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