1st - The wind stopped when we went to bed thank goodness and the temperature dropped. 20 degrees this morning - chilly for us!
Packed up then had a cuppa with Erica & Terry before heading off. Will see them again at the end of the month.
Headed off to the little town of Sharon just out of Bundaberg. Pulled into the carpark at Sharon Gorge where you can camp too.
A few ‘bogans’ were there and it was right beside the road. One ‘lady’ came over with bottle of rum in her hand thinking I was her friend!
We put on our boots for the 900m gorge walk - it is one of Bundaberg’s few remaining examples of rainforest known as Woongarra Vine Scrub. Took a photo in front of the Sharon Gorge sign and the ‘lady’ asked if we wanted her to take our photo. I said it was just because my name was Sharon and she said ‘fancy that - her friend’s name is Sharon too’. Big dog poos everywhere from the ‘pet’. Good map showing the Bundaberg region.
The gorge is just the deep gully at the beginning of the walk but hard to see with the vines etc.
Continued along the dry creek bed over boardwalks till we climbed up a slope to a huge bush turkey’s nest.
Onto a landing with a nice view of the Burnett River.
We climbed down the slope - interesting seed pods.
Looking downstream then upstream then back up the creek area.
Decide to keep moving as it was only 11am and the company here wasn’t too exciting.
Headed towards Gin Gin but turned off first to check out Mystery Craters. We came here when we were first engaged. It was closed today unfortunately. It was discovered in 1971 and has 35 oddly shaped craters whose origin remains a mystery. The signs says ‘The Boffins are Baffled - what caused them, volcanos, meteor, water, ufos - who knows, what do you think?’
On to Gin Gin for lunch. We parked in the centre of the road where a nice park and information was.
Interesting artwork - supposed to be a pot belly stove.
Lots of interesting paintings and history to read.
One of the trivia questions along the highway (to keep the driver alert) is Who is the Wild Scotchman - answer is ‘A Bushranger’. He is mentioned here - James McPherson. I wonder if he is a relative of mine (on dad’s side)! There is a sculpture of him too.
Lovely roses too.
I noted a few things off the map that we could explore and headed off to check out Boolboonda Tunnel but the road was closed from the recent rain.
We headed back through Gin Gin and found a turn off to locate Murray’s Crossing. We meandered down the side roads through Wallaville which had lots of lovely Jacarandas in bloom. We found a bridge over the Burnett River so we figured that must be Murray’s Crossing.
Headed back to the main highway where there were roadworks for a few kilometres - road widening. We should have fabulous roads up the east coast by the end of next year!!
The countryside changed to rolling green hills like the Tablelands. We did a bit of ‘sightseeing’ trying to find Booyal Crossing - ‘girlie’ got lost and tried sending us up a dirt road through a property. We gave up and turned back. Steve didn’t get cross as it is much easier turning the camper around then if we had had the van on.
I looked at the info in the Camps 7 book and saw the turn off just off the main road so we followed that ‘bitumen’ road down to the causeway over the Burnett River.
Checked out the area by the water but it was very uneven.
Steve got an idea of clearance of the truck and camper as we wobbled through a hole.
Parked up on the grass and set up for the night. We have a friend - Mrs Chook, who I gave a handful of corn too.
We took our chairs, books and cuppas down to the water’s edge under the shade of the trees. Using our ‘free’ stool we found dumped at Walkers Point campground.
Watched a few lizards skit about on the logs nearby. One is a huge skink and the others looked like water lizards - one zoomed across the water to a stick and got a bug then zoomed back onto his log to eat it.
Read our books for a while then went for a wander.
Followed a track on the other side but it was just the fence-line track. Headed down to the causeway when we heard a rooster making a racket in the bush. Obviously he was looking for Mrs Chook. Saw a lot of finches and little quails zipped out of the long grass.
Got our drinks and went back to our chairs for a bit till the coolness chased us up to the camper. I spotted a big head of a turtle pop up and down with a big noise like a grunt.
