape Hillsborough

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Reply #131 - Jun 11^th, 2025 at 4:30pm

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Hi Derek
You have a nice camp site. enjoy the time there.
Great photos thanks for sharing
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #132 - Jun 11^th, 2025 at 5:04pm

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Couple of Raja Shelducks wandering around our camp. Very pretty bird.

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Reply #133 - Jun 12^th, 2025 at 1:03pm

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These just walked right up to me sitting under the awning. Took photo with the camera on the iPad.

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Reply #134 - Jun 12^th, 2025 at 7:43pm

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Hi Derek
Hope everything is going OK. Those ducks are unusual colour.
Getting cold down here they say 1 for us in the morning
I am feeling the cold with puffy hands and fingers from having arthritis.
Might have to buy a motor home and head north for winter. Shocked

Shocked

Grin

Grin

have a great day tomorrow
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #135 - Jun 13^th, 2025 at 8:23am

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A Bush Stone-curlew decided to visit last night.

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Reply #136 - Jun 13^th, 2025 at 10:18am

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Good day Derek
I have just came inside been sitting out the front with the dog in the sun.
They are funny acting birds. It looks like that bird had a leg ring on the left leg
Thanks for the photo
Kev

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Reply #137 - Jun 13^th, 2025 at 10:21am

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I never noticed that mark on its leg. Will check it out of it comes back.

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Reply #138 - Jun 13^th, 2025 at 11:08am

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Made another batch of ‘muffins’ this morning. I am still experimenting with yeast quantity but keeping the same 2 and 1/2 cups of flour. Can see in first photo the rise of the dough overnight.

These ones today came out like bread rolls and the fact they only take 9 minutes to cook on the gas cooker (6 minutes first side and 3 minutes second) is amazing.

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Reply #139 - Jun 13^th, 2025 at 11:39am

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This was my brunch - butter and rosella jam.

Texture so light Maggie said we should have them with jam and cream as they are as good as scones. Wink

Wink

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Reply #140 - Jun 14^th, 2025 at 11:19am

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Following on from yesterdays bread cooking here is last nights dinner burger using one of the muffins. Meat pattie, egg, tomato, beetroot and lettuce

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Reply #141 - Jun 14^th, 2025 at 4:51pm

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Looks good mate cheers

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Reply #142 - Jun 14^th, 2025 at 6:04pm

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HI Derek
Great work there YUM
Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #143 - Jun 15^th, 2025 at 11:07am

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There is something nice and tropical about a bunch of coconut palms. Just don’t camp under them. Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #144 - Jun 15^th, 2025 at 2:48pm

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Walked the boardwalk track in Cape Hillsborough National Park this morning. Great variety of landscape.

See if you can find the Brush Turkey in one of the photos. Wink

Wink

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Reply #145 - Jun 15^th, 2025 at 2:50pm

Derek Offline
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On our walk this morning we passed an old Aboriginal Shell Midden. Aboriginal folk for hundreds, maybe thousands of years, would have collected shelfish from the local tidal flats and brought them up onto this ridge to eat them thus creating this huge mound of old shell around this rock.

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Reply #146 - Jun 15^th, 2025 at 3:51pm

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Hi Derek
The photos were great thank you very much.
As for the scrub turkey he would not move making him very hard to see Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Kev

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Reply #147 - Jun 16^th, 2025 at 1:45pm

Derek Offline
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I am sure that they think if they keep still you won’t see tham.

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Reply #148 - Jun 16^th, 2025 at 2:24pm

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Last night roasted up a chunk of pumpkin in the Weber and made pumpkin soup. Even gave it a whizz with the beater on the electric drill.

Was very nice with some chicken stock, potato, cumin, salt and pepper and cream.

Oh, and one of those yummy muffin/bread rolls and butter.

Enough for a couple of meals.

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Reply #149 - Jun 16^th, 2025 at 4:36pm

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Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos.
It is good to see you have some multi purpose tools in the tool box Grin

Grin

Grin

The soup look good
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #150 - Jun 17^th, 2025 at 11:54am

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Reading/relaxing day today in the rain. Campground emptied this morning. We have booked an extra night and now leaving Thursday.

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Reply #151 - Jun 17^th, 2025 at 3:11pm

Derek Offline
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Maggie is not as much a connoisseur of the finer foods in life as I am so I said, “It’s ok, I’ll eat them outside”. Wink

Wink

The only way, straight from the tin. Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #152 - Jun 17^th, 2025 at 3:50pm

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A wet dull day

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Reply #153 - Jun 17^th, 2025 at 5:49pm

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Evening Derek where did you buy the Sardines from mate, cheers Robert

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Reply #154 - Jun 17^th, 2025 at 6:09pm

Derek Offline
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They are hard to find. I find them exceptional. Got these at IGA at Gin Gin here in Qld. Last I got them was at a Foodland at Edithburgh down your way in SA.

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Reply #155 - Jun 17^th, 2025 at 6:39pm

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Thank you cheers

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Reply #156 - Jun 17^th, 2025 at 6:51pm

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Hi Derek

At least you had nice ground underfoot and you did not have to put up walking around in mud. We had a dull day no sun
all day
Take care
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #157 - Jun 18^th, 2025 at 2:43pm

Derek Offline
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Our last day here today. Sitting here in the warm sun with a light breeze listening to the sound of waves softly rolling onto the beach has made this a very magical place for us.

I know there are many more places like this along the coast but this one sure has been memorable.

A day/night in a free camp along a road somewhere tomorrow then a few days with family in Mackay before venturing further north.

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Reply #158 - Jun 18^th, 2025 at 4:06pm

Derek Offline
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A small flock of Plumed Whistling Ducks wandered through our camp.

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Reply #159 - Jun 18^th, 2025 at 6:09pm

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Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos.
safe travelling for tomorrow.
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #160 - Jun 19^th, 2025 at 3:16pm

Derek Offline
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Well this is something you don’t see that often. Maggie & Derek at a pub. Cheesy

Cheesy

Camped for the night at the Kuttabul Pub free camp just north of Mackay.

Great free camp on the grassed area out the front of the pub with nice cold beer. No facilities although can use pub toilets when open.

Couple of schooners went down well. Unfortunately they are having issues with the kitchen and it’s closed.

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Reply #161 - Jun 19^th, 2025 at 5:14pm

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Hi Derek
Another nice camping spot . reminds he of a song
" a little further north each year" by Graeme Connors
enjoy your self
regards Kev

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Reply #162 - Jun 20^th, 2025 at 9:12pm

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Motorhome is parked up for the next week in Mackay as we visit family here.

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Reply #163 - Jun 21^st, 2025 at 4:41am

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Hi Derek
Have a great time with family
take care
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #164 - Jun 22^nd, 2025 at 2:55pm

Derek Offline
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Maggie’s cousin Norm, paddled up the creek in his canoe yesterday and dropped some crab pots. Picked them up this morning for three nice bucks.

Yummmmmm!!!

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Reply #165 - Jun 22^nd, 2025 at 4:22pm

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Hi Derek
That looks like a lovely meal coming up Good on you Norm
and a bit of local knowledge. Grin

Grin

Grin

Have a great time Derek
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #166 - Jun 22^nd, 2025 at 9:54pm

Derek Offline
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Bit of a look around Mackay Harbour. The weather was not kind to us. Sad

Sad

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Reply #167 - Jun 23^rd, 2025 at 5:10pm

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Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #168 - Jun 24^th, 2025 at 11:53pm

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About 20 or so years ago the company I worked for flew me up to Mackay to help steam the Tug they purchased back to SA. Wasn't a bad trip with a stopover in Sydney. From memory trip took about two and a half weeks.The tug was called the Lucinda. I never got to see Mackay that much as we were getting the tug ready for the trip home. (But the pubs I visited there were nice.)

Can't Get Full On Fancy

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Reply #169 - Jun 25^th, 2025 at 6:42pm

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About the best days fishing I have had for many years.

Out today with Maggie’s cousin Norm. We had a 6 hour window between tides to get in and out of the creek where the boat ramp is.

Went 25 klm out to around Brampton Island. Fished for possibly 4 1/2 hours as Norm showed me the old Brampton Island resort.

A mix of coral trout, sweet lip, cod, Moses perch and a few others.

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Reply #170 - Jun 25^th, 2025 at 6:46pm

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Some of the small ones that we threw back. I got tired of pulling the camera out.

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Reply #171 - Jun 25^th, 2025 at 6:50pm

Derek Offline
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This was a ribbon fish, initially twice that size that we hung out the back under a balloon. Has three 12/0 hooks in it

Got a huge fast hit from what we expect was a big Spanish mackerel but failed to hook up. Big excitement for about 15 seconds. Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #172 - Jun 25^th, 2025 at 7:29pm

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Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos.
I glad you and norm had a good fishing trip
regards Kev Grin

Grin

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Reply #173 - Jun 26^th, 2025 at 12:57pm

Derek Offline
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Here we are all set up at Proserpine, gateway to the Whitsundays.

Have booked in for four nights and will be checking out Airlie Beach and surrounds as well as the dam west of us.

Nice park and they gave us a site that fitted the trailer and the little car and if I turn around the amenities block is the other side of the road.

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Reply #174 - Jun 26^th, 2025 at 3:47pm

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Hi Derek
Thank you for the photographs.
It good when everything are able to fit in one place.
Have a wonderful time there looking around
Are you having fish for dinner tonight.
Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #175 - Jun 26^th, 2025 at 4:08pm

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Kevvie wrote on Jun 26^th, 2025 at 3:47pm:

Are you having fish for dinner tonight.

Sure am. We have five meals of fish in the freezer. One thawing out now. Cool

Cool

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Reply #176 - Jun 26^th, 2025 at 4:20pm

Derek Offline
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Went for a drive out to Peter Faust Dam (Lake Proserpine) this afternoon.

Won’t be fishing there but it is alleged to be the impoundment home of the most metre plus barramundi in the country.

Quite an impressive dam wall. She is quite full at present.

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Reply #177 - Jun 26^th, 2025 at 4:46pm

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Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos of the dam. Would be great to catch and release a good size barra.
Enjoy the fish meal. Nothing like knowing where the fish you eat comes from enjoy
take care
Kev

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Reply #178 - Jun 26^th, 2025 at 7:44pm

Derek Offline
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After all the lovely seafood we have had I was given this brochure at the office before.

I think I am in trouble. Cool

Cool

Roll Eyes

Cheesy

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Reply #179 - Jun 26^th, 2025 at 8:11pm

Kevvie Offline
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and where do you start YUM YUM Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Kev

Wink

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Reply #180 - Jun 27^th, 2025 at 8:34am

Derek Offline
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Kevvie wrote on Jun 26^th, 2025 at 8:11pm:

and where do you start YUM YUM Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Kev

Wink

Kev, as Maggies says though, “Don’t always trust the photo advertising”. Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

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Reply #181 - Jun 27^th, 2025 at 9:36am

Derek Offline
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Another batch of fresh bread rolls straight out of the pan. Easy cooking in the motorhome. Cool

Cool

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Reply #182 - Jun 27^th, 2025 at 4:06pm

Derek Offline
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Brunch with a view at Airlie Beach but at tourist prices Shocked

Shocked

Shocked

Shocked

Shocked

Nice to be here but it’s too touristy for me. Very crowded.

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Reply #183 - Jun 27^th, 2025 at 4:08pm

Derek Offline
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Shute Harbour has always been a pretty place.

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Reply #184 - Jun 27^th, 2025 at 4:11pm

Derek Offline
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Rory, told us about this place. Cedar Creek Falls is an oasis is in the rainforest on the way to Conway beach.

I was fascinated at the patterns of the exposed roots.

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Reply #185 - Jun 27^th, 2025 at 6:40pm

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Hi Derek
Thanks you for the photos. It looks like you both had a great day
regards Kev.

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Reply #186 - Jun 27^th, 2025 at 8:41pm

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Swam there many years ago.
During the early 80s.

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Reply #187 - Jun 28^th, 2025 at 5:49pm

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Went for a drive up to Bowen today. First time seeing the big mango. Larger than I thought. The views from Flagstaff Hill are amazing

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Reply #188 - Jun 28^th, 2025 at 5:51pm

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This is Horseshoe Bay at Bowen. There are quite a few nice little beaches like this around Bowen.

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Reply #189 - Jun 28^th, 2025 at 5:52pm

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Of course one must sample the local produce for lunch and the red spot king prawns are always at the top of the list

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Reply #190 - Jun 28^th, 2025 at 5:54pm

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These were taken at Dingo Beach. A place I have always wanted to visit but never got there. In the 50’s and 60’s my mate Pete and his family camped on the foreshore here every year. Was nothing there then with a dirt road in and out. Very peaceful quiet place.

That is Gloucester Island in the background of the first photo.

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Reply #191 - Jun 28^th, 2025 at 5:57pm

Derek Offline
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Have always been fascinated by cane trains so pulled over and snapped this video.

I still recall when they were steam engines.

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Reply #192 - Jun 28^th, 2025 at 7:29pm

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Hi Derek
a big thank you for the photos of Bowen. In the mid 70"s I was stationed at Bowen for a few months and we stayed in the caravan park at Horseshoe Bay.
Glad you had a good day.
I also like watching can trains enjoyed the video.
Kev

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Reply #193 - Jun 29^th, 2025 at 9:42am

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Very happy with my $2 roadside stall find of paw paw. Cool

Cool

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Reply #194 - Jun 29^th, 2025 at 2:22pm

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Hi Derek
It looks like you can make some tropical fruit salad Grin

Grin

Grin

regards Kev

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Reply #195 - Jun 30^th, 2025 at 12:16pm

Derek Offline
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I had heard about it but what a place to stop. It’s called the Home Hill Comfort Stop. Just a street behind the main shopping centre set aside where you can pull over for two nights.

There are facilities in the Information Centre if needed - timed 5 minute hot showers, toilets, a large camp kitchen and a dump point. Also a water tap to fill up.

Home Hill really welcomes travellers. Bit concerned about the slideout out being on the street, because that is where my head is, but it is what it is.

Might stay two nights as we are full of water.

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Reply #196 - Jun 30^th, 2025 at 1:04pm

Derek Offline
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Just walked over the road and grabbed these two. The big camp kitchen that has sinks and BBQ plates and the gents shower. Pretty good for nothing.

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Reply #197 - Jun 30^th, 2025 at 2:30pm

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Hi Derek
I glad you found a nice spot good to see the changes
We use to live and work there in 1975 to 1978 We were kept busy work wise in those days,
Thanks for the photographs.
re bed put your head the other end Grin

Grin

Grin

regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #198 - Jun 30^th, 2025 at 5:10pm

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Kevvie wrote on Jun 30^th, 2025 at 2:30pm:

re bed put your head the other end Grin

Grin

Grin

If I do that will wake up and not know where I am. Grin

Grin

Grin

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Reply #199 - Jun 30^th, 2025 at 6:20pm

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Do you need to have the slideout out to use the bed?

