AROUND THE BLOCK

[atouchofglass]

May 3, 2010 2:59:20 GMT 10 kiwijim said:

Howdy Gang,

We've just got back into Internet range after camping in the out-back of N.S.W.

Rather tied up here in Tamworth N.S.W at the moment, ;D ;D ;D sharing a few coldies with some other members of our happy group....

cheers kiwijim

So by rather tied up do you mean you've been rangling cattle and now have excellent rope skills?
Or something a little less energetic?


Glad to see you two are still having a great time
Take it easy if you are going up the New England Highway through Bendemeer. Granite country

Looking forward to the updates

Cheers
Atog

[gumball]

There's the Bruderhoff? somewhere near Armidale/Glen Innes who are a bit like the Amish and quite interesting and Glen Innes has one of the best bookshops on the east coast out by the historical museum.

[kiwijim]

Howdy Gang,

"Right" I've picked up all the tinnies laying around the caravan and sent Bob and Jacqui on their way to the "big Happy Hour" with the Vintage mob down in Mildura.




On with the first report from back on the Main land,
To start with, I have proof that we were the first to load on the Spirit of Tasmania in Devonport, having arrived at the wharf some 6hrs before loading time.......


Just a quick reply to Auntyjack, it was great to catch up with you and you're welcome to all the fishing gear that I have left around your pretty coastline, (still no fish)
Sorry if I offended you by calling Tassie a country, I know it;s a State, but to my way of thinking, It's such a beaut place to visit and the people are that friendly it's hard to compare it with any other place we have seen, it sure stands out on it's own.

We arrived back on the Main-land a week ago last Sunday,
since then we have covered almost 1400km stopping at various places up the Hume and Newell Hwy's.

A few of the attractions we have come across are as follows.....




I spotted this yard of old cars near Peak Hill.....



We visited a Car Museum at Forbes, saw a 1935 Carapak caravan there......



also spotted this Valiant, just like new.....


WE camped well off the main Hwy because of the noise of a million Semi's who never stop,
in-fact our little back country detour looking for a camp ended up almost 150km's long before we returned to the Newell hwy.

One camp site was a ripper, Free, Cold showers, B.B.q, and sitting right on the river with no time restriction, it was in a very small town of Mendooran, around 51 clicks East of Gilgandra......

It was real peaceful the first couple of days but on the morning we left we awoke to count 16 other vans that had arrived over night.
For the price of a meal at the local hotel... $ 18 for all we could eat, including the biggest T Bone I have ever seen, we were allowed to have access to hot showers. ;D ;D ;D

thats it for now, until that Photo Bucket accepts the picture we look today of the many sights around Tamworth.

Cheers all kiwijim

[atouchofglass]

Hey Jim
Finding all the good spots mate!!!!!


That R or S series Valiant looks fantastic.
Also can see the potential in the yank tank rusting away quitely in the wreckers

See that you are keeping good vanning company with Bob and Jacqui. Lovely people

If you make it up north by July to September you might get some good weather...
Other than that.....
Not real sure.
The rain up here has been a bit depressing over the past few months.

Keep the photos coming.
We all appreciate them

Cheers
Atog

[kiwijim]

Howdy Atog,

As we are again on the move this morning and probably out of range again, I thought I had better add this note regarding the Valiant in the Museum,
The history on this one is that it is a 1962 R.S. model
One of only 1000 imported into Aussie, of the 1000 only 100 had manual gear box's.
in the following photo you can see a 76 Regal beside the R.S.
this is in just a good condition and in perfect running condition.



My favorite car in the whole display is this 36 D.A.Dodge





That's it, been told to pull the fingie, gotta get moving,

Cheers kiwijim ;D

[philouise]

G'day kiwijim.i have enjoyed the travelogue.
Tassie is a great place.
I like the museum in Forbes though - i've gotta go there - was that rope or electric fence around the display.
Phil.
p.s. which way are you heading now???

[kiwijim]

Howdy Phil,

"Yep" you should visit the Museum in Forbes if you ever get a chance,
There are many more cars etc there to wish for and view, I could have spent a good day in there except for the Sugar & Spice wanting to get going again.

Since I last posted here, we have covered another 300 plus km,

We're now parked at the Show Grounds in Tenterfield, only 17 km from the Q.L.D. border,

We intend camping here for a few days as there is mail some-where trying to catch up to us, it has been forwarded from Tassie through Tamworth but must have got way-layed some-where,
"Dam" its got my license in it and the present one expired last month.

