Mayday Weekend 2009 - Mount Perry

The Bushwalker's Combined Camp was held at Mount Perry - hosted by the Bundaberg Bushwalking Club.

Rhonda and Phil kindly lent us a tent, so we headed up to Mt Perry showgrounds for the weekend.

On the Saturday there were a number of easy walks held. Darryl went to Boolboonda Outlook walk. 

I took the opportunity to join the Mt Perrry Historical Walk, where we visited the Mt Perry Cemetery, and were given an excellent tour by local historian Pat Smith.

This was followed by a tour lovely old wooden Catholic Church.

We then toured the Art Gallery & Family History rooms, where there were some works of local areas by David Ferguson. Plaques marking historical building line the main street, and were a talking point. This was followed by dinner at the local pub, where I enjoyed a lovely steak, and we toasted the 30-year anniversary of Darryl and I first meeting (actually at a meeting of the Townsville Bushwalking Club!)

Saturday saw Darryl heading off for a difficult walk to the summit of Mt Takilberan (the final section was a 20m climb up a single exposed rock) and the 541m summit afforded lovely views.

I went on an easy walk to Camp Creek Lookout, along old logging tracks in the Bania National Park.

This was followed by afternoon tea at the Lavender Farm (you can click this link to see their site)- unfortunately I could not try the Lavender scones!

At night we had the 'hand-over' of the stick to Capricornia Club which signifies we are the hosts next year. There was a slide-show of bushwalk photos, and I was lucky enough to win a raffle prize. Sitting around the campfire, there was a lovely gum tree, and during the evening a tiny sugar-glider 'flew' in from surrounding trees and then glided away after some time foraging.

Sunday morning was started with a wonderful pancake breakfast - there were even gluten-free ones available for me! 

Some people went on other walks, but Darryl and I went on the Normanby Range Goldmine ramble, which was a wander around the 'gold-dust' ferns, 

old machinery, stone walls, mine shafts and views across Mt Perry. It was very interesting, and only marred by our leader falling and hurting his ankle.

Elliott Heads 2009

We have been living at Elliott Heads (near Bundaberg) since the beginning of March, and will probably be here for a few more weeks. The tenants moved out of our house, and Darryl decided that he wanted to do the house up. He has been busy putting in built-in cupboards, new laundry, and painting. I am working from Bundaberg Hospital (1/2 hour drive each way), but have spent some days of most weeks in Brisbane. 

The weekend we first came here, the cyclone was going past and it was 'very' windy! Since the wind has died down we have been able to have some lovely swims (although there is still enough wind for the kite-boarders). Darryl went fishing and caught some fish, but hasn't caught any since.

Marc came down to visit us - and help Darryl with some work. 

We spent a very quiet Easter just relaxing here, and have been having lots of outdoor BBQs. I have been very quiet on the internet as we only have dial-up and it is really slooooowww!!!! :-( (Also can't get the photos to behave as in change size or move to the correct places in the text - sorry!). The first photo is Marc on top of The Hummock (the only hill in Bundanerg). 

The second is the kite-boarders in the mouth of the Elliott River. 

As you can see, I went to the Bundaberg Rum Factory, then we have swimming at Elliott Heads beach. 

Pandanus on the heads, and the water dragon is a visitor at work (I am in the old staff quarters down by the Burnett River).