Soon be time to move again....

 it is getting hotter and hotter, even though we are camped only 50 metres from the beach. There is very little sea breeze, but what a lovely beach to swim at. In the weekends the life savers are patrolling what must the smallest beach we have ever seen. The patrolled beach at Elliott Heads is about 25 metres wide. If it is too rough to swim at the beach there is the option of the river mouth.

We came for a week and 2 weeks later we left.

This camping ground is a council campground, no pets allowed, and very reasonably priced-$150 pw, 2 adults, water and power. Sites are large. There are also 4 beachside cabins.

Elliott Heads is about 25 minutes from Bunderburg on the coast-a seaside village, with a small general store, a takeaway kiosk and a bowling club that serves meals in the weekends.

The surrounding land is a rich red soil, very much like Pukekohe.  Kumura, sugarcane, pineapples, tomatoes, zuchinnis, sweetcorn, watermelons, and mangoes are prolific here and very cheap to buy. We have noticed large areas of burnt tomato vines-according to a local – the growers spray the crops with roundup to force the crop to ripen at the same time and then do one pick. Something to consider when you are eating tomatoes from this region.

We visited the Bunderburg rum distillery tour – which was very interesting. It produces approximately 6 million litres of rum per year.

To complement our visit, we went to see a cooper at work making wooden kegs. While here we purchased a bottle of ‘St George Fucking Good Port’ – yet to try it.

Leaving our van here at the campground, we went on a tiki tour to Hervey Bay to see friends-Bruce and Sue via Childers and Maryborough.

Childers is re-known for a pavement gallery and the ‘backpackers fire’-10 years ago. It is a very old town with many of the original buildings now housing modern day services. Vinnies is found in the old picture theatre. The Butcher is called 'Buck's Butcher Shop and the local dentist 'Decayslayer'.

Maryborough – these small towns will latch onto anything/one famous and make claim-I guess in order to attract tourists. Maryborough promotes Mary Poppins and an incredible amount of souvenir material from pink umbrellas, bracelets, postcards etc. Maryborough claims ‘Mary Poppins’, aka Travers, was born in Maryborough.

The museum at Maryborough is looked after by the Historical Society which is housed in the old library building. Space is at a premium, with displays starting at floor level and hung up to the stack where very old leather-bound books sit on dusty shelves. According to the volunteer lady-someone came recently to check the books for woodworm and there is no sign of any. I enquired if any of the historical material was digitized, her response “we need someone who knows how to use a computer”! A gold coin donation is required to visit this museum and $5 is payable if you would like the staff to search for information.

Bruce and Sue took us for a drive to Toogoom-a seaside village for coffee and cake. Cakes were huge!

Superman and Muz have made friends with a local identity. (Father Xmas)

Poincina? trees are very prolifect everywhere. There are orange and red trees and when you see these alongside the white and purple Jacaranda – it makes a colourful image.

Blog Photos

have come to the end-yes unfortunately I am not alone-Superman's blog has used up 1mg of free photo space and now google would like a monthly fee to purchase more space.
We will not be doing this, as the blog has only 2 more months to run.
So from now on - we will post only text, and keep the photos for our 'book'.
You will have to imagine, or google the areas we are writing about.

Post Hobby Horse Derby News...

Murray appeared in the local paper-"The Coastal Rag" in an article titled - "Melbourne Cup Creeker style".
Quote-"the men's race was won by a whisker or two". There is a picture of Murray in the Beard Competition-he will have to wait a few more years to compete! and one of him winning the men's race.

Captain Cook web-Yarn Bombing

This 'installation' lasted less than 12 hours - I have no idea who removed it-I installed it on the campground swimming pool fence.

Bear Wanderer Flower- Yarn bombing

Unbeknown to me this 'letterbox' is the international symbol for the naturist society!
When we went to the hobby horse derby - a local explained this to me.

24 15 11 E ……

Did you figure out where we went…

We stayed 4 nights here at Bradley Braeve Heart Retreat-24kms from Agnes Waters – a bush retreat with no cell phone coverage, but what a lovely spot. Not much bush, mainly gums. We were the only people here, apart from the 2 volunteer ladies.

This is a charitable trust, set up in memory of Bradley Wolf, who died at the age of 15 from multiple serosis? There is lodge accommodation-more like separate motel rooms, a large dining room with a log fire, fully equipped kitchen – with a full oven-Murray made bread and cooked a roast, while we camped here.

A powered site was $16.00 per nite for the 2 of us. There are no designated camping areas and you needed a long lead to reach the laundry to plug into for your power supply, which you would lose if someone was using the dryer.

Showers were very clean and there were 2 composting toilets. If the campground was full, the ablution area would not be sufficient. But for Murray and I – it was perfect. There is also one washing machine - $3 a load and clean rinsing water. Did you know that many of the commercial washing machines recycle the water-so you never get clean rinsing water-your clothes are rinsed in the washing water. That is why your clothes begin to go grey and smell. We often soak our clothes in a bucket and wash/rinse in water as we travel.

While staying at Braeve Heart we went for a drive and discovered the small town of Agnes Water and 1770. These towns are part of the 'Discovery Coast, Miriam Vale Shire. In 1770 Captain Cook anchored in Bustard Bay and came ashore at 1770. The Discovery Coast runs from Rules Beach in the south to Agnes Water-the most northern Queensland surf beach, on the Queensland coast.

The area claims to have over 280 sunshine days. Many people come here to explore the Great Barrier Reef-taking tours to Lady Musgrave Island-we didn't, as we don't believe in supporting commerical ventures that explore and breakdown the precious reef.

