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| pelicans flying in onto the lake at Coolwaters c/van park at sunset |
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| fisherman trying his luck at the lake |
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| people watching the start of the sunset about 5.30pm |
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| pelican waiting for his tea |
Thursday, July 26, 2012
sunset at Coolwaters Caravan Park - Sunday night
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Doggie Happy Hour
We spent an interesting night last night staying in the carpark behind The General Gordon Hotel at Holmbush, 23kms south of Mackay bang smack in the sugar cane belt, we backed onto cane fields. In fact we were lucky to get in for the last two spaces.
The hotel was built n 1877 and I am sure not much has been done to it since. The dogs had a very pleasant 'happy hour' at the outside area of the public bar with us, of course, - a good drop of draught beer though,. Real hard cases and I guess most of the patrons last night were workers from the sugar factory who stay in the rooms ab ove the hotel. Dogs were most interested in a lady who brought a very beautifully coloured parrot into the bar. It sits on her or her husband's shoulders all the time and had a head of bright red and blue body it was stunning. Wasn't fazed by the dogs at all. David and I went baqck for a night cap and there was a darts match going on with some heavy drinkers......
The 'afters hour' loo for the ladies was up the outside stairs and right along th balcony, but we didn't realise that and looked into rooms which we dicovered had had sleeping bodies in them - but should have realised as there were work boots outside the rooms - finally found the loos along the wonky balcony - so hurredly made our way quietly along. The shower area was fairly open, hence we really didn't want to expose ourselves.
The bar ladies could certainly look after themselves and I certainly wouldn't have wanted to tangle with them. Adds to the character of the journey - the dogs are certainly getting some different experiences in their travels.
The hotel was built n 1877 and I am sure not much has been done to it since. The dogs had a very pleasant 'happy hour' at the outside area of the public bar with us, of course, - a good drop of draught beer though,. Real hard cases and I guess most of the patrons last night were workers from the sugar factory who stay in the rooms ab ove the hotel. Dogs were most interested in a lady who brought a very beautifully coloured parrot into the bar. It sits on her or her husband's shoulders all the time and had a head of bright red and blue body it was stunning. Wasn't fazed by the dogs at all. David and I went baqck for a night cap and there was a darts match going on with some heavy drinkers......
The 'afters hour' loo for the ladies was up the outside stairs and right along th balcony, but we didn't realise that and looked into rooms which we dicovered had had sleeping bodies in them - but should have realised as there were work boots outside the rooms - finally found the loos along the wonky balcony - so hurredly made our way quietly along. The shower area was fairly open, hence we really didn't want to expose ourselves.
The bar ladies could certainly look after themselves and I certainly wouldn't have wanted to tangle with them. Adds to the character of the journey - the dogs are certainly getting some different experiences in their travels.
Doggie Heaven
Monday the dogs had a wonderful walk around the woodland tracks until they were exhausted and then we went into Yeppoon (prob. a smaller version of Coolangatta), another beautiful foreshore - DOG FRIENDLY - a town that is being done up and a great job is being made, loads of parks, in fact the whole region is pretty spectacular.
Left Coolwaters Tuesday morning - albeit reluctantly, but must move on. Interesting history to the c/park - it was originally the first hotel built on the Capricorn coast and the 1956 Aust. Olympic team stayed and trained there before moving to melbourne for the games. Then it was bought by the Baptist Church who built o/50's villas at the front of the property and introduced caravans and permanents and used the facilities for the community and school camps. etc. It was then bought by the present owners 7yrs ago who have got rid of the perm. vanners -() mind you all the Vics. that come up can be classed as perms. as they stay for up to 5 months - the owners have upgraded the park put in lots of new amenities and things for kids to do and turned it into an A1 park but still maintain the strong links with the community groups and schools.. There are two special fire pits one of which is lit everynight and people take their drinks and chairs and go sit around the fire. Monday evening they even had a couple singing so that was very amenable, sitting, listening and having a drink - DOGS INCLUDED of course. There was one lab/ retriever (a big boy) who wanted to join in with the singing and it seemed a special note got him going and he would sing along as well. Of course the songs were from the 50, 60, 70 era....... I wonder why!!!! (Have to wonder who runs the state of Victoria as most of the pop. is up this end of the country for 4/5months.)
