Day 4

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Tuesday 4th February

The youngest son had to head back to where he lives, we all spent some time looking at new places in the area. Some photo’s of the town of Murrurundi, lots of history here.

Wednesday 5th February

Today my eldest son returned from a trip in NZ and it’s at his place we have been staying. Very dry out here in Murrurundi and keeping the gardens watered is a big job. Once Garry was settled after his flight, next day he drove us up to some real nice spots as well, we are very lucky. Here are some images of the rock formations up in behind the town, real amazing shapes and they are so huge.

Looking at the town of Murrurundi from the rock cliffs in behind the town.

Star trails from top of the hills.

Day 3

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Monday 3rd February

My youngest son came up today and we did some tiki touring and found a lovely place called Paradise Park, spent some time there just chilling out. The guys went for the walk up to the Eye of the needle, very hard climb, to hot for me I stayed back. Went shooting stars that night, got some good shots.

Cub all set up in my son & his wife’s yard. Doing some house and animal sitting.

Rocks at Paradise Park.

Another view of Paradise Park.

Night shot of the old Convent School, Murrurundi, NSW

Star trails and the Old Convent School.

Ghostly tree at night in convent grounds.

Day 2

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Sunday 2nd February

Got up to a chilly morning, fog laying low over the ground with the sun shining on it, lovely sight.

Got packed up and hit the road. Made good time down to Murrurundi and got here at mid day. Got the camper all set up and then Ness showed us the run down of what and where everything is. Getting very hot now, just relaxed the rest of the day.

This was the morning fog, very early.

1st trip in retirement.

Posted on February 1, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Saturday 1st February

We are off to Murrundi to do house and animal sitting for a week. Then tiki tour for the rest of February.

Left home at 10.20 am, had battery problems as we hooked up over night and the cub drained the car battery instead of using the 240 volts from power. I rang our friend to come and start us if he could, so that was awesome that he could. So grateful. Another lesson learnt on this new adventure way of life.

We got as far as Deep Water down in NSW and was getting late and I saw free caravan park, so that was where we stayed, 6 pm qld time. Set up the awning and went and ordered a meal, being free staying so how great was that. Least we could do was buy a meal to help them out.

Going to be a cold night and they had the fire going in the pub.

The pub was burnt down 2 year ago and new people from Sydney are giving it a go of getting things up and running again. All is operating out of a tin shed at the moment, the Cob & Co cafe is still in tact so that’s working as normal.

This is called The Shed, which is operating as the Pub for now, Nice fire going and all. Lots of memorabilia in the place.

part of the old pub that was destroyed in the fire.

Another part of the pub that remains from the fire.

Day 13

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Gordon Country bush camping.There facilities are. S, $, T, SH, BR, FP, DP, but only a sewage pit, there is a river, they say if you boil it you can drink it, we did not. For these abbreviation’s go to my symbols page.

Gordon country is 46 km from Aratula at Gladfield at the driver reviver, turn right towards Goomburra, 10 km to Gumburra hall, turn right into Inverramsey Rd, follow for 20 km. Or 50 km east of Warwick.

Last day of the trip, packing up, we have all day so taking our time.

Day 13

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Friday 3rd January 2014

Last day of the trip, packing up, we have all day so taking our time.

This was home for 12 days. well camouflaged.

Day 12

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Thursday 2nd January 2014

Well the opossums were on the prowl again last night, we have had a baby and an adult hanging around, they make so much noise some nights.

We have another beautiful day, got to make the most of it as this is our last full day. Have had a few spots of rain, very overcast and humid, feels like another storm on the way. Just going to veggie out and spend some time getting photo’s of the baby Yellow face and mum feeding them, she has 3 babies. Only just discovered them last night, but have been watching the way the two adults were protecting this tree, now we know why.