A car with a couple and two dogs arrived for a little while otherwise it is very quiet. The wind picked up as the temperature dropped.
Heated up some leftovers for dinner then we had the last of my No Bake Cheesecake for dessert. We played cards - Steve found 2 games of Phase 10 then 2 games of Skipbo so that was it - I gave up. Had a nice hot shower as it was quite chilly.
2nd - Mr Rooster moved under the camper early in the morning and woke us up with lots of cockadooling!
Into Childers RV Park for a look. Great info about GPS.
Continued on through continual roadworks to Maryborough. Great picture on the back of this van.
Pulled into the free 48hr RV stop right in town. Nice area, flat bitumen to park on with lovely green grass and trees to look at.
Put on our boots and headed off to walk around town. First stop was the Info Centre in the City Hall where I picked up the Mural trail, Discovery trail and Story trail maps. The building was erected in 1908 to replace the original timber town hall. The exterior uses locally made Meredith bricks while red cedar was used extensively throughout the interior. In 1935 the clock tower, curtain tower and stage were added.
Inside is a replica of the original Peace Cake backed in 1919 for the Mayoral Victory Ball held in the City Hall to celebrate the end of WW1. It stands 1.5m high and 61cm in diameter. This is the start of the Mural Trail.
Across the road is the School of Arts building, built in 1887. This one replaced the original built in 1861.
Steve found this little plaque on the rock wall in front of the City Hall. Very interesting.
One of the storyteller’s boards about George Ambrose White, one of the town founders who donated the money to build the new City Hall.
Lovely old Beetle. Screen showing the workers riding their bikes from work at Walkers Limited where all the old boilers etc were made that are up in the Palmer Goldfields etc.
Hard to get a good photo of ‘The Aviator’ - Samuel Hecker was an aviator, garage owner and Holden dealer who was often in the news in the 1940s flying his Miles Falcon aircraft regularly between Maryborough and Brisbane to attend meetings. It is beside St Paul’s Memorial Hall which was completed in 1921 and dedicated to those who died in WW1.
Maryborough is the birthplace of P.L. Travers who wrote Mary Poppins. They have changed the cross-walk lights to show Mary - so cute.
Lots of interesting pictures and info on plaques on these big flywheels.
‘The Whipcracker’ - A local legend, Barbara Dalton.
‘Comet Man’ - Mervyn Jones, found an unnamed comet in 1967 which was later named the Mitchell-Jones-Gerber Comet, after the three people who registered seeing it across the world on the same day. ‘The Girl and the Croc’ - inspired by a photo of a girl sitting on a huge croc in the early 1900s.
‘The Under Sea’ - Hervey Bay’s marine life.
Looking up at the awning in front of the Royal Hotel. It was completed in 1902 and replaced the Bush Inn (built in 1858) which had its name changed in 1863 to the Royal Hotel. It had a grand foyer and staircase which was a focus for gala occasions. The licence granted in 1849 was cancelled in 2009.
Power boxes have been painted as futuristic steam punk robots.
Peered in through the gates at the Story Bank which shows a scene from Mary Poppins of the lady in the park feeding the birds.
On the corner I met Mary herself.
Will come back with Kaylene to do the tour. The Story Bank was the Australian Joint Stock Bank, who bought the building in 1866 though it did not open until Jan 1884. The Union Bank occupied the building from 1906. In 1899 during the time her father was the manager of this bank, Helen Lyndon Goff was born in the residence above. Later using the pseudonym P.L. Travers, she wrote the Mary Poppins series of books.
Across the road is a mural of many of the characters from Mary Poppins’ world.
This is a fascinating machine - Steve gave it a go. Maybe!!
Walked around to Erica’s cousin, John & Elsie Meyers, who created a fabulous military museum. They opened it on 24 July, 2005. Lovely to catch up with them.
John had one of his volunteers give us a tour which was very interesting. There are over 10,000 items of military and colonial memorabilia.
