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.