Sat 17th Jan, 2026 Geck Family beach house, Woodgate to Mal Chard Memorial RV Park, Howard, Qld (Howard history)

Overcast sky. Mummy with a joey in the pouch was nibbling on the grass beside the camper - noisy cruncher.

After breakfast we started packing up ready to put the camper back on the truck. Misty rain started to fall. Paul came over to say bye again and watched as we raised the camper, backed in the truck and lowered it back down again - easy on flat ground.

Locked up downstairs and turned off the water and power then headed out of Woodgate. The sea is calm but it is still overcast and not so beautiful.

Back to the main road and on to Childers for some groceries and a yummy cream bun from the bakery. Around to the RV Spot for a cuppa and cream bun. Chatted with a couple from Brisbane who had just picked up their Explorer Motorhome - bigger version of Clive & Rebecca’s. The chap told us about his fancy toilet - it lays out a bag - you do your business then it heat seals the bag and drops it in a container - no smell, no fuss. Bit it costs a fortune! It was designed for use by NASA he said.

Back to the highway and headed south. Turned off into Howard and parked in the 48hr RV Stop. Very hot but there is a nice breeze so not too bad in the shade. Wandered across to read the info board about the hall. A tribute to all the local men who fought in WW1 too. Who would have thought that knowing how to dig tunnels to get to coal could have been so important in the war.

Continued along Bellert Park - 6 generations of this family have worked in the area.

At the Skate Park we read the info.

I noticed the Museum closes at 12 so we took a quick photo of the railway station across the road. The sun came out so the the board was hard to read.

Headed back to the museum.

Only $3 each. Lots of interesting things inside.

Howard Power Plant. The township post WW2 - looks different now.

The lady then showed us their 1924 Model T Ford Bus - built in Canada - they use it for events.

They have a little railway line that goes around the buildings for their open days etc. We went into the old Mining Office to check out the remainder of the info. There are no mines or tunnels to visit other than a smoke stack but it isn’t signposted.

We thanked the lady and headed back to the main street. Very hot and muggy as we walked around the block. The Grand Hotel, est 1899. Other buildings are private residences now.

On the corner was the WW1 memorial. Forgot to take a photo of the soldier statue!

Back into the camper for a late lunch with the fans on. The lovely breeze comes in the kitchen window but I am in the corner so don’t get it!

A bit more info from the brochure the lady gave us at the Museum.

Decided to stay here for the night so set up camp.

The dark clouds that were building in the SE eventually brought a misty shower over us but it didn’t cool things down. Up to 33 degrees in the camper. There is a nice breeze outside so Steve was comfortable with his book in the shade. I had the fans on and continued with our NZ itinerary.

Cuppa time so packed up my laptop and went outside to read. Video chat with Jon and his darlings then rang Terry to say we had headed off.

Lots of bird song here and some toots from the trains as they pass by. The cicadas are very loud in the bush on the other side of the railway line. Steve can’t hear them - will have to get his hearing checked when we get back to Cairns! He has Tinnitus so that probably explains it.

The dark clouds have headed west. I noticed a post from Donna about a storm that just hit their place near Yarraman so looked up the BOM radar and there was a storm alert and it is heading our way.

As night fell we could see the lightning flashing in the west but it looks like the storm will dissipate before it gets to us - thank goodness.

Two caravanners are here and then a small van and car pulled in - all quiet except for the roar of the freight trains as they whizz by. Still 28 degrees when we went to bed with all the windows open!