10th to 17th July, 2023 Jon & Annalise’s place, Cairns, Qld

Mon, 10^th

Sunny with some clouds. Jon left bright and early to head to Adelaide and pick up a mini van to drive all the way back up to Moura for his work. Hope he has a safe trip.

Got my washing on and hopefully there will be enough sunshine to dry it all.

Sent an email again to Diesel Conversions Australia and at last he replied. He said it is due to be picked up by the freight company on Wednesday and he will then send us the tracking number etc. He then sent me the freight cost to pay so I got that paid straight away so there is no more delay! Might be here by early next week. Went through Steve’s ‘shopping’ list and ordered more bits he needs.

We went over to Kaylene and Rick’s for a cuppa then I went shopping with Kaylene for shoes for the wedding while Steve stayed and chatted with Rick. They are planning a few days up the Palmer later in the week.

 

Tues, 11^th

Spits of rain and grey sky.

The transmission arrived at Dan’s workplace so Steve went down and checked it out - all good.

Russell had posted up a post on FB about a lady who has a mobile hair cutting business for around Kanimbla. I gave her a call and arranged for the big chop tomorrow.

 

Thurs, 13^th

Joined Wendy at Brothers for lunch with the line dancing ladies. Jan is the instructor and does a beginners class on Friday afternoons so we will go as we can’t remember the steps etc after all these years. It was a very long lunch then cuppas as we talked the afternoon away. So great to see the ‘girls’ again.

David sent a photo of Terry when he picked up his new Avan caravan.

 

Fri 14^th

It’s been 4 months since Erica’s passing.

Steve left early to meet Rick and head up to the Palmer River for a bit of R&R before the big engine job starts.

Belinda “Cuts on the Run” came over and she did a marvellous job making me lighter and brighter again by shortening my hair to shoulder length and a bit of layering. Annalise took a before and after photo.

After lunch Annalise and I went to meet Wendy for line dancing - beginners class with Jan. Annalise was a good sport and had a go - she was pretty good too. Things slowly came back to us - remembering names of steps etc so will continue to go for the exercise and it is a lot of fun and we love the music.

Rang Terry - very happy with his van and was able to back it easily into the back carport. He is going to get it out tomorrow for some practice in setting it up and then join the Caravan Club at the next rally which will be great.

 

Sat 15^th

Quiet morning finishing off the cross stitch for the wedding while Annalise was at work. The rain is easing.

Annalise straightened my hair for a comparison - I prefer it wavy.

Technology is great for communications as Jon and Annalise video chat every night when he is away. I am teaching her how to play 3 to Kings as she and Jon love cards and board games. Two weeks till they are Mr & Mrs Geck.

 

Sun 16^th

I put my washing on but hung it in the shed in case a rain shower comes over.

Picked up Greg and met Graham and Sharon at Mountain View Hotel for lunch with their friend Annie and family. Had a great time catching up.

So much for rain easing - had the heaviest showers today! Lucky I put the washing in the shed!

Annalise cooked spaghetti for dinner tonight - just like old times with Mum & Dad, Sunday is spaghetti night. We played cards - she wasn’t lucky at that but she won Sequence so all is good. Jon rings each night so it is lovely to hear how his day has gone.

 

Mon 17^th

Went to TBay to see the girls. All fenced and locked after 9am so had to go through the reception so caught up with a couple of old faces there. Principal has changed too. The girls were hard at work in the Tuckshop so I made the cuppas and caught up on the news. Will pop in again to give them a hand when I am free. So hard to get more reliable staff so the girls are still slogging along.

Around to visit Rebecca and Clive and catch up on their news.

Sunnier today so got home for lunch and took the washing off the line. Finally I have caught up with my blog.

 Cooked dinner for Annalise then we played 3 to Kings. Luck wasn't going her way to start but in the end she came out the victor by a huge margin.

 

 

Sun, 9th July, 2023 Bilyana Rest Area, south of Tully to Jon & Annalise’s place, Cairns, Qld

Russell’s birthday - sent him a FB message. Will catch up with him soon.

17.7 degrees, clear sky.

Back on the road again heading north which is getting more clouds. Forecast is for misty rain for the next week in Cairns!

Bright white cloud on top of the mountain above Tully - the sun must have caught it.

The sugar mill is in full swing too making its own clouds with the steam.

