TOOWOOMBA TO ARMIDALE

13 NOVEMBER

Time for shopping and we found a great shopping centre close by.

Our private lake

14 NOVEMBER

Weather ideal for bike ride so set off to Maidenwell to visit friends, Connie and John. Had tried to catch them while we were in Kingaroy but they were away travelling. Travelled out through Crows Nest and stopped at Cooyar for a break and a drink and on to Maidenwell. A lovely trip through the hills and the Bunya Mountains were in the distance.
Had a great lunch with Connie and John and talked all afternoon, so much to catch up on. We had met C & J in St George 2 years ago.

John & Connie at Maidenwell

We headed home a different way through Quinalow and Acland ( a large coal mine) and onto Oakey and back to Toowoomba.

Towards Oakey

 A great day and magnificent countryside. Poor Mike was quite tired that night. But someone has to do it.

15 NOVEMBER

Happy Anniversary Michelle and Chris.
Rather sluggish this morning but off milking with Nola and Millar this arvo. Went off to Millar and Nola's and from there Millar took us out to the farm (about 1/2 hour). While I supervised the milking Mike was off chasing cows and feeding a sick one. He was having his farm fix.

Nice herd of Guernseys

 

Mike & Miller feed the calves

16 NOVEMBER

Shopping and haircut.

17 NOVEMBER

Mike went off to a Limosin cattle sale at the showgrounds, home for lunch and then off in the other direction to the Model Railroad club also at the showgrounds. He tried out his new engines he bought before we left home and had never run them so happy to see they work. About 5 he rushed home as we were hit by a huge electrical storm, rain,wind,lightening and thunder. There was a warning for hail so Mike found an empty shed and parked the truck for protection, fortunately the hail didn't happen but very wet.

18 NOVEMBER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVEN.
We are having lunch with Nola and Millar today at Rudds Pub from Dad and Dave fame. Another one of these places with lots of history. Had a lovely meal with great company.

Front Bar at RUDDS PUB

Mike, Nola & Miller

 Home again and Mike off to neighbours to watch the car racing. We haven't been able to get TV here thanks to where we are parked.

20 NOVEMBER

Patch working at Nolas tonight. She has a group that goes once a week. I had to have show and tell and everyone enjoyed seeing different projects. I came away with a few ideas and patterns.

21 NOVEMBER

Machine out and I made some Christmas placemats.

22 NOVEMBER

Finished off mats and now hand sewing.
A new 5th wheeler arrived and parked beside us so invited them (Jill and Murray) and Peter and Glenys for drinks and we had a great time.

Snackies time Toowoomba Showgrounds

 

Everyone gets involved in snack time

23 NOVEMBER

Now we are getting ready to move we start our routine of filling up the truck, shopping for food and loading the bike.

24 NOVEMBER

Off to Miilar and Nola's with a bag of books to swap. Millar took us to his Church where he is in charge of a shed full of  books which they sell periodically raising funds for the missions. We spent ages finding books to read and left our read books in exchange.

25 NOVEMBER

Cleanup of house. Peter and Glenyis home in time for drinkies so we all got together for our last night.

26 NOVEMBER

On the road again and who knows where. Arrived in Millmeran ( a big Camp Cook out is held here every year-about 3000 people go) and walked the streets to stretch our legs. Next town Inglewood,walked the town and had some lunch. We decided we would stop at Texas for the night so found the off road parking by the Dumeresq River and stayed. We were entertained by about 10 Splendid Fairy Wrens, just lovely to watch.

Duneresq River campsite

27 NOVEMBER

Decided to stay another day parked by he river and watching the bird life.
Took a drive into Texas- small town but interesting to poke around.

28 NOVEMBER

Across the border today and our clocks go forward an hour.

Looking back to Queensland

 Headed to Warialda and we were going to stay but when we arrived felt we could keep going so off to Delungra Showgrounds. We had a great trip from Texas, the road was good for a change, only one bad bumpy spot where the van was trying to do double bounces.

Someone left out the "A"

Welcome to Warialda

Once we stopped at Delungra I had a real mess in the pantry, all the shelves had jumped off the slides and the rice had lost it's lid, needless to say an awful mess to cleanup and about now I gave Anna a special thought after what the girls had done on her wedding night to her kitchen, bathroom and cupboards.

