Sun, 24th Sept, 2023 Rest Area, Ban Ban Springs, to Koehler Rest Area, Yamsion, Qld (Bunya Mountains)

7am 13.6 degrees, a bit clouds and breezy.

Continued on towards Goomeri as heavier cloud comes over.

Road condition not very good but less traffic. Rolling through brown grass covered hills.

Through the nice neat town of Goomeri and onto the Bunya Highway.

Cuppa at Murgon. Info Centre was closed - nice murals of things to do in the district.

Big plant market at Wondai (Terry was here recently with his caravan club rally).

Lots of little towns and dames to explore when we return and can slow down and crawl.

Into Kingaroy - should have asked Terry where the chap who restored great grandad’s steam engine (Albert Geck used it with his travelling sawmill) lives. Will have to call in and have a look one day. Terry, David & Bradley had a ride around it at his farm after he had completed the restoration. He has a few other Geck bits too.

Turned off onto the Bunya Mountain Road to meet up with Joan and Roald. They are here with Ben, Jacqui, Joel & Ella to celebrate Joel’s 13^th birthday yesterday. Should have thought about the fact it said mountains as to what the road was like. Into the Bunya Mountains National Park but have seen any Bunya Pines yet. Lots of Prickly Pear which I think is a pest but they don’t seem too worried about removing it as the trees are huge. Oh dear a tight steep hill climb - oops. Another radiator test and we got a bit hot so he definitely will be working on that issue. Got to 111 degrees on his gauge but the one on the dash didn’t move! We pulled off at the top and the temperature dropped quickly which was good as those fans moved the air through the radiator. It is a very narrow road too so luckily we haven’t met many cars. Through thicker bush and tall trees which are overhanging the road.

Passed one of the NP campgrounds - only for tents and small camper trailers according to the info. Kept winding along the narrow road past a couple of picnic spots where walks go from then another campground. Spotted some tall Bunya Pines at last.

At last we got to the Village. Pulled up as a horse and carriage trundled by.

Steve went for a wander and found a spot to park opposite another more open campground. A few vans in there so there must be a easier way to come up! Lots of big Bunyas here. The markets are on too.

Sent a text to Joan so Roald could walk down and meet us as their rental house is in a gated community. Very nice but they are on slopes so not much free parking so glad we stopped where we did. No fences either so it is nice and open and they have the tall Bunya and Cypress Pines and bush at the back. Great to see them all again. Fabulous house with a lovely fireplace that was on as it was quite chilly outside with the nippy wind. They get lots of birds visiting, Crimson Rosellas, Currawongs, Splendid Blue Wrens, King Parrots and Cockatoos who all come in for a feed. There are a few wallabies about but a wild dog is roaming and has been killing off a few.

A Currawong and then Rosellas came in for some seed which they ate out of the kids’ hands.

The info about the area and walks etc. Will have to come back. There is another road from Nanango/Maidenwell to get up here - might be the best one for us.

Joan and Jacqui made a delicious lunch then we shared in some of Joel’s birthday cake which was very rich but very nice.

Everyone walked back with us to check out the truck. The boys had to look at the new engine too of course.

Said farewell then headed back out then up the road a bit to JS Fisher Lookout. The sign said we are on Mt Mowbullan (1107m). There was a track going further up the mount but we just walked over to the platform overlooking one of the many bikes tracks around here. They are fighting a battle with disease killing off the Bunya Pines so boots, bikes etc have to be cleaned.

Further along to a knoll and more information and panoramic views.

Continued on down, thank goodness, the hill though it is very tight, windy and steep too and Steve reckons would be steeper to climb than the way we came up. More Prickly Pear.

Down through grass lands to a nice 20hr rest area (was 48hr on Wikicamps) by a dry creek. The ‘Happy Family’ birds came to greet us but wandered off when we didn’t have anything for them to eat.

Across the park and across the road is a plough statue in memory of the Koehler family.

View back across park and our home for the night.

Did some cross stitch as we have pulled up early and Steve read.

Drinks then early showers as it has cooled off quickly. A cold wind is blowing in so closed up the camper. It was a maximum of 22 today which was ok as long as you were standing in the sun. Minimum for tomorrow morning is 6 degrees!!

