Day 17

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Judy's Trekabout

Monday 5th

Very cloudy and cool, lovely, so I went for my walk early again, so much better. Did Tai Chi and exercising then down for my swim bit chilly getting in but very refreshing. Had breakfast and now the sun is just peaking through the clouds. Been sitting listening to a cow bellowing, I thinks it’s calf has got mixed up with the herd that Ed and Zoe took away the other day and i noticed her udder very full. The brothers have all packed up and ready to be picked up, they are going to be packing garlic. Most people have gone back to work today. Went down to check out the kingfisher and platypus again only saw kingfisher. Started raining about 4.30pm. Had soup for tea as we had big lunch. It has got really chilly and doing this diary inside camper. Raining still and going to bed soon, only 8pm. Started putting a lot of things back where they belong getting ready to pack for leaving Wednesday.

Thistle flower, didn’t even notice the orange and black bug or the cicada shell.

Herd ready to cross, they don’t like us in the water when they cross.

Fences to be fixed, always work on the farm.

Another different butterfly.

Day 16

Posted on January 4, 2015 by Judy's Trekabout

Sunday 4th,

Well I got up this morning and went to loo and it needed emptying, so nice job for Don before breakfast. 😦 Had breakfast after I did my Tai Chi as I don’t walk on a Sunday. Had a early morning swim. Then I noticed a cicada on Dons coat, they have been leaving their shells everywhere but this one was in metamorphosis. So we set up our cameras and sat for one and a half hours taking shots of changes as they happened, it was very interesting and amazing. Then in the blink of an eye looked up and its gone. Had another swim then got ready to go down to the rocks at the beginning of the hill. Beautiful spot, be great camping there. Another option. The young couple that stayed last night gave us a toot as they left. After they’d gone I had a dip, so nice. Stand in the sun and dry off. Had wraps for lunch, downloaded photos. Flies are really bad today. Brothers are back, going up to the shed at Zo and Eds doing garlic. Going to the platypus again tonight at 5 pm. Didn’t see the platypus but did get shots of the kingfisher. Beautiful full moon and reflection on river. Got a fire tonight, Don is enjoying a port out there so I’m finishing the days diary and to bed I go.

Down at the bend.

This calf was having to eat on the run, mum wouldn’t stop, it was hanging on.

Finished its metamorphosis. We watched it dry out and and then it was gone.

Both wings now fully opened.

Straightening out the wings.

Out of its shell.

Coming out of the shell.

Cicada ready to start metamorphosis,

Day 15

Posted on January 3, 2015 by Judy's Trekabout

Saturday 3rd

Up early and decided to see if I could do my walk without breakfast and I did, but wouldn’t want to go any further than my 2 km. Kay and Mark all packed up early and set off at 7.30 am. Its warming up and fine. Well we watched the families next door pack up they went in dribs and drabs, but Todd and Harvey families were last. We spent a quiet afternoon, computer work, reading, had another swim. The fire was still smoldering over at Todd’s so we went and checked out the coals for a camp oven tea, and they were lovely so piled all the wood up so it’d keep going. Went down and sat at Kay’s site to get photos of the platypus. He didn’t come out, but we have neighbor’s so Don went over to tell them the story about the fire and they were cooking their tea on a cooker, so it was no problem using the fire pit for camp oven. Had sausages, roast veggies was lovely. Time for bed.

Canoes travelling down the river.

Rounding up the stock.

One that got away, go for it Ed.

I was heading down to the swimming pool to cool off and thank goodness my torch saw this before I was about to walk into it, I would of messed my pants, I do not like spiders at all.

This mum was taking her calf across the rapids and she was so careful to stay on the down side, it is pretty swift.

Day 14

Posted on January 2, 2015 by Judy's Trekabout

Friday 2nd

Got up and so nice not to be in pain in my back. Had 2 gf weetbix and went for my walk, it was only 7 am, so much easier. Did my tia chi and had my swim all done by 7.45 am. Don did his a wee bit after me. Sat out back of camper and read in the shade as it was pretty warm. Did some computer work getting the photos done for Harvey’s family. Then we went up to where the family were at the jumping rock, pretty neat swimming hole. On our way back we went to check out the creek where the Chinese had been gold prospecting, very interesting and they were very smart. We had a storm go thru, lasted about 1/2 hour then a bit of rain for awhile now just overcast. Went up and had a drink with the kids as they are going tomorrow. Lots of people left today. Nice and cool for sleeping tonight.

a slouch.