It is very hot here.

29 NOVEMBER

Stayed another night as too hot to move far.

30 NOVEMBER

Had a great trip through to Armidale, the countryside is beautiful with plenty of feed, lush green pasture, fat stock and how we are enjoying this lovely hilly country.

Cattle grazing road between Inverell and Guyra

We travel through the rim of the Great Divide Ranges and when we stop in Armidale we are 1000m above sea level. Hard to believe we are a kilometer above the sea.

BOONAH TO TOOWOOMBA

MONDAY 15 - SUNDAY 21 CMCA RALLY

Once again a big turn out for the rally. There were approx 860 motorhomes/5th wheelers/ big rigs.
We attended some of the night entertainment but found it too loud and not really our thing. I did one craft morning and made myself a necklace with Gladys. It was great going to the Craft Barn and everyone made me feel so welcome and were pleased t see me after Kalgoorlie.

The weather was very hot while in Boonah. Wednesday night we had tea with Deb and Peter and I packed my bag ready for my trip to WA.

Thursday I caught the airport shuttle from Boonah and it was great not having to worry about traffic and how to get to the airport in Brisbane. I had a 6 hour wait at the airport and then flew home to WA and was met by Belinda. Caught up with Kylie and Bianca and boy was I pleased to find a bed and sleep.

While I was travelling Mike went off to two seminars and on Saturday shared Deb's stall and sold a few of my goodies. I didn't get rid of much but at least it paid for the materials used.
Mike packed up on Sunday and left Boonah to travel through the mountains on his own to stay with friends south of Murwillumbah in NSW.

Meanwhile in WA I went to stay with Annette and on Saturday 20 off to Pemberton where Anna was married ( reason for returning to WA). It was a wonderful wedding and great to catch up with all the family. Sunday morning was breakfast and opening of pressies and in the arvo Jarred drove me back to Donnybrook.

Sam & Anna

MONDAY 22

Mike had a safe trip and settled in at Barry's to wait for my return.



Parked at Barry & Kae's at Stokers Siding

Annette dropped me off at Belinda's.

TUESDAY 23

Went to lunch with Brigitte and we had a great time chatting and me trying to catch up on all the gossip. I really felt sad at saying goodbye as not sure when I would see her again.

WEDNESDAY 24

Dr's appointment and back to Belinda's to pack up ready for my return to Mike. Belinda also packed as she is returning with me unbeknown to Mike.

THURSDAY 25

We caught the bus from Bunbury and it took us to the airport, flew to Brisbane and then had to run to catch the train to Coolangatta. I was so pleased to have Belinda with me and we were so pleased to catch the train with 2 mins to spare.
Mike was waiting for us at Varsity Lakes station and I was welcomed with open arms. He hadn't seen Belinda and she walked up behind him tapped him on the shoulder and surprise surprise.

FRIDAY 26

All very tired today, went into Murwillanbah shopping and to see what is what. Caught up with Barry, so good to see him after 5 years. Unfortunately Kae had skipped the country and gone back to NZ the day Mike arrived.

SATURDAY 27

Did a scenic trip around the hills, such a beautiful place.


Creek below Clarrie Hall Dam

Lake created by Dam

Spillway at Dam

Visited Uki and then on to Tyalgum for lunch.

Lunch at Tyalgum

 This is a lovely little village and then onto Chillingham and back home. This was a trip round Mt Warning the highest peak around.

SUNDAY 28

Today we decided to discover the ocean so headed off to Coolangatta-Tweed Heads. Talk about confusing, not sure where one finishes and the other starts but stopped in Coolangatta and had lunch at Hogs Breath that was in Qld and then we crossed the road and back in NSW and with all of that we had to manage time changes as well. Thank goodness we don't live close to a border with time changes, so confusing.

The rift between Qld & NSW

Now you know why they put dotted lines on the map.

We decided to go home a different way and travelled through some fantastic hill country and kept changing states as we went, quite fun and our poor phones times were getting quite confused and so were we. Fantastic scenery, hills so steep and houses perched quite precariously on hillsides.

