Collinsville- Barcaldine

We said our good bys in Collinsville enjoyed our  time catching up on friends and getting the local gossip some news was good some bad with the passing of some friends and people we knew oh well that's life. Collinsville too Nebo was good not much traffic Once again we got a free night in Nebo show grounds  nice showers in there as well .The drive along the Peakdowns hwy was different as far as traffic went 1st we had two 8 mtr wide loads come towards us  so had too pull off the road for them then we got stuck behind this 6 mtr wide  load for some time the driver said we are in a motorhome on holidays so was in no rush sure he could have pulled over a little a couple times and we would have slipped past  .We got too Sapphire and Sue and I use too stay on a sapphire lease out here so we parked in the van park hot as for free camping and got the car off, went for a drive we never found the lease we were on it has changed that much so many more leases out here it not funny and they have power as well sitting around having happy hour we reckon it was around 15 years sense we were here last
We had a good run Thu Clearmont, Emerald, Alpha, Jericho Now parked in Barcaldine at a friends place not sure how long going too play with the sat dish today and see if we can get this vast system going been playing with this dam sat dish for some time now thinking along the lines i should not have got one OH! well :( Finally got the vast system up and running stoked with it new decoder new LBN new cable taken a couple of months but now can watch satellite TV lucky for us  our friends in Barcaldine had a vast system well we leave tomorrow for Longreach .

turttle

While we were parked up at Bargara we went and seen the turtles at Mon Repos awesome night could so recommend this, think it a must do while around Bundy this one we saw was a flat back rare in danger of course being whipped of the planet, she layed a clutch of 59 eggs and hope she lays three clutches in a season camera work is very controlled so you not up set the turtles .
We now in Collinsville we are parked for the Christmas break we spent a night with Shazzy and Reg at Childers then stayed at the Boynne River rest area , as we had wheel bearing trouble on the trailer took me some time too get them right hence we did not get too far up the hwy,but all good now we came up the Bruce hwy and turned towards Emrald went too Dingo and came up too Nebo and stayed at the Nebo show grounds was told they may come see you just plug into power if they not come do not  worry they never showed up so free night plugged into power there are some free spots gravel pits rest areas but being so hot we went for power show grounds .Collinsville could not get into van park told too big stayed at the footy club ran jenny for air con asked council about power at show ground no way they said. Now park on vacant block of land next too a friends house plugged in to power happy as so Merry Christmas every one from Phil and Sue :)

Water front

Well home for the next two weeks in a van park @ Bargara near Bundaburg got talking too a fimma agent he said the awning should be bolted on and not have pop rivets in the brackets so he can not fit us in too the 8th of December .We were off for a short tour around Monto back too Biggenden etc but a bearing let go on the trailer by the time i stopped the Hub was stuffed as well as the front axle have a axle on order should be here in Bundy early next week as they do not carry our size axle in stock

Entry way

While in Biggenden we all so did our entry way into our Motorhome we took the carpet out put lino down put some checker plate in and the next step used ripple plate then checker plate on the top step again think it broke it up and looks ok S.C sleeps on the new lino she seems too like it as well :)

Biggenden

We were in Biggenden three weeks so enjoyed our time it was like coming home caught up with friends. Got Tumbi the motorhome resprayed in two pack Suzuki white really pleased with the way it came out while we had  use of the gear we done the roof in barrier shield paint bugger of a job but well worth it in the end

Leave the coast roads

We left Caboolture on Monday the 3rd of October too make our way to Dalby via woodford ,Kilcoy and the Blackbut range well very interesting drive other then the roads being a little bumpy. I enjoyed the drive the range was interesting as it down too one lane while they rebuild the road but a good drive over all gave Tumbi the motorhome a bit of a work out but once again never missed a beat. we were going to Dalby too  Meat a couple we meet in Mt Pleasant South Australia , Les and Shirley they have a Denning as well{ as in the picture } and were home on there block for awhile we had a fantastic night and so enjoyed catching up again we have  remained in contact.. yep thru Face Book and emails hope too see you out here again soon Les and Shirley :)
After we Left Les and Shirley we went along the condomine road too condomine lots of work going on out that way as they are finding gas and capping them and building pipe lines too take the gas too the coast too ship over sea's. All so putting in gas feed power stations it really full on out Miles ,Chimchilla, Roama .We going too Miles for a week or so too see My God son James ,he's Mum and Dad Nova and Mike We ended up staying 10 days @ Drillham had a great time with Mike , Nova and James thanks guys .