Can't Get Full On Fancy

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Reply #200 - Jun 30^th, 2025 at 6:23pm

Kevvie Offline
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Hi Derek
Yes I guess you are right. But I think you will be safe enough
unless the door of the motor home unlocked. but then it is
only a short walk to the police station.
Have a good night. Take care
regards Kev

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Reply #201 - Jun 30^th, 2025 at 7:02pm

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shackles wrote on Jun 30^th, 2025 at 6:20pm:

Do you need to have the slideout out to use the bed?

Bed is about a foot to short if we don’t.

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Reply #202 - Jul 2^nd, 2025 at 1:35pm

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Arrived in Townsville and settled into a caravan park for three nights. We are paying school holiday premiums though. Sad

Sad

Nice big open park with lovely big grassed sites. We got the end site against the bush so not looking at neighbours. Also one of the few sites with shade. As Con the Fruiterer would say, “I no complain”.

Quite a few empty sites around.

Telstra wireless internet is twice as fast as my NBN at home.

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Reply #203 - Jul 2^nd, 2025 at 1:52pm

Derek Offline
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The red is our progress so far on this trip.

The truck has done 1500 kilometres and the little car, 1700 kilometres so far.

Tomorrow we will have been going six weeks but it feels like months.

Really, really enjoying ourselves.

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Reply #204 - Jul 2^nd, 2025 at 3:47pm

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Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos. Seems like a nice big caravan park.
Enjoy your time in Townsville
Must be great having your little car.
regards Kev

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Reply #205 - Jul 2^nd, 2025 at 6:47pm

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A nostalgic afternoon. I lived in Townsville back in 1973 for just over 6 months and have this old photo of me taken on Castle Hill 52 years ago somewhere around my 21st birthday.

Maggie and I went back to recreate it and this is the results of then and now. We didn’t do too bad.

No, I wouldn’t be able to fit into those body shirts we all wore back then.

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Reply #206 - Jul 2^nd, 2025 at 6:57pm

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Now that’s a camp dinner. Home made hamburger and chips. Cool

Cool

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Reply #207 - Jul 2^nd, 2025 at 7:24pm

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Hi Derek
Pretty good photos don't you wish you could have that life over again Grin

Grin

Grin

That hamburger looks pretty good
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #208 - Jul 3^rd, 2025 at 4:52pm

Derek Offline
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This morning we packed a picnic lunch and headed for Little Crystal Creek just north of Townsville. Unfortunately due to recent weather events the road into the hills was closed so we ended up at Big Crystal Creek.

This place has a National Parks campground that has fresh water, cold showers and toilets and day use area. A short walk takes you to the amazing creek where the water flows crystal clear.

My first pic got photo bombed by a scrub turkey.

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Reply #209 - Jul 3^rd, 2025 at 4:55pm

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Because it is inside the Great Barrier Reef North Queensland has all these amazing beaches without surf. This one is Saunders Beach north of Townsville.

Island in the background of the second photo is Palm Island group.

Maggie wanted to play in the cubby house on the beach. 🤣

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Reply #210 - Jul 3^rd, 2025 at 5:29pm

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Hi Derek
I am glad you both had a lovely day to look around
thanks for the photos
There was a lot of firewood around on the beach.
Enjoy tomorrow.
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #211 - Jul 5^th, 2025 at 11:50am

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A little further north today and we are at the CMCA RV Park at Ingham. Booked for three nights.

As members of the CMCA we get to stay here for $7 a night so pretty good.

No power or amenities but there are water taps to fill the tanks and a dump point. No waste water is allowed on the ground.

Times like this I am grateful for being self contained and with a good solar system.

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Reply #212 - Jul 5^th, 2025 at 12:04pm

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Derek have you booked in at Karumba yet. So if you are planning on staying there you need to book as it is very popular this time of year. We used to stay at the Karumba Point Tourist Park.

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Reply #213 - Jul 5^th, 2025 at 4:45pm

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shackles wrote on Jul 5^th, 2025 at 12:04pm:

Derek have you booked in at Karumba yet. So if you are planning on staying there you need to book as it is very popular this time of year. We used to stay at the Karumba Point Tourist Park.

Have thought about that and I expect when we head to Darwin and further west will be the same.

Problem is we don’t plan too well and don’t stick to a schedule and at this stage don’t even know when we will be in Cairns. Lance up there keeps asking me when our ETA will be but we just don’t know.

Will have to wing it and see how we go.

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Reply #214 - Jul 5^th, 2025 at 6:18pm

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Derek Herberton is a nice place. With some nice people.

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Reply #215 - Jul 5^th, 2025 at 7:18pm

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Hello Derek
Thanks for the photos. Looks like a nice place to stay
enjoy the time there.
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #216 - Jul 6^th, 2025 at 9:08am

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Bit slack with my posting yesterday.

Went for a drive out to Lucinda where Maggie eventually got her feet wet. That was before she saw the crocodiles sign. 🤣

The sugar loading jetty is the longest in the southern hemisphere at 5.67 klm long.

The background hills when we were on the jetty is Hinchinbrook Island.

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Reply #217 - Jul 6^th, 2025 at 9:11am

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Standing looking out at Hinchinbrook Island and Maggie said, “Reminds me of Jurassic Park.”

It does. Shocked

Shocked

Shocked

Shocked

Shocked

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Reply #218 - Jul 6^th, 2025 at 9:13am

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The original song Pub With No Beer by Slim Dusty.

Adapted from a poem written by Dan Sheahan a local cane farmer and poet about the time he arrived at the Day Dawn Pub that had run out of beer up here in Ingham.

The original pub was demolished in the 1940’s and this is a photo of the Lees Hotel that now sits in its place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aodZbG8nCZY

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Reply #219 - Jul 6^th, 2025 at 1:41pm

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Hi Derek
Thank you for the photographs I appreciate them very much
That jetty would make a great walk. there is a fellow here in the village that goes to Lucinda each year apparently a good
fishing spot So he said.
Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #220 - Jul 6^th, 2025 at 2:58pm

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Cardwell By The Sea. One of the places where the highway runs along the waterfront.

The town was damaged significantly by a cyclone some years back but appears to have come back from that.

Being a Sunday most everything was shut though.

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Reply #221 - Jul 6^th, 2025 at 2:59pm

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Couple of good feeds of oysters down there if you could figure a way of getting them. Grin

Grin

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Reply #222 - Jul 6^th, 2025 at 3:04pm

Derek Offline
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We had a wander through Keith Williams old Hinchinbrook Harbour. The marina was significantly damaged by cyclone Yasi in 2011.

The marina itself was completely destroyed though there are still pylons sitting in the mud and the whole harbour completely silted up.

The resort is completely abandoned and now rotting away.

It was quite sad to see it actually

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Reply #223 - Jul 6^th, 2025 at 3:06pm

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Four, maybe five times, I have stood on this lookout since 1969. Today Hinchinbrook Island and the channels look as magnificent as ever.

That’s Maggie’s Jurassic Park. 🤣 Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #224 - Jul 6^th, 2025 at 3:09pm

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There are some big lizards in there two.

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Reply #225 - Jul 6^th, 2025 at 3:10pm

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shackles wrote on Jul 5^th, 2025 at 6:18pm:

Derek Herberton is a nice place. With some nice people.

Brian, plan on calling in there on the way back down from Cooktown. 😊

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Reply #226 - Jul 7^th, 2025 at 3:08pm

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Doing our bit to support International Chocolate Day today. Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #227 - Jul 7^th, 2025 at 3:09pm

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Christmas in July is fast approaching. Cool

Cool

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Reply #228 - Jul 7^th, 2025 at 5:29pm

Kevvie Offline
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Hi Derek
Will have a look tomorrow they might have gluten free like they did at christmas.
Good her support the chocolate makers. I like the dark chocolate from aldi.
Have a good night
Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #229 - Jul 7^th, 2025 at 5:51pm

Derek Offline
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No Aldi in north Qld Kev Undecided

Undecided

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Reply #230 - Jul 7^th, 2025 at 7:26pm

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Hi Derek
WE are a little spoiled in this neck of the woods
regards Kev

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Reply #231 - Jul 8^th, 2025 at 12:17pm

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Have arrived in Tully, supposedly the wettest town in Australia and as you can see by the clouds and the already wet road in the park the threat of rain is looming.

On a positive we have a good drive through site and I haven’t needed to remove the trailer. Have power and water so can run the coffee machine. The sites are rather narrow though.

Here for three nights as we have a good look around the place.

Hopefully doing a tour of the Sugar Mill while we are here.

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Reply #232 - Jul 8^th, 2025 at 1:14pm

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Enjoy the mill. Worked in one in ‘71 do not want to go in another. Cheers

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Reply #233 - Jul 8^th, 2025 at 2:01pm

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Hi Derek
Have a great stay in Tully. A mill tour sounds interesting hope you can. Yes looks like rain your neighbour might get his A Van
washed Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Thank you for the photos always great to see. Take care
Kev

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Reply #234 - Jul 8^th, 2025 at 2:43pm

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No Aldi, but we do have a good IGA in Atherton though. they had the Atherton IGA on landline ABC a couple of weeks ago.

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Reply #235 - Jul 8^th, 2025 at 2:47pm

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There was a good fish and chip shop in Tully, in the main street, I don’t know if it is still there though.

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Reply #236 - Jul 8^th, 2025 at 3:44pm

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We have done a high proportion of our grocery shopping this trip at IGA.

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Reply #237 - Jul 8^th, 2025 at 3:47pm

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Maggie atop the Golden Gumboot at Tully. It’s a big Welli.

In 1950 Tully’s rainfall for the year was 7.92 metres which is the height of the boot.

Note they measure the rainfall in metres here.

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Reply #238 - Jul 8^th, 2025 at 3:49pm

Derek Offline
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Some photos from the top if the Golden Gumboot looking at the Main Street and over the sugar mill. The cane cutting is well underway.

Have booked our tickets for the mill tour in the morning.

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Reply #239 - Jul 8^th, 2025 at 3:51pm

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Kevvie wrote on Jul 8^th, 2025 at 2:01pm:

your neighbour might get his A Van
washed

Haven’t seen them yet but curios as to where he got all that mud. Grin

Grin

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Reply #240 - Jul 8^th, 2025 at 4:51pm

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Derek
I think he has been outback on dusty road. I bet he has dust inside too
he has heard about all the rain that Tully has and decides
it the place for a auto car and caravan wash Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Kev

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Reply #241 - Jul 8^th, 2025 at 5:26pm

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The Tully Sugar Mill is going full bore today. Quite an impressive sight from the caravan park

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Reply #242 - Jul 8^th, 2025 at 6:26pm

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Every now and then Maggie convinces me I should make a pizza.

I have Doris, Maggie’s cousin, who we stayed with in Mackay to thank for the idea of these Toscano prebaked pizza bases. Just fitted on my pizza tray as well.

Lots of pepperoni, olives and anchovies on this one.

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Reply #243 - Jul 8^th, 2025 at 9:15pm

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Derek
Good choice in pizza bases I buy the same at Coles
Kev

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Reply #244 - Jul 9^th, 2025 at 5:30pm

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I took quite a few short videos while we were at the sugar mill and managed to cobble them together. Was an interesting experience

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Reply #245 - Jul 9^th, 2025 at 5:37pm

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All Maggie wanted from the mill was to borrow half a cup of sugar however they gave us half a cup each. 🤣

Note the name COFCO on the little bag.

It is a Chinese company that fully owns Tully Sugar Mill. The mill produces raw sugar at the rate of 50 tonnes an hour and all of it goes out of Australia through the Mourilyan Harbour to Asia.

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Reply #246 - Jul 9^th, 2025 at 10:23pm

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When I was reliving on the bunker barge at Port Adelaide we bunkered a ship unloading sugar. I thought the smell of the raw sugar is very strong. Didnt like it much.

Can't Get Full On Fancy

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Reply #247 - Jul 10^th, 2025 at 8:32am

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shackles wrote on Jul 9^th, 2025 at 10:23pm:

When I was reliving on the bunker barge at Port Adelaide we bunkered a ship unloading sugar. I thought the smell of the raw sugar is very strong. Didnt like it much.

We are close enough to the mill to pretty well smell that all the time. It is a peculiar aroma but for us not a horrible one.

I recall over the years chewing on sugar cane stalks and it tastes nothing like the refined white sugar but just like that smell from the mill.

We actually don’t eat a lot of sugar ourselves apart from that is in food.

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Reply #248 - Jul 10^th, 2025 at 8:54am

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This photo of the blue cane cart is a special one and our tour guide at the mill got ever so excited at it being here she even took photos herself. It was the first time she had seen it in the yard on a tour.

There is only one of these carts in existence and it was made specially for the 100 year anniversary of the mill which is this year. It is naturally called Bluey. 😊

Different from all others in that it is painted blue and has the 100 year anniversary plaque on it. Bluey even has its own Facebook page - {"Bluey" - Tully Sugars Centenary Bin} - where people are encouraged to post their photos.

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Reply #249 - Jul 10^th, 2025 at 12:02pm

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Mourilan Harbour was my favourite place to go fishing for mud crabs, I never came home empty handed.

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Reply #250 - Jul 10^th, 2025 at 1:41pm

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The beautiful Mission Beach and surrounds. That is Dunk Island hiding under the cloud

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Reply #251 - Jul 10^th, 2025 at 3:55pm

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jclures wrote on Jul 10^th, 2025 at 12:02pm:

Mourilan Harbour was my favourite place to go fishing for mud crabs, I never came home empty handed.

Will be out there for a look in the next few days John.

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Reply #252 - Jul 10^th, 2025 at 6:01pm

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Hi Derek
Thank you for the photographs
enjoy your self
Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #253 - Jul 11^th, 2025 at 11:45am

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Moved further north to Innisfail. Here at the CMCA RV Park for the next three nights.

Having a day without rain. Smiley

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Reply #254 - Jul 11^th, 2025 at 12:40pm

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hello Derek
Looks like another nice park. Looks like you have a nice lot of happy campers to share with.
Thank you for the photos.
regards Kev

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Reply #255 - Jul 11^th, 2025 at 3:26pm

Derek Offline
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The grass is certainly green up here Kev.

Although my mower man sent me some photos today after his mow and it is still nice and green at home as well.

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Reply #256 - Jul 11^th, 2025 at 8:00pm

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Hi Derek
Just think if we got the same amount of rain Tully gets
then plenty of green grass.
Kev

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Reply #257 - Jul 12^th, 2025 at 8:54am

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Brisbane will still be flooded

.

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Reply #258 - Jul 12^th, 2025 at 5:23pm

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Hi Derek
I hope you had a great day in the north
regards Kev

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Reply #259 - Jul 12^th, 2025 at 6:16pm

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Mourilyan Harbour yesterday. This is where all of the raw sugar made at the Tully Sugar Mill is exported overseas.