It is still the only park on the coast that can cater for huge groups because they still have the dining room and other areas which have been turned into dorms. and motel style units. They put on special weekends for groups and cater accordingly so obviously a great moneyspinne - - even do vegetarian weekends for the yoga group with veg. food. - They run a very tight ship but are so friendly and accommodating and must say THEY ARE VERY DOG FRIENDLY. 1 out of thee vans in the park would have at least 1 dog and like us have two dogs but you NEVER hear them barking at all...... even our two were quiet, think they are so bemused by the whole thing.
They have also wonderful wide woodland tracks that Jake and Dana had a great time charging along, the tracks run behind the camp and along the side of the beautiful lake - all maintained by the gardener at the park (who incidentally is the bush poet - versatility plus.)
(Have some wonderful sunset shots taken Monday evening so will put them up)
Left Coolwaters Tuesday morning - albeit reluctantly, but must move on. Interesting history to the c/park - it was originally the first hotel built on the Capricorn coast and the 1956 Aust. Olympic team stayed and trained there before moving to melbourne for the games. Then it was bought by the Baptist Church who built o/50's villas at the front of the property and introduced caravans and permanents and used the facilities for the community and school camps. etc. It was then bought by the present owners 7yrs ago who have got rid of the perm. vanners -() mind you all the Vics. that come up can be classed as perms. as they stay for up to 5 months - the owners have upgraded the park put in lots of new amenities and things for kids to do and turned it into an A1 park but still maintain the strong links with the community groups and schools.. There are two special fire pits one of which is lit everynight and people take their drinks and chairs and go sit around the fire. Monday evening they even had a couple singing so that was very amenable, sitting, listening and having a drink - DOGS INCLUDED of course. There was one lab/ retriever (a big boy) who wanted to join in with the singing and it seemed a special note got him going and he would sing along as well. Of course the songs were from the 50, 60, 70 era....... I wonder why!!!! (Have to wonder who runs the state of Victoria as most of the pop. is up this end of the country for 4/5months.)
It is still the only park on the coast that can cater for huge groups because they still have the dining room and other areas which have been turned into dorms. and motel style units. They put on special weekends for groups and cater accordingly so obviously a great moneyspinne - - even do vegetarian weekends for the yoga group with veg. food. - They run a very tight ship but are so friendly and accommodating and must say THEY ARE VERY DOG FRIENDLY. 1 out of thee vans in the park would have at least 1 dog and like us have two dogs but you NEVER hear them barking at all...... even our two were quiet, think they are so bemused by the whole thing.
They have also wonderful wide woodland tracks that Jake and Dana had a great time charging along, the tracks run behind the camp and along the side of the beautiful lake - all maintained by the gardener at the park (who incidentally is the bush poet - versatility plus.)
(Have some wonderful sunset shots taken Monday evening so will put them up)
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Cheryl's alpacas
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| Val and me - not strangling the girlie |
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| kiss, kiss |
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| the wee feller only 3 weeks old with such a soft fleece |
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| Add captionCheryl and me with baby blue |
Jake, Misty and Dana Dog had a new experience today (along with us) went to an alpaca farm. They were bemused to say the least as were the alpacas by the three extra dogs. A friend of Dave and Val's rears alpacas on a property at Nimbara 1/2 way between Rocky. and Emu Park so we went out to see the herd and the babies - one of which is only 3 weeks old. I felt so urbanised, thinking this is a hard but wonderful life. Cheryl works out at Blackwater in the mines during the week and her 85 yr old mother looks after three dogs, chooks and feeds the alpacas during the week. Needless to say her mother is a real dag, she is 'A' list country lady who definitely calls a spade a spade and like my mum there are certainly no flies on her at all.. We spent a lot of time in the paddocks with the alpacas and looking at their incredible coloured fleeces. Afterwards we were treated to lunch and the dogs had free rein of the property together with their three dogs, - not near the alpaca padddocks though. Great afternoon.
We then went back to Emu Park to have a look at the singing ship out on the point - the wind going through the pipes and wires makes a wonderful sound as long as there is a breeze of sorts and today it was singing well. So impressed with Emu Park, lot of new housing and it is so clean - fly in and fly out for the mines or families who don't want to live in Blackwater which is about 2-3hr drive west. Am so impressed with all the wonderful green areas along the front above the beach, all so tidy.
