Day 8

Posted on December 29, 2013 by Judy's Trekabout

Sunday 29th

Had a early start for the day. It was very hot, you could just feel it, so we went and did our walks first. Got down to the river walk which is a 7 km walk along the river. Started walking and I wasn’t getting a real good feeling about the area, I did mention it to Don after we got around the bend of the river, so he said if that’s the feeling you are getting lets listen to karma and go. We then drove up to the other walking track and as it was Don had hurt his knee the night before so we then decided it was a pretty boring walk and in this heat decided to give it all a miss.

We called into see the Goomburra Valley camp ground, what lovely people and there camping grounds are so clean and well set out. They also have cabins for those that require them.

Went back to camp and spent the day relaxing, its 38 deg and only 12.30 pm, a storm is brewing. You can hear thunder in the back ground. I have just come back to finish off this post and now its raining and the lighting outside is amazing.
Don has collected 30 litres of clean water off the tarp.

We had savory mince and mashed potatoes that I had dehydrated before our trip. Been doing a lot of dehydrating lately ,experimenting, as it will save on freezer room and also help with not so many items in the fridge when we go camping for long periods of time.

A country road through to the Main Range National Park. Superb Fairy Wren. Toy model helicopter, big boys toys. Yellow Faced Honey eater, was extremely hot and the poor bird was shading it’s self from the heat. Red Browed Finch Fleay’s barred frog. You can hear him during the night with a “ok-ok-ok-ok call, this is in danger of becoming extinct.

Day 7

Posted on December 28, 2013 by Judy's Trekabout

Saturday 28th

Had a cuppa and got cleaned up after breakfast and going for a drive to see if we can see a bird I saw when we drove to Warwick, down near the Dump Point area, looked like a Yellow Rosella, so would be good to get a photo of it. We emptied the loo while down there. Just finished doing the ablution bit and noticed on the road behind us were a couple of bulls sizing each other up, one is a brown Brahma looking bull, the other one just a bull, I heard the cows going off mooing but didn’t take any notice, they must of known something, ha-ha. Stayed of course and got some photo’s, very exciting, the white bull won and then he headed back to the group of cows, so we can only assume that the brown bull was getting to close to his girls. This is the same white bull that has been very dominating over the cows and calves crossing the creek down by our camp site.

After all the excitement we then headed up a 4 wheel drive track to some look out, very steep, lots of loose surface on the track but was not to boggy, was good to test us and the vehicle on a small bit of 4×4 driving, we are new to this, Don has done it all about 30 years ago, so its a different ball game now a days in these smart vehicles. It was very steep, the view was so heat hazed we could not see much. We checked out another couple of area’s but never saw the bird again, in spite of sitting and listening many times.

Got back to camp, moved the solar panels again and put on a loaf of gluten free bread in the Weber in the camp oven. Now this turned out eatable but not very high as I only put a very small amount of mixture in due to the small camp oven I’m using, actually going to buy a proper bread tin when I get home.

Had lunch, grabbed some goodies for our smoko later and headed up to the rain forest and look at the Retreat. The walk to the Sylvester’s Lookout is really lovely not as steep as the Castle Lookout one, so more enjoyable, not many birds but did see one I have never seen before and cant find a name for it yet, not even in my bird book. Called into the retreat, what a lovely place, went up to see the lady and what a nice person, they have a great camping area as well as cabins, clean and a excellent real dump point. Just up from here is the Main Range National park

Entrance to the lookout. Everything is covered with mossy growth, this is up at the tops. View from the lookout, down in the valley towards the coast in a easterly direction. A bird that I do not know the name of yet! I think it is a Black-faced Monarch. Beautiful ferns in the rain forest. Lesueur’s frog’s.

A good day was had, did get pretty hot in the afternoon.

Day 6

Posted on December 27, 2013 by Judy's Trekabout

Friday 27th

Went into Warwick to get some stores, it rained last night and on our way back from Warwick you could see the storms brewing, fork lightning, black clouds. When we got back Kay said that it had really rained which we could tell, then only a few showers and now all fined up. So good for the country side, they need rain very badly.

Went to get some photo’s of birds down by the water hole and the chap came down to where we were going to sit on the log which we had been doing before and said there is a python carpet snake sitting in there, he showed us, we got some photo’s and then moved away to the water. It was beautiful and very curled up, reckon about 6 feet long.

When we came back up to the trailer, Don noticed a small frog jump out by the fire pit, then another and then when we started really looking there was like a migration, so many all along the bank right up to Kay’s site. So tiny, didn’t know what sort they were as hard to tell when very small, i’m talking about as small as my thumb nail.

Made a Gluten Free bread in the camp oven yesterday, turned out bad, burn’t the bum out it, far to much in the small camp oven, and the coals were to hot in the fire, so made another one today, and only ¼ of the amount, turned out good to look at, bad to eat, then I knew that it still has to rise, so tomorrow I will try again but do it in the Weber. I will get it right sooner or later.