A sign says 5,350 bananas needed to make one kilometre. It was from when they created the world’s longest banana split during the Feast of Senses Festival in 2017 according to the info online. I did a screen-shot of some info. It was actually laid out in a paddock. I was wondering how they laid the bananas along the side of the highway between these signs which showed how many bananas per kilometre till we reached the last one which said 43,000 bananas = 8.04km. As it was a banana split they also had 2500 litres of icecream and 2000 litres of topping. Looks like they had a lot of fun making it.

Stopped for a cuppa at the Babinda Rest Area, lots of travellers here too. Overcast and cool. Kaylene rang to see how we were travelling.

We can see the Pyramid - nearly home. They still haven’t finished the roadworks around Gordonvale. Though the section before Edmonton is done and it is very good.

Into Cairns and up to Jon’s place. Strange to be driving back up our old street but turning up the hill to his place instead of down the hill to our old place. Steve and Jon sorted out the parking issue while I chatted with Annalise. Decided to park down by the shed so he backed in and we got the camper off. Thought it might have been a bit difficult with the slope but it worked out well. This will be home for a couple of months.

So lovely to see Jon and Annalise again and to be here and involved in their wedding.

After lunch we went out to Greg’s to pick up the Corolla to use while the truck is out of action.

Annalise’s mum, Lynda came over and her sister-in-law Taylor was up for a friend’s wedding so we had a lovely time chatting over dinner.

 

Sat, 8th July, 2023 Dale’s place, Mackay to Bilyana Rest Area, south of Tully, Qld (Dad & Ella’s birthdays)

23 months since Dad passed on and it would have been his birthday today too. Ella’s birthday so wishing her a lovely day via FB message.

Bit chilly this morning, 14.4 degrees. Lucky I didn’t pack the blankets away. Clear sky.

Packed up and thanked Dale for his front lawn and hospitality. Will call in on our way south later in the year so he can check out the new Cummins engine.

Headed off with smoke still puffing out of the exhaust. Dale texted after a while to check we were going ok - all good so far.

Stopped for a cuppa at Proserpine - still smelly.

Aah - the joys of the Bruce Highway - continuous road works.

Lunch at a rest area. Steve topped up the oil otherwise all good.

Jon texted that he will be home till Monday morning which is great as we ‘fingers crossed’ will arrive Sunday arvo. We have a good tail wind which is helping too.

More roadworks on the Townsville Bypass so we are only doing 60 on the ‘motorway’ but at least there isn’t any lights to slow things down. The Supercars are zooming around the street circuit here but we won’t be stopping. Will watch the highlights later and see if we can spot Bryce’s tow truck.

Stopped at Bluewater for a cuppa. An old friend of Terry & Erica’s rang returning my call to her when we were in Bundy. She had been on a trip so only just got the message. Will take Terry down to visit her later in the year when we are back down that way.

Into Cardwell. Uncle John rang to see how the engine changeover was going. We had a lovely chat with him and said we will keep him updated with the progress. I said we are planning to visit him in January.

Continued on. In a truck rest stop we spotted the Travelling Jackeroo. Steve had read about him on Facebook. Sam Hughes is only 18 and decided to travel in his tractor towing a trailer which has a small aeroplane body on the roof. He is raising money for rural mental health. We gave him a toot as we passed. I didn’t get a photo.

We pulled in to the Bilyana Rest Area and found a spot with all the other travellers.

A bit later we saw Sam and his tractor meander by - shame he didn’t call in here.

Rang Terry, David and Dale and sent the boys texts of our progress. Roald and Joan rang too about the wedding so we will be seeing them soon too.

All quiet here, only a truck or too zooming by once it got dark.

 

6th & 7th July, 2023 Dale’s place, Mackay, Qld

Thurs, 6^th

19.6 degrees, clear sky.

Dale headed off to work. We spent a few house ringing car wreckers throughout Qld trying to find a secondhand turbo. We ended up finding one at Jap Motors in Townsville and they were kind enough to get it straight onto the courier so it should arrive tomorrow.

Steve got to work pulling everything out ready for when the replacement arrives. All this work then when we get to Cairns he has to pull it all out again ready for the new engine. At least the new engine has a bigger turbo.

