Christmas 2019

After the house sit at Rockyview I was continuing to work at Stocklands Rockhampton until the end of the Christmas season, so we moved from the house sit to Ally and Buck's property near Yeppoon. This was close enough to Rocky for me to commute to Stocklands.  We also decided to stay at Buck and Ally's and celebrate Christmas with them and a few friends.

This gorgeous lady dropped by and visited Santa.

Had a nice spot to set up at Ally & Buck's, watched these clouds but
unfortunately didn't bring much needed rain.

Buck and Ally's place, waiting for the others to arrive.

A little bird

I had a couple of days off leading up to Christmas which meant Helen and I where able to go into Yeppoon and do some shopping, have a coffee at a favorite shop, Lure Living, nice strong coffee. Also meant we could spend time in the pool and enjoy the company of friends as they started to arrive a few days before Christmas.

We finished up with about 14 for Christmas lunch, Buck and Ally organised a nice lunch with cold meats, ham etc and of course prawns. We drank and enjoyed the lunch which continued into the evening. Thanks for the wonderful hospitality.

With the humid weather made a few trips to the pool to cool down. 

Found a great Coffee shop in Yeppoon, Lure Living, on Anzac Parade.

We stayed for boxing day and used this to recover and get organised to move on the next day, as we were heading further south for New Years.

Bluff Point Walking Track

Another day out was to Bluff Point at Rosslyn, Yepoon where we walked the Bluff Point Scenic Track.  Probably need to walk early in the day as it was late morning when we commenced and the temperature was quite warm.

Helen walked to the last lookout but I continued on the Circuit track (2.3 km return).  The view from the lookouts was spectacular and would recommend people visit.  Unfortunately we did not spot any turtles from the lookouts. They have established a large picnic area with toilets where the Track start which makes this area very pleasant to visit.

Kemp Beach and Double Head

Looking across the bay to Keppel Island

Was very windy at Turtle Lookout

View of Double Head from the highest point of the walk

We started towards Turtle Lookout

ANZAC Walk & Memorial Park - Emu Park

Today we decided to take a half hour drive to Emu Park from our house sit.  We did however make one stop on the way at Yeppoon for a coffee at Lure Living which overlooks the bay and serves great coffee.  From here it was a leisurely drive along Scenic Hwy about 18 km to Emu Park. It has been a few years since visiting Yeppoon and Emu Park so it was nice to see what has changed and to take a look at the many bays on the way down. Unfortunately the day was very windy so we didn't venture out for a walk on the beach but will leave that for an other day as we will be spending the next couple of months in the area.

The main reason for the drive was to visit ANZAC Walk & Memorial Park at Emu Park

This space has been specifically designed as a memorial and gathering place in recognition and response to the Centenary of ANZAC commemorations in 2014 -2018.

ANZAC Walk Memorial Park

The pictorial screen sculpture is an interpretive work based on a photograph taken by James (Frank) Hurley, Australia's second official WWI photographer. He recorded in black and white film at the Western Front. Artist Bill Gannon prepared many drawings to evoke not just a sense of not just young men dutifully on the march, but also soul searching. The figures are in galvanized steel set against rich red/brown rusting corten steel screen and at night the back light creates an eerie morning image.

Pictorial Screen Sculpture in galvanized steel.

Noel Brady, a local artist and returned veteran researched artworks for the Emu Park Centenary of ANZAC project. "The Spirit - Gallipoli Landing 1915" was selected. Noel liaised with artist David Rowlands on the use of the original work onto a glass outdoor presentation overlooking Keppel Bay. The artwork has been installed so that a viewer can align the artworks horizon with Keppel Bay horizon.

Gallipoli Landing onto glass presentation

A closer view of the glass with the actual sea and horizon.

Stopped at the Singing Ship which is a monument that commemorates the area's legacy of the historical explorations of Captain James Cook, who discovered this bay in May 1770.  The design represents the billowing sail, mast and rigging of his ship Endeavour.  Concealed organ pipes use the sea breezes to create the musical sounds. Having quite a windy day we could hear the musical sounds quite clearly.

Singing Ship, the wind makes a noise through the flutes.

Jetty and bay at Emu Park

Yaamba, Lawn Mower Racing

After stopping at the Yaamba Hotel on our way into Rockyview the publican had told us about the Central Queensland Lawn Mowing Races which are held in Yaamba on the Lawn Mowing Race track. This sounded interesting and only 17 km from our house sit so we decided to come out and see what this lawn mowing racing was all about. When we arrived their was no space to park around the track so had to park behind vehicles where we put out our car awning.  Lucky for us a vehicle pulled out so we took their space.  Not so lucky was in my haste to get vacant position I told Helen to hold the car awning and walk while I maneuvered the car, which sounded a good idea however I drove a bit too fast and with windy conditions I nearly lost Helen and the car awning!!  A guy came to her aid and helped with the awning until we settled.  Had a great day experiencing this event.

The racing was very competitive

A lot of sideways action

Check out the beard from underneath the helmet.

Rockyview

Was woken the next morning with thunder and lightning and a good rain.  Lynn and Tony left at lunchtime and very excited to be flying off to begin their 2 month holiday.

First job was a trip into Rockhampton to buy a lid for Caravan vent over the shower (bought 2 and replaced both vent lids).  I filled up the bird seed dish and we were entertained by blue-faced honey eaters, red-collared lorikeet, brown-backed honey eaters, magpies, butcherbirds, currawongs to name a few.  Very interesting watching who has the authority to eat undisturbed and found a pair of  lorikeets seemed to be the bosses!

Our house sit had several walking tracks and a view over the valley.

