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
We really enjoyed your blog, I have forward it to my sister and best friend so they can share your wonderful descriptions
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