When we move on it will be in a general direction toward the coast, but well North of Brisbane, I'm trying to avoid all major roads and heavy traffic.

Good to hear that you are enjoying the Travel log, hang about there's heaps more to come in the next 12 months ;D ;D ;D

Cheers kiwijim

[bobandjacqui]

G,day Jim and Jean, As you can see we have sorted out our laptop so we,re back online. It was nice to meet up with you both on our way south. Those locousts were still pretty thick especially around Hay. We,re at Euston at the moment in a c/park on the Murray. Loverly spot. Will be in Mildura tomorrow Safe travels and Cheers Bob and Jacqui

[kiwijim]

Howdy Bob & Jacqui,

We're glad to hear that you have reached the Murray O.K.

It was great meeting you both and we hope you are enjoying a bit of warmer weather than what we are enduring at the moment.

We are now camped in the Show grounds in Tenterfield, only 17 clicks from the Q.L.D. border, but at a height of 980 mt above sea level it's anything but warm here,

I awoke yesterday morning to see that it was a cool 4deg inside the Thomson, on shoving the beak out-side this is what greeted us.....








One thing I must say is that there is nothing lacking in scenery in this part of the country, the following pics say it all......










Well that's it for now, I've a number of shots from around the Tamworth area that I'll publish shortly,

In the mean time, have a great get-together Bob & Jacqui, pity we didn't have time to sort out the rest of the tinnies we had on board, may-be next time. ;D ;D ;D

Cheers kiwijim

[atouchofglass]

Hey Jim
Looking at your photos sends a shiver down my back. ;D ;D ;D ;D

Wouldn't mind a couple of days like that ..... but no more
Terrible weather at the moment in Cairns
19 at night and 28 during the day ;D ;D

Lets hope it lasts for a few more months ;D ;D ;D
Without the rain


Love your photos Jim
Makes me want to travel again

Keep em coming

Cheers
Atog

[kiwijim]

Howdy Atog,

"Yep" it's a little cool here at the moment,
in-fact I don't think it got this cold at any time while we were in Tassie.

The official temp here last night was 2deg,
but at least the days are clear and sunny and climbing to almost 20deg.

Your temp sounds just about right for us, so keep it at the same level and you will make a couple of frozen travelers very happy.

Come next Monday we are off once again, across the border into Q.L.D.
lets hope it's a bit warmer further North.

Here are a few shots we took while in Tamworth......



We were surprised at the size of Tamworth, we both pictured it as a small Country town but it's anything but, with a population of around 43,000
This figure increases in January each year for the Country Music awards by a further 50,000.



A good place to visit is the wax Museum just behind the giant Golden Gutiar......











Tamworth's a great place to visit, at this time of the year,
but I don't care to be there in January, I think it would be a little to hot for the kiwi.

that's it for now, more pics will surely follow.

P.S. it would be good to picture another Olympic beside the Thomson, Atog....... hint hint ;D ;D ;D

Kiwijim

[atouchofglass]

May 8, 2010 16:25:56 GMT 10 kiwijim said:

P.S. it would be good to picture another Olympic beside the Thomson, Atog....... hint hint ;D ;D ;D

Kiwijim

That's easy done mate
Let us know when you are in the Nth and we can arrange a weekend away.
Tinaroo, Herberton, Palm Cove, Mossman/ Port Douglas and the lovely Wonga Beach
All nice spots


The job is working out well
Get to sit on my blot all day in airconditioning
So time away and sitting on my blot by a beach or lake would be great. ;D ;D ;D ;D

Keep the photos coming

Cheers
Atog

[murray]

Jim (and Jean)
Having an indian summer still in Tassie.
Still reaching 22-23 degrees, but snow is on the way
Keep up the interesting log
Cheers

[kezzbot]

Hope its a bit warmer for you up here in sunny QLD.

Photos look great, except those wax guys, there just creepy.

Have fun!

[kiwijim]

Howdy Gang,

We've just arrived in Kingaroy,
no pic's as yet, arrived in the rain and now we're sitting in the Show-grounds and fogged in.

"Sunny Queensland"........Hmmmm !!!!!

We spent last night camped in a small town called Nobby,
sitting beside the railway line with half a doz other vans,
lovely and peaceful spot, only one general store and a pub,
It was peaceful until three freight trains came through in the wee hours, we were only around 10ft from the track,
"Yep" every train had to blow it's horn.