I sat motionless for nearly two hours to get these photo’s so as not to disturb mum with her feeding the babies, kept an eye on them over the rest of the day and with the goanna hanging around I was concerned, obviously so were the parents and she encouraged them to fly up into the tree beside her nesting tree, well one got off track and the parents were really going to town, then I realized one was on the ground beside our toilet tent, so Don picked it up and popped it into the tree and off it went up to its mum. Here is a photo of their nest taken by Don, I was to short to reach.

Went for a walk and Don saw a Rufus Fantail, what a beautiful bird, I did get some shots but not good, they are even quicker than the Grey Fantail. Here is a photo taken by Don, it is only a reference photo.

Day 11

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Judy's Trekabout

Wednesday 1st, Happy New Year to everyone.

Woke to another perfect day. Had my usual morning cuppa listening to the sounds, such a wonderful way to start a day. We had two Female bowers and 3 Male bowers hanging about camp, playing in the wood pile, getting grubs I think. After breaky got cleaned up and got some shots of the bowers.

This dark Bower is the Male. This is the Female Bower.

Just relaxed around camp, don’t even need to leave camp to get to see things, always something going on. Lots of people heading down the road out of here and we just have new neighbours down the far side move in. Went for a walk up the road and saw baby Willy Wagtails, mum was protecting them from other birds, that’s what caught my attention, her noise, so cute they are, as is all babies. 🙂

Baby Willy Wagtails.

Baby Kingfisher. The country road. I have used Infrared on it.

Had another camp fire tonight. Good night. This is the second to last day of our holiday 😦

Day 10

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Judy's Trekabout

Tuesday 31st

Woke a wee bit later this morning, was great, Kay & Mark were all set up and ready to leave early so we all had a cuppa and said cheerio for now, this was 7.15 am.

We had a very overcast day so this is good, as I went down to the kingfisher spot and sat, but not a lot happening, I could here the kingfisher going off down the creek further, so headed back to camp. People on the other side of us were gone by lunch time so we now have all the paddock to ourselves, except for the bulls all going off and a goanna visiting again, plus there is a storm brewing.

These two bulls were always in competition, they must have their own girls and protecting there inheritance. Saw the most amazing sight, sitting watching the rain this afternoon and saw that the gum leaves were jumping up in the air, a good couple of inches and I haven’t been drinking ha-ha, but really watching, it was the big spits of rain hitting the very dry leaves made them jump, I wish now that I’d taken a wee video shot as photo’s didn’t do it. Filled all the containers up again, so that’s good saves our tank water. After the rain had stopped the thunder continued for hours just rolling around the hills, such a great sound.

Sat around the fire for as long as I could stay awake, the thunder was still rumbling, made for a very pleasant and relaxing time, but didn’t make it to midnight, the end of another year 2013 over.

Day 9

Posted on December 30, 2013 by Judy's Trekabout

Monday 30th

At least the nights are quiet cool considering the hot days we’er having, so that’s a blessing, once 5 am arrives it’s time for me to get up, the days are to beautiful to waste it in bed, had my morning cuppa and sat listening to the birds etc, then decided I would go down to my spot where I know the kingfishers lands to fish and I’ll set up my bird hide, leave it there while having breakfast so as not to disturb it very much. I have the water as back ground so that’s not great but will have to try anyway.

The morning has been quiet, but while I was in the bird hide I could hear the kingfisher really going off, so pocked my head out and saw that the kingfisher was attacking the Goanna, so it must be getting to close to where the baby kingfishers are.

After lunch took a walk down to the Ford to see what bird life was there but it was getting to hot even for the critters, not even much bird sounds. On my way back I saw a movement in the bush so went thru the fence to check it out, turns out to be a baby Bower bird, so cute. Mother Bower bird was watching, so took a couple of shots and slowly walked away so not to disturb them, it had obviously fallen out of the nest as it was very young.

Did a trial with frog shooting tonight using the Betta Beamer, it’s a flash with a defuser on it.

Beautiful memories of Judy's travels