The Cross of Valour, which is the highest honour given to a civilian was awarded to Tim Britten, the policeman who was in Bali when the bombing occurred - sadly he suffered burns too. The cross is made from 3.2 oz of gold - amazing. Of course it is very safely stored here. We got to feel it using a white glove to not to leave fingerprints etc. Tim rounded up other policemen to help and they all received commendations as well. John has had replicas made of the medals (2nd box) to put on display.
The next set of medals contains an British VC medal awarded to Herbert James - very precious.
There is a big display for Keith Payne who was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry at Kontum Province in South Vietnam on 24 May 1969. The bust is made of White Beech.
Very interesting and so wonderful they can store these precious items for families etc and put replicas on display for everyone to view and learn about all the war history. John was in the Army and the museum is mainly focused on World War 1 history and items but there is so much more here too after many years of collecting. He has a big band of volunteers as it is a Not for Profit organisation and has been recognised widely for all their contributions to storing, recording and displaying historical items. John has been to Gallipoli and brought back sand and pebbles from the beach and also sand from Long Tang which was glued onto the boots etc in the painting then sealed over.
There is so much to see and read. And there is even more upstairs.
Erica and John’s family (Meyers) are featured as well as another relative won the Doomben Cup in 1950.
Steve used one of these when he did Cadet training at Charters Towers with the Army Cadets.
Elsie invited us to join them for a cuppa as it was nearly lunch time. She was putting out all kinds of nibbles too then I realised it was Melbourne Cup and they were having a luncheon to watch the race. Good timing. John turns 80 soon and they are having a family party at the RSL on the 27th Nov. Elsie invited us so I said we could bring down Erica and Terry too which will be great for them to catch up again and to see the other cousins in the Meyers family.
We said farewell to everyone. Interesting water feature in the garden at the back.
Great murals on the other side of the Museum.
Across the road is the Bond Store which was built in three stages in 1864, 1870 and 1883. It was part of the Customs complex to provide storage for goods which attracted a tax for Her Majesty’s Custom Service. Imports included such items as opium, cigars, tobacco, rum, wine, beer and spirits.
Relatives are everywhere around here - Ken Meyer is a second cousin of Erica’s. Erica’s ancestor’s surname was Meyer but her family line changed it to Meyers in the early 1900s - probably due to persecution of Jews in Germany.
We continued down the pathway to the Walkers Shipyard Memorial - made to look like the bow of a ship. Walkers built its first ships for the Government here in 1877. It features the names of the ships built for The Royal Australian Navy by Walkers Shipyards from 1940 to 1974 - 8 Corvettes and 3 Frigates were launched in the river here. The shipyards which employed hundreds of people were abandoned after the 1974 flood when the crane superstructure was washed down the river.
Cute bollards - representing the sea captain welcoming the first immigrants who arrived at the mouth of the Mary River on the ‘Ariadne’ in 1862. Over the next 30 years some 20,000 immigrants arrived at the Government Wharf.
Artwork and information about the 50,000 Southsea Islanders (known as Kanakas) who came to work on the sugar cane farms between Maryborough and Bundaberg.
Lots of lovely old buildings like the Court House which was built in 1877 on the site of the former Immigration Barracks.
The Mary River which was originally called the Wide Bay River. It was renamed in September 1847 by Governor Fitzroy in honour of his wife, Lady Mary Fitzroy. There is a tourist train that runs on the tracks. Will have to have a ride next time.
Steve checked out the guns.
He then played a tune on the instruments under the big fig tree. I had a go too.
A couple more murals.
Fabulous War Memorial with a little plaque on a rock to tell us about it.
A Sausage Tree - Kigelia africana. A plaque tells us this is the site of a cattle and sheep boiling-down works - imagine the stench.
We followed the trail through the Gallipolli to Armistice Memorial, realising we had walked from the wrong end to do it in time order. There is so much to read. It is a fabulous tribute.
Heading back I spotted this lovely mural and more of the little steam punk robots.
Last bit of history as we head back to the camper.
I photographed the trail guides. The Story Trail.
The Mural Trail.
The Gallipoli Trail.
