One sleep to go!

The penultimate kip at Goondiwindi was pretty good, although hearing rain a couple of times in the night was ungood.  No biggie however.

We were on our way before 9 and bought breakfast in the town.  We didn't hang around much as it was raining again.  I didn't even see a statue of Gunsynd to photograph.  The Home Hardware store did provide some rat sized glue traps: here is hoping!

In passing I noticed a sign for the "Goondiwindi öff-road race" next weekend.  I'm glad we aren't in town for that revhead special.  On the road I saw several trucks laden with buggies and in Coonabarrabran a bunch of utes with many trail bikes. Good we're outtathere.

The weather was basically horrible as we crossed the State border - surprisingly only about 500m past the end of the town - and drove down towards Moree.  Lots of trucks coming towards us and quite a few caravans (all Vic registered) going, slowly, our way.  The Newell Highway is after all the direct route from Melbourne to Brisbane.  At one point we were held up for about 10 minutes by some unemployables talking about roadworks.

On the one time we had been to Moree in the past it seemed rather suave.  This route took us through the industrial outskirts, so not suave.  On on towards Narrabri.  The country to the West of the road was MBF: Mind Bogglingly Flat.

 Some lumps were visible to the East.

As we neared Narrabri they turned into Mount Kaputar.

 A bit further down the road I noticed a flagpole and a bunch of brass plates on rocks.  Surely a War Memorial.  Nope done on the 100th anniversary of founding the village and the rail service to the NW.  Interestingly they gave everyone's name and when they lived in the area.

I then found another plaque referring to Lone Pine.  I reckon this is a War Memorial even though the pines seem to have died.

 Between Moonie and Goondiwindi we saw a few signs to "rig ##" but no Lock the Gate material.  Once South of the border this was a common message as we went on to Narrabri.

 They had a War Memorial!

South of Narrabri the anti CSG message changed to protecting the Pilliga.  Still basically sticking it to Santos and their ilk.

We wondered if it was worth stopping for another night or just press on.  After an interesting drive from Coonabarrabran on the Google shortest route (with some rather wet and ordinary dirt roads) we got to Wellington at 3:15 and decided that (apart from the tiredness issue) getting home at 7:30 pm or later to a cold dark house was ungood.  So we are at the Riverview Caravan Park in that town.

• Bird of the day: Cockatiel gets the individual award, while a mob of about 80 Little Corellas get a flock guernsey.
• Vegetation of the day:    The epicormic growth in the Pilliga.
• Memorable moment:  Posting our Census form back at Boggabilla!
• Comment of the day: "Please pick up the mess." Apparently the owner of the van park at Wellington has a few 'pon my sole' issues.  I assured her we would collect.
• Pie of the day: A steak and kidney item from Narrabri.  Quite sound: the crust was a tad moist and the kidney taste was not strong, but a lot better than most offerings in QLD!  8/10
• Troppo moment of the day. Waiting for 10 minutes at road works, which mainly consisted of 5 fat bastards standing around talking.  (In contrast in a couple of cases guys were filling in potholes, ducking out in gaps in the 110kph traffic: go figure the OHAS mentality! )

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Its the journey not the destination (barf)

Frances refused to say the above words since both "journey" and "destination" have been devalued by the jargon purveyors.  While "journey" has been trashed by the heirs of the snake-oil vendors,  "destination" has been removed from polite conversation by the tourism vendors. They are approaching "experience" as chunder-inducing non-words.  That being said our outing today was to look at the countryside and towns we passed through as much as getting anywhere particular so the phrase is no too far off.

On the subject of chunder, the Palmerston Highway, which we traversed today, is nowhere near as steep and twisty as the road from Yungaburra to Gordonvale or that from Julatten to Mossman.

Before setting out we took the small dog for a walk along the creek.  There we encountered a relative of Tinnaroo Man!

 On the way back we came past an intriguing mixed business: pharmacy and fishing tackle.  Apparently the world record barramundi was nailed in Lake Tinnaroo.  (While there have been bigger fish they have been on far heavier line.)

 The shop next door offers confectionery and water pumps!

We headed off towards Mallanda and found the Wet Tropics were living up to their name despite a clean screen of dryness on the BoM radar!  So we went through Malanda and Millaa Millaa.  Our first stop was at the falls just outside the latter.

