May Day Weekend 2008 - Calliope

May Day weekend is the annual Combined Clubs Bushwalker's get-together, where clubs from Bundaberg to Rockhampton meet on yearly, to enjoy the hospitality of a host club - this year - Gladstone Bushwalking Club.
I took a flex day on the Friday, so we could pack and we hit the road with Graham, heading south down the highway to Calliope (just over 100km). We set up camp under the gum trees at Calliope Sports Ground, and said hello to a few fellow campers. We were pleased to meet an old acquaintance from Gin Gin  - Richard. In the evening we walked down the road to the

Calliope Railway Hotel for a pub meal. It was a really good feed..and I would recommend it to anyone passing through.

Although, on Saturday, some people took off early on walks, we decided on a relaxed start, and spent the morning socialising before a very enjoyable drive and walk in the afternoon to Bindawalla Gorge. This small, but picturesque area is along Tablelands Rd, which leads to Kroombit Tops. Howard and his wife were the walk leaders, pointing out features on the way...such as the unique 'emu' mailbox along the road. On arrival at the crossing on

Takilberan Creek, we firstly walked left and looked at the rock formations. Howard explained that the water-hole, which appeared quite deep to us, was fairly low. As we approached the water, a freshwater tortoise dived, and we looked for Burdekin Plum trees, which are native to the area.
A short walk downstream led to a flat rocky area, where we had afternoon tea, and some walkers cooled off by going for a swim in a waterhole. Around this location, I saw native Pepperomia, and Hoya, along with some Shield Ferns - quite lovely!
On the way back to the cars we saw some wonderful fig trees, and finally found some Burdekin Plum trees with fruit dropping from the trees.

There was also a very interesting old house on the way home. Plenty of photos were taken.

We had brought along our Canadian canoe to go on the canoe trip on Sunday, and discovered in the morning that, apart from the leaders, Noel and Bev, we were the only partakers. The trip started from the 'Old Bridge' picnic area on the Calliope River, which had lots of campers enjoying the banks. We found a good spot to launch, and started a leisurely paddle upstream. Huge trees hung precariously to the high banks..some looking like they might fall in the next flood.

We were intriqued by glimpses of houses and other buildings along the way...you really can't see enough to work out what they are..but it is fun to guess...

This river has no barrages or weirs, and is tidal, but, even so, we were surprised to round a corner to see hardy, fresh-tolerant mangroves, and stingrays startled by our passing. Fish were in abundance, from millions of small fry, up to probably a half-metre in length. We stopped on a sandbank for morning tea at an area which seemed to be close to the limit of the tidal effect.

I was having a very easy time of it, with Darryl doing most of the paddling, but after this stop there were a few big rocks in the water, so I had to pay more attention, and steer clear of these.
Along the banks there appeared to be some sort of quarry. We came across a camper/fisherman, but he said he hadn't caught much. There were several ducks along the way.

Further up was an area where the river became very narrow, and we had to portage the canoes. As the men pulled the canoes through, Bev pointed out, up in the trees, a curious owl (Howard has suggested it is a Barking Owl). He was none-too -pleased at our presence, but tolerated our photos.

Above this area the waterlillies started. There were beautiful purple ones, but also some brilliant white blooms, full of bees.

There are some really big pools, full of fish, and we eventually turned around and headed back to 'barbecuearea', a sand-bank which had an old rusted metal BBQ grill sitting on the spit. This was where we enjoyed our lunch, a really peaceful spot. The trip back was equally relaxing and enjoyable, apart from some cattle which startled and then ran along beside us for around a kilometre. Eventually we swapped to the opposite side of the river, and they lost interest in us.

A sea eagle gliding above was a highlight. As we neared the end, there were people skiing in the river, and we avoided their wake. Noel reported that we had paddled around 7 1/2km.
At night we enjoyed the dinner provided by the Gladstone club, and were then entertained by skits, including one with a fantastic Ozzie dunny, bush poetry, and the handing over of the 'Wolca Stick' to the club which will host the event in 2009.
On Monday, many walkers headed off on the many interesting walks which had been organised, but I was intending to have a relaxing day, and as Darryl was still feeling a little ill, we decided to pack up and head home. What a lovely weekend! Thanks Gladstone Club!

Check the photo album for more photos.....

Mayday

Sadness and Joy

What a week!

It is with sadness that we note the passing of Darryl's Aunty Norma, on 28 April. Norma was Eileen's sister, and born in Townsville in 1930. She married Ted O'Malley in 1948, and their children were Gary (dec), Sharyn and Glen. Norma was a lovely, lovely lady, who loved animals dearly and will be really missed.

