Day 50, Thursday, March 2, 2006 Most of the secondary roads are frequented by floodways, from gullies to slight depressions, through which runoff can cross the roads. This torrent of about 3 inches crossed our path on the road to Capella. Another surprise is that on some of these roads, the seal (pavement) narrows to one lane with gravel shoulders on each side. The procedure is to put two wheels in the gravel, oncoming traffic does likewise, and you carry on. Except if the oncoming is a large truck and it is wet, they don’t take to the gravel if it‘s wet, so it’s all fours in the muck for us. Luckily it’s been dry. The Pioneer Village at Capella proudly displays a Queensland Homestead House dating to 1867, pictured here, with all of the related memorabilia. On the trip back toward the coast, we crossed the Peak Range, this is one of the peaks.
Bob’s Blog
Day 49, Wednesday, March 1, 2006 After a very rainy night and no better prospect for today, (it never rains in Rocky, the gas attendant says), we decided to head inland to the gem fields of Emerald, Sapphire and Rubyvale. It’s about 300K and takes you through the coal fields the Queensland Central Highlands. This coal train must be 1K long. We stopped at the small town of Comet to let a heavy downpour pass over. “It never rains in Comet” the waitress informed us. Uh Huh. The Heritage Mine in Rubyvale is no longer a working mine, but provides guided tours underground to experience what it was like. This ladder up a vertical shaft was the only way in or out when it was a working mine, now there is a walk-in shaft that winds down to the pay zone. Sapphires, rubys, and zircons were commonly found here. We stopped at a gem shop as a sudden shower soaked us. “It hasn’t rained in Sapphire since Christmas Eve“.
“What year?” We stayed at the Ramboda Homestead, a farmstay B & B near Anakie. Hosts Ann and Jimmy operate a large beef cattle farm. It’s home to a family of kangaroos as well. Jimmy took us out to one of the pastures to pump water to his stock. I got to open and close all of the gates. We had supper at the Anakie Hotel and Bar. It was a lively place as Wednesday was darts night.
Bob’s Blog
Day 48, Tuesday, February 28, 2006 There are a number of walking paths along the shores of 1770 (The Town of) and we spent part of the morning exploring these. This area is relatively untouched, and hopefully will remain so, as it has been made a national reserve.
The city of Gladstone has an extensive Botanical Garden of native wildlife and we spent some time there this morning. I didn’t realize that there are dry rainforests (?) and wet rainforests until we saw them this morning.
We got into Rockhampton this afternoon and decided to spend the
night here before heading west to visit some of the old mining towns.
If you don’t hear from us for a week, it will probably be because we can’t find an internet café.
Sharron’s Blog
Day 45, Saturday, February 25, 2006 Many years ago, Uncle Rob worked at the Currumbin Wildlife Park during his visit to Australia. Just as it was then, dozens of lorikeets flock to the visitors who feed them with a mix of sugar and water. The birds find it particularly convenient to land on your head before hopping down to the plate. The Park has numerous other exhibits, including fresh water and salt water crocodiles. This afternoon, Terry drove us up to Broadbeach, where we met Rob and Mellie. Rob and I had completed a transaction on e-bay a few months ago and we arranged to get together while we were in Australia. We had a wonderful visit at their home and went for a stroll along Burleigh Beach with the skyscrapers of Surfers Paradise providing a captivating background on Australia's beautiful Gold Coast. The last two days have been special. We have some wonderful new friends who have provided us with unforgettable memories of themselves and of Australia.Bob's Blog
Day 44, Friday, February 24, 2006 We arrived in Currumbin Beach in midafternoon as Terry and Madeleine had kindly invited us to stay with them. They had two other visitors as well, a pair of wild, sulphur-crested cockatoos. The two came to Terry and Madeleine's balcony every afternoon for a snack of sunflower seeds. This evening, we had supper at the Luna Rosa Restaurant with Terry and Madeleine, and their friends, Bob and Pat and Neville and Sandy. It was a wonderful evening, the prawns were particularly good, and we got some good information about things to see along the Queensland coast. Bob's Blog
Day 43, Thursday, February 23, 2006 Trial Bay Gaol was opened in 1886 as a public works prison, housing more than 500 guests. It later served as an Enemy Alien Internment Camp during the First World War. I served time here, too, about a minute. A nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live here.
Scoff's Restaurant in Coffs Harbour specializes in bush food. I had roast kangaroo. It was not unlike beef, very tender and a mild taste. It was very good although I did get the hiccups later. Toohey's Extra Dry, winner of the World Beer Cup Gold Medal 1998, best dry lager, went very well with it.
Bob's Blog
Day 41, Tuesday, February 21, 2006 With the fog still persisting at Katoomba, we decided to start our journey north. We took the scenic back roads from the Blue Mountains toward Newcastle on the coast. We stopped for lunch at a place called Spencer, claiming to be the Hub of the Universe. This is a photo of the centre of the hub, he sells gas, beer, sandwiches, groceries, has internet, boat launch, monitors the fire hazard, this is where it’s happening. By mid afternoon we had reached the picturesque little town of Toronto, complete with a lake and yacht club, just like the bigTO. By late afternoon we were tired of driving and we stopped at the not yet famous town of Raymond Terrace.
Bob’s Blog
Day 40, Monday, February 20, 2006 It was overcast and showery as we checked out of our hotel, picked up our rental car and found our way out of Sydney without missing a turn, and all with just a paper map as the GPS could not find the satellites among the skyscrapers. As we headed for the Blue Mountains, we ran into some heavy fog so we programmed the GPS to find Katoomba. Unable to see any road signs, the GPS guided us along streets, around corners and through roundabouts and into town. Being really lost in town in the dense fog, we asked the GPS to find an accommodation from a guide that we had and it directed us right into the driveway. Without it, we would still be lost on the Great Western Motorway somewhere. We feel that we have already gotten our money’s worth from it. Here are a couple of photos of the Blue Mountains in the fog. You won’t find photos like these on any postcard.
Bob’s Blog
Day 39, Sunday, February 19, 2006 The Rocks Market, located at the head of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the site of the original Sydney settlement, operates every Saturday and Sunday. There are a couple of streets of kiosks selling all kinds of souvenirs, crafts, candy, books, junk, you name it. According to the locals, the weather was unusually hot, 30C for this time of year. We decided to spend the hot part of the day inside so we took the ride to the top of the Sydney Tower and later to the Australian Museum which is 175 years old and houses a vast collection. We particularly enjoyed the exhibit about the Indigenous Australians, (they aren’t Aboriginals anymore), the marvelous collection of Australian rocks and minerals, and the special exhibit of Wildlife Photography from around the world. (Dave you would have loved it). I went into a Backpacker’s Hostel to ask where an internet site was that was supposed to be nearby and the lady at the desk was registering a young man from Ireland.
“Do you know the problem with Dublin”, she asked him.
“No”.
“It just keeps Dublin and Dublin”.
Bob’s Blog