 A pretty good drop but the place was canophobic so we passed on the next two offerings on the waterfall loop, heading down the escarpment.  We stopped at a look out on to the North Johnstone River (photos didn't come out too well)  but passed on the walking track which appeared to offer a 500m vertical drop in 1600m of horizontal travel.  Perhaps one for the future.  (We did wonder whether Johnstone was a reference to Sir Terry Pratchett's garden designer "Bloody Stupid Johnstone" - perhaps celebrating his cousins North and South?)

On getting to South Johnstone we found the outflow beds from the sugar and quickly nailed the promised Radjah Shelducks.

I also saw a Crimson Finch - bird of the day! - but it didn't hang around for either a photo or for Frances to see it.  White-breasted Woodswallows were much more obliging.

Here is the sugar mill in the town!

We then tried to get to Etty Bay following a basic map.  Unfortunately most of the roads weren't on it so we ended up further South than expected and thus turned right instead of left.  Eventually we found another map and sorted this out.  We got to Mourilyan and found the bakery for pie.  See review below.

Then on to Etty Bay (noting an empty Plodmobile parked beside the road, presumably gathering speed camera infringements while  the operator was indoors having a 'cup of tea') hoping for Cassowary.  None seen, but in keeping with looking for record numbers of this and that we came across this amazing collection of prohibitions.  I'd love to see the voting preferences of the residents - I suspect Our Pauline gets a big show.

 They did have some great mangroves on the beach.

 Retreating from these lictors we ended up at the sugar loading port of Mourilyan Harbour.  This was quite a surprise as I had never heard of it, but it seems huge.  Of course there is an awful lot of sugar grown in the area. This conveyor made a nice industrial sculpture.

A very colourful Coral Tree was near the boat ramp.

There were also a few commercial fishing boats around, with this one puttering in.  To my disappointment it wasn't followed in by a horde of seabirds.

Tough luck if you're a Francophone!

Obviously the Welcome Swallows reckon Spring - or whatever they call the breeding season up here - is on the way as it was gathering beakfulls of mud.

The first 'roo I have photographed on this trip.  I'm pretty sure it is an Agile Wallaby - the white stripe on the leg is a definitive field mark.

We then headed back to Innisfail, noting that the Plodmobile was still there.  Presumably the hossifer was having a second 'cuppa'.  After a very convivial chat with the guys in the VIC (a caravan in the main park) we went for a walk around the historic bit of the town.  The Shire Hall was quite impressive ...

... as was the Catholic Church.  Although it looks rather like the confections seen in Mexico the stained glass inside looked quite modern.

Good posters on the outside of a khazi on the banks of the North Johnstone River.

A pair of attractive old buildings.  From the Dividers at the top of the blue stripe, the one on the right was at some stage a Freemasons Hall.  It's now a martial arts centre.

The walk along the banks of the North Johnstone River was very well done.

As well as the fishing boats giving an air of reality they provided the raw material for some fish cakes which Frances acquired.  She mentioned to the serving person that we weren't sure if she could keep them cool for the trip home and a back of ice was duly provided.  They tasted very nice indeed!

A couple of memorials were above the walkway.  The usual War Memorial   ...

.. and this one to the Cane Cutters.  The Italian community of the area was greatly involved in the establishment and maintenance of this memorial.

As we walked back to the car we found ourselves passing the electorate office of Bob Katter (which may explain a few things about Etty Bay).  The front door was well covered with posters about the North Queensland Cowboys!

As we rumbled back up the Palmerstone Highway we stopped at a fruit stall for some produce: the bananas were excellent, but the papaya was sold out, as it was at a second stall we paused by.

Our final stop was at Blomfield's Swamp to check for Cranes.  A good flock were grazing below the lookout and on close inspection through my telescope, and a call by Frances, about half of them turned out to be Sarus Cranes rather than Brolgas.  A small amount of dancing was happening.

• Bird of the day: Crimson Finch.  Sarus Cranes were a contender for the individual award but in the end settled for the flock award.
• Vegetation of the day:  Mangroves at Etty Bay (much as I hate to give that prohibitory place an award).
• Memorable moment:  
• Comment of the day: I mentioned to a guy in the VIC that I drove a Pajero and a friend drove a Prado.  He replied "I forgive you both.  I drive a Patrol."  A contender was a guy at Mourilyan who say me tread on a $5 note I'd let fall and immediately called out "I just dropped that
• Pie of the day: Mourilyan Bakery Pepper Steak.  Very nice indeed with obvious chunks of steak and a good serve of pepper.  Crust crisp and strong.  The Queensland champion thus far,9/10.  Frances had an Egg and Bacon open top which she also rated very highly.  The owner said that the next batch were due in 10 minutes so obviously done on tyhe premises which also gets a tick!
• Troppo moment of the day. The lack of signs to Etty Bay when we got the to the Bruce Highway was both an indication that the Roads folk had been out in the sun too long, and caused me to become a bit troppo!

