Motorhome travels 3

16 October 2015

     First thing in the morning, we paid the gym a visit. The gym at this place is very well equipped with treadmills, rowers and more items. Too many to name, actually I don’t know how they are called. Next step was to check out the big heated pool. That was great and after a couple of laps and a nice shower, we thought we exercised enough and worked up a big appetite. Back to the “home”, having breakfast and then off to Maryborough. We had the idea to take our bikes but a quick tyre check made us change our mind. We left them on the back of Jimny and at the first servo we inflated the tyres. Maryborough has a Bunnings and that was the place to go since we had some problems getting the right adapter to connect the waterhose to the “home”.

      Besides Bunnings, we visited Coles to top up our food supplies. In the afternoon the bikes got a workout, Yasmine washed the car and we had interesting encounters with some residents at the RV homebase.

Evening Beauty

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Motorhome travels 2

15 October 2015

      Some rain overnight and because the two top vents were open, a few raindrops managed to land in the motorhome and formed two mini lakes. No harm done since the vents were closed very soon after the rain started.

Morning thee was the first thing on our mind waking up early. We still had a good night sleep. Some other campers were already packing up and continued their travels. After muesli and corn flakes our journey headed further North. At the Forest Glenn turnoff we were looking for a business where the owner could help us to protect our precious asset.

      Weather can be and is very unpredictable and hailstones the size of golf balls is not uncommon when things turn nasty. To protect the top of the motorhome, a business called Caravan Covers Australia has just the thing we’re after. We don’t like to have the roof dented and the solar panel destroyed during a hailstorm so, we pulled in at the “covers” and met Brain. After he explained the sort of cover we would get , he measured our “home” and gave us a quote for the roof protection. We agreed with the price and he told us that the cover would be ready in about 3 weeks. All sorted.

      Up further North to Gympie we planned to have a coffee break but because the time we spend at the cover guy was a bit longer than anticipated, we decided that Gympie was a good spot to have lunch. Besides, we had a nice cuppa from the lady at the Caravan Cover Australia business. Much appreciated.

      A few kilometres before Gympie I turned into a servo. The coffee had its effect (pit stop) and I remembered that Yasmine told me that the left rear tyres looked a bit deflated and may need some air to make them roll a bit smoother. I stopped at the “air” sign to inflate the tyres and discovered that there was no way I could fit the air nozzle to one of the valves of the double tyres at the rear of the motorhome. I tried but after cutting my arm I gave up and we decided that we drove further to our planned lunch spot. I rang the Talvor/Apollo people where we bought the Motorhome to get an answer as to how to inflate the tyres. After trying several different numbers I finally got Steve on the phone who told me that he had never heard of  anything like that and he would ask around and ring me back. After lunch and no answer from Steve we drove off and just a bit further up the road I discovered Green RV. Green RV is a place that has everything for the caravan and motorhome traveller and I thought they might be able to help me out. One of the mechanics sure helped me out and discovered that the inner tyre was flat. A nice screw was imbedded in the rubber. He told m
e that the valves needed an extension so that valves of the inner and outer tyres could easily be reached and the pressure could be checked and the tyres be inflated. He couldn’t repair the flat tyre but referred me to the Bridgestone tyre people in Gympie. They helped us out.                             Tiaro Veggie Van

      With all the tyres inflated to the required pressure we continued our trip to Tinana. To get our dinner and fruit we stopped at a veggie van aside the road just past Tiaro.

       Kevin Leary of the RV Homebase place was busy at work but had enough time to welcome us and arranged a place to stay for 2 nights at the home base. Our allocated spot Nr8 was taken and we placed our “home” on Nr9 after we left to inspect the site where our future house will be build.

       Unlike the camping place we stayed the night before, we didn’t have       reception for TV so, out came the playing cards and with a nice homemade latte we played cards until it was time to lay our heads to rest.