Watched a movie and Steve put on the heater to make sure it was still working so we were very comfortable as the temperature dropped outside.

 

Sat, 23rd Sept, 2023 Granite Creek Rest Area, south of Miriam Vale to Rest Area, Ban Ban Springs, Qld (Brian’s birthday)

16.7 degrees at 6.30am. Birds and traffic started earlier!

A few clouds about and breezy. Will ring Brian for his birthday later when we are with Terry. Received an email back from Carinna, daughter of Terry Geck in USA who is the founder of Stagecoach Sauces. Maralyn had noticed it. Lovely message from her and glad to see if there is any family connection. Her aunt Joyce has done the family tree so I will try and get in contact with her to find the family connection. Sent the email on to Maralyn and David too.

We headed off - more clouds as we near Bundaberg. Very dry here so no need for the mower man but Churches of Christ are looking after him and instead of the mowing they have cleaned windows and anything else he needs a hand with which is great.

Steve got to work on the broken exhaust bracket - Terry has a welder so he was able to modify it so that should fix the problem.

Had a cuppa and rang Brian for his birthday. The wind has picked up. Terry said it was very strong yesterday. Not going to help our fuel economy if we have to push into this as we head south.

Terry and I continued chatting while Steve continued with his repairs. He also changed the breather again in the fuel filler section so hopefully we will have no more problems in filling up.

Everything fixed so we had lunch with Terry then headed off. First to the service station - yeah it filled up easily though we were nearly blown over by the strong wind. Around to the dump point then back on the road towards Childers.

Turned off towards Biggenden. A new road to mark on our map though Steve remembers coming along this road in his younger days coming down to Woodgate when they were living at Mitchell.

Windy road through hills and grazing land. Nice view of Mt Walsh as we near Biggenden.

Pulled into the rest area at Ban Ban Springs for the night. There is water is bubbling up and flowing this time.

When we were here in Jan 2021 it was dry but the Bottle Tree had leaves.

We drove back around to a grassy area beside the waterhole and set up camp. As I followed Steve down to look at the water I commented about watching out for snakes in the grass and Steve spotted a shiny black one under the tree. The snake quickly went under the leaves so we went back to the camper and closed the door!

Bit cool outside so had our drinks inside and early shower as I think it is going to be a bit chilly tonight.

 

Fri, 22nd Sept, 2023 Dale’s place, Mackay to Granite Creek Rest Area, south of Miriam Vale, Qld

6.30am 18 degrees, heavy fog. Ray’s birthday today so sent off a message.

Headed off after saying thanks to Dale for his help and his front lawn!

Filled up with diesel ($2.195/L). Got 4.8km/L (20.8L/100km) which is better than the previous motor (4.1km/L - 23 to 25L/100km) so that’s a plus considering we had been pushing through a head wind a lot of the way. Hopefully it will get better as the motor is run in.

Drove back to the Ring Road to avoid the lights and traffic through Mackay - much better. The sky looks heavy with smoke but I can’t smell so might just be the fog being held low. Carol pointed out that it is now pronounced Mackay as in Mack ‘hay’ whereas we have been saying Mack ‘hi’ for years - apparently a Mayor way back changed the pronunciation to enhance the town whereas it was named after Mr Mackay (pronounced with the hay).

The smoky/foggy sky continued but then cleared when we neared Sarina. We passed where we were broken down in July with the blown turbo so that’s a good sign.

The smoky sky is back. Spotted some brolgas by the road near Carmila.

Stopped for a cuppa at Clareview - blue sky and tide is out.

The WAGS (or CWA) had a market of all kinds of things and Steve spotted some yummy desserts so we got a delicious passionfruit cheesecake to have with our cuppas. I also bought a bottle of mango chilli sauce which is great for salads and as a dipping sauce.

The smoky sky is back as we near Malborough. Steve is happy with the temperature (around 93 degrees) with the new fans. He turned them off when we were driving along at 100k/h and the temp went up 3 degrees so even at that speed the fans were pulling more air through. Sent Dale a text with the temperature update.

The road from St Lawrence seems a lot rougher - too many trucks!