Another cottage.

Different angle of this cottage, been added onto. The still use it.

Harvey’s family having so much fun at this swimming hole.

Lots of butterflies around at the moment.

Day 13

Posted on January 1, 2015 by Judy's Trekabout

Thursday 1st January 2015 Happy new year.

Woke to a beautiful day, had breakfast and then went for my walk. Was pretty hot, so I’m going to start doing it earlier. Had a quiet day, I cleaned the house, washed the sheets etc while Don went for a walk up the valley. By afternoon the clouds were building and we got the most lovely lightning show, we only got a light shower and it cooled things down nicely. Went down to Kays while Don had a sleep. They had a wine and I had my water and a cracker. Lovely cool night for sleeping,

Wonderful way of keeping cool and the sun off as well. Thanks Guys, lovely family. Don signaling that hes back safe from hike. Don heading off on a hike up into the hills, keeping his clothes dry until he gets over the other side.

Day 12

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Wednesday 31st, last day of the year.

Woke to very clear skies, going to be a hot one, waiting for breakfast to settle then walk. Got short way and had to retreat back to the loo. So stayed home and did all my Qigong and Tai Chi. Took morning tea up to Kays and then decided we’d take the drive up the Wier and dam area, 28km up from our camp spot, taking the upper rocky river rd. Just beautiful scenery, large rocks and the river goes all the way, crossed over a wee bridge and people were camping there. Got to a area in shade for lunch then had a swim in the river there, not deep but cooling. Met Kay and Mark at the top of the range on our way home. Got back and took the mileage from where we walk to the camper was exactly 1 km so 2km return everyday we have done it. One morning was too wet. Doing a fire soon to do my bread and roast veggies for tea, will have a glass of my wine that I didn’t have for birthday. Lovely fine day, 33 deg and clouds building again, seems to happen each night but so far so good, making the most of it. Asked Duck about the story for my painting Bruce did for me as Bruce has gone into town, means Dolphin dreaming. He dreams of the mullet and when the fisherman come and take to many he splits them up so some left for him. Other two brothers have gone to town. Went to Kay and marks for a drink and we stayed awhile then came over to Harveys and Diannes group watched their fireworks, really lovely. Came home and sat listening to their music for awhile. Went to bed, the music did not stop until 2 pm. Great day.

My gluten free damper bread, was really nice.

Huts in the middle of nowhere.

The Weir

Another place that’s nice and isolated.

Huge rocks every where, this is just one I liked.

Down at the weir.

Day 10 & 11

Posted on December 29, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Monday 29th

Going into Tenterfield today get some bits, like fill gas bottle, fill petrol, gumboots, fresh fruit and vegetables. Milk and bread, etc. Well we got most of what we need, spent some time just getting a few extras. Love Tenterfield. Neat place. Went into Crooked Creek and had a look around. Went over to the equestrian place and one has to book now so we have the phone numbers to ring. Got home and put the groceries away. Went down to Kay and Mark, had a chat, we have all agreed that if the rains are going to continue we will pack up at 1st possible time and head to Texas, check out Bonshaw Wier if full go to Demasque river at Texas. We have had tea. The river has dropped a bit. No photos today.

Tuesday 30th

Woke to very dark clouds all around the hills, but wasn’t long and they had burnt off to a very warm day. We had breakfast, cleaned up and then did our walk, if you are not back from the walk before 8.30 am it’s just far too hot for me. The family next to us were having great fun going over the Rapids so Don and I started taking pics of them and did a video. I went over and told them and said I’d like to email them to them as i don’t want them. Harvey took me on the buggy down to the bottom of the rapids so I could do a video of them coming towards me. Then in the late afternoon Harvey took Don up the hills in buggy, I chose not to go as a bit rough on my back. We must of had 6 swims today. Kay and Mark came up for a swim in our waterhole as it’s in shade, their’s is in sun, not good for Mark. Sat around the fire for awhile and got all our scrapes burnt then bed.

These kids just bobbed around like little corks, they had so much fun.