Once again I have managed to get a tank full of cheap fuel, the poor old Nissan will have to go in for a service today as she is rattling and carrying on like an old lady getting out of bed

Atog,
that sounds like a great idea, yes I will give you a whistle when we are about a week out of Cairns and let you know where we will head for.

Murray,
Howdy Mate, glad to see you're back on line,
We would love to see some pic's of the snow, when it does arrive, I am surprised you haven't copped a load by now, it sure looked like it was on the way when we left,
Thanks again for the hospitality,
if ever in the West, you know the address ;D

Kezzbot,
I have to agree with you, those wax dummies in the Country Music museum in Tamworth were creepy,
they had the look of something that had started to melt and some-one had wiped their faces with a rag,
A bit disappointing to say the least, but the rest of the memorabilia on display was well worth the visit,

We hope to be here in Kingaroy for a few days and see the sights, then we head for the Big Bundy Bottle in Bundaburg.

Hopefully we have some nice Pic's to show shortly.

Kiwijim

[atouchofglass]

Hey Jim
That was a quick run up through NSW

When I went down to pick up the Olympic in 2007 the change in the farming country out back of Qld to NSW was dramatic

Qld was dry and arid while NSW was grain country and beautiful.

Take your time mate, there is plenty to see on the way up.
Don't make the mistake my dear old dad did.
He went around Australia in three months
Drove MUM to distraction
They spent all the time on the road and not enough sight seeing.

The Sunshine Coast is a beautiful area to explore.
Montville is breathtaking scenery, runs along the back of a razors edge mountain.
You can see to the Gold Coast from the lookouts.
Though the town is all tourist traps.

Gympie has the old gold mines though I'm not sure if you can get to see much of them these days.

Yandina has a glass artists workshop and some of the most beautiful glass works you will ever see.
Works by Tina Cooper are very interesting.

Might be worth a backtrack for a few days.

Being the South East of Queensland it is the most populated and therefore has a lot to see.

I haven't mentioned O'Reilly's Tavern or Mt Tamborine distillery or ......... you get the idea. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
There is a travel show on TV every Sunday called...... The Great South East.
It deals with nothing but things to see in the area.

Take your time to enjoy what Queensland has to offer.
The North will still be great in a couple of months.
;D ;D ;D ;D

Cheers
Atog

[kiwijim]

Howdy Atog,

Yes it was a rather quick up through N.S.W

We didn't spend much time in that State as we both have traveled extensively through it previously.

As for the green country side, yes there was patches of it near the coast, but inland at this time of the year after harvest, there are many km's of burnt off stubble, not a very pleasing sight to watch.

Another problem we encountered was the Grass-hoppers on the wing,
these were whacking the wind-screen for many km's and cost me a couple of bucks in the purchase of Shade-cloth and s/s wire to hang over the Bull-bar.

The biggest problem we have had is not knowing what is ahead in the way of things to see and which would be the best road to follow,

Any information we gather from people who have been in the district ahead of us is keenly sort after,

We visit most local information centers and find them helpful but not always accurate.

Your naming a few sights to see is just what we hope for and will chase up any info of this type,

I think the best sauce of info concerning where to camp has come from people we have met on the road,
we've found many a good spot to camp through being told of it's existence and quiet often these places are not on any map.

As the Nissan is due for a service, we have extended our stay here in Kingaroy,

We were told yesterday that the local Peanut farms are harvesting at the moment, "Love peanuts" ;D ;D ;D
so it's off to see if we can pick-up some left-overs which we have been told are free for the picking.

kiwijim

[philouise]

G'day Jim.

Glad to see your having a good time.

I guess you are heading for the Bundy Rum. There is an o'nite rest area between Childers (nice place) and Bundaberg.

Bargara (mon repose van park) and 1770 ( council park) are nice spots.

Dont forget to stop at capricorn caves after Rocky and dont forget to stop at Clareview.

All the best.
Phil.

[kiwijim]

Howdy Phil,

Thanks for that very helpful info,

that's just the sort of info we are keen to hear about.

"Yep" we are making a bee line for that Big Bundy Bottle, hope to get a pic of the Thomson having a lean on it. ( and the owner ) if there are any free samples going ;D ;D ;D

Cheers kiwijim ;D

[kiwijim]

Howdy All,

I found a few more pics that I thought that dreaded Photo bucket had swallowed, so here goes........

1st off, at long last I am the proud owner of a genuine Leather hat which I picked up while visiting Tamworth..........



I knew this photo was some-where, here's proof we have crossed the boarded..........



Here's proof also that a can of Pepsi can't stand a fridge set on high especially on a cold night..........



