Gorges, Gold and Dams

It's been a while between blogs due to lack of Internet connectivity,so I hope this posting finds you well. Ray and I both continue to keep well and we are enjoying our very comfortable van and this trip with friends.

After leaving Glebe Weir we travelled to Theodore via Isla Gorge, where a short bushwalk gave us exceptional views of the gorge on both sides. There is a free camping area in Theodore, wedged between the Dawson River and Castle Creek but it was too crowded so we opted for the showgrounds instead. Theodore is “the town that water built”, as it was the first area irrigated in Queensland. Cotton fields are visible on both sides of the town and cattle roam the paddocks. Theodore was evacuated twice during our summer of floods. It's a lovely little town but the only town I know of where you go to the Post Office to buy your fruit and vegetables, and to the newsagent to buy fresh chickens!

Main Street of Cracow

Whilst camping in Theodore we took a day trip to what is now almost the ghost town of Cracow. There's only one trading business and that's the infamous Cracow Hotel. The town was once home to 3000 people but now only around 240 work in the gold mine, most of them on a fly-in, fly-out basis. Fortunately Newcrest Mining Limited has transformed Cracow's old police station and court house into the Cracow Gold Mining Heritage Centre which displays much of the history of Cracow and the story of the goldfields.

Shell and Gary Craig outside the Cracow Gold Mining Heritage Centre

Our friend Shell Craig had the opportunity to walk down the streets of the town where her Mum and Dad met and married. Imagine her surprise when she saw a photo of her Dad in the video which was screening in the heritage centre. Newcrest Mining Limited has also erected a free camping area behind the heritage centre complete with three concrete slabs, power, showers and toilets. You can walk to the pub from it!

Peter finds a mussel

On the drive back from Cracow to Theodore, we sought out a couple of water holes, popular with the locals. This is where the real evidence of the strength of the Dawson River in full flood, is obvious. Flood debris showed the unbelievable height the water reached, whilst the flattened trees enabled us to imagine the full force of the water. We found shells from huge fresh water mussels washed down in the floods. In another area we were pleasantly surprised to find tall palm trees on both sides of a very long creek bank.

Drag Line at Dawson Coal Mine (Moura)

After camping in Theodore we headed off to Moura for a couple of nights of free camping beside the Dawson River (about 7 klms out of town). On the drive into Moura we viewed the operations of the Dawson Coal Mine from a viewing platform where we saw the giant drag line and the huge dump trucks slowing travelling up-hill whilst loaded down with coal. We were even treated to a free dinner one evening, when the local Baptist church held a sausage sizzle “for the campers by the river”. I attended, armed with a huge glass of red.

Sandstone Cliffs of Cania Gorge

Cania Gorge with its rugged sandstone cliffs, was our next stop. The colours of the sandstone cliffs reminded me of the setting sun. We camped in the picturesque Cania Gorge Tourist Retreat for two nights and appreciated having running water, electricity and other facilities so we could all do our washing. Ray and I were very happy to return to Cania Gorge, as we first visited the area on a day trip from Monto at the end of January when we said we'd like to return for a longer stay.

Lake Cania at the End of the Gorge

Three Moon Creek flows from the gorge to the southern side of Monto and we enjoyed bushwalking through the area and seeing the creek, caves, sheltered gorges and various wildlife up close. The highlight for us was the walk to Dripping Rock.

Kangaroo with Joey at Wuruma Dam

Our next two nights were spent free camping at Wuruma Dam which is about an hour's drive south of Monto. This beautiful dam has cattle grazing all around and we saw plenty of kangaroos near the spillway. One kangaroo with a joey in its pouch actually posed for me to take a photo. At night the sun sets over the dam and the reflections, day and night, have to be seen to be believed. I've marked this spot as one of my favourites.

Sunset at Wuruma Dam

Whilst in the area of Monto, Ray and I were able to catch up with our very dear long time friend, Daffy Dagg who recently turned 93. Sadly, her husband Gordon passed away at the end of March this year.

We are now camping in the showgrounds at Goomeri for one night before we head off to Bell tomorrow morning. It's only two more sleeps until Opera in the Vineyard at Jimbour House.