Nice to be back in the tropics again, max 33.4 degrees in the camper - had to put my fan on while I worked on my blog. Steve just got hot out in the sun under the bonnet - he loves it! At least it isn’t raining.

Lots of comments after I posted up the camper on the tilt tray! Lou said ‘all this talk about a heart transplant for the truck and the lungs have died!’ Shane & Doreen posted a comment and I replied we were looking forward to seeing them in Cairns. She replied they won’t get there as they had to head south again for more caravan repairs. Then I found out they were in Mackay so I said we are too so they drove around and we had great time chatting. Fancy that after all the times we have tried to meet up on the road we meet in Mackay. Dale came back from work and we chatted the afternoon away.

Showed Dale my blog using his internet on the TV - easier moving the cursor on a computer screen though. We revisited the Kimberley Cruise for him which was great for us to look at again too.

 

Fri 7^th

18 degrees this morning. Windows were open but no need for the big blanket now.

At last we received an email from Wholesale Automatics saying the transmission was on its way from Melbourne and will get to Cairns next week. No new yet from DCA about the motor - I hate not being able to ring them and having to rely just on emails. He had emailled on the 2^nd saying it was ready but as we weren’t there they were waiting - which was stupid as we said to send it to Dan’s workplace. I found a Facebook page of others doing the conversion and it was interesting or alarming in some, to read the comments. I hope we aren’t going to have any issues like some people have had.

Yeah, the turbo arrived at 1pm so Steve got to work. Dale offered moral support etc.

Fozzie rang after seeing the post so check we were ok. All connected and the engine started though there is still a lot of oil in the exhaust system that will have to burn out so we will be smelly for quite a while.

While we were having a drink Paul rang so they all had a good chat. The speaker on phones is a great thing.

Much cooler this afternoon. Another lovely evening chatting with Dale.

 

 

Wed, 5th July, 2023 Waverley Creek Rest Area, south of St Lawrence to Dale’s place, Mackay, Qld

21 degrees and that wet feeling on everything from the rain overnight. Quick breakfast then back on the road.

The sun is trying to burn through the clouds as we head northward. Stopped for some diesel at a little place, Ilbilbie then through another little township of Koumala. Crossed over the creek on the north side and heard a loud pop. I thought it was a tyre but the sensors didn’t go off then Steve went oh no as he saw white smoke pouring out the exhaust pipe. He knew the turbo had blown. There was not much room off the side of the road as there was a deep gutter but he got off enough where there was a culvert. He checked things over and he was right.

I rang a few Mackay towing companies but wasn’t have much luck. At last we got onto Bryce at Steerys Towing and he was able to come and pick us up later in the afternoon. He wouldn’t be able to get us where we were so Steve went for a walk and found a firm track back at the creek that we could back up into so the tilt tray could get off the highway and load us on. Steve got the truck going and we smoked out the highway (oil down the exhaust pipe) as we turned around and went back the 100m to the track. Backed in and made lunch. Rang Greg & Kristine to say we won’t be making it then rang Dale to see if we can park up on his front lawn. Luckily he is in town so that will be great. Rang Terry and sent the boys a text.

Bryce arrived with his shiny new truck - all sparkly for the Townsville Supercars that start on Friday. He will be one of the tow vehicles around the track. Lovely chap and he got us loaded on easily and off we went to Mackay.

Around to Dale’s place and he backed us up on the side grass by the driveway. Such wonderful friendly service but we hope we never need him again. Much cheaper than the trip on the Gibb too!

Steve got to work under the bonnet and it was definitely the turbo but luckily nothing else. We nearly made it back to Cairns. After all the remote places we have been it was lucky it did it here so we could get help - always good to look on the brighter side as it could always have been worse. Dale came home from work.

I had looked up Eclipse Turbo’s phone number from when we had the replacement in Darwin last year. Unfortunately there was no answer and then I checked the website and it has closed. Obviously their turbos weren’t doing the job and they have gone out of business. Well they certainly didn’t do the job for us. Now to try and find a secondhand one tomorrow from a wreckers so we can get back to Cairns.

Had a good night chatting with Dale and watching car shows etc on his big TV screen.

 

Tues, 4th July, 2023 Terry’s place, Bundaberg to Waverley Creek Rest Area, south of St Lawrence, Qld (Mum’s birthday)

Remembering my special mother on the day of her birth.