But, a wonderful miracle has happened on Tuesday 29 April with the birth of Cameron Paul Harrison to Paula, my cousin. Paula has yearned for a baby since her teens, and it is wonderful that she was able to have a trouble-free pregnancy and birth for her first child,  at 44. Cameron will have a dedicated and loving mother, as Paula loves children and has worked in child-care most of her life. I am eagerly waiting for a photo!

Anzac and May Day Weekends - Calliope

Anzac Weekend - 25 April 2008 - Glassford - Mt Jacob Goldmine

We departed Rocky just after 9am. Following us were John, Graham, Bevan & Leigh, and Dot & Ron. We sauntered down the highway to Calliope where we refuelled and had a cuppa at the little park next to Caltex. We had timed it perfectly, as the SES blocked off the road, and a F1-11 (I think) boomed across the Anzac Day march. 

Some of the group had not been to Boynedale previously, so a little detour was made to view

Castletower NP, the campground and the boat-ramp. A surprise along the road was a deer at the edge of a small dam. Time goes really quickly when you are enjoying yourself and my tummy started to rumble that it was lunchtime. Darryl and I had planned to do a short sortie before lunch, but the rumbling decreed that we stop first at the old forestry barracks ground up at Builyan. After lunch we drove down to look at the bridge (which is now gated off), and to the southern edge of the park to look at the palm stands. A trip around to the northern side, where logging is currently underway, afforded beautiful views of tree cloaked rugged mountains. Some in the group could even see several coal ships waiting offshore for loading at Gladstone. We collected some old dry wood for a campfire and headed back to set up for the evening. Prior to Happy Hour Darryl took a walk to the small nearby dam.

After dinner we went spotlighting along the road but only spotted a possum and a bat.

Most seemed to sleep well, and in the morning the campfire was stoked and breakfast cooked. All the intrepid walkers took off in 3 of the 4-wheel drives while I remained at the campsite. I pottered around doing a little tidying up, having a lazy breakfast of crispy, smoky bacon, fried eggs and mushrooms, and hot coffee. I then spent the day reading, and dozing only disturbed slightly by some people who drove by, then set up camp out of sight. The others found the Mt Jacob goldmine (see the end for Darryl’s story about their walk) and returned in the late afternoon just in time for happy hour.

All the walkers slept well, and again we were woken by the early risers getting the fire going. Breakfast was finished, and everyone packed up their gear in time for a 9am departure. We headed down the range to Many Peaks. Here Rhonda and Phil, who had come up that morning, met up with us just after the pub. First stop was the Many Peaks Railway dam, which, we were extremely surprised to find, was full of water. Ducks flew off as we approached. Our convoy hit the road and headed for Child's Road. On this corner is the attractive old Glassfordvale Homestead. We arrived at Upper Glassford in time for morning tea, and enjoyed the shade of the old mango tree which is purported to have grown up through the steps of the old pub (since there were 3 pubs we think the Glassford Hotel is the most likely candidate). Darryl led off, showing the group the sunken level areas along the hill, which we think might be house-sites.

We then headed across the creek and up to the machinery area where we admired the brick cellar with a tree growing up in it – possibly the Mansfield's Hotel cellar (also known as the Commercial Hotel, once run by Rhonda's relation John Thomas Broom Howard). From here the first other major feature is the brick chimney, and then down to the creek to peer over the edge of the glassy black slag heap. Then we headed up to look at the stone retaining wall, blown out boiler and second brick chimney. Further north is the remains of the tunnel of the Blue Bag mine.

 A yellow biological hazard sign warns against entry into the mine, due to the habitation by bats, but even peering in the entrance was further deterred by a large pool of water at the entrance. From this point Darryl took the more hardy souls up the zigzag railway to look at the shafts at the top, and on up to the brick magazine store. The rest of us headed back to see if we could locate the cemetery. We walked up and down unsuccessfully, as we know there is at least one concrete slab, we thought we would recognise it. When the others returned we joined them to go and have a look at the stumps, which are the remains of the school, and then down into the creek-bank to be amazed at the brick chimney remains of Saunders house (I have since heard that perhaps this was actually the mine manager’s house, and just built by Saunders). By now it was time for lunch, so we hastened back to the cool shade of the mango tree for refreshments. Darryl thought he might be able to locate the cemetery, and went off before Rhonda and I joined him in the fruitless search. Eventually we knew that time had run out, and the group drove down to look briefly at the location of lower Glassford, before taking the precarious track up and over the hill to the Chinese Markham's gardens. We had been worried that with recent heavy rains, the track might be impassable, but it was all fine and most of the 4x4s followed us down. A tree had fallen which means that you can no longer drive in quite as far. The gardens consist of terraces with mango and other trees, and stone walls. John located the tree and stone circle which apparently marks the location of the grave of Ten Wong a Chinese worker buried in 1902. As we were leaving, a dead possum fell out of the mango tree..very strange! After this detour our group stopped at the gate at the entrance to the NP to say our goodbyes, and Graham to pick up his vehicle. We took off South with Rhonda & Phil, and others were going to various other locations.

