Welcome to Cindy and David's 2013 Adventures
Note 05 - Lennox Heads to Mackay
Having driven through Glen Innes and Tenterfield we looked for a free camp and stopped at Crooked Creek Rest area. Brilliant forest site. This was our first test of the caravan off mains camping, shower and hot water etc All good.
Built a campfire which a passing shower tried to dampen. After the rain passed we had a BBQ surrounded by good company and good wine, Mark and Donna, Cec and Lorraine, and others - what a life ?
Built a campfire which a passing shower tried to dampen. After the rain passed we had a BBQ surrounded by good company and good wine, Mark and Donna, Cec and Lorraine, and others - what a life ?
In the morning we set off for the Ballina area to rescue the car fridge. Stopped at Casino and made the phone call and discovered that the repairers had ordered the part but won’t be ready for pick-up until Friday. For accommodation we tried Byron Bay which was still suffering the hang-over of the Blues festival with huge crowds; the traffic jam was at least 2km long, fortunately we were going the other way (out). Ended up at Lake Ainsworth at Lennox Head where we had the most major thunder, lightning, wind and rain storm we have ever endured in a caravan.The van even rocked with the force of it. We were surrounded by tents of young folk there for the Qld school holidays and they suffered severe consequences with the greatest of ease – what a lovely bunch. Photo shows children ignoring the rain and enjoying surfing the water right at their tent sites
Drove in to Ballina to have a look around and to pick up the fridge. Problem: after all this time discovered that when the part they had ordered arrived it was wrong! The correct one was expected any time. Furthermore, David mentioned that the brake on the left front of the van was locking up which meant it should be fixed as it was a safety issue.So, back to Lennox Head to pack up the caravan, return to Ballina where we left the caravan. While Matt was reversing the van into their workshop he found that the electric brake controller in the Toyota was inadequate for the caravan braking system and suggested that we should really invest in a newer, better suited, brake controller. OK said gullible us and went off to pass the time at Bunnings, Aldi and lunch. On our return, the correct part arrived and was fitted, the caravan wheels were off and work being done, new brake controller was fitted. We were then relieved of a great weight from our bank balance as well as from our feeling of insecurity
Drove to Brisbane, checked in to the Gateway caravan park in Birkdale, We have been here a couple of times before. It is next door to the commuter station on the Redlands to Brisbane Rail line. A small park with mostly permanents. There are only about 10 sites for travellers. We met Pete and Chris Neech at their house in Wellington point. Had a great afternoon eating oysters, prawns and drinking wine… what a life.
Next stop Dalby. Familiar caravan park, very much more prosperous since our last visit.
Looking for a free camp we found Isla Gorge. Stunning National Park camping site, we were in heaven. Highlights were the peace of our evening drinks and the bbq breakfast treat on the edge of the escarpment the next morning
There must have been plenty of rain all through the countryside. We stopped on the side of the road for a cup of tea. The grass was impenetrable and hid 10 truck tyres which cannot be seen here
Mount Morgan is only 40 minutes from Rockhampton and it's an intriguing place.. David rode his bike (mistake – lots of hills plus detour around the park due to repairs to town bridge!) to explore. History: Mount Morgan was once the world's richest gold mine. Between 1882 and 1981, the mountain yielded 225,000 kilograms of gold, 50,000 kilograms of silver and 360,000 tonnes of copper.The huge gold deposit was discovered by drovers William and Charles Archer in 1853 who kept it secret until a daughter spilled the beans to her boy-friend. She was kicked out and never spoken to again. Her boyfriend returned a year or two later with mining partners, the Morgan Brothers, Frederick, Thomas and Edwin, and joined by William Pattison, Thomas Hall and William D’Arcy, who formed the very first syndicate to mine the mountain in 1883. The Morgans then sold their shares and The Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company Ltd was established by the remaining parties. Later it was taken over by another mining interest which turned it into an open cut mine. When abandoned it was a hole 325 meters deep where it was formerly a 350 meter high mountain. Later the tailings were re-processed and the mine closed down. Significant pollution from the mining activities are still leaching into the creek.The town of Mount Morgan has history as rich as the mine. With funding from the Queensland Heritage Trails Network, that history is going to be written on the streets with signs and displays throughout the town as well as in the existing museum
Drove to Cape Palmerston at Green point.New van park, absolutely beautiful but totally ruined by continual rain and lots of muddy roads. Ugh! It rained a lot accompanied by wind. We spent most of the day on the jolly old computer catching up to date on the web pages. Did venture out later in the afternoon for a long windblown walk on the beach.
Wild and beautiful.
Wild and beautiful.
Debris on the Mackay Beach. Must have washed up from the recent floods in the Pioneer river
Drove on to Mackay with forecasts saying the weather will improve. Not much to report as have been here before. However, new shopping centre truly huge. Tired just walking in the door. I don't often take photos of toilet blocks. Mackay must have been designed for army barracks
It is long and functional. No-one would make a floor in these colours