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| The singing ship looking up almost to its top, so we appear pretty small - was playing a lovely sound as I was sitting there. |
This morning we went for a walk along the beach which is a huge crescent shape and goes out for miles at low tide, you can Gt. Keppel island and all the smaller isles as well, the dogs had a wonderful 'blat' with bat and ball and swim, knew they were going to be busy out at the farm as well. There was a beautiful sea hawk circling overead and its undercarriage was a magnificent orange colour in the sun, having a very close look at Misty, so had to hastily put her on the lead as didn't want that swooping down and picking her up. It had seen her running along the beach with me and that piqued its interest.
We are staying an extra day here as it is so beautiful - how best to picture it : Noble Lakeside, although much bigger with caravans as well, beautiful gardens and top notch maintenance around the park, everything works........and is spotlessly clean..... filled with Victorians who escape their winter for three months.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
How good is a lovely hot shower when you have been on the road three days - bloody marvellous - didn't want to get out, will be making the most of them while we are here.
Arrived at Rocky this afternoon and at a fantastic c/van site for two nights, right by the sea ( missed seeing the sea) and has a huge lake as well, loves doggies too, called Coolwaters at Emu Park about 40km out on the way to Yeppoon, absolutely packed but we are down by the lake. Weather has warmed up and happy to say this evening is measureably warmer than the last two have been. Sat out side until 8pm tonight. So might be warmer in bed tonight. Drove about 350kms today, in fact that has been the average so far.
Not sure about this long haul stuff and Jake is definitely not sure. Misty is good and just curls up and goes to sleep but all Jake can see from the back is the front of the van bouncing around, they haven't had a decent 'blat' for three days, still they will be down the beach tomorrow and there is a wooded walk at the back of the campsite, it is on 150 acres of land and is so clean, beaut. gardens, lovely pool, huge kitchen and even a campfire pit which was going tonight - great park for the kids too - lots to do and Emu Park town is only 10km up the road.
Doggies did have a walk around Maryborough park yesterday, which is huge and well laid out and must look a picture in the spring with all the garden beds - Love Maryborough, so old but well preserved with some really nice Queenslander houses and then we had lunch at Childers another really pretty well maintained country town with one main street which is treelined. All the houses are neat as are the gardens, had a great lunch stop there in another park where the dogs had a good old rummage.
Last night we stayed at a freebie at Granite Creek, 27 kms south of miriam VAle, a nice site not too big stood around a campfire (which someone else had built) with a glass of wine, had to it was so cold, had thermals, jackets, beanies on and to sleep we had two blankets, a duna - and two furry animals...... it has been so cold at night, didn't realise it got so cold that far up, but by 8 am the sun is up and it is warming up nicely. Stopped at Miriam VAle for one of their famous pies - for brekkie which were superb and lo and behold there was a market but this one was a real country market, ( unlike the Kingscliff one which is pretty commercialised and full of vintage clothing and soap stalls) not too big but had so many unusual things, was wonderful - especially as we just wandered into it....... Just amazed at the length of the coal trains, saw about three today and each one must have had nearly 100 containers of coal being pulled.
There are so many travellers on the road, still.... they must make up 60% of traffic with trucks another 25% andthe rest is other traffic.
Jackie, if you are coming back down the coast road, there are a lot of roadworks and stoppages from Rocky down to Maryborough.
Have realised that there would have been no way i could have done this if my arm had still been in a sling. Have had a couple of teething probs.with van. Reason we went to M'boro was to get a new gas hose as original one was leaking gas, so we haven't had gas since we left. Luckily Dave and Val have. Also we are having a few probs. with the sway bars, David has flipped the towbar completely and upended the sways but they keep bending the 'R' clips, haven't stopped long enough to get a good look at them may have to wait until Bowen.
Anyway, time to hit the sack, the dogs are in their own beds at the moment - long may it last. David says goodnight and it is good night from me as well signing off at 10.30pm from the mother ship.
Arrived at Rocky this afternoon and at a fantastic c/van site for two nights, right by the sea ( missed seeing the sea) and has a huge lake as well, loves doggies too, called Coolwaters at Emu Park about 40km out on the way to Yeppoon, absolutely packed but we are down by the lake. Weather has warmed up and happy to say this evening is measureably warmer than the last two have been. Sat out side until 8pm tonight. So might be warmer in bed tonight. Drove about 350kms today, in fact that has been the average so far.