Some old abandoned cattle yards there so must have shipped out cattle at some stage.

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Reply #260 - Jul 12^th, 2025 at 6:19pm

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Etty Bay is another beautiful beach side town. Love how the jungle runs right down to the waters.

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Reply #261 - Jul 12^th, 2025 at 6:22pm

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Flying Fish Point is another beachside town. It had this kids playground had a play servo complete with a pretend electric car charger.

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Reply #262 - Jul 12^th, 2025 at 6:24pm

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The Catholic Church stands atop the highest spot in the town and is at the end of the older Main Street in town in Innisfail.

The church was open and we had a look inside. The old architecture here is captivating for sure.

Everything else was closed for the local show holiday.

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Reply #263 - Jul 12^th, 2025 at 6:27pm

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Now to today.

We walked the Mama Tropical Skywalk today. It is about half way between here and Milla Milla. Boy are my legs going to ache tomorrow.

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Reply #264 - Jul 12^th, 2025 at 6:34pm

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I was quite taken by the vines up and down these trees trees.

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Reply #265 - Jul 12^th, 2025 at 6:39pm

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Due to my fear of heights I really did struggle with it but there is a tower you can climb at the end of the skywalk.

I got to the top and had to sit down with shaky legs but pushed myself to take a few photos and the video.

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Reply #266 - Jul 12^th, 2025 at 6:43pm

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Following the skywalk and tower climb we found a dairy and cafe at Mungalli and had a Devonshire tea to build up energy.

Sadly I forgot to take a photo before we ate the scones with jam and cream.

I might have got some funny looks when after I drank the tea I drank the milk straight from the jug. Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #267 - Jul 12^th, 2025 at 6:45pm

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Late afternoon we reached Milla Milla where Maggie posed with a sculpture of Millaa Moo, the reluctant cow.

Was 16 degrees in Milla Milla and freezing today.

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Reply #268 - Jul 12^th, 2025 at 6:46pm

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Had a look at the Milla Milla falls and was surprised to see this fish in the water. Only had my phone for the photo but looks like an albino eel tailed catfish.

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Reply #269 - Jul 12^th, 2025 at 6:48pm

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Pulled up at the Nucifora Tea Plantation. Was interesting to see the rows of tea plants. The roadside stall had no tea though

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Reply #270 - Jul 15^th, 2025 at 9:55am

jclures Offline
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Mourilyan Harbour has a long history, during the war it was used as a port, with submarine nets across the mouth.
A few years ago, the blasted the inlet to get larger ships into the port, and for awhile they were shipping live cattle out as well.
The last time I was at the Milla Milla falls I think I saw the cat fish there as well.
Are you going to Paronella park? They have camping there as well.

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Reply #271 - Jul 15^th, 2025 at 11:42am

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Spent last night just north of Cairns with friends from Old Junee in NSW. It is amazing who you can catch up with on the road.

Heading down to Edmonton shortly to spend a few days with Crazy Dog and his lovely wife Jan.

Had a look around Yorkey’s Knob on the north side of Cairns. Another beautiful tropical beach.

Had our monthly teleconference with our doctor this morning.

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Reply #272 - Jul 15^th, 2025 at 8:51pm

Derek Offline
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Well, we are grounded. Had the truck serviced before we left and the mechanic said the front brakes would need new pads before too long. Told him about our trip and he reckoned we would be good to go.

Around Home Hill noticed a rough sound coming from the right front brake which only got worse as we kept going.

To cut a long story short have found a brake specialist here in Cairns who is happy to work on the Fiat and after a look at it and some measurements has booked it in for next Monday.

So here we are at Edmonton a suburb of Cairns with Crazy Dog and Jan until we can get it all sorted.

Still a week in Cairns is nothing to sneeze at.

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Reply #273 - Jul 16^th, 2025 at 11:14am

TBF Offline
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I hope the rotors have not been damages.
Any feedback on how much brake pad was left.

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Reply #274 - Jul 17^th, 2025 at 7:55am

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TBF wrote on Jul 16^th, 2025 at 11:14am:

I hope the rotors have not been damages.
Any feedback on how much brake pad was left.

Aart, he took measurements and believes he can grind them and save the rotors however yes, the left has started to scrape back to metal so basically no pad left. He does have new rotors in stock if needed though.

You know the truck only has 83 thousand klm on it and I have already replaced the front rotors at about 35 thousand klm. At the time I thought it a bit weird but the Fiat mob told me it was normal.

I asked asked the guy here why and he said that a lot of European vehicles are coming out with rotors made of very soft metal.

He smiled and said it’s good for him work wise but not for the owners.

He will replace the Fiat pads with heavy duty ones and if he uses the new rotors then they will be a better steel.

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Reply #275 - Jul 17^th, 2025 at 10:18am

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If it was me, I would replace the rotors, grinding removes more material.

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Reply #276 - Jul 17^th, 2025 at 5:33pm

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jclures wrote on Jul 17^th, 2025 at 10:18am:

If it was me, I would replace the rotors, grinding removes more material.

Agreed.
Thinner rotors may tend to warp.

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Reply #277 - Jul 18^th, 2025 at 10:52am

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Derek,
Are there electric brakes on your car trailer?
The added weight might have something to do with it brake failure. Just a thought.
Muzz

Have Camp Oven will travel

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Reply #278 - Jul 18^th, 2025 at 11:30am

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Cactus wrote on Jul 18^th, 2025 at 10:52am:

Derek,
Are there electric brakes on your car trailer?
The added weight might have something to do with it brake failure. Just a thought.
Muzz

They are mechanical override brakes on the trailer. We looked at that but they seemed to be ok and working and the first set of pads was pretty well before we got the car trailer.

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Reply #279 - Jul 18^th, 2025 at 11:34am

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Yesterday we visited The Boulders. First for Maggie but I was last there in 1973. Rode my Honda 100 up from Townsville.

It is an amazing place of beauty and for most the water actually runs under the large rocks forming downward spirals and cavers under the water. Sadly too many people have died there in recent history.

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Reply #280 - Jul 18^th, 2025 at 11:35am

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Some amazing plants in the rainforest.

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Reply #281 - Jul 18^th, 2025 at 11:36am

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Having a home day today. Maggie has the washing machine going.

Tomorrow Lance is taking us to a few places up on the Tableland.

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Reply #282 - Jul 18^th, 2025 at 3:04pm

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Dangerous indeed, yet people still try their luck.

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Reply #283 - Jul 18^th, 2025 at 4:04pm

Derek Offline
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We had a play with the no knead bread baking in Lance’s Webers today. Lance cooked plain baguettes and I did the wholegrain ones.

I think we did all right overall.

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Reply #284 - Jul 18^th, 2025 at 4:54pm

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Hi Derek
Glad you had a good day. Thank you for all the photographs
to you and Lance well done with the cooking.
Enjoy your day tomorrow travelling around
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #285 - Jul 19^th, 2025 at 9:42am

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Derek wrote on Jul 18^th, 2025 at 11:35am:

Some amazing plants in the rainforest.

I think its a native begonia.

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Reply #286 - Jul 19^th, 2025 at 11:58am

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We are going to Cairns today, only to the Airport though to put our son on a flight to Tasmania for work.

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Reply #287 - Jul 20^th, 2025 at 3:41pm

Derek Offline
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Yesterday Lance and Jan took us on a tour of the Tablelands. We went up the Kurand Range to Kuranda itself, then to Mareeba, then across to Tonga, Atherton and Yungaburra then down the Gillies Highway back to Cairns. We had dinner at the Mountain View Hotel at the bottom of the Gillies Highway.

Some photos from Kuranda and the Barron Gorge. Not a lot of water going over the falls

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Reply #288 - Jul 20^th, 2025 at 3:42pm

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The Mareeba bulls are big buggers. Cheesy

Cheesy

Nah, it’s not real.

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Reply #289 - Jul 20^th, 2025 at 3:47pm

Derek Offline
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A walk around the Mareeba Heritage Museum. Quite impressed by the tobacco farming and manufacturing display.

Of course Lance and I ended up in the lockup.

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Reply #290 - Jul 20^th, 2025 at 3:50pm

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The curtain fig at Yungaburra was massive.

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Reply #291 - Jul 20^th, 2025 at 7:13pm

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Hi Derek
Looks like you all had a great day travelling around.
Thanks for the photos
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #292 - Jul 21^st, 2025 at 4:54pm

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We have new brakes on the truck. They ended up replacing the rotors.

Had a wander around Cairns Botanical Gardens this morning which was pretty interesting.

Will be leaving Cairns in the morning for Cooktown.

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Reply #293 - Jul 21^st, 2025 at 5:01pm

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That is good to hear, ignore my question in my hearing aids thread cheers.

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Reply #294 - Jul 21^st, 2025 at 5:52pm

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Hi Derek
I glad the truck is now all better and all ready to hit the road.
Safe travelling.
regards Kev Wink

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Reply #295 - Jul 22^nd, 2025 at 4:12pm

Derek Offline
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We have arrived at Cooktown.

This is actually the first major leg of our trip and we couldn’t be happier. Was nice to put my foot on the brakes without the squealing.

Have a lovely site at the Peninsular Caravan Park. There is a creek beside us and no one the other side and the trailer has it’s own little site across the road. Lovely staff here.

Drove up a long way round as we had a look at Port Douglas and Mossman then drove across the range from Mossman to Mount Molloy. Unfortunately it rained most of the way across the range and there was low cloud so no photos.

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Reply #296 - Jul 22^nd, 2025 at 5:38pm

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hello Derek
I hope you enjoy your time in Cooktown. Thanks for the
photographs Glad the truck is all OK.
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #297 - Jul 22^nd, 2025 at 5:52pm

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Long time since I was at that caravan park.

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Reply #298 - Jul 23^rd, 2025 at 8:55am

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Sitting out under the motorhome awning enjoying my first coffee of the day. Watching the activity as some folk pack up and head off to their next destination. This is life.

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Reply #299 - Jul 23^rd, 2025 at 9:03am

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In 1969 I worked for a while at what was then called Lakeland Downs. Now just called Lakeland. It is about 80 klm south of Cooktown and where the road turns off to go up to the cape. This was after we realised we weren’t going to make money catching and selling snakes and other reptiles.

I was amazed to find that all the buildings are still intact. The second photo is one side of the building where workers lived.

I have circled the door that was where my mate Pete and myself lived when we were there. Later my Dad joined us for a while.

Reliving some of my history up here.

Last photo is from a lookout to the south and overlooking Lakeland

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Reply #300 - Jul 23^rd, 2025 at 9:14am

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A pic of the Palmer River Roadhouse. It seemed a bit odd as I remembered it as a tiny little place back in the 60’s and also on the other side of the road. My memory is really off on it.

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Reply #301 - Jul 23^rd, 2025 at 2:20pm

Derek Offline
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I was left with a very odd, sad and unusual feeling this morning.

In 1969 when I was only 16 my mate Pete and I left home and headed for Cooktown. Pete was a couple of years older than me with a licence and an old Holden. Our aim was to capture snakes and other reptiles for a place called Marbuk Park at Port Macquarie in NSW. Lizards we were paid so much each and snakes so much a foot or for exceptional specimens so much each.

We did that for three months sending all sorts of snakes and lizards down to the park by air freight. It was an amazing time of my life.

We took very little with us. Basically an old open front lean-to-tent a couple of sleeping bags and some very basic cooking gear. We both had rifles as did most people back then. I remember my rifle was a 30-30 Winchester which was great for shooting pigs. For three months we camped on the banks of the Annan River just south of Cooktown beisde the old wooden Annan River Bridge.

In the photos from today I am standing where I believe our little lean to tent stood during that time. It is more overgrown these days.

We basically lived off the land eating a lot of fish from the river and game we managed to shoot. I can tell you that little wild pigs are absolutely delicious when you are hungry.

After three months and with no real money to show we ended up at Lakeland Downs as labourers. After a short time I was promoted to tractor driver. I remember being paid $1 an hour when I was labouring and $1.10 for tractor driving.

Lakeland in those days was growing a huge crop of sorghum that was moved by truck to Archer Point where they had built a wharf and loaded straight onto small coastal steamers.

Sadly my mate Peter was killed by a horse in his mid 20’s while competing in a rodeo at Williamstown in NSW.

So as you can see, many fond and sometimes not so fond memories up here for me. Quite amazing though sharing them all with Maggie as we move around up here.

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Reply #302 - Jul 23^rd, 2025 at 10:38pm

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Remember the good times mate they are the best cheers Robert

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Reply #303 - Jul 24^th, 2025 at 9:33am

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What is left of the old wooden topped Annan River bridge. It looks like a little more of it goes with every wet season.

Caught many a fish off here both by line and spear back in 1969. Were many crocs there and I understand someone was taken from the boat ramp you can see in the first photo last year.

Maggie managed to salvage a piece of timber off it as a memento.

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Reply #304 - Jul 24^th, 2025 at 9:37am

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Finch Bay, just down behind the caravan park

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Reply #305 - Jul 24^th, 2025 at 9:39am

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Quarantine Bay, just south of Cooktown.

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Reply #306 - Jul 24^th, 2025 at 9:41am

Derek Offline
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Maggie desperately wants to see a crocodile in the wild. We could be getting close as the sign says one was seen in the last 7 days. Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #307 - Jul 24^th, 2025 at 12:51pm

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I've driven the old timber bridge a few times. It's a wild ride.

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Reply #308 - Jul 24^th, 2025 at 1:45pm

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Went out to Black Mountain today.

There are many legends about the mountain. It is as though a giant tip truck upended a huge pile of rocks. Some of them are as big as houses. This has created a labyrinth of openings and tunnels.

The legends are along the lines of people and horses disappearing if they went to close and in one instance a whole herd of cattle disappearing into it but I expect that was started by cattle rustlers. Grin

Grin

It is also home to the mighty Amethystine Python or more commonly known as the scrub python. The largest ever found being 32 feet long.

Those legends to a couple of young blokes like Pete and myself who back then had no fear of pretty well anything was a challenge so we decided to climb it.

We soon found out it was pretty well hopeless but we did get up about a third of the way.

The bonus was us catching a python that was 23 feet long just nearby. That’s around 7 metres. The dumb things we did. Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #309 - Jul 24^th, 2025 at 4:27pm

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Hi Derek
Thank you for the great stories and photographs
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #310 - Jul 25^th, 2025 at 6:20pm

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I took the video standing on top of what Captain Cook named Grassy Hill, albeit the grass has gone and the trees and shrubs are thriving, and most likely about where he stood.

From here he surveyed the horizon looking for a safe passage out of the Barrier Reef that he hit on the way in. He decided to go north.

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Reply #311 - Jul 25^th, 2025 at 6:26pm

Derek Offline
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A short walk around the Cooktown waterfront. Cook’s monument is near where it is believed he beached the Endeavour for repairs after hitting the reek.