Light rain through the night but no raining this morning as we packed up the camper which is great.

Finished off the last bits for Terry with a visit to Telstra to change his prepaid plan so he has unlimited calls now. Had a quick lunch and said farewell. Will see him at the end of the month for the wedding.

Overcast sky but quite bright as we headed back to Gin Gin. Heavier rain between Gin Gin and Miriam Vale. Newly finished road was smooth. A truck went over the wide middle line space and flicked a rock up at us and it hit the windscreen just above Steve line of sight. Luckily we have the free replacement each year. We only get rocks when we are on bitumen!!

Light sprinkles of rain to Gladstone where we visited Annalise’s maternal grandparents, Graham and Anne, so we could pick up boxes of vases for the wedding. Lovely couple and great location for their house with a fabulous view over the water. Will see them again soon.

Back onto the Bruce Highway and continued through rain to Bouldercombe near Rockhampton for a short visit with Jeff and Lyn. They are both doing well have a bout with Covid. 

Decided to keep going so we can get to Ayr tomorrow so see Greg & Kristine at their new house. Back to the highway and through Rockhampton, road works nearly finished. Had to stop for a bit while some Army chaps tried to get one of their vehicles out of a ditch after it had rolled. Slippery steep bank so they might be at it for a while.

Pulled into the big rest area before Waverley Creek, south of St Lawrence. Lots of travellers here but we found a spot and had a very late dinner then read for a bit before getting into bed.

 

1st to 3rd July, 2023 Terry’s place, Bundaberg, Qld

Sat, 1st 

Another cool morning, 10 degrees though the forecast was for 7.

Noted the Odometer so I could work out our finances etc over the last financial year. We have covered 21,351 kilometres.

Paid for the automatic now they have sent us an invoice. It will be sent now to Dan’s workplace. Still waiting for an email from DCA as to when they are freighting the motor as their last email said it ready. No phone contact so it is a bit frustrating not being able to ring someone.

Drove out to one of Terry’s van club friends, Ken, to return the wheelchair and commode he had lent him. He does a lot of lapidary and gave me a polished petrified timber pendant.

Jon rang - enjoying the new challenges with the gas and oil crew though its a bit chilling during the night shift.

 

Sun, 2^nd

11 degrees, a bit cloudy. Went to Shallom Markets for a wander. Strange doing these things without Erica.

More clouds are building. I am slowly catching up on my blog.

The sky was clear when we headed back into the camper after dinner.

 

Mon, 3^rd

15 degrees, overcast and grey sky but still ok for our walk which we have done each morning.

Gordon and Shiela sent us an email - they had dramas with their battery failing west of Boulia so had an ‘adventure’ getting to Boulia to get a new one.

Light rain has started.

 

 

 

 

Wed, 28th to 30th June, 2023 Terry’s place, Bundaberg, Qld

 

Wed, 28^th 

13 degrees, clear sky. Got the washing on as the forecast is for heavy rain from Sunday on. Did some shopping and looked at a bookcase for Terry. He and David had gotten rid of the two organs so the wall was bare.

 

 

Thurs, 29^th

One month till Jon marries Annalise.

David came up for a visit so we went for lunch at Brothers then drove around to the Trading Post and found a nice timber low bookcase which Terry liked. The caravan shop chap came around to check out the old van as a trade-in. Terry agreed on the price so he and the boys went around to sign the paperwork for his new Avan caravan. 

A shower of rain in the afternoon.

 

Fri, 30^th

Cool morning, 10.5 degrees. Clear sky again.

I got Erica’s clothes etc sorted and bagged for the Salvation Army Store. Cleaned up some more things around the house. Steve and Terry closed up the van ready for the chap to collect it from the Van shop. They then sorted out a few things in the shed.

Cold day - only got to 20 degrees even with the sun out.

 

 

 

Tues, 27th June, 2023 Gravel pit, south of Springsure to Terry’s place, Bundaberg, Qld

13.9 degrees. Vehicles started early on the highway so we got up and got moving. Clear sky.

Continued eastward on the Dawson Highway. Passed the turn off to Rolleston Coal Mine. Through honey coloured grass cattle country. Then a big field of lush green which stands out.