Having spent the last few days lazing around in Kingaroy, we did a slow drive around town trying to find "The Peanut Van"
We had as good as given up looking until late this afternoon when I decided to take a different route back to the show-grounds, went through a number of side streets,
bounced back onto a major road, and there it was.........




After chatting up the Bird behind the counter, I was told that this van had been selling pea nuts on this site for the last 40 years,
They have a delivery service that sends hundreds of different types of Pea nuts all over the world.
to name only a few, they have....salted, kurry, hickory, savory tomato, chicken, garlic, chili & lime, plus two of our favorites..butterscotch & caramel plus sugar coated.

Here is a pick looking down the main street of Kingaroy, the silos are not for wheat, they're full of pea nuts........



Lastly, here's another sticker for the ceiling of the Thomson.....



We are on the move again tomorrow and will be camping out again at an over-night stop called Ban Ban Springs, this place has been recommended to us by other travelers we have met here, so we will see how good it is.

cheers all kiwijim ;D

[kezzbot]

Love the photos Kiwijim, that hats looks a quality item and looks great too!

Yum Peanuts! The kurry and lime & chilly sound good.

[atouchofglass]

Hey Jim

Gotta say boiled salted peanuts are my favourite.
Drives the missus crazy when I eat them caus they stink..
Chilli and lime also sounds a treat.

So how's the Nissan going?
Does it look like a success or are we talking a heart transplant here?

All the best
Atog

[kiwijim]

Howdy Gang,

Well after handing out around $260.00 for the service to the Nissan, the results are fantastic.

The old Girl has a new lease of life, She now looks forward to the hills and takes most on in 4Th gear,

The report from the Mechanic was very encouraging, Gearbox inspection revealed no discoloring or loss of oil and after a change of Air filters there is no longer any sign of black smoke when pushing it hard.

Looks like the old Dear will do the distance O.K.

We spent last night at Ban Ban Springs, this turned out to be just another way-side rest area,



the usual thing happened, come Sun-down we had another 7 vans parked with-in Stubby throwing distance from us, but good and friendly folk who all spoke and told of their travels.

We settled down for a peaceful evening and drifted off to sleep with the never-ending sound of the Semi's belting past at lighting speed,

Something woke me just on Midnight, it was a bus load of drunken Football players on their way home, they had pulled in for a relief stop, but as there was only one toilet at the camp, one could guess what I saw when shoving the head out to see what all the racket was.

When we left the Camp site the sky was very over-cast, this has been with us for the last couple of days as the next couple of pic's show,

Here is our first sighting of Sugar Cane, and very unexpected as we were traveling towards Bundaburg, through pretty heavy bush when it suddenly cleared to these Cane fields..........





We arrived in Bundaburg to very Grey skies last evening and now at 5.00 am it's still dark and I can hear "Old Hughie" tipping the bucket on the roof.

One good thing, it may be raining, but at least it warm, 20deg inside the van now, and that's better than 4deg below which we had back in Kingaroy.

cheers all kiwijim

[bobt]

Hello there Kiwi fella.

Glad to hear ya having a good time.. Thank you for stopping by in mexico... yeah I know it was cold....

Is this a flying trip or do you plan on stopping/cruising around in Qld for awhile??? You seem to be cover some distance real quick....

See no reason why you should not enjoy rain in bundy... I did last time I was there ;D ;D

Down a coupla jugs of the black stuff they sell at the 'rum factory' please... for me...

[kiwijim]

Howdy there Bobt,

Sorry we missed ya, must have been blown past Windy Hill.

Actually I thought you might have been on your way to the Vintage Caravan Nationals in Muldura.

If ya like we'll chuck the brakes on here and wait for ya.

The weather here in Bundaberg is anything but kind for the visitor,
Rained all day yesterday but didn't stop us from getting out and seeing the sights, called at the Bundy Distillery, but found it closed, apparently off season for tourists so they were doing maintenance.......





We then headed off to the Glass blowing joint just around the corner.........







Today we intend to see the big Bundy Barrel a couple of clicks down the road and once again head for the Post Office in the hope that the mail we have been waiting for, since well before leaving Tassie has finally caught up with us.

By the way it may seem like we are doing a flying trip around the country, but it;s a hell of a big country and unless we manage to find some free camp sights, the continual cost of C/van Parks is sure adding to the expenses, already in the $00.000's.

Once we hit the coast a little further North there are plenty of free camp sites marked in the Travelers Bible, so providing the weather improves, that's where we will stop for a while.

kiwijim