Bribie Island and a high Deck

We went had a look around at Bribie Island got our Suzuki into four wheel drive again had some fun with that a long the beach hence the give way sign and the 50k's sign going on too the beach . All so while at Caboolture we got asked to go too a B.B.Q at Berhard and Cherly's They have been doing up a high deck Motorhome we meet Bernhard thru A face book group ( BIG RIGS ) we got shown thru the high deck ( yet too be named ) Berhard has put Photo,s up of there work but they do not do it Justice just Beautiful maybe the best I have seen as far as motorhomes and buses go Just awesome .We all so got too meet David and Lisa and saw the Traveling Bennie it was a great afternoon thanks everyone have so enjoyed meeting people we meet on face book as we get around this awesome country

Australian Zoo

While we were so close to Australia Zoo we went for the day ......AWESOME Loved it We had a bonus Terrie , Bindi and Robert Erwin were in the croc show in the famous Crocoseum just loved it as well would go back in a heart beat can not say a bad word about this place except the crowds but we did go during school holiday time CRICKEY!.......

Caboolture Show Grounds

Parked up in Caboolture show grounds . We planned too stay a week ended up staying 10 days. Had the appointment at Chermside Prince Charles hospital witch I got a good report from so was happy with that. The show grounds were huge horse events gun club Sunday Markets would near be  the biggest we have seen got some LED lights from the Markets  have fitted them very happy and we liked the price as well . Was happy too say good bye I was getting sick of driving around with Traffic lights every were how people put up doing that every day .... Thank my Lucky stars not doing that any more

Cape Byron

We went to Mullumbimby show grounds but dew to the Hendra horse virus no animals allowed till Further notice so we ended up at the Mullumbimby leagues club grounds in Camp six it says no big rigs but they have room for us bigger types . Went into Byron bay  for a visit rather liked Byrin Bay the beaches and just the feel of the place it was pretty big town . Cape Byron Lighthouse was built in 1901 is the most powerful light in  Australia with a beam visible for 27 nautical miles  { 50Km } just a short walk away is the most easterly point of the Australian mainland as we were walking along we saw about 15 whales going past so were stoked in that of course

AEC

Driving from Coffs to Mullumbimby and @ Woodburn  we saw this old gem she a 1952 AEC  ex Melbourne bus were it spent all it's working life  this bloke was by him self and on was his way Gatton in Queensland for a truck show for the age she sounded really nice as she drove off

Coffs

We left my Uncles on the Monday and just took our time making our way up to Coffs harbour .We looked at a couple of rest areas thinking we may stay over night but the noise from trucks etc we went stuff it and found Coffs show grounds if we had to put up with noise may as well be plugged into power Coffs sure has changed got huge not many banana's on the hills as well loved the beaches had a look  around spent two nights and we got the Suzuki along one of the beaches so was happy with that as well

Camden haven

We left Saturday Morning saying good buy to the Mechanics yard and of we went to spend a night with My Uncle and Aunt after going too the meat Raffles at the Wyong R.S.L and getting a few of them the plan was to have a few beers and B.B.Q and catch up witch we did top night had by all I was stoked had not seen my uncle in some time got up early and got this pic Camdon Haven is one nice  spot nice club as well we went to the meat Raffles I may have jinked us as that was the last thing we needed freezer still full from Wyong We have all gone back up the club for tea so nice time had I have my eyes set on getting up too Cains to catch up with my Cousin we left Camden haven Monday :)