Had a cuppa at the camper, a lot more campers arriving. Drove around to Dave & Amanda’s and realised we can’t fit down the side of the house so we decided we would go back to RV spot for the night.
David took us for a drive - 26 Percy Street was the home of Erica’s grandparents - John and Ellen Miller.
Erica’s uncle George started a bakery here in 1913 called Miller Bros, his brothers William and Frederick joined him in 1917.
Her father Edward started his bakery in Tiaro in early 1920s til 1931.
We then visited the cemetery to look at the tombstones of their ancestors. Some are very ornate.
David then showed us other things around town. The site of Walker Limited. The Sugar Mill which closed down this year. There is a munitions factory opening up and a company received the contract to build new engines for the Tilt Train so there is a few things happening around town to provide employment as there is lots of shops are empty.
Near their place is the Point Lookout where they watched out for the supply ships coming down the river.
Back to David & Amanda’s for a drink on the deck overlooking the Mary River. Amanda has been doing some amazing paintings and Ella has done a few too, very talented. Certificate and photo from his Air Force friends when he retired. Lovely dinner with the family - met Ella’s boyfriend, Cody.
We drove back to the RV spot for the night. Had a cuppa and played cards. Chilly evening. A shower of rain as we went to bed.
3rd - 6.30am it was only 20 degrees. Headed off, across the Mary River - still swollen from recent rain.
Stopped at Tiaro for a look - lots of information. In 2001 we joined all Steve’s family here for the Meyers Family Reunion as they had property ‘The Oaks’ near here. Tiaro was settled in 1867 and is home to the Macadamia Nut (Bauple Nut), the rare Mary River Turtle, the Lung Fish and the Mary River Cod.
Great 3D mural.
Continued on and turned of 1km south onto the Bauple Tourist Drive. Pulled up in the rest area at Bauple and read the info. The Nut Place is closed - no macadamia nuts or sugar cane around.
View of Mt Bauple.
Nice spot to stop overnight at Rossendale RV Stop.
We continued on to Gympie and stopped at the park on the southern side beside Lake Alford for lunch. Uncle John rang - he is doing well.
We walked around the lake. There were lots of baby birds around which were cute but it stinks from all the birds nesting there. Especially the Ibis - my most disliked bird!
On the other side is the site of a gold mine.
Amazing flood heights.
Lovely mural.
More major road improvements happening just south of Gympie - they are putting in a bypass. Onto the M1 (160km north of Brisbane) - 110km/hr - though not for us, don’t want to stress the little engine too much.
To Pomona - Mt Coorooa 439m. It is an Intrusive Volcanic Plug. There is a King of the Mountain race in July. The info I read online said it has a stony path and metal stairs and takes 2 hours - Grade mod to hard.
Pulled into Roald and Joan’s place for the night. Roald had their van out ready for a holiday at Burrum Heads tomorrow. We parked beside it.
They had a friend visiting so we had a lovely afternoon chatting. Fed the birds and wallabys. They have put ‘goanna’ protection around the trees to protect the kookaburra nests.
4th - Overcast, sprinkle of rain. Had a cuppa then headed off so they could get organised for their holiday.
Ray rang to say he was very sick with food poisoning. He thinks it was an oyster he had for Melbourne Cup. We will find somewhere else for tonight and he will let us know if he feels any better tomorrow.
Drove through Tewantin to Eumundi - another road we haven’t been on to mark off on my map book. Eumundi is said to be named after the Aboriginal warrior and elder Huon Mundy. Pulled up to check out the site of the famous Eumundi Markets. Plenty of room to park today - bet it would be very crowded on market days which are Wednesday and Saturday. The blue building was the site of the first markets held on the 24th March, 1979 - there were 3 stallholders with a turnover of $30.
The street is line with trees to remember fallen soldiers.
Wandered up and down the street.
Interesting murals and art works. Even a piano to tinkle on - Chop Sticks!
Moved to a park to have lunch. There is a RV spot here for $7 a night but you have to go online to book it so we continued on.
