Less to report today. Only 316KM to get home. On the road 0730ish and home via Narranderra and cross-country through Urana and Rennie... at 1130. The fridge/freezer is empty and the other perishables in the house.
Washing, bedding(both sets now) and then clothes, is underway... The RHHINO will get a complete clean inside and out. Then panel beating and exhaust leak attended to - along with full service. One more oil and fuel filter in hand.
Now for the accounting: we have been away 55 days, travelled 7518 KM in the bus and a few more hundred in the car. The bus has used 1462 litres of diesel at an average cost of $1.58 per litre - That's $2310. That is a bit under 20 litre per 100km!!! Or 31 cents per KM.
We have spent $1191 on caravan/tourist parks. And that makes it $3500 for 55 days great holiday.
Or if you like $63.65 PER DAY EXTRA.
I reckon that not bad value. The journey or the experience (as always) Priceless!!!
30th August: Moree to West Wyalong
We had a slower start today -only 660 km to go down the Newell Highway to West Wyalong. So only coffee and tea then off.
Another Maccas breakfast at Narrabri B&E muffin for Maz The hash brown and hotcakes for me - plus a medium coffee each. Maccas Cafe coffees are reliably good!!!
Nothing much to report, except that the Newell from the border to south of Narrabri is shit!! broken and undulating. Hard work!! After that 150 odd km we have been sitting on 100kph (except for the hills) medium coffee each. Refuelled at Parkes so will be fine for diesel to Mulwala.
Destination is the West Wyalong Showgrounds; off the heavy vehicle bypass. We have noticed it in the past. We are there about 4PM and wander in. They are preparing for the annual show next week so lots of Ag Society people around. Easy to pay our $15 for the night (damn). Power, water if we want and brand new immaculate toilets showers in the main stand. Excellent. We'll just plug into 240VAC
Maz is preparing a lamb something and salad. I am demolishing our last beer. Good timing.
(We have plenty of wine vodka and Scotch!) And the Swans Richmond game is on soon also excellent timing!
Last travel Post tomorrow! With running costs-expenses-outgoings...
Another Maccas breakfast at Narrabri B&E muffin for Maz The hash brown and hotcakes for me - plus a medium coffee each. Maccas Cafe coffees are reliably good!!!
Nothing much to report, except that the Newell from the border to south of Narrabri is shit!! broken and undulating. Hard work!! After that 150 odd km we have been sitting on 100kph (except for the hills) medium coffee each. Refuelled at Parkes so will be fine for diesel to Mulwala.
Destination is the West Wyalong Showgrounds; off the heavy vehicle bypass. We have noticed it in the past. We are there about 4PM and wander in. They are preparing for the annual show next week so lots of Ag Society people around. Easy to pay our $15 for the night (damn). Power, water if we want and brand new immaculate toilets showers in the main stand. Excellent. We'll just plug into 240VAC
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| West Wyalong Showgrounds |
(We have plenty of wine vodka and Scotch!) And the Swans Richmond game is on soon also excellent timing!
Last travel Post tomorrow! With running costs-expenses-outgoings...
29th August: Bundaberg to Moree NSW
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| Morning at Thebaban, west Bundy |
Darren was off to work at 5:30!!!! but we caught Debbie before she left for work... Thank you guys.
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| Evening at Moree |
0715 on the road. We have 1700KM to get home - give or take... MY mission is to have under a thousand left at the end of the day.
It's Macca's breakfast at Childers a little after 8, then Kingaroy, Dalby, Moonie, Goondiwindi.Moree is my target andwe are in the Gwydir Springs CP at about 1630. So it has been a 740KM day in a bit under 9 hours with about 8.5 at the wheel... I tried to take a pic of the odometer turning over 450,000 but missed...
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| Bit hard to see all the soot |
West Wyalong or there about will probably do us tomorrow. A free camp will do fine. So Home Sunday PM... all being well!
The exhaust leak seems no worse, but will need to be fixed before we go anywhere else...
28th August: Burnett Heads, the long way to Bundaberg...
We have made tentative arrangments to meet the Dights at their place at about 5PM, and park the night. |
| Mon Repos |
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| Mon Repos |
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| Bargara |
Well Bargara is very civilised and pretty foreshores, a couple of caravan parks ($35pn) - one at each end - 9 KM apart, and shops etc.We filled up at their Woolies Fuel. and then cruised down the esplanades. Lots of pretty oceanside corners. Plenty of on-the-water houses but mostly on rocky shores. Million dollar lots I guess...
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| Bargara - south |
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| Elliot Heads - stonefish??? |
Next we headed for Elliot Heads but were waylaid to Coral Cove - we figured it must be on the water, Yep and pretty. The whole place is built around a golf course - or vice versa. Seemed to be one or two holes then a long path through the suburb to the next hole.Fully charged Golf Cart required!
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| Elliot Heads |
Then to Elliot Heads. The shortcut was a few KM of very corrugated road. Found some new rattles. One becomes very intimate with a motorhome. Every rattle is right there - not isolated several metres behind. Lunch at the Heads. Nice corner, big caravan park/campground, and pretty full.
And so in early afternoon we have had enough, me with driving, so we head into Bundaberg missing the CBD. We have identified our destination but are way early. We can fit along th verge/nature strip comfortably.
And it's not to far to the airport, home of Jabiru and Microair - and the Hinkler Flying School. We have found some shade, so will spend some time here. Saw my first Virgin ATR-500!