Cashmere Tracks

The bush around Cashmere in Queensland Australia has many “hidden” walking tracks although they haven’t been used by walkers only. On my early morning walks I’ve seen a horseman and people on their mountain bike. Even off road motorbikes although these are not permitted. Part of the bushland is Conservation park. I have plotted the paths with my GPS and this morning I spoke to a lady who lived in the area for 12 years and didn’t know about these tracks. So, here is the map with the tracks I’ve walked. Some parts are walked on paved roads. I start normally from the crossing Peppermint Dv/Correa Ct and from there many circuits can be walked with durations from 1/2hr to 2hr depending on your speed. Some tracks have steep sections, so some fitness and good footwear is required.

Fraser Island Great Walk

Fraser Island Great Walk. (1)2013

 If you like walking through bush, along fabulous lakesides, wide open beaches or under huge Tallowood and Satinay trees, feel the fresh air and see wildlife, Fraser Island has it all. Last year the track was closed during storm damage and bushfires. To make sure we could go this year I rang the info centre and was told that all the tracks North of and including Central Station were open as were the camping sites. The Southern lakes and walking tracks were still inundated. Our plan was to take the barge from River Heads (Hervey Bay) and start at Wanggoolba Creek. That was our plan in total. The rest was wait and see what happens.

Yasmine had planned all the supplies needed for a ten-day hike and the backpacks were filled to the brim and some of it was hanging on the packs. (thanks for carabiners). We drove up to River Heads, a suburb of Hervey Bay, and went to the boat ramp from where the barge would depart.

While there, we bought the tickets for our transport but had a strange experience with the girl at the desk. As walkers, you don’t have to book ahead and we asked for two return tickets. Fifty dollars each and I paid the money (cash) and waited for the tickets. “You will get the tickets when you return about half an hour before departure time” the girl said. “Ok, can we have a receipt for our payment”? Yasmine asked. “I’ll recoqnise you when you return”, was the answer. She looked surprised when we insisted on having a receipt, but she eventually got us one.

We had to leave the car in River Heads and a couple of days earlier I had arranged secure parking with Shane, a Real Estate agent who also runs a security parking business. It gave us a nice comfy feeling having not to think about leaving the car on the site of the road being subject to break-ins etc. Shane also drove us to the barge where we arrived a bit early. The timetable for the barge left us little choice and taking the 4pm barge to Wanggoolba was a bit late but 10.15am was too early. No departures in between like the barges leaving from Inskip point to Hook Point that run continuously.

Travelling friends told us that you can get a lift from the barge to Central Station or Happy Valley (if you’re lucky) but having seen the few cars on the barge with no space for hitch hikers, our hope was quickly dashed and we decided to walk to Central Station. Besides, we came here to walk. We walked over the 4WD tracks and the sand was very soft.

The last hour and a bit we walked in the dark with a headlight mounted on my head. At an intersection which lead on one way to the dayrecreation area and the other way to the camping two boys were trying to get their car out of the sand. They were there bogged for two hours. We couldn’t do anything to free them but our encouraging words must have helped because they drove past us   50 mtr further down the track and offered us a lift. Something we would have accepted earlier coming from the barge but now gracefully declined since we were almost at our destination. We saw all these lights on the left hand side coming from the campsite but, the entrance was still about 600 mtr further down the track. A sign at the entrance told us that we again had to go back past two general campsites before we arrived at the walkers camp. About 600 mtr back. Finally we found a nice spot to pitch our tent, had soup and chocolate and went to sleep. We walked about 11km through the soft sand and were a bit tired.

Up the next day, we found a cage where you can store food to keep it away from dingo’s but I think bush rats etc. can still get to it so we’ve kept in our tent. Opposite the toilet block was a wonderful kitchen sink with water. Oh well, things you miss when you arrive in the dark.

We fastened our backpacks and planned to walk to Lake Wabby.