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Reply #312 - Jul 27^th, 2025 at 11:00am

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We wondered if the lil Jaffa car would get us out to Archer Point but here it is parked up amongst all the four wheel drives and again alongside the lighthouse. Cheesy

Cheesy

The creek crossings and corrugations weren’t all that bad. Roll Eyes

Roll Eyes

Took this video from beside the lighthouse.

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Reply #313 - Jul 27^th, 2025 at 11:04am

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They say that it is not a trip to Cooktown unless you go to the Lions Den Hotel at Rossville.

Was a little disappointed as it wasn’t a lot like I remember and while I know things change it should have been expected was a bit sad. Not only that it was devastated by a flood some years back.

From memory the mango trees either side of that entry were only about as high as the entry is now. It was far, far smaller. The large python skin that was nailed to the wall behind the bas is gone.

The back verandah where we used to sit and shoot wild pigs after mangoes isn’t even there.

They had a small museum and in it was a newspaper clipping. Not sure how old it is but was about the oldest living person in the area. Bloke by the name of Ritchie Hatfield.

Met Ritchie and his two brothers, George and Charlie back in 1969. They were local tin miners. Ritchie had a brand new Mini Moke that Pete talked him into lending us. We rocked around in it for several weeks.

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Reply #314 - Jul 27^th, 2025 at 11:08am

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Some photos of Annan Gorge. This is the upper area of the Annan River at Cooktown and also runs in behind the Lions Den Pub

One thing I like seeing as we get around, particularly places I have been before, is where the old dirt roads used to go. In the last photo Maggie standing on a slab of concrete that is most likely where the old road crossed just above the Gorge before the concrete bridge was built.

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Reply #315 - Jul 27^th, 2025 at 11:14am

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Further random photos from Archer Point. Second one shows the campgrounds. Fourth one is the remains of the old jetty that Lakeland Downs used for sorghum.

Archer Point is one of the few places along the coast where the Barrier Reef actually touches the mainland.

All of those humps you can see along the shore are old coral.

Back when Pete and I were here on the very southern part on the zero low tides we used to walk out on the coral collecting the most beautiful cowrie, cone and spider shells. Of course it was legal to do so back then.

Maggie and I didn’t see any but someone was taken by a croc from here several years ago.

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Reply #316 - Jul 27^th, 2025 at 4:58pm

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good evening Derek
Look like you and Maggie are having a good look around
thank you for the great photographs.
Take care
Regards Kev.

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Reply #317 - Jul 27^th, 2025 at 6:44pm

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What an afternoon it turned out to be.

When I was up here years ago Pete and I were tasked with finding some long necked turtles. Through talking to some locals we were told of a lagoon north over the other side of the Endeavour River on the way to Hopevale.

We headed out there and with nothing other than our snorkels and goggles went diving in this lagoon. We certainly did find and capture a number of long necked turtles.

However back in Cooktown we were told we were mad as the lagoon was full of crocodiles.

Today Maggie went for a drive with no intention of even looking for a lagoon and accidentally came across it. It is exactly how I remember it.

Amazing birdlife on and around it.

Going around telling Maggie what we got up to here she keeps saying it is a wonder I am still alive. 😂😂😂

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Reply #318 - Jul 27^th, 2025 at 6:46pm

Derek Offline
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Heard there was now a hanging footbridge across the Endeavor River heading north where the old road bridge used to be.

After a few dead end roads we found it. Amazing old thing.

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Reply #319 - Jul 27^th, 2025 at 6:48pm

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After four trips 😳 up and down to Grassy Hill we eventually found the old Kangaroo statue.

Unfortunately locals have taken a little bit of license over the wording as Cook in 1770 wasn’t the first European to sight a Kangaroo. The first was in 1629 by Dutch navigator François Pelsaert.

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Reply #320 - Jul 27^th, 2025 at 6:49pm

Derek Offline
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Fish and chips on the waterfront and a Cooktown sunset To finish off a great day

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Reply #321 - Jul 27^th, 2025 at 6:52pm

Derek Offline
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Kevvie wrote on Jul 27^th, 2025 at 4:58pm:

good evening Derek
Look like you and Maggie are having a good look around
thank you for the great photographs.
Take care
Regards Kev.

Thanks Kev. Been just about a life long dream of mine to revisit all of this up here the way we have just done. That is why we ended up booking a whole week here. Cheers.

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Reply #322 - Jul 27^th, 2025 at 7:18pm

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Hi Derek
That is a great view to finish off your busy time in Cooktown
hope you enjoy the meal YUM
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #323 - Jul 28^th, 2025 at 2:10pm

Derek Offline
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We were going to visit the Cooktown Museum for our last day here. Drove up before and a sign up saying closed due to staff illness.

Disappointed!!!

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Reply #324 - Jul 28^th, 2025 at 3:12pm

Derek Offline
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Bought a new stubby holder, although in my case a soft drink holder.

If you have a look things are different here in the north.

It’s all about beef steak, guns, ammo and beer. Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

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Reply #325 - Jul 28^th, 2025 at 5:33pm

Derek Offline
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The awning is up and all packed away ready for departure from Cooktown tomorrow morning.

As I have said before this was a lifetime dream to get back here and revisit places from my past.

We do believe we will be back here one day though.

Heading down through the Tablelands tomorrow and then across up to the Gulf. Will be catching up with John and Bonnie along the way.

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Reply #326 - Jul 28^th, 2025 at 5:59pm

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Hi Derek
Some interesting things you did in Cooktown
Have fun with your trip tomorrow and enjoy visiting John and Bonnie
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #327 - Jul 28^th, 2025 at 10:57pm

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Derek said "Will be catching up with John and Bonnie along the way"
When Sharron and I called in there a few years ago John was welding up the frame for his new camper.

Can't Get Full On Fancy

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Reply #328 - Jul 30^th, 2025 at 4:10pm

Derek Offline
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No Internet last night but stopped at Archer Creek Rest Area on the Kennedy Highway.

Nice free camp. Has a toilet block and rubbish bins.

Caught up with John and Bonnie for lunch. Our timing clashed with appointments they had in Cairns so just a short stop.

Did a shop at the big IGA at Atherton

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Reply #329 - Jul 30^th, 2025 at 4:12pm

Derek Offline
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A big couple of days really.

Tonight we are at the Freedom Camp at Croydon. Our progress so far on the map. More kilometres today than usual but 30 degrees so we just kept driving in the aircon.

Very dry out this way.

This is a big open donation park. Give what you think it’s worth but you get a receipt for your donation.

There is a tap for water if you need it to fill up. There are amenities in the Rodeo Ground next door with showers and toilets. Dump Point in town. Lots here and a constant stream coming in

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Reply #330 - Jul 30^th, 2025 at 4:53pm

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Hi Derek
Getting a move along now. Thanks for the photos and the map It looks fairly dry
Regards Kev

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Reply #331 - Jul 30^th, 2025 at 5:13pm

Derek Offline
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This is the Gilbert River. One of the many amazing rivers and creeks we crossed today.

As dry as it is up here, many still have a reasonable flow of water.

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Reply #332 - Jul 30^th, 2025 at 5:16pm

Derek Offline
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Pulled in to have a look at the Cumberland Mine site. Also a great off grid camping ground there. The mine closed in 1897 but the chimney from the old smelter is still standing.

Nice lagoon beside it that I didn’t get a photo of.

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Reply #333 - Jul 31^st, 2025 at 1:54pm

Derek Offline
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We have arrived at Normanton and have set up camp in the RV Camp on the banks of the Norman River. Last two pics from our awning.

Yes, this is a crocodile infested river so we will be careful. 😃

This is a free camp however you have to apply for a permit online. It is a self contained camp with no waste water allowed to be let go. We have two nights permit.

Will be off to tour the town area later.

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Reply #334 - Jul 31^st, 2025 at 4:22pm

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hi Derek
Thanks for the photos No Skinny Dipping Grin

Grin

Grin

Shocked

Shocked

Grin

regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #335 - Jul 31^st, 2025 at 8:41pm

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Cumberland chimney is a top spot for bird watching.
I heard a new toilet block was built there.

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Reply #336 - Aug 1^st, 2025 at 3:14pm

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TBF wrote on Jul 31^st, 2025 at 8:41pm:

Cumberland chimney is a top spot for bird watching.
I heard a new toilet block was built there.

Mate I reckon of you had the time could spend some days there. It is also a habitat for the Gouldian Finch, another I am yet to see in the wild.

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Reply #337 - Aug 1^st, 2025 at 3:16pm

Derek Offline
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The infamous Purple Pub of Normanton.

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Reply #338 - Aug 1^st, 2025 at 3:18pm

Derek Offline
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This might be as close as Maggie will ever get to a croc. Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #339 - Aug 1^st, 2025 at 3:21pm

Derek Offline
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I found this place extremely interesting as I recall learning of Burns Philp during Social Studies in primary school.

The old building is well preserved and now houses the council library and Information Centre.

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Reply #340 - Aug 1^st, 2025 at 3:23pm

Derek Offline
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A night shot from under the awning across the river. The big light reflection is coming from the wharf and the others Normanton itself.

Quite happy with that.

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Reply #341 - Aug 1^st, 2025 at 3:24pm

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Stage two of our trip completed today. Karumbam looking out over the Gulf of Carpentaria.

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Reply #342 - Aug 1^st, 2025 at 3:29pm

Derek Offline
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Some pics from Karumba.

Karumba is a very old place and it looks like everything ever taken up there is still there. Every second back yard is a junk yard. Old cars, old boats, old trucks, old machinery you name it.

A lot of shops and business no longer operating but the buildings still there.

In saying that can see the council is putting a lot of effort into it.

Here are some pics

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Reply #343 - Aug 1^st, 2025 at 3:31pm

Derek Offline
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Finally got Maggie out in a boat where we both caught the same size Barra. Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

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Reply #344 - Aug 1^st, 2025 at 3:34pm

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Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Like to see them cooked in the Weber tonight.
Photos please.

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Reply #345 - Aug 1^st, 2025 at 3:48pm

Derek Offline
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Checked the stats on the truck.

So far since leaving home we have travelled 3660 kilometres and it has been averaging 13.1 litres to the 100 kilometres.

Doing well.

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Reply #346 - Aug 1^st, 2025 at 6:07pm

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Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos. Did you get and fish and chips
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #347 - Aug 1^st, 2025 at 7:22pm

Derek Offline
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Kev, made the mistake of having a big breakfast, then didn’t want anything all day so wasn’t hungry.

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Reply #348 - Aug 1^st, 2025 at 8:41pm

Derek Offline
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The old town wharf in Normanton has quite a bit of history although it is a bit wonky these days.

We are camped on the other side of the river from it and last photo shows our motorhome.

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Reply #349 - Aug 2^nd, 2025 at 7:54am

Derek Offline
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Our neighbors found this in front of their camp.

It says: “CROC sighted here 28/7/25 about 6 metres off the bank in the river.”

Looks like we are a week too late again.

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Reply #350 - Aug 2^nd, 2025 at 9:14am

Kevvie Offline
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FURTHER OFF THE BANK THE BETTER Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Shocked

Shocked

Kev

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Reply #351 - Aug 2^nd, 2025 at 4:29pm

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Tonights camp.

Every now and then you come across a gem of a place to pull in for the night.

This is Terry Smith Lookout, a roadside rest area that is free to camp.

It’s about 300 klm south of Normanton and 80 klm north of Cloncurry on the Burke Development Road.

It has toilets as well as a dump point. Unfortunately no water to flush the dump point so have to use your grey water.

Two large skip bins plus several wheelie bins for rubbish.

A couple of excellent shelters with tables and seating.

Plenty of room for camping as tracks have been carved out behind the bitumen.

The birdlife is impressive and being a lookout the views are amazing.

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Reply #352 - Aug 2^nd, 2025 at 5:24pm

Kevvie Offline
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hello Derek
Looks like a nice place to camp. Nice photos
Nice flat plate to pull up for the night.
take care
Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #353 - Aug 3^rd, 2025 at 1:50pm

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We have arrived at Mary Kathleen ghost town. A few pics of us and around us. Will do a full expose later.

Here for a couple of nights.

We are parked on a concrete slab which would have been the garage of a house. Most of the slabs are still here.

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Reply #354 - Aug 3^rd, 2025 at 3:38pm

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I've driven in, but never camped there.
You can fit 500 caravans without being too close to another van.

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Reply #355 - Aug 3^rd, 2025 at 4:04pm

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The town of Mary Kathleen was built for the uranium mine workers but is now long gone however the bitumen streets remain as does a lot of concrete on the ground to show where buildings and structures were.

The houses were mostly trucked in and sat on stumps but the garages all had a concrete floor. The motorhome is on a garage slab, the trailer is on the concrete driveway and I am standing on the bitumen road.

There is an amazing amount of history here.

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Reply #356 - Aug 3^rd, 2025 at 6:14pm

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hello Derek
Your camping spot looks pretty good and at least level
and plenty of room for everyone.
regards Kev

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Reply #357 - Aug 3^rd, 2025 at 8:08pm

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Corned beef in an oven bag in the Weber. I gave it a liberal rub with brown sugar and it caramelised beautifully even made white sauce. Roll Eyes

Roll Eyes

Was delicious.

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Reply #358 - Aug 3^rd, 2025 at 8:22pm

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An interesting old film reel on Mary Kathleen.

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Reply #359 - Aug 3^rd, 2025 at 8:45pm

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Hi Derek
Your meal looks YUM
Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #360 - Aug 3^rd, 2025 at 10:45pm

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Interesting film, thankyou. We were there some years back & we’re very fortunate to meet a fellow who had worked there, he was very interesting to listen to.

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Reply #361 - Aug 4^th, 2025 at 7:42pm

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Internet is very poor and not letting me upload photos so will catch up in a day or so.

Heading for the Camooweal Billabong tomorrow.

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Reply #362 - Aug 5^th, 2025 at 1:35pm

Derek Offline
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Took the video standing in the middle of what was the Town Square.

Next post has images.

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Reply #363 - Aug 5^th, 2025 at 1:39pm

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Images from around the Town Square. The first ones are from the internet showing what it would be like.

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Reply #364 - Aug 5^th, 2025 at 1:42pm

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The plaque is still there. Interesting Bob Menzies was involved.

First image is what it was like when it had a pool and fountains.

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Reply #365 - Aug 5^th, 2025 at 1:44pm

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Maggie standing in what was the town swimming pool and a couple of what it looked like.

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Reply #366 - Aug 5^th, 2025 at 1:47pm

Derek Offline
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The school. In the background are tennis and netball courts and beside it the school oval complete with concrete cricket pitch.

The guy with the caravan nearly ran me over then stopped right in front as I was taking the photo. Roll Eyes

Roll Eyes

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Reply #367 - Aug 5^th, 2025 at 1:50pm

Derek Offline
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Found a pic of the Catholic Church on the Internet as well.