Mark is doing a big casserole in the camp oven for all of us, and I have we just realized that there is mushrooms in it and Don can’t eat them, so he will do something else for himself.

Looking at K & M site from our site, posting this to show how roomy it is. Our site from the entrance, we have neighbours on the right side, but still plenty of room. K & M site is to the left of this image. K & M site from the bottom of entrance. M & K sitting back relaxing, our site in the background. To the left of where Mark is sitting was a Red Bellied black snake today. This is a carpet snake of some sorts, just bathing in the sun, warming up, there are heaps of little birds in this area, so plenty of prey for him I imagine. A frog in the grass in daylight. He is the Lesueur’s Tree Frog.

Day 5

Posted on December 26, 2013 by Judy's Trekabout

Thursday 26th Boxing Day

Had another great day, just relaxing with Mark and Kay for some of the time, and getting bird shots.

Had lots of activity with the cows and the bulls today, there was one bull controlling the cows with calves from crossing the creek, he really was getting angry for a while. Didn’t even need to leave camp to have fun.

Did some washing, showered, gave the camp a bit of a tidy up.

The weather is real good, not so hot and nice and overcast.

We spent some time at K & M’s fire pit this evening chatting about the day and then did tea.

Lots of people driving around but so far we still have the place to ourselves. Time to have a cuppa and then crash for the night.

Had a couple a young opossums visit us while we were sitting at the fire and during the night. Good night.

Bower Birds Bow, all the blue bottle tops that it had collected, plus many other blue bits, wonder where it finds them. Crimson Rosella, just in the trees where we camped. Azure Kingfisher in the trees at camp. Mother cow with suckling calf, needs to grab a drink while it can. This bull was real funny to watch, he was not allowing a few cows and their calves to cross the creek and as one was crossing and about to go up the bank he turned and ran, I managed to get a grab shot.

Day 4

Posted on December 25, 2013 by Judy's Trekabout

Wednesday 25th

Woke up and got a cuppa made, Kay and Mark were moving around so went and said good morning. They are pretty tired so will be a veggie out day for them.

We went down to the dump point to do the ablution bit, just a concrete pit in the ground with a lid, pour it in and put lid on again, so no tap, we filled the bottom of the cassette up with water and gave it a swirl around and emptied it. It’s clean dirty water. For a place to charge the prices they do and then to provide such in adequate dump point should be not allowed, very disgusting.

Lots happened here at camp with the bird life, we have the Bower birds coming into camp and looking for anything they can have, found its bower and all the blue bits it’s been collecting. A goanna being chased by two kingfishers, crows being attacked by kingfisher, Crimson parrots, finches, a yellow faced honey eater.

Went frog hunting tonight and yes we found quite a few, didn’t take the camera gear, checking it out first so will go shooting tomorrow night.

This morning Don found a frog in the pantry, just sitting in the opening, gave him a hell of a fright as his finger touched it, until he realized what it was.

Well time for bed, just waiting while the fire pit dies out a bit more then crash. We have put the end wall up, looks like it might rain tonight so just being prepared. Not so hot today, nice breeze most of the day. Good night.

Crimson Rosella drinking from the water hole

Female Superb Fairy-Wren

Male Superb Fairy-Wren

Day 3

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Judy's Trekabout

Tuesday 24th Happy birthday to me.

Had a good sleep, was a wee bit cool but not as cold as was predicted. Got up at 6.30 am and put the kettle on, had a cuppa. It is so nice and peaceful listening to the sounds, and a bull roaring in the background.

Having a concern about the Waeco freezer, it’s losing its temp fast, we have had a lot of problems with it, or it’s our battery system, so have had the generator on for 1 ½ hours and took all of the 1 1/2 hours to pick up the freezers temp again. Solar was in full sunlight all day yesterday and is in full sunlight now, so we will be monitoring it, will be getting the system checked out by the solar people when we get home.

It’s warming up now. We went for a drive to check out a few things, can’t find the dump point they have said is here. Checked out other areas for camping, we really do have the best spot for what we like to do. Collected some fire wood for Mark and Kay in case they get here late. They are not here yet so assume that they will come tomorrow.

Lots of birds around us and then tonight we saw the Crimson Rosella’s came in. They are so pretty and colourful.

Opened a red wine to have with tea for my birthday, sorry Kay you were not here to share. Got very hot during the afternoon, but has cooled down nicely now, it’s now 7 pm and quiet windy, so closed up Mark and Kay’s tent. Good night.
Well Kay and Mark arrived at 10.30 pm, she came over and sang happy birthday to me thru the window. Was a lovely surprise, I was to tired to get up and have a cuppa, let them get organised.