Horseback Riding

A few 4WD’s were heading the same way as us. No wonder, it’s the highway to Rainbow beach, a favorite spot for 4wd adventurers to spend the weekend and camp on the beach. We however didn’t go that far. Our destination was EQUATHON for our adventure on  a horseback. I have never rode on a horse’s back but after we got a Redballoon gift voucher from my son and his partner, I no longer could say: “I do it when the opportunity is there”. So we booked and last week we got the email that the booking was confirmed. Equathon’s location is close to the Noosa North Shore in Queensland. To get there we had to cross the Noosa river and luckily enough there is a ferry ($6.00). We were early and had our coffee next to the site were a carwash is located. Great place for the 4WD’s that come from the beach to get rid of steel munching salt, because there is a sort of bidet for cars which nicely takes care of the cleaning of the underbody. We registered at the Equathon office and after filling out the necessities for the insurance etc. there was a small problem because our names were not on the list but after some discussion the problem was easily solved and we headed to the shed to be handed a helmet that would protect our precious heads in case the art of balancing on a horseback was too much of a challenge and we would fall off. There were 8 adventurers in the group.

On the Beach

My confidence wasn’t high on the confidence scale but I was the last to be called to mount a horse and the others didn’t seem to have a problem so I stepped up and put my left foot in a sort of metal loop which they call a stirrup and swung my right leg over the horse’s back and landed in the saddle where I sat with white knuckles holding the steering wheel waiting for the animal to make a move, letting me know who’s boss or telling me he didn’t like to go for a ride and throw me off.

NOTHING. Great start. I got some basic instructions as to how to steer Mack (the horses name) with the rein (steering wheel) and after CC (our leader) told us in which order we had to follow her, we wend. The first twenty minutes or so walking through nice bush land and I got more confident with riding this wonderful animal. They are very well trained and used to new riders I imagine. CC stopped and asked if we were ready to go for a bit of a trot. Why not. Wow, that is hard on the back if you haven’t done this before. You have to come in the same rhythm as the horse but, I managed to hold on. It was only a short run and we got back into a walk again. Moments later we arrived at the beach.

On the Beach

It’s a wonderful feeling. Sitting on a horseback, seeing the waves roll on to the beach and have a nice fresh breeze in your face. Not so nice was it when a bit later the weather decided that it has been a bit dry and a short shower damped the temperature but not our fun. Photo’s were taken. We rode a bit further over the beach and then returned to the stables. After dismounting from the horses we felt some very stiff legs but thanks to CC and the other instructors who guided us, we had a great experience.

Apollonian Hotel

After Two hours horseback riding, we felt our tummies rumbling and we headed for Boreen Point. The Apollonian hotel here had a great menu which suited our idea of having a great lunch and when the kitchen opened at twelve midday we ordered the dishes we liked. It is a wonderful hotel in a nice setting and we enjoyed our meals on the veranda with the sound of live music coming from a corner where three musicians took care of the entertainment.

Thanks to:The Apollonian Hotel

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Brisbane Bikeways

The forecast was a light shower or two so, after our morning walk in bright sunshine and an almost cloudless sky, we decided to mount our bikes on the bike rack and drive to one of the many bikeways the Brisbane Council has developed.

Before we left, I printed some maps so we wouldn’t get lost. There are 13 maps which can be found on the Brisbane/Queensland Government web site  Brisbane Bikeways.

Although you can start from Keperra, for this ride we decided to start at Arana Hills at the MsKell Oval because there is a nice parking area to unload the bikes and leave the car, while the bike path runs next to it.

With our weapons (helmet, backpack, water bottles and camera) safely placed, we jumped on our bikes and drove the wrong way (as you do) around a sports field but picked up the regular route on the other site of the field. This route follows the Kedron Brook which zig zagged its way through Brisbane until it reaches Moreton Bay via the Boondal wetlands. Just after we rejoined, the path crosses the Brook and a mum with kids were feeding the ducks from the bridge. Riding on these pathways, the council and government did great work to keep the riders away from heavy traffic bearing roads. Only a few smaller streets are included but mostly we were riding at the back along private properties next to the Brook.

Just before a crossing at the Sparkes Hill reservoirs park, a loud noise grabbed our attention.A big colony of bats were hanging out. To prevent us from getting withdrawal symptoms, we derailed our trip to pay the Stafford City shopping centre a visit where we indulged ourselves in coffee with cake.

