Sun, 31st Aug, 2014 Tamborine Mountains to Beardy Creek (north of Glen Innis)

Happy Birthday to Valerie. Gave her a call to wish her a lovely day. Told her that Rod’s niece, Connel, was visiting and she went to school with Valerie’s daughter, Michelle and another sister, Clancy, was in Kirsten’s year. Was telling Cathy’s that mum and dad had their honeymoon at Mt Tamborine and she said it would have been at St Benard’s pub. Will be back to the Tamborine Mountains to do some more exploring, such a lovely place. Farewell to Cathy, Rod & Frazer and thanks for the fresh oranges, eggs and parsley.

Down the range again, noticed a rock painted like a piano – like our big frog on the Gillies Range. 

Heading for Beaudesert – great photo looking back at the Tamborine Mountains – I could also see the lookout clearing we had lunch at the first day. A lot of dry rural area here.

Erica texted to say that Terry’s brother, Claude, had passed away about 9am today. So glad we were able to say hello and goodbye to him. RIP.

Went up the range and through Cunningham’s Gap – a hard pull. 

Steve’s foot was flat to the floor on the accelerator in 3^rd gear but he is really happy that he put the new radiator and intercooler on as it is keeping the temperature down. The sign said walks not lookout. I was taking a photo out the window of the view and missed the turn-in lane for the lookout area. Something we can do another time.

Great rock formations here

the view back to Beaudesert area

Over the top and the lands spreads out to a lovely valley with a great road. Wish farmers would put up signs saying what the crops they are growing!! Following a line of caravans heading for Warwick – might be fun getting a camp later. Following the Australian Country Way route. Stopped in park area in Warwick – even had a carpark made to take caravans and Steve got in between all the lines!!

Rang Mum to ask if the pub in Mt Tamborine was correct and it was. Dad said that they had got to Warwick and realised they didn’t have a wedding ring so had to rush into a jewellers and buy one and a new shirt for dad too. That was 53 years ago.

Look out – Steve overtook someone in the overtaking lane!! It was a ute towing a horsefloat and both were full of weaving looms – we were nearing Cottonvale so that might mean something. Ran along the Qld/NSW border between Cottonvale and The Summit (a town with an altitude of 928m). Into Applethorpe whose school as a sign “the coolest school in Queensland”. Found another big thing “Big Apple” and an apple orchard that looked very boring with dead looking trees. 

Apple tree orchard

All the trees are just getting some new shoots. The only colour is the yellow wattle.

On to Stanthorpe where they got married in front of the fire at the Presbyterian Manse where there friend and minister had been transferred. Found the Manse but no one was home so took some photos of the outside. Here is a photo of mum and dad on their wedding day, 7^th June, 1961. 

 Our first selfie

They spent the night in a pub in Stanthorpe and the landlady put hot water bottles in the bed for them.

Big Dinosaur (not sure why – he didn’t slow down) at Ballenden. 

Into Wallangarra for our last coffee in Queensland. Very nice and a rocky road slice to share!!! Using my little caravan purse for our coffee money, thanks Christine.

Always the gasfitter

Did the pose shots at the boarder.

 Photos turned when uploaded - don't know why. Someone painted the extra Blue/Maroon bit

 Great museum/coffee shop at the historic Wallangarra Railway. Was the change over spot for the two different railway gauges. Passengers would have to get off with all their luggage and trudge across the platform and board the next train. 

 Pressed a button and the old man told his granddaughter the story of the railway. Great.

Water spout to fill up the steam train 

 The different gauges - maroon us, blue NSW

Got a photo of some sheep and a hedge maze at Tenterfield. Passed another great letterbox – a Doctor Who “dialect”  ‘exterminate!!’ Have seen some other great ones but we go past before I can get the camera out!! Surf Board one at Noosa, big green frog at Stanthorpe and a few other good ones.

 Wobbly old railway bridge

 Some of the local trees

Worked out how to get onto Facebook with my mobile phone so will check it on that so I use the prepaid download on the mobile rather than my internet download as Facebook seems to use a lot.

Checked out a camp area at Bluff Rock but wasn’t appealing so kept on going.

Shorn sheep at Deepwater looked terrible and cold. They have a scarecrow and wool festival in November. Weather has been amazing so far. Pulled into Beardy Creek free camp area (9km north of Glen Innes) about 4.30 with only a few other campers. 

Had a walk and chat with some guys fishing for trout, murray cod and red fin – didn’t catch anything but we got some tips.

Lots of fluffy things to blow - can't remember what they are called

Photos of time capsule for the Centenary of Federation and a Rotary monument for Glen Innes Celtic connections.

 Can't work out how to rotate once I have uploaded them, sorry

Joined some Victorians for happy hour around the campfire as the sun set and the temperature dropped. The van was still warm as we cooked tea but the outside thermometer is dropping fast. Steve has dug out our heater as the others said it could drop to 1 degree tonight –it is now 9 o’clock and it was 8 degrees outside and 17 inside. Heater is on and we are now warming up. We have been in winter pjs and bed socks already so might have to put some more blankets on!!!