Mount Jacob Mine

Saturday morning we left camp around 8 am and headed off to organise the cars for the car shuffle. After parking one of the troopies at the top of the ridge, we set off to find the start of the fire break which we were advised to follow. The gate, where we were told to leave the cars, was only a short distance off the road and after parking the vehicles, we headed off down the track to the Boyne River.

At the Boyne River we followed the firebreak as it zigzagged across the river several times before the track divided. Unfortunately, I chose the better track that initially headed towards the mine but very quickly petered out to follow a creek that led into a valley. After Ron pointed out where he thought we were, we retraced our steps for a short distance and then headed up a spur to stop for morning tea. After the break, we walked down the spur to cross the river and rejoin the track on the other side of the river.

We continued on following the firebreak up the river until we found the rusting, abandoned machinery at Mount Jacob Mine. After taking photos, we investigated the area to see if we could work out the location of the mine. After lunch beside the river, Graeme and I climbed up to the tailings and we think we found the now collapsed entrance to the mine.

After that we headed up river along the firebreak past the bottom section of a stamper, abandoned in the river and left to corrode. Just before, the river turned into a gorge, the firebreak we followed from the gate, headed off to the left and we left it to rock hop up the river to the start of the spur. I was impressed with this part of the river as the river was still trickling over the rocky base through numerous pools. One of the larger pools had a school of startled black bream. This inaccessible part of the river still had some of the large Gum trees dotted with the occasional Hoop Pines. A bit further past this pool I was relieved to find the start of the spur and sent the drivers up to the cars. I am told it took them an hour to climb the 255m out of the gorge and follow the spur to the troopie, and by the time the remainder of us walked up at a leisurely pace, taking time to appreciate the view, Bevan and Graeme returned with their vehicles to carry us back to camp. I calculated the walk to be about 12 km and it took us about 8 hours to complete the walk. 

Tuesday 1 April 2008 - Rockhampton

We had a lovely weekend. 

On Saturday it was my birthday, and my recent strong desire for campfire smoke, (which couldn't be sated over Easter), resulted in us having a BBQ. Darryl fired up the wood BBQ - luckily the rain earlier in the day disappeared - and we enjoyed perfectly cooked scotch fillet steak, accompanied by creamy potato salad with bacon and egg, and fresh greek salad made with fetta, baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, spanish onion and kalamata olives. This was topped off with a rich chocolate mud cake, with thick gounache icing and cherries. It was a lovely, intimate, family gathering and we sat, chatting, around the glowing coals until around 11pm. Darryl took a lovely photo of me, with Shane and Marc. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening, and had a very relaxing weekend, and feel quite a bit better now.

Easter 2008 - Gladstone - Mt Jacob Goldmine

On Good Friday we spent the morning getting ready, packing up the Hilux, etc. We grabbed some lunch and then drove to Gladstone, (through 100s of yellow butterflies), to see Eileen and George. They both seem to be relatively well, although George looked a bit green in the gills – he had plastered his face with some green clay he is using to treat his sunspots! Kerry arrived and we all had a good chat. In the evening Eileen,








Darryl and I went to the Gladstone Harbour Festival.
Kerry came down and met us there and we enjoyed the 'Rolling Stones Tribute Show'. It was amazing how much the lead singer looked and acted like Mick Jagger. Of course they played all the great hits and we sang and clapped along.

Saturday dawned, and I woke realising that I had enjoyed one of the best sleeps in some time. Although the rest of the household was up, I languished in bed until just after 7, and eventually headed out for bacon and eggs.

Our trip took us through Calliope and we were pleasantly surprised to find the new IGA supermarket open at 8am (they actually opened at 7.30). I was able to buy some tomatoes cheaper than Rocky, and get some butter – which I had forgotten to bring.

On our drive down to Boyne Valley we were concerned to be overtaken by approx 4 cars towing trailers with off-road bikes- only because we were worried that perhaps they were heading in our direction, and might spoil the tranquility.

Spur to Boyne River

At Builyan township we took the road up to the new National Park, and arrived at the spot we hoped to be, around 10am. Darryl took the car off the track and we headed down the ridge towards what we hoped to be Mt Jacob Gold mine. The walk down the ridge was very slow – on my behalf.

I am still quite sick, and also I have to be very careful walking downhill, to protect my dodgy knees.