Kingfisher My daughter and her husbands camp site Our camp site, well camouflaged

Kookaburra

Day 2

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Judy's Trekabout

Monday 23rd

I awoke to the sounds of many Kookaburra’s, such a great sound, then all the other birds started. Birds like wrens, the wee Honey eaters and the Crimson Rosella’s.

Got up at 6 am made a cuppa and just sat back and listened, the sounds were great.

Had breakfast then cleaned up, went for a bit of a walk and saw our neighbours, had a bit of a hello and wondered back, had morning tea.

We then took a drive up to the rainforest, just lovely, did one of the walks, called Sylvester Lookout, very steep.
It was nice and cool in the rainforest, we came home had lunch and then the heat got up again, but we have a wee breeze.

Went and mucked around with the birds here taking photos, got fire wood etc, was a nice relaxing afternoon.

Azure Kingfisher, we found that this is one of the spots he fishes from.

What a lovely walk, very steep, heaps of birds, all very high in the canopy, but the view at the look out was very hazy but must be amazing on a clear day, worth the effort.

This is rain forest under growth, and the smell is so nice, all the different forest scents.

This is a White Napped Honey Eater, have not seen one of these before, they are very pretty. Don over the other side of creek. Nankeen Night Heron. They had been harrowing the paddock. The old gate. Still worked though. Female Bower visiting us, they are so nosy when they get use to you being around.

Gordon Country Trip.

Posted on December 22, 2013 by Judy's Trekabout

Sunday 22nd Dec 2013

Got up at 5 am and started to get organized to head off.

My daughter gave us a ring to say they were heading on down to Aratula, this is where we are all meeting. Kay and Mark have decided to bring their camper and set it up so we are all together, then they go home for 2 days work and come back. We can watch the camper for them.

Okay, Kay and Mark arrived early so they came on thru to the Gordon Country which was great, they got to drive around and picked out the best spots, we all love the same thing as far as camping goes, they did well, we have a very quiet, some shade, by the river, not much of a flow, but there is water, lots of birds, so we are happy little photographers. 🙂

Once we were all set up and had a quick chat, Kay and Mark headed off home.

We got about having lunch, sorted out where everything is to be and it got very hot, about 38 degrees.

When it cooled down we went for fire wood, etc and just relaxed the rest of the afternoon.

Had tea once it cooled down, had a wee fire as it cooled off very quickly, amazing one minute you are sweating the next its cool, but very pleasant.

Had a great night sleep, everything wide open and there was a good breeze all night.

This is the set up for the next two weeks.

Inside of the awning and our living area.

Nice big sites and well away from each other.

Looking out at the view and this is our back yard for two weeks 🙂

Other side of the cub camper.

Weekend away Charlie Morelands.

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Judy's Trekabout

November 1st Friday — 3rd Sunday

Well we had time to go away for 2 nights so the camper trailer was all but packed, we’er out of here by 10.30 am on the Friday. Charlie Morelands is quiet close and such a relaxing time up there. The bird life and small critters are awesome for photography, we had some friends arriving on the Saturday that love the nature and wildlife so a good time will be had. Very dry but still water in Yabbie Creek so that’s always nice to cool off in. Here are a few shots of some of the birds I saw over the 3 days.

Thrush, very hard to spot unless they move. Amazing camouflage. Eastern Yellow Robin with grub in mouth. I think this is a Spectacled Monarch, they are so vibrant in colour, very small. Tree Creeper of some sorts, yet to name it. Another Tree creeper of sorts. Lewin’s Honey Eater. Azure Kingfisher with food in its beak. Srub Wren

Lake MacDonald Scout Camping.

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Judy's Trekabout

October 4th Friday

We were already to head off as soon as Don got home from work. Headed of to Cooroora Scout camp on the shores of Lake MacDonald. It was a gathering of the Australian Campertrailer.org group, were very excited about getting out in the camper again and a bonus to put some faces to some of the people on the forum that I chat and leave comments to. Friends of mine were already there, we got to the camp before dark, set up the trailer and settled in for a cuppa with Kate & Chris. Then wondered around and introduced ourselves to the ones that were close, sorted tea out and settled in for a good nights sleep.

October 5th Saturday – October 7th Monday.

Woke to a lovely fine day on this morning and got to meet all the other campers from the trailer group over morning tea, lovely bunch. The area of the camping is nice and big, lovely clean toilets and showers, place is a bit run down but cant fault it as far as cleanliness. Lake was a love spot to cool down as the weather was pretty warm. Spent time on the Lake, went for bush walk, sat around the camp fire in the evenings, just really relaxed. We were here until the Monday, it was the Queens birthday weekend.

Having fun in the rubber duck. Our friends in their Kayak Some of the Camper trailer group Our set up Entrance to the scout camp ground The entrance into the park Nicely lite up with LED lights Taking in the view Evening sun setting Our Landing Star trails and painting the trees with light from torch View from the entrance, more area on the right of this photo, is where we were all camped.