The smoke haze disappeared again about 50km from Rocky. Strange! Puffy white clouds are we head into town through more road works. Saw some silos painted up with big words - Start Rocky Bypass 2023 You Promised. Certainly would be a good idea as we worked our way through all the street lights and out the other side and headed to Bouldercombe to visit Jeff. Lyn is still away with their daughter in UK, having a great time which is wonderful.

Jeff had cooked up some Barra, chips and homegrown beans & peas for lunch which we wonderful of him. Chatted away for a while then he had to head into town so we headed off too.

Stopped at Mt Larcom for a cuppa and watched the coal trains whiz by.

Continued on and stopped for fuel at a cheap Liberty servo but the fuel was burping out again so Steve gave up and will have a look at it when we get to Terry’s tomorrow. Strange it worked perfectly last fill up!

Pulled into Granite Creek rest area, south of Miriam Vale for the night. Only one other van here at 5pm. Nice area but the birds and road noise is loud till night fall then things quietened down. Much cooler too.

More vans etc pulled in for the night.

 

 

 

Thurs, 21st Sept, 2023 Dale’s place, Mackay, Qld

Clear blue sky, 17 degree minimum.

Steve modifying the fan for the radiator. Dale had a spare Ford XR6 twin electric fans that pull more air than the current ones so hopefully that will help keep the radiator cool. The intercooler is in front of it now which blocks the air whereas as the old engine the intercooler was on the top under the bonnet. No room to put it up there now - Steve had to modify the bonnet scoop as it is to fit the turbo! Will find out tomorrow whether the new fans will do the trick. He also modified the shroud to allow more air to come through too.

I wrote up my blog and then started on the second baby cross stitch. Will do one bit on each one so I can complete them together. Facebook reminded me that it was Tom’s birthday so sent him off a message.

Had drinks with Dale then I cooked us all dinner and we chatted and laughed into the night reminiscing. There are lots of stories still I haven’t heard of the boys’ lives before I came on the scene.

 

 

Wed, 20th Sept, 2023 Bluewater Rest Area, north of Townsville to Dale’s place, Mackay, Qld

7am 19 degrees, clear sky and lots of dew on the roof. Lots of bird poop too as we were parked under a tree!!

Headed off through the roadworks. Even the new Motorway around Townsville had roadworks. Into Ayr and around the Nev and Carol’s for morning tea. She let Mark & Debbie know we were coming so they called in too. We had a great morning catching up and reminiscing about the good old days racing Formulas and the parties afterwards.

Continued on, across the Burdekin River which was dry. You can see the old footings of the old bridge below. Into Home Hill where we stopped for lunch at the Lions Park which had lots of information to read in the shelter shed too.

Great photo of the old bridge and information about the river and dam.

Great info about the sugar cane industry too. I was thinking when we passed the Sugar Cane Museum at Mourilyan that I should go through that to put up sugar cane info but it is all here.

Continued on. More roadworks as we approach the turn off to Bowen. That has to be the worst intersection on the Bruce Highway and they aren’t improving it with the roadworks.

Stopped for a cuppa in the rest area opposite the Big Mango. Nice view across the water.

Steve rang Griffo to give him and update. Moving the radiator for the automatic made a big difference to the auto temp but no change with the main radiator. He thinks he will have to change the new shroud we bought with the new radiator and put in stronger fans to pull the air through to keep the temperature happy. The gauge on the dash never moves but the one on the boost gauge tells the accurate temp so he wants to keep that under control. Will try Dale’s Ford fans as they are stronger and see how that goes when we get to his place.

Back to our spot on the grass out the front of Dale’s place. At least this time we didn't arrive on the back of a tilt tray!! He has dinner with his daughter and grandkids so we will see him when he gets home. Set up camp.

Kaye had messaged about trying to catch up with us on the way down so I rang her back with our plans. Also Kerry & Brian are heading across to NT and wanted info on the area around the Oodnadatta Track to gave her a call back too and will send her the map from the Pink Roadhouse that we used to find the attractions etc.

Drinks while playing cards then dinner.

Dale arrived back with his son, Senan and this lovely lady, Laura. So nice to see Senan again - all grown up now.