Still in Goovigen

Wednesday 8th, July

I was only going to stay for one night, but the weather is good, the showgrounds are quiet and the pub put up a sign saying silverside and white sauce, vegies and chips for $12 on state of origin night. I just had to stay for that.

When I was young, silverside, white sauce and cauliflower was somewhat of a regular meal for us, so I couldn't resist staying for a couple of days.

Tomorrow I will be off to Mount Morgan.

Goovigen

Monday 6th July.

Camps8 map 15/420  S24.8'44"  E150.17'8"

Have just spent two nights in Monto, camped behind the information kiosk next to the railway yards (long since disused). They charge $5 per person per night, no power or water. You can pay at either the nearest hotel or the newsagent.

When I was in Mundubbera I met a couple who told me about Goovigen (Goo-vision), and when I looked it up I found that it was on the way to Mt. Morgan, about 30km NNW of Biloela, turn left 50m before the railway crossing in Jambin.  The couple in Mundubbera told me that it was cheap and the pub served good meals, so here I am.

The cost of staying here went up today by 100% to $10 a night, power and water included and there is a hot shower and toilet available, although they are a bit ordinary. The site is in the showground and they have just installed six new concrete slabs with power boxes and they are continuing with other work. There are currently eight caravans here and it is dog friendly.

Although my legs are very sore from five and a half hours walking in Cania Gorge yesterday, I managed the short walk over to the pub tonight for rump steak and vegies $19.50 and two pots of beer for $7.20, a nice home style cooked dinner. All the meals, fish, pork or lamb chops, rump, fillet come in small and large size, I only had the small rump; I wouldn't have made it through the large one. Steak, six vegies, gravy and chips, it was a big meal.

I was only intending to stay one night, I think it may be more.

Monto

Saturday, 4th of July

The joy of not having a set timetable as in wandering.

While driving from Mundubbera, where I stayed last night in Jaycee Park (free camp), towards Monto, I decided not to go to Waruma Dam with the caravan, but instead go straight to Monto, where I am staying in the small park behind the information kiosk. They charge $5 per person, per night, no power, water or toilets (must be self contained) but I'm not sure who collects the money.

During the afternoon I drove (car only) down to Waruma dam to see what all the fuss was about. Lucky I didn't take the van, because there aren't many sites available. The place is somewhat crowded. Some look like they are there for a very long time. There is a fifth wheeler there as well, but I don't think I would take my van down where he is parked; it is going to be a big haul back up the hill when it comes time for him to leave.




On the way there I passed through the small village of Abercorn where I noticed something I haven't seen in some time. The tennis courts at the side of the road had his and hers amenities. Very quaint.



Tomorrow I will make a day trip to Cania Gorge national Park, which is about 27km to the north-west of Monto.

Knobby Tree

Friday 3rd July.

While driving from Gayndah to Mundubbera today, I suddenly saw this unusual tree.

Quick decision, find somewhere to pull up, about 500 meters later there is a side road, so I stop there and walk back with the camera.




As I am walking back to the car, I hear another car pull up behind me and then go down to the same spot to park. Look around, and he has let the wife out to take a photo as well.

It seems that the 'Knobby Tree' is well known and is also photographed often. According to some tourist literature the tree dates from early settlement.



The tree is about 4.5km south of the Mundubbera turnoff on the  Burnett Highway.

Mingo Crossing

Tuesday 30th June.

Camps8 13/443  S25.23'38"  E151.46'38"

Mingo Crossing is about half way between Gayndah and Mt Perry, about 30km to either town which includes some gravel roads, but they are in good condition. The road to Mt Perry crosses through some private property, so watch out for cattle on the road.

This view of the caravan park (run by the North Burnett Council) is looking towards Mt Perry to the north. The bridge crosses the western end of the lake formed by Paradise Dam which is about 10km to the east.






The caravan park has twelve powered sites and a large area for all other users.

There is a good shower and toilet block next to the water tank. They are cleaned every day at 6am. There is also a laundry with a couple of front loading machines for $4 a wash.

The grounds are well maintained, clean and tidy. A small shop at the office sells a few items, chips, soap powder, ice creams and drinks, etc.






Telstra mobile service is available if you are up near the caravan sites and dogs on a leash are permitted.

If you want to relax and or do some fishing, Mingo Crossing is the place to be. A number of people have boats with them but you can still go fishing from the banks and good catches of yellowbelly are possible.

This is a good site and I would recommend it to anyone.

In the long paddock

Thursday, 25th of June

I am now officially in the 'long paddock'

Woke up this morning in Nanango after arriving there at 3pm yesterday for a cup of tea stop. You know how it is, a cup of tea, a bit of a chat, next thing you know you have to make the evening meal. 

Drove up towards Goomeri and on the way stopped at Boonara to photograph half a dozen graves at St. David's church, and then on to Tansey where I photographed about 15 to 20 graves in the local cemetery which is about a half kilometer walk from the highway. 

Arrived at Ban Ban Springs at 2pm and decided to stay the night here. Will drive to Mingo Crossing tomorrow morning. 

Sent from Samsung tablet

Chowey Bridge

The turnoff to the Chowey Bridge on the Gooroolba-Biggenden Road is at S 25 27' 59.58" and E151 56' 28.44"

From here you have 3.6km two wheel track through private property which would not be suitable for a caravan, but while it is dry you could do it in two wheel drive.

At the end of the track there is a table with seating. Nothing else is available.

The rail line has been fenced off from the public, but of course, where there is a fence there is a way around it, on in this case, through it. The reason for the fencing becomes obvious when you do go up onto the rail line over the bridge, which crosses Deep Creek. During the dry season, rather than a deep creek, it is more like a deep gorge, and the sides and bottom are mostly rock.

The bridge was built in 1906 and is the first of it's kind, one main arch with several smaller arches above it all concrete.

It has been some time since a train has travelled on this track.