On the homeward leg

With a family commitment (great relies we are really looking forward to seeing), we've realised we have been on the homeward stretch for the last two weeks and had to consciously still take our time and enjoy the journey, not "gallop for the stables".

After the time at the beach areas, we headed back slightly inland.

We "parked the caravan" at someone's property for a couple of nights .... and, like the other folks doing the same, we stayed with the van each night. Seems an odd comment? Well this is a van storage yard and people just happen to stay there too, a compromise that has temporarily satisfied council relating to the owners not having planning permission to operate a "caravan park". We didn't know that until the morning we were leaving. Anyway, the day in between included a trip to the Eumundi Markets where we spent too much, but so be it. We also had our first look around Noosa. This view is from Tewantin Forest Reserve towards Noosa.

Travelling on, we avoided the main part of the Sunshine, Brisbane & Gold Coasts by skirting around the western side of Lake Somerset and Lake Wivenhoe. We stopped at an all-but deserted campground at Somerset Dam. Pretty spot and the road is heavily used by motor bike riders, especially on Sunday which is when we were stopped.

On our way to the next place, the "weird animal thing" happened again. We only noticed because the bull suddenly became agitated and started seriously rocking the vehicle. Note to John .... don't walk through paddocks containing wild animals, they don't seem to like you!

We happened upon a privately owned & minimal charge "wilderness gorge campsite" which was another true delight. We had fire flies but missed the koalas and platypus. The young guy tending the property was a gem .... at first appearances, an absolute feral however really kind, great sense of humour and, well, thrifty. He had caught & smoked himself a large eel and, whilst up the pub, saw a road train hit a roo and, yep, roadkill stew (for his dog, not himself, he told us). Would have been funny to see this guy hauling a full roo into the boot of the fairly new BMW he owns. As others judged him harshly and we didn't (we reckon "each to their own" & he's enjoying an alternative way of life), so he opened up and chatted with us. Seems his family is prettttttty well off.

Back to "responsible fire" (from John's white man version at Carmila Beach) 

Last year, a couple raved about Girraween National Park near Stanthorpe, on the NSW/Qld border. We now understand why. A couple of nights at the campground gave us access to some very scenic walks.




The first walk, only 5km's, just about wore us out. Heaps of steps, but what a magnificent view at the end. The photos just don't make an impression, so we haven't loaded many. However the walk over the massive granite boulder where one slip would be your last got John's heart going and Jane sensibly deciding to not risk it. Hard to believe a walk like this is still accessible given the risk however thank goodness for Qld Nat Parks taking a view that "they care about our safety but we ourselves are ultimately responsible for it".

See the "turtle"? - centre of shot, head to your right in front of trees, body to the left

Granite Arch

The second day, with sore shins, a more leisurely walk along the flats was enjoyed. Would love to see the end of the walk ("The Junction") a future time with a lot more water. It wouldn't be better, just different.

We didn't take photos of the showers (as in "those in the ammentities), but how MUCH did we appreciate the hot showers after a week or so of bucket baths!






Back to the coast for the last week or so, starting with a couple of nights at Hat Head in the National Park. As with most camps, we met lovely people. The couple we spent the evening with kept plying John with Aldi wine, so he didn't have the best of "mornings after". The second night was the start of the, um, crappy wet weather. Even the poor wallaby looked bedraggled!

After a night at Bulladelah under the bridge (also wet and very muddy), we decided to chance the weather at Myall River. It started off very promisingly .....

.... but didn't finish up that way. We ended up in the middle of a lake. The good news is that it allowed us to finish the last  blog (whales & dolphins) and get this one largely complete. It also gave us lots of time couped up in the van, which we spent doing the TV show "Survivor" thing. ie reflecting back on this year's journey. It's been everything we wanted it to be and again reminded us that we shouldn't have left it this late to start travelling more.







And so to the last and best "camp" on the entire trip, we think we'll stop here for a few months.

Whilst we may not do blogs in the future, we've already started planning our next trip!

Cheers,
John & Jane