Day 25

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Friday 5th

Woke to a lovely warm morning, people starting to move out, we got our bits all done and headed off to Toomulla Beach all of 12.9 km up the road. Lovely spot, got set up and relaxed. Checked out the beach etc. We are here for 2 nights, they have nice toilets, no showers, and there is drinking water. I found it frustrating when we went to the beach as I wasn’t going to allow a Irukandji to sting me, there are signs everywhere.

Both our set ups. Just down the road from the camping spot. The beach at Toomulla. That dark mark in the right of image is a Jabaru. They say beware of Croc’s so we were careful. Our first sight of the ocean since one month ago while we have been traveling bush. Toilet block.

Lovely big area, 48 hours allowed free camping.

Day 24

Posted on September 4, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Thursday 4th

Well got a good nights sleep and today is a quiet day, sat around chatting with J & A. Have a few things I need to sort out with my internet. Did take some star trails. Busy place, people coming and going. Good to see the ranger checking here as it is a 48 hour free camping. Lovely toilets, lots a shade trees, near the road, but the trees buff the noise. Beautiful drinking water and a dump point. Good blue one. 🙂

Blue Water Camping. Star trails.

Day 23

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Wednesday 3rd

Very cold breeze this morning, up and ready to go 8.37 am. We are heading to Blue Water camp spot, its a 48 hour camping.. Fascinating trip, Ant mounds, red, black and sandy coloured ones. Saw our 1st Wedge tailed eagle on this trip and it was on a road kill with heaps of Kites. Stopped at the Harvey Range Memorial and read all about building the road, very interesting, tried to capture the info but only so much will fit on the camera screen. Got set up at Blue Water and got the generator going, caught up with a few phone calls and emails. Very cold.

Star trails again. Blue Water Camping. Had morning tea here, very nice spot. Some photos to follow soon. Burdikin River. Its a very long river, keep crossing it in all places. Little bit of the info on the building of this road.

Cattle truck passing Jack and coming toward us, he had 4 trailers.

Day 22

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Tuesday 2nd

Heading off today for Fletcher Creek, had a good drive through. Stopped at Ravenswood for morning tea.What a neat place. Another town with lots of mining history. J & A had to carry onto to Charters Towers and we met up with them there. We spent some time in Charters Towers, didn’t realize what a big place it is, we stocked up on grociers, fuel etc. We had lunch at Centennial Park before heading off to Fletcher Creek, we got here at about 4 pm, 3 very large areas to choose from.

Came across this very distinguished gentleman. Two old Fords At Pub in Ravenswood. Another lovely old building, still being used. Red tar seal, heading to Fletcher Creek.Imperial Hotel

Day 21

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Monday 1st September

We are packing up and heading to Lake Dalrymple via dirt roads so we are filling up as there are no stations out there for 234km, be slow driving and its very hilly and windy so will use more fuel. Well what a road, just took our time and saw lots of interesting things. Very dry, ran over a snake, saw Bustards, we are traveling thru stations but on a public road, its called the Rutherford Road. Dalrymple dam is huge, largest n Qld. They have lovely amenities and clean, $10 per couple per night and $2 for a load of washing. Feral Goats roaming, Peacocks roaming thru the camp, Burdikin Rock Wallabies, they are so tiny. The camping is no where near the water so we are only staying one night.

These bushes are called the bellyache plant, a noxious weed. Waters from the Dam They had just shut off the overflow. Feels very wierd traveling along the bottom of the Dam wall. Run Jack. Looking across the Dam wall. The snake we ran over, it was still alive and moving ok, not that I was going to help it. A very dry river bed. This was typical of the road we traveled on today, rough in many places. Stopped here to let some air out of tyres. Mt Coolon area, this was well known for its gold back in 1946, lots of interesting reading. Morning tea at the top of a range. Dry and dusty.

Day 20

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Sunday 31st

Another nice sunrise but no clouds so I stayed in bed. Our internet coverage is not good here nor phone reception. Did another walk today. Did some more star trails from a different angle, cool again. A chap here in a caravan, looks like a permanent has a dog, his chock, another family have 2 geese and a cat, quiet comical.

Day 19

Posted on August 30, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Saturday 30th

Woke to a lovely morning sunrise, had a big clean up in camper and aired everything. went for a walk without my camera for some exercise. Having a relaxing day. Heaps more campers arriving. Very cool wind. Did some star trails. Lovely morning light. Trees in the early morning glow from sunrise. Sunrise.

Day 18

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Friday 29th

Well the winds got up about 3.30 am, by 6.30 am clouds were coming in over the range so worked in nicely that we were planing to move on today. Filled up with water, beautiful drinking water they provide here. We are heading to Elphinestone via the Nebo Rd, or Little Lizzy Rd, what wonderful country side, dry but still so much to see, along the way Jack saw Moonlight Dam Camping sign and radioed to us as to would we like to have morning tea here, of course we would, so off we go, OMG I wondered if we’d ever get there, but when we did it is lovely. very rough 4×4 drive, along a ridge and windy.

Lake Elphinestone, We camped here for two nights. Here is a drag line bucket at the entrance of the town Glendon. Amazing landscape along the way today. All these Brolgas in the paddock, what a noise they were making, they were a long way away. Going along the ridge into Moonlight Dam Camping. Old trough, was once filled by the windmill in background. Heaps of room for camping. Did star trails at Lake Elphinestone. Moonlight Dam Camping area, the Dam was only a puddle but large area when there is water. Little Lizzy Road, heading to Nebo. Going through a narrow part of Little Lizzy Road. The animals weren’t as thin as I expected. Love this shot, the way the road winds, Jack is the wee white dot at the end of the road.

Country side where we traveled today.

Day 17

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Thursday 28th

This is our last nigh here, have really enjoyed it here. Cold winds today, was quiet windy yesterday as well. The men went out in the boats, Don got his crab pots in, nothing in them. Waters are to cold for crabs etc. Did a wash and got all dry, ready for the next move. Did tea in camp oven, very nice, sausages and roast veggies. Put some spuds in tin foil and into the coals, perfect. Sky very dark tonight, new moon, so I wont be doing star trails. Everything is packed up and ready for tomorrow, we are heading to Lake Elphinestone.

Don eating a piece of damper cooked in the camp oven, bit burnt, but with jam and cream, who cares.

Day 16

Posted on August 27, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Wednesday 27

Water was so still, Jack went out for a early row. We sat around and had breakfast chatting. So peaceful. Don did some fishing, kookaburra sitting on the branch above hoping to catch something every time Don reeled in. But nothing was caught. We had 2 ring tailed opossums here last night, one was red furred, very pretty. Baby butchers, 3 baby kookaburras. We have no coverage out here so J & A shot back into Eungella to do some business. Warmed up my water for a nice hot shower. Went for a drive over to the Dam wall. Lovely picnic area for day use. There are kites flying all around us. Went for a ride in the rubber duck to the other side of dam was lovely.

Star trails. Eungella Dam wall. Spillway. Very foggy this morning. Wonderful clean facilities. One can camp anywhere here, very big area, it is paddock camping so you find what you can as far as level sites. our set up. More fog.