Last pic is the base of the remains of the bell tower.

Note in typical Catholic placement it was on the tallest hill overlooking the town.

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Reply #368 - Aug 5^th, 2025 at 1:52pm

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The Church of England with the path from the Town Square leading up to it. We gave this the Path To Redemption.

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Reply #369 - Aug 5^th, 2025 at 1:55pm

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We took a selfie as that is what you do these days. Grin

Grin

Grin

The gum trees, while not huge like some, were still very impressive. Maggie gave this one a hug.

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Reply #370 - Aug 5^th, 2025 at 1:59pm

Derek Offline
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These are old photos from the internet of just a small area of the housing however it looks like where we were camped.

All that are left are the garage concrete slabs and some driveways.

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Reply #371 - Aug 5^th, 2025 at 2:02pm

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We have moved on and are now at the Camooweal Billabong.

This is a free camp a couple of kilometres from Camooweal town. There are no facilities in the camp but water and a dump point in town itself. It is along the banks of the billabong itself.

Sadly Camooweal like most country towns has shrunk significantly. The only things open appeared to be the pub and the Service station that is also the general store.

We are about 12 kilometres from the Northern Territory Border.

The question now is that being so nice do we stay one or two nights. 😀

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Reply #372 - Aug 5^th, 2025 at 2:35pm

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Stay two mate and relax. If you have gerry cans or carry enough fuel to get to Tennant creek fill up there. Will save a lot not purchasing at Barkley or Three ways. Has been my experience over the years.

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Reply #373 - Aug 5^th, 2025 at 2:55pm

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Some raw footage of some of the birds out in front of the motorhome.

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Reply #374 - Aug 5^th, 2025 at 4:46pm

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Hi Derek
Thank you very much for all of the photos.
I see you have some other people camping near you.
have a great evening
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #375 - Aug 5^th, 2025 at 6:41pm

Derek Offline
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Bear wrote on Aug 5^th, 2025 at 2:35pm:

Stay two mate and relax. If you have gerry cans or carry enough fuel to get to Tennant creek fill up there. Will save a lot not purchasing at Barkley or Three ways. Has been my experience over the years.

Executive decision made. If I was any more relaxed I would be asleep. One night here as we want to get to Darwin.

Still not sure where we might stay yet.

Thanks for tips on fuel.

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Reply #376 - Aug 6^th, 2025 at 8:29am

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Looks like everywhere I am likely to stay tonight may not have any Telstra service so could be quiet tonight. Will catch up when we can.

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Reply #377 - Aug 7^th, 2025 at 7:53am

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We camped at the Camooweal Billabong a few years ago, a little mow water now than we had then.

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Reply #378 - Aug 7^th, 2025 at 7:55am

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On dusk the wild cats came out, some were in the big bird nests up in the trees.

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Reply #379 - Aug 7^th, 2025 at 3:35pm

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jclures wrote on Aug 7^th, 2025 at 7:55am:

On dusk the wild cats came out, some were in the big bird nests up in the trees.

Didn’t see a cat there John but plenty on the Burke Development Road and I reckon if we see that many on the road there must be a huge number off in the scrub.

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Reply #380 - Aug 7^th, 2025 at 3:39pm

Derek Offline
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Crossed the border into the Territory yesterday then had a good run across the Barkly Highway. Was 22 to 27 degrees with a light tail wind.

Stopped at Barkly Homestead for a break and ended up topping up fuel as it was only $2.20 a litre.

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Reply #381 - Aug 7^th, 2025 at 3:41pm

Derek Offline
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Last night was the Attack Creek Roadside Rest Area about 30 klm north of Three Ways on the Stuart Highway.

Nice camp with a toilet and rubbish bins. Also wood BBQ’s and shelter sheds. A lot of people there overnight

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Reply #382 - Aug 7^th, 2025 at 3:53pm

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Tonight we are at the old Gorrie World War 2 airstrip near Larrima on the Stuart Highway.

This is off significance to me as my old mate Merve was posted here during the Second World War a sone of 6000 RAAF personnel and was in fact here during the bombing of Darwin before being sent across to New Guinea. He later ended up in Japan with the occupational troops.

Nothing here left that I can see apart from the airstrip which we are camped on but will have a look later after it cools down, if it does. Currently 33 degrees however humidity is low at 17%.

I am sitting out under the awning having a nice cup of tea. 😀

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Reply #383 - Aug 7^th, 2025 at 4:42pm

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Hello Derek
Thanks you for all the photos. Do you think you will see any plane landing while you are there. Barkly house stead looks like a great welcoming sight when travelling through that area.
Kev

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Reply #384 - Aug 7^th, 2025 at 5:11pm

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I reckon it has been many years since a plane landed here Kev

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Reply #385 - Aug 7^th, 2025 at 5:16pm

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be funny if a RAAF plane popped out of the sky Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

for one of your muffins
Kev

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Reply #386 - Aug 7^th, 2025 at 5:16pm

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Have just done the math and we will be in Darwin on Saturday afternoon. Booked into the Coolalinga Caravan Park for 7 nights minimum so far.

On another point that will be 11 straight nights where we have free camped. Have always found water and a dump point. The solar and 12 volt power system has been terrific. Saved a few dollars as well.

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Reply #387 - Aug 7^th, 2025 at 5:18pm

Derek Offline
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Kevvie wrote on Aug 7^th, 2025 at 5:16pm:

be funny if a RAAF plane popped out of the sky Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Kev

One of those big Chinook helicopters would be good. Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

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Reply #388 - Aug 7^th, 2025 at 5:44pm

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We've stayed at Coolalinga.
It's a good park.
Bit of a drive to town.
Shopping Village across the road.

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Reply #389 - Aug 7^th, 2025 at 6:09pm

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When I lived up there I was at Palmerston which is just up the road so know the area well. Only 25 minutes or so to the city.

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Reply #390 - Aug 8^th, 2025 at 4:29pm

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Maggie got to see her first Territory buffalo near Pine Creek.

A big bull with a nice set of horns. He was beside the road but took off when I pulled over then stopped for a second look. Big mistake on his part.

Photo is through the window with my phone scoped right out so a bit grainy.

You can see he is outside a fence although as big as he is I doubt fences mean much to him.

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Reply #391 - Aug 8^th, 2025 at 4:32pm

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Well tonight’s camp was a bit of a failure.

We initially stopped at a roadside camp but it was 33 degrees with a warm breeze. Maggie was struggling so we took off and kept driving in the aircon.

Got to Adelaide River and saw the sign for Showground camping. Pulled in and only $32 a night for power and water. So here we are inside comfortable with the aircon going.

They let me park along the fence so didn’t have to take the trailer off.

So tomorrow only about 90 klm to go to Darwin.

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Reply #392 - Aug 8^th, 2025 at 4:35pm

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We topped the water up today at Katherine at a pay station. Cost we $1 for about 70 litres if water. Roll Eyes

Roll Eyes

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Reply #393 - Aug 8^th, 2025 at 5:20pm

Derek Offline
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You know, you hit the Territory and in no time see those big signs saying 130 KPH speed limit. Fantastic.

But I am old so don’t want to go that fast and the motorhome rumbles along nicely at 110 KPH.

The roads are good and straight and you soon settle into a relaxed time with cruise control looking after things.

All of a sudden you see in the distance a white blob. It seems you are coming up on it fast. The blob turns into a square and you realise it is the rear end of a grey nomad caravan and he is dawdling along at around 85 KPH.

All good, will just cruise past him and wave as we go.

As you get closer you realise it is not just one grey nomad but one, two, three, four, five. And they are all sitting in convoy about 30 metres apart.

Now you have a dilemma. They are too close to take them one at a time without being able to pull in if necessary and a lot longer than a road train.

Frustration starts to build but inside a little voice says, “Don’t do it”.

Yep, amd that is when you pull over into a rest area and have a cuppa and let them go. Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

True story.

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Reply #394 - Aug 8^th, 2025 at 7:42pm

Kevvie Offline
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Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos. and other information about your trip.
I hope you have nice time in Darwin
Take care
Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #395 - Aug 9^th, 2025 at 4:28pm

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Derek wrote on Aug 8^th, 2025 at 4:35pm:

We topped the water up today at Katherine at a pay station. Cost we $1 for about 70 litres if water. Roll Eyes

Roll Eyes

Those pay stations are becoming popular in regional and rural areas

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Reply #396 - Aug 9^th, 2025 at 4:38pm

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We have arrived in Darwin. Home for the next seven nights is the Coolalinga Caravan Park. We have a nice large grassy site to just fit everything on.

Already been shopping and restocked the pantry.

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Reply #397 - Aug 9^th, 2025 at 4:43pm

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TBF wrote on Aug 9^th, 2025 at 4:28pm:

Those pay stations are becoming popular in regional and rural areas

I reckon every town should have one. From memory your first dollar will get 330 litres if you want it.

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Reply #398 - Aug 9^th, 2025 at 6:10pm

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HI Derek
Thanks for the photo, looks a nice park and close to the city
and having a stocked pantry. Next off the do some tourist things
Have fun
Kev

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Reply #399 - Aug 9^th, 2025 at 7:16pm

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Kevvie wrote on Aug 9^th, 2025 at 6:10pm:

HI Derek
Thanks for the photo, looks a nice park and close to the city
and having a stocked pantry. Next off the do some tourist things
Have fun
Kev

Kev, been sitting here the last hour looking at the online menus for seafood restaurants. Be nice to have a night away from my own cooking. Wink

Wink

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Reply #400 - Aug 9^th, 2025 at 7:32pm

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and having seafood is a nice meal to eat whilst eating out
Kev

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Reply #401 - Aug 10^th, 2025 at 8:55am

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After Kakadu the big decision is where to now.

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Reply #402 - Aug 10^th, 2025 at 8:31pm

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Today was a visit the sites day. All new for Maggie and me revisiting places. Darwin has changed so much in 15 years.

Finished the day with a visit to the Mindil Markets. Sat on the beach watching the sunset while munching on some dinner.

Markets have never really impressed me and this one was no different.

A lot of people there though.

Couldn’t convince Maggie to try a camel ride. 😂

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Reply #403 - Aug 11^th, 2025 at 3:29pm

Derek Offline
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We all know that you should lock up your valuables when staying in caravan parks but your undies . . . . . . . . . . .

Maggie is missing about six pairs of undies and we believe it would have been at Cooktown.

They would have been hanging up after being washed ‘UNDER THE AWNING’ while we were away some where.

Maggie said, “Who on earth would want my big beige granny pants”. 🤣

Looks like we are undie shopping today. 🙄

For us it isn’t the end of the world and are still laughing about it. Could have been worse I guess, they could have taken the Weber. 😂

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Reply #404 - Aug 11^th, 2025 at 4:40pm

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hi Derek
Thanks for the photos. Lots of people on the beach.
Hope you enjoyed the shopping for Maggie's new under garments.
Regards Kev

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Reply #405 - Aug 11^th, 2025 at 7:38pm

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The sign in the first photo isn’t there for nothing.

Promised Maggie she would see a crocodile while we were up here in the Territory but didn’t expect this.

We took a drive out to Fogg Dam to see the birdlife and did see a croc in the distance from the bird observation tower. Maybe 200 to 300 metres away.

Then on the way driving home Maggie said, “Wouldn’t it be great if one crawled out on the road in front of us”.

No sooner said and it happened.

We were able to drive right up close as it ignored us. It looked to be around 2.5 metres long. The last photo with the car mirror shows how close it was. Photos are best if you look on a big screen.

One happy Maggie.

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Reply #406 - Aug 11^th, 2025 at 9:10pm

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Hi Derek
Thank you for the photos of the wildlife. They even smile so they can be photographed. Shocked

Shocked

Have a great tomorrow
Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #407 - Aug 12^th, 2025 at 11:21am

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Kevvie wrote on Aug 11^th, 2025 at 9:10pm:

They even smile so they can be photographed.

I think I actually heard it whisper, “Get out of the car and come a little closer”. 🤣🤣

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Reply #408 - Aug 12^th, 2025 at 11:23am

Derek Offline
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Had our monthly teleconference with our doctor this morning. All is well although the time difference was confusing for a while. Grin

Grin

New tyres on the little Suzuki this afternoon. Something I should have done really before we left home.

Other than that a quiet day around camp.

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Reply #409 - Aug 12^th, 2025 at 11:47am

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Still toying with ideas but this looks like being the rest of our trip to home.

The west will have to wait for another day.

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Reply #410 - Aug 12^th, 2025 at 12:14pm

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Good day Derek
Yes new tyres for the Suzuki you will be able to get away from the crocs quickly at your next encounter Grin

Grin

Grin

good luck with the travel plan
have a good afternoon
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #411 - Aug 12^th, 2025 at 6:17pm

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A nice Creamy Garlic Prawn Pasta with garlic breads for dinner.

Made the garlic breads by splitting my homemade muffins in half, smothering them in garlic butter and then sizzling in the campmaster gas cooker on high.

It was all very devine.

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Reply #412 - Aug 12^th, 2025 at 6:37pm

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Spend a few days in the Flinders will be good for you. Molly is still crook so I am heading up tomor4ow for four nights at Stoney Creek Bush Camp near Wilmington.

Let you know what it is like. Cheers

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Reply #413 - Aug 12^th, 2025 at 6:46pm

Derek Offline
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If we follow that route then we go through Wilmington. You staying at one of the caravan parks? Cannot see any free camps near there.

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Reply #414 - Aug 12^th, 2025 at 7:21pm

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Worked it out. Stoney Creek is listed on WikiCamps as a caravan park.

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Reply #415 - Aug 12^th, 2025 at 9:38pm

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Hello Derek
Hope you had a good day.
Thanks for the photos of that great looking meal YUM
Have a great day tomorrow.
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #416 - Aug 13^th, 2025 at 9:08pm

Derek Offline
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Dinner date tonight at Seafood on Cullen. A seafood buffet overlooking Darwin Harbour.

Was better than expected

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Reply #417 - Aug 13^th, 2025 at 9:25pm

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Hello Derek
I glad you that a great evening and a nice meal.
Thank you for the photographs.
We hear from you tomorrow.
regards Kev

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Reply #418 - Aug 14^th, 2025 at 10:27am

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As you know we are currently at the Coolalinga Caravan Park.

Before we left and as we were travelling people said we needed to book as it is the high season and everything is booked out. We never book anywhere until osoally. Couple of days beforehand as we never really know where we will be and we didn’t here either.

These photos are of one end of the park and as you can see plenty of vacancies both powered and unpowered sites.

Not sure if it is a quiet season or not but not many here at present.

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Reply #419 - Aug 14^th, 2025 at 7:48pm

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A herd of buffalo out on the wetland. Seems numbers are increasing up here.

These were a good kilometre away so my camera was really stretched out.