As we were parked in the yard of the Mechanics we heard a bang from next door  and this prime mover drove out from under this container and down it come must have been heavy one end after all that is a tri axle trailer

Well we were parked up for 17 days  in the yard of  Wyong truck and buses as we had a oil leak witch turned out to be the main rear seal while the gear box was out a new complete clutch was put in as well and new universals fly wheel was machined new center Bering new oil seal sender new flexi pipe on the left bank ... after we had a test drive the gear box had to come back out as the rear seal leaked again so that why it took some time too get it all done .Happy with the out come and driving our motorhome now wow! I must never had a clutch the hole time we have had it. Awesome so pleased with the  way things have turned out and it should give us trouble free for some time too come

John brown

This sign was placed as the men came to work and changed cloths for work pretty advanced thinking for the 1800 1900 hundreds below ground there was horse stables for the pit ponies the stables housed 200 ponies at a time above ground paddocks for six hundred at any one time plus grow all there feed on site as well he was using too much electric power so he built a power plant and supplied Newcastle and most of the hunter valley power  had trouble supply with ships taking coal too client's around the world so built his own ships ended up having one of the largest shipping fleets in the world after he died it was all sold broken down and was the foundation for coal allied

Richmond vale

We went for a drive to Richmond vale near Toronto in the bottom of the Hunter they have some rolling stock light rail This Scot John brown in the late 1800 early 1900's built one of the biggest coal empires in the world  if they could not supply what he was after rail line he made a foundry and made them  he needed bricks to line the coal mine the brick supply was poor at best at the time so he made his own on site as well this Richmond coal mine was not only the largest in the world at it's peak it was close as it gets at being self sufficient as well

Central Coast N.S.W

This is the access way down to the beach from the van park. Last week we paid $166.00 this week we paid $198.00 could not be leave it shoulder season they said it stays that price till the Christmas holidays. Did not bother to ask what it goes up too. North Shely beach spent a lot of time on this beach as well awesome just as good as we have been listening to the surf at night and smelling the salt things one misses. Had a good stop on the coast over all loved catching up with family and watching the grand son play soccer would have been one of the high lights as well.Just no way that I could live here full time any more roads that use to be 80'k's now 60'K's high rise every were and it just takes forever to get any were too crowded
 

Central Coast N.S.W

The wharf at the bottom of the street ( Watkins wharf built 1920's ) were my Grand parents use to own a hamburger shop on the opposite  corner to the jetty pub .The pub still there the shop has long gone.Spent a lot of my summers around this wharf as a kid swimming in The Entrance lake prawning fishing  do not think you would swim in it now . Been waiting for a blower shaft seal to come for our bus for over a week took matters into our own hands and went looking yesterday took three hours but we found out the part we were waiting for there is not one in Australia .The answer buy a hole installation kit so we hope to have that today or Friday at the latest so our $20.00 part has gone up $200.00 least it the same price too install around $600 so will be out of here by next Wednesday

ZIG ZAG RAILWAY

One of the viaducts on the Zig zag rail line built in the 1860's and acclaimed world wide as a engineering mater piece of  the 19th century. The zig zag was a vital link in the western line which carried people, produce to and from the western plains of new south wales. The zig zag is a series of gently sloping ramps in the form of a Z passing through two tunnels and over the magnificent sandstone viaducts it was replaced as the main line in 1910 lay dormant for 65 years and reopen in 1975 by volunteers
 

ZIG ZAG RAILWAY

Well Finally got to the Zig Zag railway my cousins went here when I was still going to school and came up too the central coast and told us all about it and I have wished to go ever seance and yes it may have been a long wait but I so enjoyed our time there I was like a kid in a lolly shop this ex Queensland rail carriage runs on a 6 ltr diesel motor so wish to go back on one of their steam days   