Typical view from the border road

MONDAY 29

Mike and I zipped into town to organise Dr for Mike's check up.

TUESDAY 30

Mike took Belinda into town, he for blood tests and then in the evening we had a BBQ with Barry, Max (B's niece), Ronnie and Peter (Kiwis). Saw my first cane toad on way back to the van Yuk Yuk!!!!

WEDNESDAY 31

We had a wonderful trip to Mullimbiby to have lunch with Anna Blaze's aunt and uncle and grandparents all the way from Switzerland.
Our first stop was the Crystal Castle, wow what a lovely tranquil place.

Tranquil scene at Crystal Castle

 Belinda and I strolled around and Mike reluctantly followed. Such a wonderful garden and so many beautiful crystals and gems.
We caught up with Brigitte, husband and her parents for lunch and it was a lovely time.

Mullumbimby Town

Mullumbimby Hills

Byron Bay

From Mullimbiby we went to Byron Bay. Beautiful beaches and lots of tourists. We checked out some of the beaches from the hillside and then off home after a very enjoyable day.

THURSDAY 1 NOVEMBER

Mike saw the Dr and news all good even lost weight or so he says. Belinda and I went shopping and had Max and Barry for a farewell tea.

Belinda tries out the Spyder

FRIDAY 2

After much discussions as to which road to take to Toowoomba we decided to go over the mountains via Kyogle. What  wonderful panoramic views, we went round mountains and then up and down, each corner revealing another breathe taking sight.

Mt Warning

The road was average but we soldiered on. From Kyogle to Woodenbong the road was still up and down rising to over 600 m. With each mountain traversed a magic valley appeared. From Woodenbong to the Qld border, it was the road from/to HELL!!!! Rough and narrow and to make it interesting lots of stock trucks going the opposite way and no room to move, poor Mike had some very heart stopping moments. In some places Mike had to stop to allow a stock truck to pass and there were only inches between us needless to say the two passengers held their breath.
We were so relieved to get to Warwick we stayed the night and thanked our lucky stars we had made it safely.

SATURDAY 3

Off to Toowoomba today, at least the roads were better and we had a great trip. Called in at the Showgrounds but no one around so headed off west to Jondaryan Woolshed. This is an historic village set on 12 acres. In the early days it was a huge property from Toowoomba to Dalby and was first settled in the 1820's. The woolshed was built 1859 and had a 52 blade stands and 1892 changed to 36 machine stand.
Two weddings this afternoon, great place for these.

Original Woolshed

Wool room set up for a wedding

SUNDAY 4

A trip into Toowoomba to visit the town.

Japanese Garden Toowoomba

MONDAY 5

We did a walk around Jondaryan and learnt about the history of the place and some of the buildings.

Someone has to do the cooking

TUESDAY 6

Back into Toowoomba and first on the list of places was RM Williams so Belinda could buy a few things to take home. From there we went to Cobb and Co, had lunch and did a tour of the museum with lots of different wagons through the century.

Mounted at Cobb & Co

Five old GREYS

Not a "St John" Ambulance

WEDNESDAY 7

Quiet day today as Belinda leaves us soon. We did another walk around the displays, so much to see and brought back memories for Mike with some of the machinery he used to use.

Jondaryan Woolshed

Woolshed yards

There was a huge display of shearing hand pieces, many different types of tractors and a road machine (Only 4 ever made). This was designed to make the roads hard by chopping up the dirt, steam heating it and rolling it. It is a pity they don't still use the idea on these awful roads. if we comment the answer is "oh the floods did it"!!!!.

THURSDAY 8

It is time to take Belinda to Toowoomba to catch the airport shuttle.

Tearful farewell

It was sad to say goodbye as we have had a wonderful time with her and will miss her company but she is ready to see her family. We arrived back at the van just at as it started to rain.

FRIDAY 9

Home day today. Poor Belinda had a very long day, the plane was late getting into Brisbane therefore late leaving.

MONDAY 12

Off into Toowoomba via the weighbridge and we hurried out deciding we were slightly overweight!!!!
We are now at the showgrounds in Toowoomba parked by the lake and it is a great spot but we can't get TV. Oh well too bad we will managed.

View out the back of van. Lake at Toowoomba Showgrounds.