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Reply #420 - Aug 14^th, 2025 at 7:50pm

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Another crocodile we saw out in the wetlands. This one was a couple of hundred metres away. Looked to be about 2.5 metres long.

Maggie was surprised at the colouring on them.

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Reply #421 - Aug 14^th, 2025 at 7:52pm

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Fish and chips out on Stokes Hill Wharf for dinner. Was a very pleasant evening.

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Reply #422 - Aug 15^th, 2025 at 8:40pm

Derek Offline
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All packed and organised ready to depart Darwin tomorrow.

Next stop Kakadu. Will be staying in Jabiru at a caravan park. Have purchased our National Park Passes. Did a big shop this afternoon as heading south from Jabiru.

Darwin has been fabulous. While the afternoons have been a little warm the mornings and evenings have been beautiful. We have seen and done all that we intended and more and Maggie getting to see the two wild crocodiles really topped it off.

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Reply #423 - Aug 16^th, 2025 at 5:44am

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HI Derek
Thanks for the photos. Glad you had a had a good time in Darwin and you can enjoy what is ahead
Take care
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #424 - Aug 16^th, 2025 at 1:57pm

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We are at the Aurora Kakadu Lodge Caravan Park, Jabiru. Nice big park with hardly anyone here. Have included a photo of the park outline. It is all circular. Over 180 powered sites and only about a quarter full at present.

Premium price at $62 a night.

Very dry and dusty up here.

High tide at Cahill Crossing at 3.30 so heading out there shortly to see the crocodiles.

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Reply #425 - Aug 16^th, 2025 at 2:32pm

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Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos. It looks like a nice park. Make sure you do not bring home and strange passengers in the car.
regards Kev.

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Reply #426 - Aug 16^th, 2025 at 6:42pm

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Sad this afternoon to see Jabiru turning into a ghost town. Most of the town square abandoned and fenced off. Heaps and heaps of houses empty. The old FIFO Villages abandoned.

Kind of reminded me of Mary Kathleen and I wonder if someday this place will also be torn down and abandoned.

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Reply #427 - Aug 16^th, 2025 at 7:23pm

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We caught high tide at Cahills Crossing today to see if the crocs were active. We were not disappointed. At one stage Maggie counted 19 of the big buggers.

They hang around the crossing at high tide grabbing fish coming over it.

A woman on the WikiCamps App said her family saw more crocs here than on the $450 tour they went on.

I took dozens of photos and these are just a few.

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Reply #428 - Aug 16^th, 2025 at 8:36pm

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When we were at Cahills Crossing there were two blokes fishing right at the waters edge. Totally oblivious to the dozen or so crocs lurking just metres away.

Maybe they were locals with an understanding of things or maybe just numbnuts.

They did catch a big catfish though. Grin

Grin

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Reply #429 - Aug 17^th, 2025 at 9:14am

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Numbats mate

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Reply #430 - Aug 17^th, 2025 at 10:28am

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Hi Derek
are you going hunting crocs on FILM today
Kev

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Reply #431 - Aug 17^th, 2025 at 4:26pm

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This is Bandangalang Billabong in Kakadu. There can be both crocs and buffalo here but none sighted today.

The time we spent there I estimate I identified around 30 species of birds, mostly water birds.

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Reply #432 - Aug 17^th, 2025 at 4:27pm

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Kevvie wrote on Aug 17^th, 2025 at 10:28am:

Hi Derek
are you going hunting crocs on FILM today
Kev

None today Kev.

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Reply #433 - Aug 17^th, 2025 at 4:34pm

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I am 73 in three weeks or so and reckon I went well to walk the ups and downs of the escarpment as well as the lookout at Burrungkuy (Nourlangie Rock).

My bones will feel it later but I am going to invest in a proper walking pole

A lot of Aboriginal Art as well as caves and crevices. Here are just some of them.

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Reply #434 - Aug 17^th, 2025 at 4:36pm

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When we first looked at coming to Jabiru I was told you cannot book a site in the caravan park, just turn up.

We did and the guy in the office said they don’t allocate a site, just drive around and pick on.

I did however see this sign which gave me a chuckle.

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Reply #435 - Aug 18^th, 2025 at 6:52pm

Derek Offline
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Today we started our trek south and are currently at the Alexander Forrest Roadside Rest Area about 40 klm south of Larrima on the Stuart Highway.

Our major stops south will be Alice Springs, Uluru and Coober Pedy.

Will post up pics of tonights camp tomorrow as very little internet here.

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Reply #436 - Aug 18^th, 2025 at 7:55pm

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HI Derek
Great to hear from you even in a remote location.
Take care of each other and enjoy your trip.
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #437 - Aug 18^th, 2025 at 8:43pm

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Pulled up for a break south of Jabiru this morning and spied this old part buffalo skull in a tree. Stank like crazy it did so it’s still there. Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

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Reply #438 - Aug 20^th, 2025 at 6:40pm

Derek Offline
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Last night stopped at Bonney Well Rest Area about 50 klm south of Tennant Creek.

Nice big roadside rest area but no internet. I did have satellite texting through Telstra.

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Reply #439 - Aug 20^th, 2025 at 6:41pm

Derek Offline
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Tonight we are at the Alice Springs Showground. A nice big grass site with power and water alongside the amenities building.

Last three days we travelled a total 1490 kilometres.

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Reply #440 - Aug 20^th, 2025 at 6:51pm

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When we did our trip up to Darwin we camped at Bonney Well. We thought it was OK.

Can't Get Full On Fancy

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Reply #441 - Aug 20^th, 2025 at 8:12pm

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Red is the progress on our trip so far.

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Reply #442 - Aug 20^th, 2025 at 8:13pm

Derek Offline
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shackles wrote on Aug 20^th, 2025 at 6:51pm:

When we did our trip up to Darwin we camped at Bonney Well. We thought it was OK.

We are finding a lot of nice roadside rest areas up here.

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Reply #443 - Aug 20^th, 2025 at 9:10pm

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Hello Derek
Thank you for the photos. Yes they look like very nice places
to stay Some big ks you are travelling it show we live in a
big country.
Thanks for sharing your journey.
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #444 - Aug 20^th, 2025 at 9:47pm

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We always stay in rest areas or of the track a bit no problems. Cheers

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Reply #445 - Aug 21^st, 2025 at 10:49am

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Just looking at the costs to go see Uluru.

$85 a night in the park plus $76 for a three day National Park pass. Shocked

Shocked

Shocked

Shocked

Shocked

Not sure that fits with our budget. Might have to rely on internet photos.

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Reply #446 - Aug 21^st, 2025 at 7:31pm

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Hi Derek
Hope you are having fun in the Alice. It would be a bit of a shock with the prices they would charge. Cheesy

Cheesy

Grin

Have a enjoyable day tomorrow. Stay warm tonight.
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #447 - Aug 21^st, 2025 at 9:12pm

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Never been ,most likely never will overrated tourist trap.

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Reply #448 - Aug 22^nd, 2025 at 8:09pm

Derek Offline
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We drove out through the West MacDonnell Ranges today. Followed Namitjiru Drive 130 klm to the Finke River and back. We didn’t do many side trips as Maggie wasn’t up to walking much.

These three videos do not really do the country justice but they give an idea of that it is like out there.

Absolutely stunning country. The colours are magic and you can feel the heart of Albert Namatjura, the painter out there

The videos were taken from roadside rest areas where you can camp for 24 hours. We were stunned to see a leather recliner lounge at one of them. Grin

Grin

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Reply #449 - Aug 22^nd, 2025 at 8:11pm

Derek Offline
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We did do one walk into Standley Chasm. An oasis in the desert.

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Reply #450 - Aug 22^nd, 2025 at 8:13pm

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Will be heading south tomorrow towards Uluru. Going to be doing some free/stealth camping along the way so may not have internet for a few days.

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Reply #451 - Aug 23^rd, 2025 at 5:32am

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Hi Derek
Enjoy the next stage of your travels
regards Kev

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Reply #452 - Aug 23^rd, 2025 at 4:39pm

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Disaster has struck and typically on a Saturday when everything is shut. Embarrassed

Embarrassed

This is one of the tyres on our trailer. She split wide open and started to go down. Noticed it at a rest area when we pulled in. Lucky it didn’t blow I guess. Time gets away and realised these are about 7 years old so not surprising.

Not only that the one on the other side has started to split open as well. Embarrassed

Embarrassed

We changed one tyre and kept going at a lower speed and hobbled into Curtin Springs Roadhouse.

We are able to free camp here so not going anywhere until Monday. Yulara is 80 klm away and has a tyre place so will take both wheels off and run them in there in the little car.

Overall we have done pretty good this trip and this is our first setback.

We are still smiling. It is nice to be like a snail and have your home on your back.

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Reply #453 - Aug 23^rd, 2025 at 5:19pm

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Very lucky mate cheers Robert

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Reply #454 - Aug 23^rd, 2025 at 6:12pm

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Hi Derek
Sorry about the tyres. you were lucky you that stopped and saw the state of tyre it is good that you to have the little Suzuki.
Take care enjoy the stop over.
regards Kev

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Reply #455 - Aug 23^rd, 2025 at 6:19pm

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So Yulara has the tyres you need?

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Reply #456 - Aug 24^th, 2025 at 11:21am

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They say things happen in multiples. One of their downfalls new rear tyres on the little car down flat this morning. Ugger bugger.

Waiting to hear back from the guy in Yulara about the other tyres still. Made contact and he believes he has them in stock but needs to check. Then it is a Sunday. Cheesy

Cheesy

EDIT: The offending Phillips head screw. It should be fixable. Huh

Huh

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Reply #457 - Aug 24^th, 2025 at 12:05pm

Derek Offline
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There is a consolation. Grabbed this bottle of port from the local bar. Maggie reckons “straight to the poolroom” but I don’t know about that.

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Reply #458 - Aug 24^th, 2025 at 4:43pm

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This is the campground here at the Curtin Springs Roadhouse. Powered sites are $60 a night however you can free camp for nothing. We are free camping. There are rubbish bins and water is available for a $10 donation to one of the charities they support.

All up pretty good for a place in the middle of nowhere. Fuel is available But I haven’t looked at the prices.

Meals are available at the rustic bush restaurant and we are heading over there for dinner. Snacks and cold drinks including alcohol available at the bar.

Of course the NT laws surrounding the sale of alcohol apply.

I have taken the wheels off the trailer and changed the spare on the car and we are heading into Yulara first thing in the morning to see how we go. Have been unable to contact the guy at the tyre place again as text and phone between here and there are not working. It is kinda weird.

We are all good sitting it out here.

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Reply #459 - Aug 24^th, 2025 at 5:16pm

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Hello Derek
Thanks for the photos. Hope you enjoy the meal tonight.
All the very best and you have good luck tomorrow with the tyre guy and he can help you
regards Kev

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Reply #460 - Aug 24^th, 2025 at 6:54pm

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They are letting us stay for free so we decided to support them with dinner at the rustic restaurant. Curtin Springs is a cattle station and the menu was representative of what the stockmen would possibly come home to at night.

I opted for the porterhouse steak, eggs and chips and Maggie the porterhouse steak, chips and salad. As you can see the steaks came from a good sized cow and meals served on tin plates.

Maggie’s feedback to the staff was that it was the best restaurant steak she had ever eaten.

As for the price??? I shall let my bank manager argue that with the credit card people. Grin

Grin

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Reply #461 - Aug 24^th, 2025 at 7:21pm

Derek Offline
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Both petrol and diesel here are $2.99,9 so effectively $3 a litre

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Reply #462 - Aug 24^th, 2025 at 9:59pm

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Hi Derek
Yes those meals look YUM. I think the fuel prices are fair enough
Take care
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #463 - Aug 24^th, 2025 at 10:38pm

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The shell in Yalara gave me quite a good discount with my RAC card last year. Even asked if I was a member. So I imagine it would extend to other motoring organisations.

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Reply #464 - Aug 25^th, 2025 at 10:34am

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Impressive

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Reply #465 - Aug 25^th, 2025 at 5:52pm

Derek Offline
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We had a great day trekking and walking around Uluru (Ayer’s Rock) and Kata Tjuṯa l(Olgas) today.

Now also have new tyres fitted and balanced on the trailer. Screw hole plugged on the car tyre. Ready to rock and roll. 👍

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Reply #466 - Aug 25^th, 2025 at 5:57pm

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View across the deserts at a lookout.

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Reply #467 - Aug 25^th, 2025 at 7:19pm

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Hi Derek
That is really great news mate. It appears you received some good service by a local business.
Thanks for the photos. I like the look of the olgas.
regards Kev

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Reply #468 - Aug 25^th, 2025 at 8:30pm

Derek Offline
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I think this is the most we have ever paid for fuel. Topped up at Yulara today. Fortunately just over half a tank.

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Reply #469 - Aug 25^th, 2025 at 9:00pm

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The motorhome with Uluru in the background.

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Reply #470 - Aug 25^th, 2025 at 11:27pm

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Good news indeed mate trust the tyre price was ok cheers Robert

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Reply #471 - Aug 27^th, 2025 at 3:14pm

Derek Offline
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No Internet again last light. We stayed at Agnes’s Creek Rest Area about 40 klm north of Marla oin the Stuart Highway.

Great site with plenty of neighbours.

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Reply #472 - Aug 27^th, 2025 at 3:17pm

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Crossing into South Australia from the NT you have to dispose of all fresh fruit and vegetables.

Late yesterday made a big pot of stewed apple with raisins, ginger and cinnamon as well as a pan of tomato and onion gravy. We had a vegetarian dinner. Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #473 - Aug 27^th, 2025 at 3:19pm

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Some pics Maggie took out of the window along the plains heading into Coober Pedy of the opal mines.

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Reply #474 - Aug 27^th, 2025 at 3:20pm

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The photo everyone takes coming through Coober Pedy to prove you were there. Grin

Grin

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Reply #475 - Aug 27^th, 2025 at 3:23pm

Derek Offline
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Tonight at a huge roadside rest area about 12 klm south of Coober Pedy on the Stuart Highway.

Nothing here but this huge expanse. Could get 100’s of RV’s on this site bit so far only us and two others.

Topped up with water at a pay station at Coober Pedy. Cost of $2. Also used the dump point.

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Reply #476 - Aug 27^th, 2025 at 3:25pm

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Our progress to date. The red where we have been is now getting more than the green.

We are on our well and truly on our way home now.

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Reply #477 - Aug 27^th, 2025 at 5:13pm

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Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos. I had my maps out today and was thinking you would be a Coober Petty tonight.
Last night dinner was pretty good I have the tomato onion and eggs for breakfast most days
are you looking forward to start heading home now
Keep warm tonight
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #478 - Aug 27^th, 2025 at 5:43pm

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Kev, I only said to Maggie yesterday that I am enjoying this so much I believe it is going to be very hard to settle down at home for a while.

Every place we have been to has been absolutely fantastic and there is not one place I could say I wouldn’t want to go to again.