Checked out a free camp near Yandina but it was gated off so we continued on to Maroochydore - over the Maroochy River then down to Picnic Point for a view of the river and Maroochydore’s highrises.
Followed the road down the coast. Walked out onto the Maroochydore Beach where the river flows out to the sea.
Someone is camping under the she-oaks.
Rebecca rang for a chat. Still in hospital till the 12th getting more rehab. The hip op was good but it is the leg operation that is causing all the pain etc which will take a while to heal.
Snapped a photo of a cute power box at Alexander Headland and a sailor statue at Mooloolaba as we drove by.
Went down to the Spit and parked. Made a cuppa and walked across to the beach. Nice sheltered area for swimming. A light sprinkle of rain fell but we were protected by the she-oaks.
We walked out onto the Spit. View back to the beach and the other side of the canal.
I love all the murals - much nicer than blank walls.
Continued on across lots of canal waterways with their luxury homes.
Into Caloundra and up the hill overlooking Moffat and Shelly Beaches. So glad we aren’t towing a van - much easier with the camper to meander along these road and turn around when we get to a dead end!
Walked along to Moffat Head. Found a little friend.
At Moffat Head a chap was flying a remote-controlled glider. It was very windy but he had it under control.
An old house is dwarfed by the newer versions - it must be worth a mint!
Back to the M1 then south to Beerburrum State Forest.
We followed the signs to Coochin Creek campground. Now under National Parks so you have to book online. Managed to get enough signal and found a site free so booked it. It was just big enough for us. The creek is right beside us.
Steve went for a walk as he spotted 6 wheeled Toyota. I joined him and met Chloe who had been working with her partner in Kununurra. He had built the truck up for his work and for travelling but sadly passed away. She decided to continue with the travelling. We congratulated her on her courage and told her about Woodgate etc in case she wanted to have a look.
Checked out the info on the notice board.
Followed the path to the creek from the day use area where someone has their boat moored in a side creek. Then around to the corner to a nice platform area. A chap was trying to get some bait with his cast net. It had a hoop in it so it swung out in a nice circle - cheat’s version but much easier than the over-shoulder way Steve does it.
Chatted with another couple from Caloundra about the small sites as they could only just fit their van in theirs and had parked their car in another site. All the sites are booked out online but only half are full tonight. That’s the problem - people book but change their mind but don’t cancel so the sites remain empty. Lots of bush turkeys wandering about.
Had leftovers for dinner then played cards. Started reading the Len Beadell books that Roald lent us.
5th - Quiet morning reading. Ray rang saying he was still crook so we decided to book again for another night. Couldn’t get the site we were in but found a tent site and booked it. We moved to the day use area for the day which is allowable of course. Then we will stay for the night - shouldn’t be a problem as we have paid for the night.
Chatted with Mandy and Greg from Caloundra again. They were heading off to check out a land auction. They invited us to join them for drinks this afternoon.
The rangers came to clean the toilets and day use BBQs and tables - my whinge is all these facilities are here for free for day users but if you want to overnight you have to pay. We don’t use any of the facilities any case! The female ranger came over so I went out with my receipt number and explained what we were doing. She said it should be ok. As we were having lunch in the day use area I didn’t really have to explain as we are allowed to be there for the day! I should have mentioned the big bus that came in last night and parked up - bet he didn’t pay! That’s why the backpackers come in after dark so they don’t have to pay either.
Read more of our books - Len Beadall was such an interesting character and it is amazing reading about his life in the outback making all the roads etc.
Went for a walk along the road to the boat ramp - good fishing in Coochin Creek apparently. Map shows the area and where it flows into Pumicestone Channel at the northern of Bribie Island.
Continued walking along the dirt track by the creek. Found an old campsite area - this is why we lose camping areas when people are such filthy leaving their rubbish everywhere.
Lovely scent of the pine trees as we walk along then headed back to camp.
A few more people have come in with boats etc - someone parked where we were last night but the big caravan site is still vacant.