On this section of our trip, we've enjoyed some lovely fresh home baking and it seems that the ovens in our vans are perfect for cooking yummies to share for morning and/or afternoon tea. We've had scones with jam and cream (Gary), date muffins (me), date scones (Liz), carrot cake and a delicious chocolate cake (Joy) and fruit slice (Marie).

The weather is absolutely beautiful during the day but still very cold early in the mornings and during the evenings. We continue to enjoy our campfires. I hope all family and friends are well and happy. We are all so very fortunate to live in such a beautiful country.

Until next time

Love

Lyn

Bush Camping at Its Best

This blog has been set up to record our caravan trip to the 2011 bi-annual “Opera in the Vineyard” at Jimbour House and the annual camel races at Tara.

We are currently meandering and zig-zagging our way to Bell in time for the music festival at Jimbour House on Saturday 30 July. Our travelling companions are Liz and Bryan, Marie and Peter, Joy and Darryl and Shell and Gary. Liz has done a wonderful job of researching spots to bush camp and we have already enjoyed several of these.

Our trip commenced on Sunday 10 July after two days at the July Jayco Owners' Caravan Club rally at Murphy's Creek Escape, not far from Helidon at the bottom of the Toowoomba range. This property was severely affected by the January floods but thanks to assistance from strangers, is now back in full operation.

Our first night on the road was spent bush camping at Bowenville Reserve which is located between Oakey and Dalby. The reserve is a big open area accessed via the turnoff to Bowenville township. Toilet facilities are available and campfires are permitted in containers off the ground.

On Monday we headed off to Round Water Hole just outside Chinchilla. On the way we stopped at Warra for a cuppa and were surprised to see the very old Warra Hotel still open for business. Round Water Hole is a very handy overnight bush camp. There are no facilities here, but the under cover picnic tables and seats were well used for dining and socialising.

Shell, Ray, Bryan & Marie Around Our Campfire at Round Water Hole

Tuesday and Wednesday nights were spent at Judd's Lagoon at Yuleba. This is a beautiful spot with a very picturesque creek flowing past it. Bird life abounds around the lagoon and there is not a sound to be heard other than the bird calls, as the spot is well off the beaten track. I could have stayed here much longer!

Judd's Lagoon

From Yuleba we travelled to Wallumbilla and camped at the showgrounds enjoying the luxury of mains pressure water, toilets and power. What a treat after four nights of bush camping!!!! Wallumbilla opens the showgrounds to travellers for a “donation” which is a wonderful way to get people to spend money in the small town. We did our bit for the local economy and joined old Jayco friends Robyn and Wayne Taylor, who have a cattle property out of town, for dinner at the very old and lovely Federal Hotel.

On Friday we headed off to Taroom and parked our van in our old friends Pam and Blue's yard, while the other four vans camped in the caravan park directly opposite. Having known Pam and Blue for 35+ years, we had a lot of catching up to do over some very enjoyable food and drink. One of our group turned 65 on Saturday so Pam, Blue and the 10 of us headed to the Taroom Bowls Club to celebrate.

Glebe Weir Spillway

Sunday morning saw us depart for Glebe Weir about 60 klms outside Taroom where we have stayed for the past three days. It is a beautiful spot with toilet facilities and power. Some fellow campers caught a huge haul of yellowbelly fish that afternoon and gave us enough for dinner for the twelve of us. It was the first time most of us have filleted, cooked and eaten yellowbelly. It was so fresh, it melted in our mouths. Glebe Weir is currently very full with plenty of water pouring over the spillway. The devastation caused by the January floods is very evident as most of the trees within the path of the water still have no foliage.

Glebe Weir (taken from the spillway)

Joy and Darryl Preparing Yellowbelly for the BBQ

The weather for the first four or five days was extremely cold at night and in the mornings. I found the mornings coldest and it was so hard to get out of bed, that I didn't (for quite a while). Thank goodness for my thermals, beanie, gloves etc. I must say though that this is great weather for camping as there are no mosquitoes or bugs around and the skies have been amazingly blue and clear, made even more enticing by a waxing moon providing light for us at night. Full moon was extra special this month.

We are so very lucky to be able to enjoy what nature provides and to do it in the company of good friends. We've had no reception on our Optus mobiles but our friends using Telstra have no problems. Luckily I use Telstra mobile broadband, so I've had no trouble with the Internet.

Ray and I are both well and send our love to family and friends. Keep well and happy. Take care until next blog.

Love

Lyn