 Butterflies were everywhere! There were a few different varieties of cycads, both the low variety with the bright orange and green fruit lying on the ground, and the type which have round hanging fruits.
I am not sure if they are the same, but there were some extraordinarily tall ones -easily over 7 foot tall. I was tempted to call the ridge 'Sarsparilla Ridge' due to the massive carpets of False Sarsparilla. I can only imagine what a beautiful sight you would see when they are in flower, with masses of dark purple pea flowers. I have never seen such carpets of it. Other notable flora were Batwing coral trees, Native hops (which I haven't seen since on our farm), Broom, native wandering jew, and, in places lush long grasses.

Chris beside the Boyne River

After a scramble down a section which had particularly loose rock, (I slipped over and skinned my left wrist on a sharp one), we reached the upper sections of the Boyne River. It had taken us 2 ¼ hours, which wasn't bad considering how slowly we had to go. There was water flowing, and we rested and had a bite to eat. At this point the GPS indicated that we were probably about 2km from the abandoned gold mines, and we would have had to walk along the river around a bend to get there. Darryl was very happy to find such a beautiful spot, and felt that, at this stage, it was unnecessary to go on – certainly it was as far as I could cope with. Heading back up the ridge was quite hard, but we made it back to the car in 1 ½ hours as I could travel considerably faster going uphill. Darryl said he was quite proud of how well I was able to walk, despite my illness and my knee, although I did have to stop quite a few times. On the way up we saw a beautiful little blue centipede, with a red head and tail, and a blue triangle butterfly found the blue cap of Darryl's waterbottle irresistible to follow.

Back at the car I had a very enjoyable cup of coffee, and even though it was after 2 pm we decided to wait for lunch until we had found a campsite. On the way, we checked out a few side roads, and found the area which must still be forestry, and they seem to be harvesting timber from it. When we got near the old forestry camping area, we were surprised to see 2 new roads had been dozed, one of which went past the spot we wanted to camp. Being a long weekend, we still felt that it would be quiet enough, and pulled up at a lovely spot amongst the pine trees. We barely got the back up when a few spots of rain fell and we rushed to get up the tarpaulin as the shower came pelting down. We enjoyed a simple, if somewhat late, lunch, and while Darryl took off to check out the fate of the dam, I lay down and rested. It was lovely dozing off during the showers of rain, and being warm and dry in bed. Darryl returned and tried to start a fire in the rock fireplace, but the rain had ensured all wood was far too damp, so he organised a lovely warm shower, and we enjoyed happy-hour in the twilight, and then dinner in the dark. Light showers continued through the night, but nothing to spoil the peace and solitude, apart from some poor bloke driving a panel van towing motorbikes, who was obviously lost in the dark and drive past us about 6 times.

We planned to go at dawn to a small nearby dam, but on waking at six went then. The area was shrouded in cloud, and nothing was happening at the dam at all, so we headed back to the campsite for breakfast and Easter Eggs, before packing up and doing some investigation of side roads. A couple of times Darryl parked and continued on foot while I stayed at the car reading and resting, and once, when the road was blocked he got an upper body workout using the axe to clear fallen trees.






On the longest of his walks he saw 3 red-belly black snakes and a large carpet snake. The showers started again, and, as we felt we had achieved what we set out to do, decided to call it a day, and headed back to Gladstone to Darryl's parent's place. Karen, his sister, came over for a chat, and we drove back to Rockhampton on dusk.

Don Mclean Concert

Taken with my mobile phone - so the sound and video is not the greatest.....

Monday 10 March 2008 - Rockhampton

I have been pretty busy lately. At work I am acting team leader, but am still doing some of the work from the previous job I was on. It is challenging but, of course I am enjoying it.

For the past 4 Saturdays I have been co-presenter for the Beginner's Family History Course we have been running at our local association. All those who attended enjoyed it, and many of them joined up, which was lovely.

On Saturday night Darryl and I went to see Don Mclean in concert at The Great Western Hotel. It was fantastic, and if you can stand the poor sound, and poor vision from my mobile phone, have a look at the video I have uploaded. I had a delicious steak, for which The Great Western is renown, and Darryl enjoyed a fisherman's basket.

Shane has just left for Brisbane. He is starting a 3 month contract with Tech Assurance (still with Health), and will spend the first month traveling down on Monday and back on Friday. Hopefully then he will be able to work mostly from Rocky. He and a crew from work went to see the Screaming Jets on Friday night..also starring at The Great Western Hotel. By all accounts they all enjoyed themselves.

Unfortunately, I have been ill for 3 weeks. It started out as a head cold, and I have been coughing and coughing...finally today I went to the doc, and have been told to stay home from work for 2 days, get a chest xray, and take anti-biotics and a puffer (never had one of these before!). Hopefully the couple of days rest will assist, along with the coming weekend, where we have absolutely no plans!