Goulburn

Goulburn  we stopped for smoko check the trailer etc all things you do when you pull in and got a photo of this bloke the big merino he is reopen and you can go in side up to his eyes he is 15.2 meters in  height and weighing in at 97 Tonne end that is his 2nd location so must have been a big job

The Dog on the Tucker box

Before we left Gundagai we had to get a pic of this he was made by the same man that did the marble masterpiece Frank Rusconi very cleaver man we like Gunagai and enjoyed our 2nd time there the little museum was good as well little cramped but good and the goal tour was good as well lots too see and do and makes a good base to get around and see stuff

One of the main reasons we went back into Canberra was to get photo.s back that we had lost when we had a computer crash and to stand on the roof of Parliament house under a Australian flag as big as six London double Decker buses feels pretty special and to walk the halls of power it is good and too be in a building that cost 10 billion dollars  when built .  Think every one should do that at some time

Canberra

While we were parked in Gundagai we did a day trip in to Canberra had a good look around went up this Telsta tower on Black mountain loved it got some great pics from this 195.2m tall UHF, vhf,FM broadcasting ,pay TV,Mobil and paging,broadband relay and they are just the antenna's on it plus dishes relay ones communications to hole floors techno stuff well worth the trip to go see this tower if any thing happen to it Canberra just come to a Holt i think even has a re voling restaurant in it

Blowering Dam

After the caves on the way back too Tumut we were on roo watch as they were making there way to Blowering Dam on the 8th of October 1978 Ken Warby Driving Spirit of  Australia set the World water speed record of
( 317.6 mph ) 511km / h the record still stands

Snow

while we were down at the Yarrangobilly caves we watched the snow fall but it was being washed away by the rain on our way up as it is 6.5 k's dirt road in to the valley we found this had to stop and set the Suzuki up for the photo

Temora

 

While we were out we went to Temora Aviation Museum it was  good to have a look at so enjoyed seeing the two working spit fies thinking there could have been more to see only 12 air craft in all got up close to  rolls V12 Merlin that was good do not think we would go back the rural museum in Temora was enjoyable they have so much stuff really would recommend that for a look see   

Junee Licorice

Went to Junee the licorice and chocolate factory worth the visit i enjoyed the building as you can see some of the timber on the fence posts the hole place is made from these posts and in side the ex flower mill they are so long and big the are all tallow wood the licorice and chocolate was rather yummy as well

Caves

This is a photo of the roof and the opening of the cave entrance the hole cave area   is just awesome for a camera buff and the self  guiding south Glory Cave  is the youngest cave on show being 100,00 years old first explored 1834 by white man there are two other caves they called Jersey Cave and Jillabenan Cave

Yarrangobilly caves

The yarrangobilly caves are in the kosciuszko national park we did the self tour cave as we were in between the guided tour times and there was some snow falling at the top of the mountain that you have to drive Thu to get out as it was we could have stayed and done the guided tour as the snow stopped falling but we played it safe any way the self tour is to the left of that cave you can see in the picture we enjoyed it would go back to see the other caves

Gundagai

Gundagai great little country town people go out of there way to make a traveler feel welcome this is a shot of the rail bridge open 1885 last rail car ran in 1983 the road bridge is wooden as well they are the longest wooden bridges in Australia . And the staff at the hospital are great as well as I spent a couple days in there getting pumped full of antibiotics it turned out ok anyway

Free camp Nyah

The Boat ramp at Nyah last time we stayed just wear the bank goes in was a land cruiser with a tinny on top and you could not see the tinny from the level of the bank so there is a awesome amount of water back in the Mighty Murray witch is so good to see :)

Nyah

Nyah Free camp behind the trotting club  nice spot right on the Murray River and think it Tuesday night they have the trotters practice under lights good to watch we stayed a fortnight last time we came Thu friendly people they encourage you to stay and spend a dollar in town lots of water in the river as well

