Thurs, 26th Oct, 2023 Leanne & Rick’s place, Wivenhoe Pocket to Cruice Park Rest Area, near Woodford, Qld

Lovely waking to all the different bird songs except for the crow! The horses sounds are tranquil too. Clear sky though rain predicted today.

Packed up and said farewell to Leanne & Rick.

Back across the Brisbane River and then back down to David’s place at Thalgoona to pick up a Ford fan he had there, just in case Steve needs another one in his attempt to solve the ‘overheating up hills’ issue. Had a cuppa then headed off again. Grey clouds are starting to build.

Leanne sent a message saying a koala was back in the tree.

Onto a new road we haven’t marked on the map yet. Heading to Gatton following the Cobb & Co Tourist Trail but we didn’t stop to check out any signs. Googled it and found - “The drive celebrates the first mail route awarded to Cobb & Co in Qld when, on January 1, 1866 the mail service commenced from Brisbane to Ipswich. Passengers and mail heading further west were taken from Ipswich to Grandchester (Qld’s oldest railway station) by train and then by another Cobb & Co coach for the rest of the journey to Toowoomba. The drive follows the railway line and the original Cobb & Co route between Ipswich and Gatton.” Through Rosewood then Grandchester - both nice little places surrounded by rural properties and rolling hills though all brown at the moment

Through Laidley - lots of lovely purple blooms on the Jacaranda trees and old Queenslander homes but on lower poles so not enough room to walk under them.

Out of town then turned off to check out Lake Dyer. Passed a field of cabbages - we can recognise those. As we turned in we met a big man-made wall which turned out to be the edge of the dam. Around to the picnic area for a wander then lunch.

The wind has picked up as we continued on towards Gatton. Through Forest Hill - all this area is black soil country. Easy to identify what was growing in the fields here as there are cotton tuffs everywhere. More cabbages too.

Topped up with diesel as a little servo before Gatton ($2.119/L), the app is good for finding the cheaper places. Nice lady in the shop loved our geckos too.

Turned off and up to Esk passing lots of different fruit trees. Rolling up and down hills through more bigger rural properties.

Into Esk - we came here with Leanne & Rick for a wander on a previous visit.

Continued northward onto the Brisbane Valley Road. Turned off onto the D’Aguilar Highway which I heard a truckie call the Dag. Across the Brisbane River.

Through rolling hills like the Tablelands but all brown at the moment. No sign of the storm and rain yet that is forecast for today. Into Kilcoy - birthplace of Dad’s mother, Ivy. Stopped for a cuppa at the park then continued on to the overnight free camp before Woodford. Chose a spot.

We stopped here last year and I think some of these ‘homeless’ were here then too. I think the council has given up trying to move them with the rental crisis at the moment. Some have boats, big pot plants, and other household stuff but mostly neat and tidy. Big dogs too which I was glad to see where tied up.

After we set up I went for a wander. Leichhardt plaque.

In the middle of the park was a lovely doorway pointing out the site of the original homestead, Durundur, home of the Archer Brothers who settled this area in 1841.

Cooling down with a good breeze but no rain as we had our drinks and played Skipbo.

Steve has started drawing a plan to redo the roof as we are having issues with our actuators so that will keep him and Daniel busy when we get home again in March.