It is amazing how many parks and green strokes there are. Many of them are well equipped with BBQ’s and undercover area’s. There is a lot of roadwork going on around the Gympie Rd./Stafford Rd. and Sandgate Rd. area’s but here, new paths were created to go around and not having to go on the big busy roads. After crossing under the Sandgate Rd.

You leave the city behind and follow the path to the Boondall wetlands. Riding along this stretch is a wonderful experience. No sound of traffic here although, every now and then, a plane can be heard departing or landing at the Brisbane airport in the distance. We dismounted from our bikes along the Kedron Brook Floodway to enjoy viewing wading birds through the shallow water. To prevent the wetland from any damage, the bikeway is elevated.

The path follows the Brook were it runs behind the Nudgee Golf Course. We stopped and returned the same way we came in. Coming back at our car we’ve done 50 kilometres. A little bit of a sore bum but next time, maybe Cadell Evans can give some advice as what to wear to make the saddle feel a bit more comfy. A great day working on our fitness, our tan, our vitamin D level and our general good feeling.

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Lamington National Park

Green Mountains 12-02-2012

A bit over an hour and a half South of Brisbane, Green Mountains (part of Lamington National Park) is home to a lot of wonderful walking tracks, most of them originate from O’Reilly’s restaurant and guesthouse, where a rangers office is built as well. We, John and wife Yasmine choose this day to walk a combined track. Starting at the Border walk we headed South over a wide hard surface which changed after a while in just a nice bush path and sometimes to a very small bushpath. 2 km on the track and it split up into two tracks. You have to make a choice whether to follow the Tooloona Creek circuit or continue over the Border track. We followed the Tooloona track. At a small open spot a group of photographers had a shoot with a big tree as a beautiful backdrop. The path got smaller and zigzagging down, we came at Picnic Rock.

At Picnic Rock

 While we hadn’t a big picnic basket with us, we made the best of it and filled our cups with coffee and had a nice snack. The photographers came a bit later and made some pictures (I don’t think they had an image of us in mind) but the hardest thing for them was to cross the right branch of Canungra Creek without their equipment getting soaked. Most of them were successful but one in particular slid off a very slippery boulder and ended up very wet but was able to keep his camera dry.

Blue Crayfish

We spotted a couple of Blue Crayfish. These Crayfish can only be seen in the Lamington NP. Our picnic was over and we continued our way towards Elabana Falls. After about 350 metres, a side track leads to the Falls. The group was already there and the leaders had made a rope between some big boulders to get easier to a good vantage point to make a nice image of the Elabana falls. I spoke with a lady of the group and it turned out that Ken Duncan was having a workshop about waterfall photography. Just the right time, because the weather we had recently was favourable to see the best of the waterfalls.

At Elabana Falls

We were invited to come across but since I had left my good camera at home (not intentional), I made a few pictures from where I was standing with my GPS and followed Tooloona Creek circuit. The path was rather small and winding through the forest. On a few occasions, we had to cross the Toolona Creek which, at times, was not easy.

Creek Crossing

From Elabana to the Wanungara lookout is a further 4.8 km. More waterfalls on the way and at one we stopped to have lunch. While we were sitting and happily munching on our packed lunch, a Blue Crayfish suddenly appeared and wanted us to unblock his way up the creek. The lookout has beautiful views over the valley and even Mt Warning can be seen from here.

From the Wanungara lookout

We followed the path to Bithongabel, going past Tooloona lookout (1160 m). From Bithongabel, the track makes a sharp turn to the North and continues to meet up with the Border track. 1km from Bithongabel a sign reads WATER. We had a look a couple of metres down from the path and saw some very clear water steaming. Could be a spring but am not sure about that. A bit further up the track crosses with the Albert River circuit but we left that one for now and headed for the end of the track at O’Reilly’s. To end our day we did the tree top walk. A wonderful tasting milkshake was enjoyed at O’Reilly’s before we commenced our trip home. This walk in Lamington National parks was 19 km including the tree top walk and some side trips to see the waterfalls and was very enjoyable.

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