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Turning back the clocks

I'll start by commenting on trucks on the Newell Highway.  Elsewhere that we have stayed on a major Highway (Hay, Dubbo, Bourke) the trucks have basically stopped from midnight to about 6am.  Not Gilgandra where they came along the Newell throughout the night.  We still got a fair nights sleep but it was curious.

Back to the post title.  Many years ago a flight from Sydney landed in Brisbane during the time NSW had daylight saving but QLD didn't.  Not realising that the then Premier of the Peanut State was sitting in business class the pilot said:

 "WE have landed in Brisbane.  Set your watches back an hour and your mind back 50 years. "

The pilot was sacked.  Today it was Winter so the situation didn't arise but I am typing this from St George Qld.

Before getting there we got up, With some trepidation as it was rather cool (1 degree at Dubbo)!  After breaking our fast we went for a walk along the Castlereagh, in the Callitris forest opposite the windmill walk.

Very pleasant with a few good birds including Black-faced Cuckooshrike and Fan-tailed Cuckoo, both of which have left Carwoola for warmer climes (such as Gilgandra).  Several Mallee Ringnecks were seen  as well as 2 Rainbow Lorikeets.

The first less pleasant sight was where some local 4x4 owners had ploughed up the riverbank.

A curious sight was the remains of a bucket hanging in a tree.  Why was it there?

The second less pleasant sight was a former pig dumped beside the track.  Tammy was most interested in getting some fresh meat.

 We then headed North and on approaching Gulargambone were impressed by sculptures of Galahs.  There were at least 30 of these in various numbers..

 Then Frances worked it out, pronouncing the town as Gullahgambone rather than Goola....  They had a Memorial Hall and the plaque was snappable from the street.

Coonamble had a much more impressive memorial, which from conversation with a local had been in many locations in the main street.  I was impressed to notice that the District had lost 84 men in WW1 but 'only' 25 ub WW2.

 There was quite a bit of muralisation around the town, possibly inspired by the spiffy, abstract Shire logo.

 As we pressed on towards Walgett we met a herd of Santa Getrudis on the Long Paddock.

 After Walgett - looked no better than on our last visit - we came across an oversize load.  That was certainly truth in advertising.

 Here is the emu sculpture on the highway just outside Lightning Ridge.

 This nice mural was on the wall of the 'Ridge Social Welfare Centre.

We didn't stay long in the Ridge but headed off back to the Highway.  There was  a brief interruption as Mr and Ms Plod were doing RBT - possibly mid afternoon on a Sunday was not a bad time.  I passed: Frances noticed Mr P, who 'did' me look in the back seat of the car.  I wonder why?

Once across the border - of which we have no image as it came and went a tad swiftly - birdlife picked up.  Highlights were:

• a huge all black wedgetail lifting off from some roadkill;
• several kms further up the road an Adult White-bellied Sea Eagle lifting off with some road kill; and
• several clans of Apostlebirds  in a 2km long stretch.  My estimate was at least 100 birds  in total.  Now that is a bunch of Apostles!

What was surprising was that all this birdlife was in the general vicinity of the very notorious Cubby Station: the cotton farm that makes the Darling run backwards.  I don't think they would have been pumping today, as we had driven for 500km with water lying beside the road.

We found the Caravan park at St George and checked in. Most of the clients seem to be jolly fisherpersons.  A bunch of them were gathered at the camp kitchen - near our site -  being jolly, as well as doing Benny Hill audience impressions.  

 This was a worry but they had their drinks and/or tea and calmed down again and by 8:30 all is good!

• Bird of the Day:  Mallee Ringneck   Eagles were contenders but both available down South . The flock of the day was the Apostlebirds,
• Vegetation of the day: Many hectares of dead stuff in a wet area.  I presume it was an indication of the drought that has probably broken..
• Memorable moment:  This category includes things that we can think about to work what story is being told.  The can hung on a tree wins out over the Coonamble War Memorial moving up and down the street,
• Comment of the day: As the party was breaking one one of the members said "Well we'll see you later somewhere.  I probably won't recognise you but I'll say g'day any way.