Here they come down the rapids.

There the kids go, there helmets and camcorder on there heads,

I would sit in the shade here and the cows would hang around, so neat.

Day 8 & 9

Posted on December 27, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Saturday 27th

I’m up having a cuppa around a nice hot fire. Drizzling still, the river is up by about 6 inches so my water hole is going to be deep, We have little frogs jumping back across the grass inland direction, dont understand, in the evening they jump towards the river, dont know where they live in between. Went for our walk, found it hard today. Zoe was driving up the road and stopped and chattered, they had a nice xmas and came home to damage from the storm two nights ago, there thunder box blew over, ripped the seat off it. Some fences are damaged so they are having to fix them as Garry’s stock can get through. Got back from the walk and did our exercises, had a swim, the river has come up at least 12 inch now, so we are watching. Made a milo and toast, took it up to K&M but they were still in bed so came home and had it, then I decided to make a cake out of my muffin pre mix in the camp oven, even though its raining, well bugger me turned out great, then I threw in some scones and they turned out great. Very happy. Well the rain has not stopped and it’s chilly. Kay popped over she’s had a good lazy day and sleep. I have used my dehydrated pumpkin soup mix for tea tonight, see what it tastes like.

Sunday 28th

Buy gumboots, short ones.

It has rained all night. Still raining it’s 9.30 qld time. River has risen, Don has a stick on the bank for a marker and if the water gets to that we will be packing up. I have got heaps of uke practice done. Oh, the pumpkin soup last night was delicious, even Don loved it so that’s saying something. I did put 2 cubes of spinach frozen into it. No walk today, we have walked 6 days want one day off and its so wet as well. The river has been rising more and our sticks are under water. We will make a decision in the morning. Went for a drive up thru Garrys place next door and went only 10 km was lovely, people are camped down by the river there and the river is only couple of feet bankment, crazy. There are too river systems running into this one river so no wonder it’s rising as we could see it still raining up in the hills. Went down to Kays and saw the platypus playing, there were two that we saw. Got photos but not good enough to keep. I had a dehydrated meal for tea and Don even liked that one. Crikey. Still raining. Batteries are doing much better now that the charger is working properly. It’s cooler and the freezer is sitting on -10 most of the day. I have put these two days together with the few photos as to wet for photography.

Cant even see the rocks that the kids were sitting on few days ago.

Just outside our camp.

The drive up the road.

Day 7

Posted on December 26, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Friday 26th Happy birthday to Thomas. Boxing day.

Well it rained all night, woke to a cool morning then it started to warm up. We had breakfast and then did my Tai Chi and walk, the walk we timed it was just on 30 min brisk walk one way and climbing the hill is good, gets the heart rate up. Went and got some wood before everyone started arriving then in for a swim. The river has risen and the we hole I stand in is now up to the middle of my chest. So nice to be able to just plop into the water anytime, clothes and all. Still overcast and the odd drizzling, can hear thunder in the hills rumbling. Popped down to Kay’s and had a chat for awhile then came back for lunch. Got a fire going so I could heat my pie up in the camp oven. Had tea and Kay and mark came over we chattered around a fire. Lightning was all around us but no thunder now, drizzled most of the night but no wind so we were able to leave windows open. Warm night.

The horse was causing havoc in neighbours gazebo so we shooed it out, they love bread.

Horses crossing at our waterhole, its pretty deep now.

Day 6

Posted on December 25, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Thursday 25th.

Woke to a beautiful morning, mist in the hills, blue sky’s and some clouds. I had my cuppa just watching the world go by. While sitting the Crimson Rosella came again into the thistle patch, it picks the whole thistle out and starts to pick at it, dont know if there is a seed in there or not but seems to be getting something out from all the white fluffy stuff. Don got up and we had breakfast then waited for stomachs to settle, then went for our walk, just got back and started my Tai Chi and Kay and Mark arrived, that was at 9.30 am, said our hello’s then let them pick a site and get set up, they are both tired, they left at 4 am. Well the day got hot and the Thunder rolled around the hills then the rains came. At least no winds today. We have had tea, fire going now it’s raining again.

Scarlet Rosella eating thistle flowers.

Try drying yesterdays clothes after the rains, more to come though.

Beautiful memories of Judy's travels