Fishing is supposed to be good-with mangrove jacks being caught in the channel.

You can see evidence of abandon hotel complexes-such a pity, that this complex is allowed to remain as a blight on the local landscape-it has been in this state for 5 years now.

There are not many long term free camps on the Queensland coast. The free camps that are here have a time limit. Much has been written about this on various blogs and forums, and in caravan magazines. Council’s defence on this matter appears to be based on the rubbish issue or the fact that permanents will set up camp. Providing no set limits to camping areas would encourage more spending in the local towns and support for local tourist ventures.

Even, the local council campgrounds are pricing themselves out of our budget-consequently they remain half empty. At $37pn-for 2, yet, the local Tourist Park campground charges $30pn.

We stayed at 1770 for 7 days at $180, as opposed to $250 at the council campground, (1770). During our 2 weeks at this commercial franchised campground, it was never full, maybe a third occupancy rate for sites. The ablution blocks are adequate, very clean but extremely small shower cubicles-just like the seating on an aeroplane-trying to cram in more passengers-not allowing space for people who are wider or taller than me!

At the campground were many birds-we were privledge to watch the mummy owl and her chick gradually grow big enough to take its' first flight.

Why did we stay here?-it was convenient-just across the road to the council exercise equipment-marvellous playground for both of us-supplied and installed by a company called Duplay-would love to see this in Perth, (maybe they have been installed since we have been away). These exercise stations are located in every town in the Gladstone region-some are different types and also differ in the number of pieces of equipment.

 Also the beach is only 900metres from the campground, it was quiet, shaded, had a lovely pool especially when it was cleaned. Murray took the opportunity to get fitter-walking the many tracks along the beach to then end of 1770-to Round Hill lookout and the beaches.



Round Hill lookout



While camping at 1770, our neighbours Jan and Jeff had 2 dogs-Bucky alsatian/rottweiler-he was born in Singapore and Stephie-a rescued pound dog-both very quiet dogs who just love to sit on the back seat as they travelled around Australia.

During the stormy nights that Brisbane experienced, we had our own night sky-a sky lite up with lightning and thunder.

Melbourne Cup Day @ Captain Creek

 A clear blue sky, with a light breeze greeted the punters as they gathered at the Captain Creek course to participate in the annual hobby horse racing, tossing of the horseshoe and to watch the running of the Melbourne Cup on the big screen. A beautiful lunch comprising of cold meats and salads, fresh fruit followed by homemade pavalova and trifle ensured no-one went home hungry.

A firm track, watered 2 months ago made for a fast race.

Punters had the choice of 3 sweepstakes. Winners of the hobby horse racing received a bar tab, the lucky chair prize received a box of chocolates.

The beautiful hobby horses were created by Lee and are known as Lara’s Meadow Ponies, (can be found on Facebook).  Delightful to ride, one size fits all – these horses are easy to keep and only need the occasional rub down.

The first race of the day was the open filly race. Riders chose their own horse, lined up to start and away they went – gallivanting down to the post, around and back down the straight to the finish – the winner this year was ‘Zebra’.

The open hack race was delayed due to discussion amongst the riders as to the course boundaries.

 Once the race was underway, there was much interference, resulting in one jockey falling from his horse-scrapping his elbow, and finishing…..

A close photo finish and the winner was Murray Shaw! His name will be engraved on the ‘Creekers Ralph Wait Hobby Horse Derby Cup’. The winner also received a bar tab.

Prizes were awarded to best dressed and best beard of the day.       

     

The box of chocolates was won by me.

As the sun was setting and the local kanagroos came out to watch, the horseshoe throwing comp got under-way.

As can be seen from the photos – there are a few techniques to a successful throw; the ‘balanced act’,

 the ‘squat’

 and the ‘traditional’.

 The women were overall winners. Success at this event won the contestant a drink.

 Murray and I would to thank the people of Captain Creek Rec Club for providing a wonderful day and making us feel very welcome.

P.S. We also enjoyed the fish’chips on Sunday night that was accompanied by the local ‘jam’ session.

FISH ID Required Please

We have been catching alot of these fish and throwing them back.
Someone thought they were a type of dory and another suggested a butterfish

Superman and Muz write; fishing/camping on the Calliope River

We think Murray and Brenda have become seasoned travellers-they have become so confident or blasé?  travellers, that they ignore ‘warning signs.

Calliope River had been recommended to us as a lovely spot to camp, but there is a time limit. The river is 12 kms inland from Gladstone and is a tidal river with a very strong tidal flow, especially at the bridge.

What a lovely spot to camp-not crowded at all-we chose the sth side of the river and camped as close as we could to the river-so we didn’t have too far to pull in the fish.

Murray set up the fishing table and Muz and I sat in the chairs 24/7 fishing. We were able to see the water rats that came out at night, fossicking along the bank for bits of bait.

Our fishing spot enabled us  an early morning reflection shot,

 and the evening colours-we couldn’t decide if it was a bush fire.

Murray caught a huge flathead that John cooked for us.

The following night John cooked a lovely stew on the camp fire. Amazingly, people had campfires, despite a closed fire season in Queensland.

John, Patthedog and Murray

One day we thought we saw a crocodile in the river, but we called across to the caravanners on the other side-they assured us it was only a log.

Friday – the locals arrived with their race horses-these were exercised in the water, the jet skis hooning up and down the river-the fishing had dried up so, time for us to move on to our next resting spot-we chose 24 15 11 S, 151 44 06 E.