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Rolling through the rock

Bird of the Day: Blue-faced Honeyeater

Plant of the Day: Jacaranda in Hargraves Street

Scene of the Day: Cuttings on descent to the Hawkesbury

Art of the day; River Ghost graffiti at Windsor

 

Typically Australian thing of the day: Reaction of security guard at Garden Island Dockyard when we rolled up!  Also his helpfulness once the issue was explained!

Maximum Temperature  25 on coast  Minimum temperature 15

Distance traveled  with camper  150  without camper 35

So we fired up El Camion attached the camper and headed off towards Sydney.  Apart from the antics of a few pelicans who shouldn't be allowed to walk without supervision let alone drive something dangerous like a car this was a very pleasant rumble down the road.  It was particularly pleasant when we descended through the sandstone to the Hawkesbury.

This is the bridge over that River.

More cuttings

We found our way with no problems to Loyalty Rd and booked the camper in at the Cub Camper factory for its service.  There were a few others in there for that!

Frances suggested going to Windsor and Richmond as something interesting to do for the afternoon and we made it so.  We drove out along 'normal' roads which seemed to go on for ever, but found somewhere to park in Windsor while we explored.

We walked along the main street where there were quite a lot of old buildings, most of which now seemed to be used a professional rooms (OK) coffee shops (probably OK) or $2 shops selling junk.  Somehow it all seemed a bit of a mishmash.  Perhaps our views have been coloured by the nice country towns we have visited?

At the end of the Street was a nice park with a War Memorial.

I think this image is a Boer war trooper.

We walked back along the Hawkesbury River, which is astonishingly narrow here considering its size where the freeway crosses.  At the road bridge there was a fair bit of graffiti and I thought this spectral offering was rather good.

Here is the main, pedestrian enabled, drag.

So on for a bit to Richmond.  We went looking for a Memorial but ended up going right through the street to a very comfortable Reserve with Lakes full of fowl.  A male Chestnut Teal in breeding finery is really rather spiffy.

One of our biggest air force bases is beside the road  between the two towns and this Hercules was doing circuit and bumps for its own good reasons.

Then we found the memorial back in town.

Back through roadworks to the Motorways of Sydney.  There was initial weirdness when Frances held up the toll transponder and it didn't beep.  So she just put it on the dashboard (where it isn't supposed to work) and it squeaked like a mouse in a cheese box: so we left it there and it worked very well for the next two days.

Approaching North Sydney.

Can I sell you a Bridge?

Nice pylons, lotsa value in scrap metal these days squire!

Some industrial stuff is really aesthetically pleasing.

And then there is the CBD!

Two icons in one snap.  Unfortunately the railings of the Cahill expressway are there as well!

A streetscape of Kings Cross.  Given that we were aiming for Paddington you might well ask what the hell were we doing in the Cross.  Getting lost is the answer: I had conflated William and Oxford Sts in my mental map and taken the wrong one.

Eventually we ended up at the gates to the Garden Island Dockyard in Wooloomooloo (and you reckon spelling Mississippi is hard).  A lad on duty here asked if we had Defence ID.  On getting the answer "No: we're lost." he asked where we were trying to go and seemed rather surprised at the answer "Oxford Street".  Once he had gulped a few times he said to do a uie and go back the way we had come.  Absolutely perfect: Victoria St leads more or less to the Victoria barracks if you follow it in the right direction!

Following his directions gave the fearless passenger a second chance at the El Alamein Fountain in the Cross: astonishingly not a hooker in sight.

This is St Vincent;'s Hospital.

And here is Oxford St in Paddington.

Once we had parked the car - as usual  found a spot within 20m of our friends house - and unpacked what was needed we went for a walk with Tammy.  Shortly after this image was taken there were 5 dogs sniffing at one another.  Lead macrame rules!

Emerging from the park this thingy was interesting - I think it is advertising some form of new-age hippy bullshit alternative medicine.

Some more Paddington housing - I thnk Moncur St,

We then had a very pleasant evening with Jill and Sam (to whom great praise and thanks are due) and slept in a house for the first time in 4 weeks.  Yahoo!

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