Manangatang

We left S. A. and had a good run till we came up behind a caravan doing 60k's in a 110 zone as we could not get around we pulled up let the cat and dog out for a walk check the car trailer tyres all the stuff ya do when you stop started off again low and behold we catch up to this van again same speed same speed zone had the room to get around him so out I go and this fool comes out on me so I have half our bus in the dirt half on the tar on the wrong side of the road and he is increasing speed  I got around ok but gave the car trailer a nice flick just in front of his nice new land cruiser wish some of these dick heads in vans would learn how to drive .The photo is at Manangatang in Victoria free camp in the main street across the road from the Pub and yes next to the train line Toilets and hot and cold showers and two power points

Couple Beers

Well went for a beer at the Barmera Football club this pic is the view off the veranda out the front over looking lake Bonny went to the bar got two beers what South Australia calls a schooner and  middy That will be $10.10 thanks takes it out to sit on the veranda look at the lake as there was no one else in the place got thinking for the price of four drinks we can get a slab and have 30 beers so that is what we did while getting the slab got a Phone call come for happy hour B-B-Q so we did and had a good time tell ya what they not encourage you to have a beer out at a club or pub these days to expensive for us it nice to go have a beer and a chat  any wonder nobody was there

Lotus Eleven

We went to Renmark and had the Camera in the car so stopped at Rushtons rose's they have a neat collection of cars in their shop , cafe and they have made the area larger so the collection is growing .\
The Lotus eleven was a racing sports car produced from 1956 to 1958 The Lotus 11 become the most prolific racing car of it's time and for several years dominated it's class through out the world just over 200 hundred have survived . the car was imported into Australia in 1958 by John Leighton's son of founder of Leighton Constructions periodically the car which is road registered competes or participates in motor sport events around Australia

Lake Bonnie @ Barmera

After the wait for no breeze on Lake Bonnie I took over 60 photo's on My walk around the for shore this morning

Lake Bonnie

This pic at lake Bonnie had nothing to do with waiting for a wind free morning but I liked it anyway  

Went for my morning walk along the shores of Lake Bonnie and finally got the Morning I have waited for no wind or breeze got a few good pics 

Lake Victoria

On our drive back we had a look at lake Victoria the Photo really does not do the place justice it is a very nice area there is free camping allowed and the max stay is 6 weeks so the sign said would not take my bus in there from the Renmark end as it very ruff would from the New South Wales end Wentworth as the dirt road was not as ruff in world war two they use to train pilots over the lake one crashed killing the pilot and co-pilot and they never found the plane or bodies

Big Lizzie

The Red Cliff area was cleared of Mallee scrub with the help of Big Lizzie she came to the area in  1920 this 45 ton tractor witch was 34feet in length 11feet wide 18 feet high a 60 hp  single bore engine running on crude oil engine weight of  8 tons normal travel speed 1 mph turning radius 200 feet

Red cliffs Victoria

The back of Big Lizzie

After we left the sand hills we drove on to Wentworth New South wales is were the Darling river meets the Murray then on in to Victoria to find Big Lizzie this is the back with one of her wagons she use to pull two of them

Perry sand Dunes

 Some of the sand hills were large and it was not easy getting pictures with out foot prints and children in them

Just away from the shed we came up on these sand hills they are huge and go a good distance we drove right around them trying to get some pictures but school holidays they were pretty popular they were called the
Perry sand dunes

Just near the shearing shed was this place as I enjoy old houses had too take a picture of this place may have been the over seer's cottage not sure but it was a nice place just be hide this place is the Murray river real close

The timbers in this shed were awesome you would not buy timber like that any more it even had a bale of wool still in the bale on the other side of the bale  was some fleece on the table wool press down the other end just so good too walk around and have a self tour

The motor to run the shearing shed was still in place the tank was used for the radiator after we had left and were some distance away i was thinking should have got then name of the motor and maybe the make oh! well

Along the dirt we came across this sheep shed so it seemed to be left to go to rack and ruin so we got a few pictures it was a ten stand shed stank of sheep as well even still has the motor  in side too run the shed so enjoyed having a good look around