Not sure about this long haul stuff and Jake is definitely not sure. Misty is good and just curls up and goes to sleep but all Jake can see from the back is the front of the van bouncing around, they haven't had a decent 'blat' for three days, still they will be down the beach tomorrow and there is a wooded walk at the back of the campsite, it is on 150 acres of land and is so clean, beaut. gardens, lovely pool, huge kitchen and even a campfire pit which was going tonight - great park for the kids too - lots to do and Emu Park town is only 10km up the road.
Doggies did have a walk around Maryborough park yesterday, which is huge and well laid out and must look a picture in the spring with all the garden beds - Love Maryborough, so old but well preserved with some really nice Queenslander houses and then we had lunch at Childers another really pretty well maintained country town with one main street which is treelined. All the houses are neat as are the gardens, had a great lunch stop there in another park where the dogs had a good old rummage.
Last night we stayed at a freebie at Granite Creek, 27 kms south of miriam VAle, a nice site not too big stood around a campfire (which someone else had built) with a glass of wine, had to it was so cold, had thermals, jackets, beanies on and to sleep we had two blankets, a duna - and two furry animals...... it has been so cold at night, didn't realise it got so cold that far up, but by 8 am the sun is up and it is warming up nicely. Stopped at Miriam VAle for one of their famous pies - for brekkie which were superb and lo and behold there was a market but this one was a real country market, ( unlike the Kingscliff one which is pretty commercialised and full of vintage clothing and soap stalls) not too big but had so many unusual things, was wonderful - especially as we just wandered into it....... Just amazed at the length of the coal trains, saw about three today and each one must have had nearly 100 containers of coal being pulled.
There are so many travellers on the road, still.... they must make up 60% of traffic with trucks another 25% andthe rest is other traffic.
Jackie, if you are coming back down the coast road, there are a lot of roadworks and stoppages from Rocky down to Maryborough.
Have realised that there would have been no way i could have done this if my arm had still been in a sling. Have had a couple of teething probs.with van. Reason we went to M'boro was to get a new gas hose as original one was leaking gas, so we haven't had gas since we left. Luckily Dave and Val have. Also we are having a few probs. with the sway bars, David has flipped the towbar completely and upended the sways but they keep bending the 'R' clips, haven't stopped long enough to get a good look at them may have to wait until Bowen.
Anyway, time to hit the sack, the dogs are in their own beds at the moment - long may it last. David says goodnight and it is good night from me as well signing off at 10.30pm from the mother ship.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
The wine was calling so we had to take heed and stop at 4pm (sure that is why Grey Nomads travel for a perm. happy hour at 4pm) - which we did at a lovely wee rest area - don't know its name 12km north of Gympie, up on a hill, beaut views and only a handful of vans and rigs. We grabbed a great area and even tried to have a campfire which was not that successful even though Val (our travelling friend) tried to set herself alight - could have been a great first night at a and e at Gympie - thankfully it wasn't that serious but she won't need to shave her legs - and you thought that we got wiser as we got older, well, well, think again.
Jake and Misty are not sure what the hell is going on, jake is normally flat out on the settee by 6pm, but, he was able to go and meet and greet which pleased him, and then took off off back to his new friends by himself so they had to bring him home. They are both flat out on our beds right now (Jake and Misty).
Was a great trip up and traffic not too major and we were thrilled to find a spot like this, after calling into a couple of stopover sites which were 'packed to the rafters'.
Jake and Misty are not sure what the hell is going on, jake is normally flat out on the settee by 6pm, but, he was able to go and meet and greet which pleased him, and then took off off back to his new friends by himself so they had to bring him home. They are both flat out on our beds right now (Jake and Misty).
Was a great trip up and traffic not too major and we were thrilled to find a spot like this, after calling into a couple of stopover sites which were 'packed to the rafters'.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Darling wee Chace was 3 on July 10th, gosh she seems to have shot up, think it is the skinny jeans that give her the long legs, oh how i envy her..... she had her first dance session on Thursday, another grand-daughter headed for the stage, she just loved it so now it starts again, love it Carol. Tap shoes, tutus, rhinestones sewed on costumes and so now the fun.
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