Through a quiet neat town of Rolleston. Continued on - the road needs maintenance. Deep trenches where the left wheels go and quite bumpy but there’s no dust! Luckily there is not much traffic on this road. Passed a sign that said ‘keep to centre unless overtaking’ as the edges of the road are rough! Haven’t see that before.

Caught up with a cattle truck going up a hill and saw a sign, Expedition Range 445m. We let the truck roll on as we headed down again. The cotton fluffs have continued along the road edge. Pulled off for a cuppa near a bottle tree.

Bright orange leaves or blooms stand out.

The RVs are back. Across the Dawson River which has plenty of water. Lovely big free camp on the other side overlooking the water.

Into Moura - another neat country town with a nicely painted water tank.

Big coal mine area with tailing ‘hills’ in the distance which are slowly getting covered in trees.

Into Banana - named after a bullock, not the yellow bent fruit! We stopped at the park to take ‘Banana’s photo and read the information boards. From Wikipedia - The town’s name is from a dun-coloured working bullock named Banana, used by the local stockmen to help them when herding some of the wilder cattle into the yards. The Post Office was established in September 1861.

Nice War memorial too.

Continued through the grazing country with a range on our right. Someone smart at Main Roads has created the best signs for overtaking lanes - Let Overtaking Vehicles Pass. How many times that you are stuck behind someone for them to speed up when they get to the overtaking lane as it is straight and you can’t then get by them!!

Spotted the power station cooling tower in the distance. Goggled it - CS Energy’s callide power station near Biloela has been taken off the grid. One unit has been out of action since a catastrophic explosion in May 2021, then another turbine unit was taken offline as a precaution after a cooling tower partially collapsed on Monday (4 Nov 2022).

Into Biloela which is the end of the Dawson Highway. Onto the Burnett Highway now. Topped up with diesel $1.729 - bit of a different to the $2.90 we had been paying. Biloela is a bigger town - has a shopping centre.

Continued on to Thangool to have lunch in the park.

Continued on the Burnett Highway. Quick photo as we passed the nice mural on the side of Lawgi Dawson Hall.

Nice views as we roll up and down the low hills. Lots of big cactus (or is that cacti) by the road. I thought they were a pest.

Steep climb up Coominglah Range then a steep descent. Across 3 Moon Creek into Monto. Pulled into a park and checked out the statue of a local jockey hero The Monto Marvel, Kenny Russell, tragically killed at Rosehill in 1993.

Through Monto - another neat town. Continued towards Eidsvold - birthplace of Stephen. Nice silo art at 3 Moons.

Pulled in for an early cuppa at Ceratodus Rest Area on the high bank of the upper reaches of the Burnett River. Nice open area with plenty of room. A few travellers have pulled up for the night. We wandered around and checked out the relocated train station and plaque of Traylan, an old police outpost.

Back on the road and across the river which is dry here. 

Turned left onto Kerwee Road towards Mt Perry which will take us across to Gin Gin then on to Bundaberg.

Up and down the hills through cattle grazing country again. Lots of dead trees. Around the edge of Mungy State Forest that Steve’s dad, Terry, would have worked in while working for the forestry department in Eidsvold.

Winding along Possum Range. Stopped at R A Schuh’s Lookout. Nice view though the trees have grown and blocked a wider view.

Steep descent down the edge of the range.

Into Mt Perry - another lovely country town with lots of old timber homes. Gold and copper have been mined here.

Passed a sign to watch out for Koalas - now that would be great to see one up in a tree.

Continued on towards Gin Gin. Passed the turn off to Boolboonda Tunnel that we have to come back and explore - was too wet on our last visit. Will definitely do it when we come back for Terry’s 90^th birthday in November.

Onto the Bruce Highway for a brief bit as we drover through Gin Gin then we turned off towards Bundaberg. Back into the green landscape of sugar cane country.

Through Sharon - a little township. Over the Burnett River on the ‘newer’ bridge.

Around to Steve’s parents place but of course only Terry here now as we said goodbye to Erica in March. Parked up on the front lawn and got sorted then joined Terry on the porch for a drink while we watch all the cars zoom by. Terry is looking great and is coping well with life by himself.

Rang Dan & Fran and caught up on their news. Texted Jon and he rang to say he was in Moura - where we had just been. His work had a change of plans and now he is here in Qld working on the company’s oil and gas section so that will be a new challenge for him.

Lovely evening chatting with Terry. So glad he is getting along well.