The thing is when we get to Port Augusta in two days we will mainly be following roads that we have been on many times before so won’t be so exciting.

But there is always something different around each bend in the road. Wink

Wink

Missing our two doggies though.

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Reply #479 - Aug 27^th, 2025 at 6:37pm

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Thats an easy fix Derek. Just turnaround and go back the way you came and enjoy it all again

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Reply #480 - Aug 27^th, 2025 at 7:44pm

Kevvie Offline
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Derek
I know what you meaning about the travelling. It is unreal how you miss home especially the pets.
have fun tomorrow
regards Kev

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Reply #481 - Aug 28^th, 2025 at 4:48pm

Derek Offline
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This was interesting. This is Lake Hart which is about 40 klm north of Woomera. It is a salt lake and has no water just salt crystals. It was a big salt mining area back in the 1930 and in one of the photos you can see a large stockpile of salt.

Had to go through a pipe under the tail track to get to it. Amazing place.

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Reply #482 - Aug 28^th, 2025 at 4:51pm

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Came up behind this car along the way. Went to pull out and spied a solar vehicle in front of it. Went followed for a while and he was sitting between 65 and 70 kph.

Overtook and then pulled over to get some more pics.

It was the OSAKA Team that run in the solar vehicle Darwin to Adelaide race

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Reply #483 - Aug 28^th, 2025 at 4:53pm

Derek Offline
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Pulled up for the night about 20 klm south of Pimba on the Stuart Highway.

Nice big roadside gravelly rest area. Check the view from our window overlooking one of the many lakes around here. Well it will be a great view if no one stops beside us. Cheesy

Cheesy

Quite windy at present.

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Reply #484 - Aug 28^th, 2025 at 4:55pm

Derek Offline
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Not once on this trip have we finished the day without 100 percent charge in the house batteries and tonight is no different.

Very happy with the solar system considering I eft my 200 watt solar blanket at home.

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Reply #485 - Aug 28^th, 2025 at 6:11pm

Kevvie Offline
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hi Derek
Looks like you had a good day. Thank you very much for the photos. Nice spot o camp. Do you have anyone else with you.
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #486 - Aug 28^th, 2025 at 6:51pm

Derek Offline
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It is 6.30 here and just coming on to dark. No other travellers so should be a quiet night. Grin

Grin

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Reply #487 - Aug 28^th, 2025 at 7:14pm

Kevvie Offline
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Sounds good Derek
Nite Nite
Kev

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Reply #488 - Aug 29^th, 2025 at 6:09pm

Derek Offline
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Well, we are still at Island Lagoon Lookout and the sun has gone down. Just took a photo through the window.

Had dinner of a chicken vindaloo from the freezer and soon to shower and settle in for the night.

It is still blowing a gale and the last report at 5.00 pm from the Woomera Observatory about 20 klm away was winds of 48 kph with gusts to 65 kph.

The winds are expected to ease to around 19 kph by morning

The slideout has been in all day so unless the wind drops before bed we shall be sleeping on a short bed. The reason for this is the wind catches under the slideout awning and rips it up. This wouldn’t be the first time we have done this.

We are comfortable, we are happy and will be on our way again in the morning.

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Reply #489 - Aug 29^th, 2025 at 7:17pm

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hi Derek
I found your location on google maps last night
I bet it was a quiet spot for you today.
regards Kev. Wink

Wink

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Reply #490 - Aug 29^th, 2025 at 9:44pm

Derek Offline
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Pleasantly quiet Kev apart from the wind. Grin

Grin

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Reply #491 - Aug 30^th, 2025 at 5:54am

Kevvie Offline
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a very good way to have it Grin

Grin

enjoy the day
Kev Wink

Wink

6.30am just reading facebook going to be windy today
take care Kev

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Reply #492 - Aug 30^th, 2025 at 8:03am

Derek Offline
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We have woken to what looks like being a beautiful day. The sun is out, the sky is cloudless albeit a tinge of fog around and barely a breath of wind.

The wind eased off quite a lot so at 9.00 last night we were able to put the slideout out.

Temperature is currently point seven of a degree and rising.

Looking at the weather charts the storm is now across eastern Australia.

After a coffee or two we shall make a move.

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Reply #493 - Aug 30^th, 2025 at 8:33am

Kevvie Offline
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that is great news
Kev

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Reply #494 - Aug 30^th, 2025 at 8:44am

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Derek if you are stopping in Port Augusta the cheapest park is out at Sterling North. We haven't stayed there ourselves.

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Reply #495 - Aug 30^th, 2025 at 8:54am

Derek Offline
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Thanks Brian. We are going to try the Motorhome Park at the sporting club first. Only $10 a night. We stayed there when heading west a couple of yeas ago. Has a dump point and water.

Only thing is no booking so first in gets the spots. Will see how we go.

If not will check out your suggestion. Thanks.

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Reply #496 - Aug 30^th, 2025 at 3:12pm

Derek Offline
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Another major leg of our trip completed. The green section of the map to home is getting shorter.

We are at the motorhome park here in Port Augusta. Our third time staying here. $10 a night and has water, dump point and rubbish bins. Have booked for two nights but will see how we go.

It is quite empty at present but still early in the day.

Just been shopping and restocked the pantry.

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Reply #497 - Aug 30^th, 2025 at 3:33pm

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Hi Derek
It is good you have settled in for a couple of days. I bet it was to be able to go and do some shopping. Cheesy

Cheesy

Just been outside taking the dog for a walk and the wind is fairly strong
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #498 - Aug 30^th, 2025 at 4:01pm

Derek Offline
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Just a breeze here Kev. Fish & chippies for dinner. Might even have a stubbie with it. Cheesy

Cheesy

I love South Australian garfish either battered or crumbed. Cannot get it in fish & chipperies in Qld. I used to catch dozens of them off the old Woody Point jetty years ago. Always been a favourite fish with me.

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Reply #499 - Aug 30^th, 2025 at 4:26pm

Kevvie Offline
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Yes Derek a good fish
I remember seeing them years ago in groups of 50 plus swimming around. also used them for bait
enjoy your dinner
Kev

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Reply #500 - Aug 30^th, 2025 at 7:00pm

Derek Offline
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Fish & chippies was on the menu tonight. The fish was my favourite garfish.

Of course a nice Coopers Pale Ale to wash it down.

I am feeling good. 😉

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Reply #501 - Aug 30^th, 2025 at 7:17pm

Derek Offline
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It is only 7 degrees here so have the diesel heater ticking over on low.

Boy we is spoiled. Smiley

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Reply #502 - Aug 30^th, 2025 at 7:30pm

Kevvie Offline
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Hi Derek
I think you are very spoiled. What a great fish and chips meal
Thank you for the photos
regards Kev
I forgot should buy some garfish to take on your travels Cheesy

Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #503 - Aug 30^th, 2025 at 9:29pm

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I thought garfish were only user for bait. Grin

Grin

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Reply #504 - Aug 30^th, 2025 at 9:32pm

Derek Offline
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jclures wrote on Aug 30^th, 2025 at 9:29pm:

I thought garfish were only user for bait. Grin

Grin

Even fish only eat the best. Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

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Reply #505 - Aug 30^th, 2025 at 9:42pm

shackles Offline
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JC I think you will find our Gar are a different species to what you have in North Queensland. A very fine eating fish. Also used in Rollmops (picked fish).

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Reply #506 - Aug 30^th, 2025 at 9:56pm

Derek Offline
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shackles wrote on Aug 30^th, 2025 at 9:42pm:

JC I think you will find our Gar are a different species to what you have in North Queensland. A very fine eating fish. Also used in Rollmops (picked fish).

I didn’t know that Brian. Is that a local South Aussie thing for a rollmop. Maggie likes eating them but the ones she buys are herrings.

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Reply #507 - Aug 30^th, 2025 at 10:09pm

shackles Offline
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Derek I don't know if it's only in SA but I found a recipe for you. It's from Port Pirie.

Garry Diggens
o ees wator2 /2 vinegar 1
Recipe for pickled garfish. 1/3 salt water 2/3 vinegar 1 table spoon
french salad dressing in each jar. Garfish must be fresh I stress
fresh can not be frozen then thawed out. Can use fillets or whole
gutted and cut into short pieces. Leave for approximately 2 month
the whole pieces rib bones are dissolved and only back bone left.
Enjoy
Damo Hill Garry Diggensi.throw a big squeeze of lemon juice in there to

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Reply #508 - Aug 31^st, 2025 at 5:18pm

Derek Offline
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shackles wrote on Aug 30^th, 2025 at 10:09pm:

Derek I don't know if it's only in SA but I found a recipe for you. It's from Port Pirie.

Garry Diggens
o ees wator2 /2 vinegar 1
Recipe for pickled garfish. 1/3 salt water 2/3 vinegar 1 table spoon
french salad dressing in each jar. Garfish must be fresh I stress
fresh can not be frozen then thawed out. Can use fillets or whole
gutted and cut into short pieces. Leave for approximately 2 month
the whole pieces rib bones are dissolved and only back bone left.
Enjoy
Damo Hill Garry Diggensi.throw a big squeeze of lemon juice in there to

Very interesting Brian. Thanks. If Maggie wants some she can make them. Grin

Grin

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Reply #509 - Aug 31^st, 2025 at 5:21pm

Derek Offline
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Had a drive around the Port Augusta district today. It is a very old place and quite shambolic in a lot of areas. Almost bordering on ghettos.

Interesting a Bunnings is being built here since our last visit. It hasn’t opened yet but looks nearly finished.

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Reply #510 - Aug 31^st, 2025 at 7:18pm

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Hi Derek
Glad you had the looking around.
It is sad when a mob like bunnings starts up a business in a town and pushes out the little old mom and dad business that has been there for years.
Good night to you both and have a great day tomorrow.
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #511 - Sep 1^st, 2025 at 1:36pm

Derek Offline
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Just an easy short trip today. Stopped for the night just outside Peterborough.

After leaving Port Augusta we went up through Horricks Pass and I have never seen so much green grass and when we went over the top towards Wilmington the emerald green of the young crops was mesmerising. Looks like a good year for the farmers.

On our way up to Broken Hill but will stay out at Silverton when we get there.

This is a roadside rest area. No facilities but free. We are right beside the railway line. Have stayed here a few times now.

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Reply #512 - Sep 1^st, 2025 at 4:26pm

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HI derek
Thanks for the photos. Quiet spot Have a good night
regards Kev.

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Reply #513 - Sep 2^nd, 2025 at 5:23pm

Derek Offline
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Tonights camp is at Olary Creek Rest Area. Just an area on the side of Olary Creek. No facilities.

No one here when we pulled in and within half an hour two more pulled in.

That is the rail line you can see over behind us.

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Reply #514 - Sep 2^nd, 2025 at 5:27pm

Derek Offline
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We were thinking of stopping at Olary as the pub there supposedly does a goat curry for dinner. Unfortunately the pub was closed today but we did have a good look around the old abandoned town.

I imagine a lot of history here. We identified the Post Office, Service Station, Bakery, School, Library. Even what looked like a home made backyard pool.

It seems in a lot of cases folks had just walked away and left everything including many books.

In some ways sad but also very enlightning.

The goats have taken over and there are thousands of them.

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Reply #515 - Sep 2^nd, 2025 at 5:32pm

Derek Offline
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More from Olary. First one is schoolhouse. Four and five are the inside and outside of the bakers oven

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Reply #516 - Sep 2^nd, 2025 at 5:33pm

Derek Offline
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Some of the baby wild goats are the cutest little things. My daughter reckoned I should bring this one home.

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Reply #517 - Sep 2^nd, 2025 at 5:37pm

Derek Offline
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There are thousands of these around. More than I have ever seen. This time though they are predominantly black and they also seem a bigger goat.

Most nannies have twins as well. Must have been some good seasons for them.

I whistled and shouted and stamped my feet but no way were they going to turn and look at me.

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Reply #518 - Sep 2^nd, 2025 at 6:29pm

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Hi Derek
Thanks for the photos The town would have been nice years ago. nice camp site.
it is good when travelling and looking for a place to stay it is good when some one is already there.
good night and enjoy your travels tomorrow.
Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #519 - Sep 3^rd, 2025 at 1:50pm

Derek Offline
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We have arrived at Silverton at Penrose Park after doing a shop at Broken Hill.

As you can see in the photos not many out here at present. Only thing missing is still no drinking water at the park. All bore water.

Maggie has got the park washing machines going flat out at present.

Nice sunny day at 22 degrees with a cool breeze.

Have had a real affinity with this place since we held a COG out here several years ago.

This is our third trip here.

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Reply #520 - Sep 3^rd, 2025 at 1:53pm

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Yesterday I mentioned goats. Well it seems there has been an explosion of them north of Peterborough right through to Broken Hill and I imagine beyond.

We have seen many mobs of them in excess of a 100. Even on the Broken Hill/Silverton Road there was a mob well in excess of 100 about two kilometres from Silverton town.

Absolutely amazing.

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Reply #521 - Sep 3^rd, 2025 at 2:52pm

Kevvie Offline
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HI Derek
Thanks for the photos. Interesting to hear about the goats.
It is a shame we don't see them advertised for sale anywhere around here
Are you at Silverton for a while now?.
Enjoy your evening
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #522 - Sep 3^rd, 2025 at 3:00pm

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Three nights here Kev

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Reply #523 - Sep 3^rd, 2025 at 3:23pm

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well have a great time. Grin

Grin

Grin

Kev

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Reply #524 - Sep 4^th, 2025 at 9:49am

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Pulled this pack of Shin or as they call it, Gravy Beef out of the freezer last night to make up a stew. Realised I bought it back in Atherton and been in the freezer all that time.

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Reply #525 - Sep 4^th, 2025 at 10:04am

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Will still make a great stew enjoy cheers

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Reply #526 - Sep 4^th, 2025 at 10:21am

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I’m counting on it. What prompted me was I bought some nice parsnip in Broken Hill yesterday. Love parsnip in a beef stew.

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Reply #527 - Sep 5^th, 2025 at 12:42pm

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Stew turned out well last night.

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Reply #528 - Sep 5^th, 2025 at 12:43pm

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The Silverton donkeys are still out and about although I am sure there were only three here last time.

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Reply #529 - Sep 5^th, 2025 at 1:02pm

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After finding it closed yesterday we finally got to see Jack Absalom’s Gallery today. Most impressive to see his art in original large format.

Several years ago before Jack passed I bought a signed limited edition of one of his books depicting some of his art. Jack was one of those artists who could capture the outback colours in near perfection.

The opal collection was amazing but well outside our budget for anything worthwhile.

Jack made a lot of money from the book Outback Cooking In The Camp Oven that featured also his Uncle Reg as the cook however not a camp oven in sight. Cool

Cool

It is well worth a look.

No I didn’t buy anything.