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| ATR - not at Bundaberg... |
Have some time to kill so into the blog a bit early...
27th August: Agnes to Burnett Heads
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| Last look at Agnes Water |
Good thing we are at Agnes Water in off peak - Peak price is $49 per night and High Peak.... $55 !!!
But it is beautiful and a delight... And the Fish and chips were superb. Grilled Barra for Maz, battered Red Throat Emperor for me - can not find Red Emperor so far (arguably 5 star vs 4 star).But by 0900 we are away heading for the coast off Bundaberg. Plan is for Burnett Heads or Bargara, both on the south side of the Burnett River.
Meanwhile... we have flown past a Macadamia Nut company... so a u turn is in order. And we achieve the purchase of a kg of dry roast Macadamias (once known as Queensland Bush Nuts) . I love 'em and survive on nuts... onwards...
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| The way home |
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| Burnett River |
So it's a walk to and along the Burnett River, after settling in. Only paid for one night so far ($29). Will phone the Dights later. Meanwhile tentative plan for tomorrow is the check out mon repos, where Bert Hinkler tested his gliders. We don't need to check the Hinkler Museum again, which we passed on the way in from the north.
After Bundaberg/Burnett we are heading home - 1700km inland via Dalby Goondawindi etc. We have an exhaust leak which has become worse, an exhaust manifold gasket by the looks. So aside from filling the engine compartment with soot it bleeds the turbocharger...
26th August: PM Agnes Water via 1770
Out of the morning mist when we cleared the riverine environs about 8AM. Another pretty morning for a drive. 1770 is about 80km down the Bruce Hwy then 60 north east to the coast. We didn't stop just cruised along.
Seventeen Seventy is a village in Queensland, Australia, built on the site of the second landing by James Cook and the crew of HM Bark Endeavour in May 1770 (Cook's first landing in what is now the state of Queensland). Originally known as Round Hill – after the creek it sits on – the name was changed in 1970 to commemorate the bicentennial of Cook's visit. The community of Seventeen Seventy hold the re-enactment of this historic landing in May each year as part of the 1770 Festival held in May.
After passing Agnes Water we arrive at 1770. It is beautiful, a quite superb corner. The Seventeen Seventy Camp Grounds is an expensive caravan park right on the magnificent sheltered beach - and is full, and doesn't take pets... The other CP is well off the water. And signs everywhere...
So after a coffee and a walk on the beach, it is phone ahead to Agnes Water Beach CP. One spot, one night is all that is available - and $40 - no discounts.
I think it is worth it, another beautiful ocean beach out front, kilometres long, essential shops just down the road. There is a camp just down the road, for 'small vehicles' we will check it out by car later.
Fish 'n' chips for us today, A treat!!!
Seventeen Seventy is a village in Queensland, Australia, built on the site of the second landing by James Cook and the crew of HM Bark Endeavour in May 1770 (Cook's first landing in what is now the state of Queensland). Originally known as Round Hill – after the creek it sits on – the name was changed in 1970 to commemorate the bicentennial of Cook's visit. The community of Seventeen Seventy hold the re-enactment of this historic landing in May each year as part of the 1770 Festival held in May.
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| 1770 |
After passing Agnes Water we arrive at 1770. It is beautiful, a quite superb corner. The Seventeen Seventy Camp Grounds is an expensive caravan park right on the magnificent sheltered beach - and is full, and doesn't take pets... The other CP is well off the water. And signs everywhere... |
| 1770 |
I think it is worth it, another beautiful ocean beach out front, kilometres long, essential shops just down the road. There is a camp just down the road, for 'small vehicles' we will check it out by car later.
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| 1770 |
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| In at Agnes Water Beach CP |
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| Agnes Water |
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| Agnes Water looking north |
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| Agnes Water Beach is a as long a walk as you like... |
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| Local Cop Car in the caravan park Yes real Police! |
25th August: Cooee Bay to River Ranch
Heading off today - south. Skirted Rockhampton as far as possible... skipped Gladstone etc BTDT!After a couple of hours and 150 km - lots of roadworks, we have peeled off the Bruce Highway at River Ranch and the Calliope Historical Village and meandered a few km on the Old Bruce Hwy to a free camp called Calliope River Camping Grounds - obviously on the Calliope River. A beaut spot, just north of Calliope. We are parked left side to the river facing about south west - and people keep coming!!!
Looks like 1100 is as late as one would want to arrive to get a prime spot.
We will stop tonight then head to Seventeen Seventy (or 1770...)
23rd August: Cooee Bay
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| See the house on the cliff on the left... |
Beautiful day so went exploring on foot this morning. Up to the Wreck Point then down around Cooee Bay and the beach. Beautiful corner. Found a place like the Mulwala House up on a cliff - two story, four posts through the balcony...
Footy on 7mate later...
22nd August: exploring south of Yeppoon
<< The bus is camped at the purple drop pin at Cooee Bay, south of Yeppoon, so we will try to hug the coast to Emu Point.
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| Wreck Point looking to Yeppoon |
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| Wreck Point looking towards Lammermoor |
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| Looking back into Cooee Bay |
Next Lammermoor then Rosslyn where the boat harbour and Keppel Ferry terminal is located.
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| Lammermoor Beach |
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| Panorama of the Rosslyn boat harbour |
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| Rosslyn Harbour looking back at Yeppoon |
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| Emu Park Beach |
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| Part of defunct Aquarium complex (I think) Cool structure!!! at Emu Park |
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