Drinks with Mandy and Greg - lovely couple. We had to huddle under their awning as a light shower of rain passed over. Then more rain fell so we headed back to the camper. The bus - Maryborough Tourer - came back again and parked in the day use near us.
6th - Terry’s 88th birthday today. Will ring him later, he will be enjoying a sleep-in.
Packed up and drove to township of Coochin Creek. Home of Donnybrook Berries - I laughed as Donnybrook in WA is renowned for its apples. I looked on the map and Donnybrook is a township just south of us. There is also a big turf farm called I Love Turf.
Houses along the water’s edge. We turned around at the boat ramp. I took a photo - looks like the fisherman is walking on water - must be a sand spit. It think the land on the other side is Bribie Island.
Back to Beerwah. Ray is feeling a bit better so will stay with them tonight. First we are going to check out the Glass House Mountains which we can see in the distance. We have passed them so many times I wanted to get off the motorway and check them out this time.
Across Coochin Creek, upstream. Spotted this interesting 3 wheel car.
Stopped at the Info Centre at Beerwah and picked up all the info and checked out the photos and info on the walls. I always wondered why they were called Glass House as they definitely aren’t see-through. It was the shape Captain Cook saw - reminded him of the factory furnace cones back in England.
Steve rang Terry for his birthday. They are having dinner out to celebrate.
Followed the mud map the chap gave me to Mount Tibrogargan (364m). The walk is around the base (4.1km return) through casuarina groves, open eucalypt and melaleuca forests.
As we made our way around we spotted the other Glass House Mountains. Mt Tibberoowuccum (220m).
Further away is Mt Tunbubudla (the Twins 338m & 296m).
Next is Mt Beerwah (556m) on left and Mt Coonowrin (377m) on right.
Continued on following that man in front!
Mt Ngungun (253m).
Nice bridge.
Use your imagination - what face can you see?
Through the trees we can just see Mt Beerburrum (280m).
That guy is still in front of me!
Back to the start - a couple more people are climbing up.
Headed west to the Glass House Mountains Lookout which was an old fire tower. Lots of information.
Inside shows all the mountains.
Had lunch in the park then continued through Caboolture to Morayfield. Dr Coox has moved here. He does the Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections to help worn out knees. Steve had it done by him in Cairns and as he knee was playing up I found where Dr Coox had moved to and made an appointment. We found where the Health Hub was then drove back to the Apex Park and Centenary Lake beside the Caboolture River to wait till his appointment at 2.30pm. More Ibis!
Steve read while I went for a walk. The whole area is a massive sporting complex. Lovely lake.
I continued along the path by the river and found the BMX track. Jon never raced at this one.
Went out onto the suspension bridge to take photos then headed back again.
We drove back to the Health Hub and put on our face masks - still mandatory inside at the moment. Dr Coox was happy to see out and said we could remove our masks as we were from Cairns. He got things organised straight way. The nurse took blood from Steve to be spun so the platelets could be removed. We had a cuppa in the camper in the car park then went back inside for Doc to inject the fluid behind his knee cap. Amazing. The nurse was very interested asking lots of questions so we learnt a heap as well.
All done, so we headed back through Caboolture then to the coast to Bribie Island. Our truck was originally owned by the Dept of Fisheries here on Bribie Island. Steve didn’t realise that at the time - explains a few spots of rust on the chassis that he fixed up.
Over the Pumicestone Passage bridge onto Bribie Island. We can see the Glass House Mountains clearly.
Along to Banksia Beach and found Ray & Carol’s place. Parked up on the grass then settled down with our drinks to catch up before dinner. Ray was feeling better but certainly not 100%.
7th - Sunnier day so I did the washing. Went for a drive with Ray and Carol in their Hot Rod check out the lovely parkland and all the canal estates. Doesn’t take long to go from one side to the other. We got lots of waves from people as we rumbled by.
Their neighbour dropped off a large flat-head he caught but didn’t want so the boys filleted it and we enjoyed it for dinner.
Played a few games of Skipbo which Ray and Carol enjoyed.
9pm the rain is back.
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