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Reply #530 - Sep 5^th, 2025 at 1:23pm

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Hi Derek
Hope you both are enjoying the day.
As for me just cooked some silverside. your stew looks very nice. seeing Jack's gallery would have been interesting.
Thank you for the photos
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #531 - Sep 5^th, 2025 at 5:40pm

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Changed our plan . . . . . again.

Surprised Maggie saying do you want to go home via Bendigo and Wangaratta Woolen Mills. She has been hinting. Roll Eyes

Roll Eyes

She didn’t really hesitate to say yes. Cheesy

Cheesy

Cheesy

Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #532 - Sep 5^th, 2025 at 6:05pm

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Hi Derek
Yes travel plans can be changed at any time Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Maggie's cupboard may need to be restocked with different colours of wool Grin

Grin

Grin

Derek you might something for you
regards Kev Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #533 - Sep 5^th, 2025 at 6:26pm

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Have started making plans for a trip to Tassie this time next year all going well.

We have been there twice. Once in February and the other in winter. This time would like to be there for spring.

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Reply #534 - Sep 5^th, 2025 at 7:12pm

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Hi Derek
Great to plan ahead.
safe travels tomorrow
Kev

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Reply #535 - Sep 6^th, 2025 at 4:13pm

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Love these big roadside rest areas. Always plenty of room can have a fore if you want. This one is called Hattah North on the Calder Highway between Mildura and Ouyen.

Only ones here so far.

Yes, we are in Victoria now.

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Reply #536 - Sep 6^th, 2025 at 4:19pm

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On our run down the Silver City Highway from Broken Hill to Wentworth today we say literally thousands of wild goats. It was absolutely crazy.

I was surprised however to find out that local farmers get so little for them on the market. See the attached.

Whenever I have seen goat for sale the price is usually around the same as lamb and to think the farmer is only picking up $2 a goat is amazing.

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Reply #537 - Sep 6^th, 2025 at 4:52pm

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hello Derek
You are travelling along pretty good. Thanks for the photos
Those trees I think they are mallee they look a nice tree in the land scrap
It is a shame about the goats I think they will end up like the rabbits did and over run the place.
take care
Kev

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Reply #538 - Sep 6^th, 2025 at 6:01pm

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Just went for a walk down the back of where we are for the night as the railway line is behind us and even here there are goats.

There were six in this little group but through the binoculars saw a mob of about 100 or so in the distance.

Yes Kev this is all Mallee country through this area.

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Reply #539 - Sep 7^th, 2025 at 8:14am

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Only one other van joined us here last night. Usually find these places fill up before dark.

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Reply #540 - Sep 7^th, 2025 at 2:47pm

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Have arrived at Echuca and set up at the Rotary RV Park. Dump Point, water and rubbish bins all for a $10 donation.

Been some rain but all cleared now.

Off to Bendigo in the morning.

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Reply #541 - Sep 8^th, 2025 at 3:17pm

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Pulled into one of our favourite stopovers in Victoria. The carpark at Brown Brothers Winery at Milawa

Have stayed here half a dozen or more times over the years. It was here that we nearly lost our puppy, Daisy to a snake bite a few years back during Covid times.

Going to be here a few days this time.

There is water and rubbish bins here and a dump point about 5 minutes drive away. You need to be self contained as no grey water allowed on the ground.

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Reply #542 - Sep 8^th, 2025 at 3:21pm

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Along the way we called into the Bendigo Woollen Mill Shop.

It is quite an impressive place and Maggie made a few purchases

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Reply #543 - Sep 8^th, 2025 at 3:24pm

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As seen in red we reached the southern most leg of this trip and have started north again.

After this stop for a few days we start on our run for home.

Still all going well

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Reply #544 - Sep 9^th, 2025 at 4:00pm

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We are in the heart of the Milawa Gourmet Region so . . . . . . . . . . . . . it is lunch in the style of a gourmet Malawian. Tongue

Tongue

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Reply #545 - Sep 9^th, 2025 at 5:02pm

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We have been coming to this place for ever and stopped many times. Yesterday when we pulled in there was a sticker on the water pipe at the tap saying “BORE WATER”.

Never been there before and the place is advertised across camping apps as having potable water.

Flipped a message to Brown Brothers and got this reply:

Hi Derek,

Thanks for your message. Our RV park is a free, self-contained camping area, so guests do need to be fully self-sufficient. There is no drinking water access at the site, and the tap marked “Bore Water” is non-potable and not suitable for drinking.

Kind regards,
Molly
Brown Family Wines
239 Milawa Bobinawarrah Road, Milawa, Victoria, 3678, Australia

Seems we have been drinking bad water here for years. Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

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Reply #546 - Sep 10^th, 2025 at 6:48am

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Hi Derek
Bit od bad news about the water. But looks a very nice place to stay.
I see from the photos I see you are out and about Maggie has been checking out the wool store
regards Kev
Have a great birthday.

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Reply #547 - Sep 10^th, 2025 at 8:05am

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More of a legal notice I think, evenin Qld we were suppose to put a sign on our front fence/gate saying bore water in use.

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Reply #548 - Sep 11^th, 2025 at 6:05pm

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Tonight we are parked up on our friends farm at Old Junee.

Here for a few days.

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Reply #549 - Sep 11^th, 2025 at 6:20pm

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Hello Derek
I hope you have a great time with your friends.
I saw photos the other day on Face Book of a free camping area at Old Junee looked very good.
Anyway you and Maggie continue to enjoy your trip and thanks for the updates.
Kevvie

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Reply #550 - Sep 11^th, 2025 at 10:01pm

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That is the old recreation grounds about a kilometre from here Kev.

Huge big area with no facilities.

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Reply #551 - Sep 12^th, 2025 at 5:47am

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Good day Derek
I was thinking it was a sporting ground. plenty of trees
enjoy the day
Kev Wink

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Reply #552 - Sep 12^th, 2025 at 8:57am

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It was a sporting ground years ago but like a lot of little town places now abandoned.

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Reply #553 - Sep 14^th, 2025 at 5:25am

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Hi Derek
At least it is still there and it can be used to encourage people to stay a while longer.
Regards Kev

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Reply #554 - Sep 14^th, 2025 at 3:05pm

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On the move again today and tonight we are staying at the Terramungamine Reserve just outside Dubbo. Nice free camp. The area down along the river was a bit crowded and very cut up so we are up near the road

Interesting aboriginal heritage site where they have preserved the grinding grooves from days gone by.

Tomorrow we will be cutting across to the New England Highway at Muswellbrooke.

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Reply #555 - Sep 14^th, 2025 at 6:25pm

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hi Derek
I hope you had an enjoyable day getting those Ks behind you
Thanks for the photos.
We just finished dinner cooked a batch of gluten free pancakes
happy travels for tomorrow
Kev

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Reply #556 - Sep 15^th, 2025 at 4:24pm

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Tonights stopover is at Walabadah on the New England Highway south of Tamworth.

This was a caravan park many years ago and was abandoned however the local council took it over as a rest area/overnight stop. They do ask for a donation to stay.

The old caravan amenities block is still here with cold showers and toilets. There are water taps scattered around however for filling and not connecting up to.

I remember scraping ice off the windscreen here a few years ago in winter. Shouldn’t be that cold tonight.

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Reply #557 - Sep 15^th, 2025 at 4:38pm

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Hello Derek
Another nice camping site. Lovely and green Grin

Grin

Grin

Thanks for the photos. You are Getting closer to home
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #558 - Sep 15^th, 2025 at 6:05pm

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About 570 kilometres from home now Kev. I think two more nights and we will be there.

Off to the Nundle Woollen Mill tomorrow and that will basically be the last place we are planning to see.

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Reply #559 - Sep 15^th, 2025 at 6:18pm

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I bet the Nundle wool shop will be full of all colours of wool
just like Maggie had at Bendigo
Will you camp there at Nundle
Yes not so far to home I can hear your little dog starting to get excited to see you both now. Grin

Grin

Grin

regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #560 - Sep 15^th, 2025 at 7:55pm

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Sometimes all you need for a light dinner is buttered white bread, egg, salt & pepper on a low heat on the motorhome stove.

Tis a bit rough though when the bread is a bit crooked. Angry

Angry

Followed by a nice mug of hot Milo and a fruit mince pie for dessert. Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #561 - Sep 15^th, 2025 at 9:31pm

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That is the way to go. YUM
Kev Wink

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Reply #562 - Sep 16^th, 2025 at 4:43pm

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Maggie doing what Maggie loves doing best. Cheesy

Cheesy

I was quite impressed with the old truck.

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Reply #563 - Sep 16^th, 2025 at 4:45pm

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Tonight we are at the Wallangarra Rest Area, another nice free camp on the Queensland side of the Qld/NSW Border.

To celebrate our arrival back in Queensland I’m having a nice cold beer.

According to the GPS only 207 klm to home tomorrow.

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Reply #564 - Sep 16^th, 2025 at 5:20pm

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Hi Derek
Glad you both had a nice day. You have found a pretty good area to camp tonight. Thanks for the photo.
Safe travels home tomorrow
regards Kev. Wink

Wink

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Reply #565 - Sep 16^th, 2025 at 6:57pm

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Kev, if I can get Maggie out of bed early enough should be home for an early lunch.

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Reply #566 - Sep 16^th, 2025 at 7:21pm

Kevvie Offline
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Derek
Don't worry you will be home before dark tomorrow Grin

Grin

Grin

Kev

Wink

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Reply #567 - Sep 16^th, 2025 at 9:18pm

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I am sure we have all enjoyed the trip.

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Reply #568 - Sep 17^th, 2025 at 9:23am

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Been a great read mate will have to go back through for all your camping spots. Cheers Robert.

PS Think I would miss the woolen mills unless Molly reads this post. Cheers

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Reply #569 - Sep 17^th, 2025 at 11:55am

Derek Offline
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We are home again safe and well.

The yard is looking very dry.

IMG_4925.jpeg (156 KB | 44 )

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Reply #570 - Sep 17^th, 2025 at 1:57pm

Derek Offline
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This is our trip done and dusted.

All up we did:
Motorhome: 12,502 klm
Car: 4,934 klm
Total: 17,436 klm

We were away a total of 17 weeks.

We are ready to roll again. Cheesy

Cheesy

Cheesy

Cheesy

Cheesy

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Reply #571 - Sep 17^th, 2025 at 5:35pm

Kevvie Offline
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Hi Derek
Well welcome home to you both.
I very much appreciated you and maggie shared your trip with us. you showed us places that I will not see in my life time.
It a shame to see your yard so dry.
regards Kev

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Reply #572 - Sep 17^th, 2025 at 11:09pm

Gordon Offline
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Thankyou for sharing Derek, I have enjoyed following your journey. Gordon

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Reply #573 - Sep 19^th, 2025 at 4:11pm

Derek Offline
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Just booked a week at the Coolum Caravan Park starting next Saturday so a week to prepare.

Some of our family will be up there so catching up.

Of course premium price being school holidays. Roll Eyes

Roll Eyes

So we are off again.

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Reply #574 - Sep 19^th, 2025 at 5:36pm

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Derek wrote on Sep 19^th, 2025 at 4:11pm:

Just booked a week at the Coolum Caravan Park starting next Saturday so a week to prepare.

Some of our family will be up there so catching up.

Of course premium price being school holidays. Roll Eyes

Roll Eyes

So we are off again.

Have you unloaded all the wool yet?

Can't Get Full On Fancy

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Reply #575 - Sep 19^th, 2025 at 6:30pm

Derek Offline
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I think so Brian. Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

Grin

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Reply #576 - Sep 19^th, 2025 at 7:21pm

Kevvie Offline
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Hi Derek
Sounds like a good way to catch up with family.
So have a great time.
Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #577 - Sep 27^th, 2025 at 4:58pm

Derek Offline
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Home for the next six nights at Coolum beach Caravan Park.

Was a long day on the road with traffic. What should have been two hours ended up four and a half hours with traffic just crawling along.

Very busy up here.

IMG_4942.jpeg (187 KB | 47 )

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Reply #578 - Sep 27^th, 2025 at 6:52pm

Derek Offline
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First night at the beach is always fish and chips. Wink

Wink

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Reply #579 - Sep 27^th, 2025 at 7:49pm

Kevvie Offline
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Hi Derek
Have a great holiday.
it has been at least 25 years since Lesley and I stayed at that caravan park. WE were members of the Jayco caravan club then.
well done seeking out a fish and chip shop for your dinner
Kev

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Reply #580 - Sep 27^th, 2025 at 9:54pm

shackles Offline
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Fish n Chips look great. I personally don't like lemon or vinegar on my fish. I like to taste the fish and not the lemon or vinegar. A bit of salt is OK. Just my taste.

Can't Get Full On Fancy

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Reply #581 - Sep 28^th, 2025 at 8:10am

Derek Offline
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One of those is a lime off the tree at home. I prefer lime to vinegar or lemon.

Also if cooking my own fish I like to sprinkle a little lime juice on the fillets twenty minutes to half an hour before cooking.

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Reply #582 - Sep 28^th, 2025 at 6:38pm

Derek Offline
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Potato and pumpkin mash with brussel sprouts, steak and kidney. Best dinner in the caravan park, even if I do say so myself. Lips Sealed

Lips Sealed

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Reply #583 - Oct 1^st, 2025 at 8:44pm

Derek Offline
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Very relaxing here at the beach. Fishing with the grandson a few times and even though we did catch some legal size whiting they really were nothing to write about or photograph.

Cooked a pasta dish for dinner. Diced onion, chopped bacon, tin of cherry tomatoes, olives, salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, spinach and linguine all with a sprinkle of parmesan.

Was quite delicious and enough for dinner tomorrow.

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Reply #584 - Oct 1^st, 2025 at 9:44pm

Kevvie Offline
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hi Derek
The meal looks very nice.
regards Kev Wink

Wink

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Reply #585 - Oct 3^rd, 2025 at 1:15pm

Derek Offline
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Well, we are back home again. Was an easy run today with traffic.

Home for a week and a half or so then off again down to the COG.

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Reply #586 - Oct 3^rd, 2025 at 1:35pm

Kevvie Offline
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HI Derek
Welcome home it is good that you had a good time away.
As for going away remember someone got to do it
I see the school holidays are coming to an end as the caravans are coming out around our village with people getting ready to go away. one bloke even left today.
Enjoy the COG.. Derek.
Kev

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Reply #587 - Oct 3^rd, 2025 at 3:08pm

Derek Offline
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Pleased we are not heading north today. With the long weekend there is currently a 35 kilometre deadlock of traffic heading out of Brisbane.

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Reply #588 - Oct 3^rd, 2025 at 8:58pm

Kevvie Offline
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Hi Derek
The bad part about that is that they will be coming back.
And with the poor moms and dads driving and the kids sitting in the back yelling "are we there yet" Grin

Grin

Grin

regards Kev Wink

Wink

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