Blue-faced Honey Eaters and Rainbow lorikeets 

The Lorikeets seemed to have control of the food when they were there.

Morning walking track.

We celebrated Helen's birthday late October with a stroll around the Rivernites Markets in Rockhampton, where retail vendors and market stalls, food and live music entertain. The Markets are situated next to the Fitzroy River which enhances the atmosphere. Dined at the Heritage Hotel where we enjoyed dinner outside on a nice balmy evening.

During our stay we went to the Yaamba Lawn Mower Races (see separate blog), ANZAC Walk (see separate blog), Bluff Point (see separate blog).

Heritage Hotel, Rockhampton

Rockhampton Rivernites Markets

I enjoyed walking around the track on the property and kept an eye out for any snakes - certainly noticed a few tracks in the sand but never encountered one.  We enjoyed the view and saw some nice sunsets. I also enjoyed the sunrises and took photos for Helen (too early for her!)

Sunset at the end of the drive.

Sunrise

Unfortunately the countryside is so dry and half way into our house sit we received warnings on the phone for a huge fire near Yeppoon, about 20 km away. Quite scary actually as smoke was quite thick over our area and the winds were very strong.  Terrible devastation resulted from this fire as was the case with many more in southern Qld and NSW.  During the later stages of our stay we encountered very hot daytime temperatures (35 degrees - 39 degrees), had 35 degree plus days for over 2 weeks straight, luckily the home had air conditioning.

Sunrise with the smoke from the fires at Yeppoon crossing through the Valley

We also visited the Rockhampton Heritage Village markets, held every 2 months on a Sunday, where you get a large number of stalls displaying some of the local produce, arts and crafts. Some of the Village displays could be seen, I was intrigued to watch the old machinery used in the Print Shop, printing Christmas cards and memo note pads, certainly an art in the "old days".

Heritage Village Print Shop
This was working printing cards and memo pads during the morning market. 

1926 Buick Roadster
I once owned a 1927 Buick Sedan so this caught my eye.

At the end of November we attended The Caves Festival in the Square and had a great night with various stalls, Lions Clubs providing food (even one from Yeppoon), various raffles with donations helping the community and live entertainment.  Great country community atmosphere which topped off with a visit from Santa on a camel - have not seen that before!

Santa arriving at The Caves Festival in the Square.

Early December I started work as Santa in the Stocklands Shopping Centre in Rockhampton which kept me out of mischief!  After 2 months house sitting we were looking forward to hooking up the van and moving on.  Thank you to Lynn and Tony for allowing us to look after their home - greatly appreciated.

Santa settles into the set at Stocklands Shopping Centre, Rockhampton.

South to Rocky

We left Oakey Oasis arund 8.30 am which also made good time to stop at Milanda for coffee and their tasty Vanilla Slices, only to find the Bakery (Organic Cafe) shut on public holidays!!  Continued through Milla Milla then turned off Palmerston Highway approx 8km SW Innisfail and headed to Wangan where we followed the B-Double Route through South Johnson, Broogan (sugar cane country) then turned onto Bruce Highway and headed south to Tully, where we stopped for lunch.

Continued on the Bruce Highway we pulled into Rollingstone Free Camp where we stayed the night.  Certainly not as many people here as we have encountered previous times.  Upon opening up the shower door looked up to the vent and saw daylight - vent lid had blown off somewhere on our travels today!

Next morning we hooked up with water and had showers before departing around 9am.  Called into see Norah & Don for a coffee as they were housesitting south of Townsville. Travelled down through Townsville, Ayr, Home Hill before arriving at Proserpine where we drove out to Lake Proserpine (Peter Faust Dam) and camped in the free camping for the night.

Apparently the French backpackers were partying on into the early hours however we did not hear a thing!  On our way out we noticed a Van parked up in the Visitor car park - the young couple said they could not sleep so packed up and moved around 1 am!

Lake Proserpine, free camp

Sunset

Lake Proserpine, free camp

Lake Proserpine, (Peter Faust Dam)

Back onto Bruce Highway we stopped for coffee and food top up at Sth Mackay, drove through Serina, turned off Highway approx 50 km south and drove to Notch Point.  The road turned into a track and had to maneuver the "Whale" in between trees. Bit disappointed once there as quite a few vans were parked up quite close to one another - some were closer than in a Cavaran Park!  Walked around but could not find a nice spot so travelled back along the track again and pulled into Cape Palmerston Park.  This park is clean and tidy and offered large sites - decided we would spend 2 nights.

Lots of campers and very windy at Notch Point.

Notch Point

Next morning we awoke to showers of rain which was great for the gardens however not good for us with no vent lid on the shower!  I had to patch up the shower hatch which had broken off during the day and probably lying on the road side somewhere!!

Used insertion rubber, tape and zip ties, did the job and no leaks the next day when we drove through some rain.

Hoped all lasts until we reach Rockhampton as storms and rain forecast!!  Had a drive out to Greenhill township which appears to be a fishing village as could not find any shops.  Continued out to Cape Palmerston National Park and drove along the beach, which is very exposed and very windy when we visited. 

Had another few showers this morning before we departed and huge black clouds hung over where we were heading.  Encountered very heavy rain before stopping at Flaggy Rock Cafe for coffee. 

Flaggy Rock Cafe

Stopped for lunch at Yaamba Pub (good old Aussie Pub with friendly Publican) then sat in the Van for an hour or so as had advised the owners of our next house sit we would arrive late afternoon.  Had a thunderstorm with all the noise however very little rain.  Lynn and Tony (house owners) had asked us to bring rain as it was desperately needed (as in a lot of places).  Arrived at Rockyview and parked up van as we will be living in the home for the next 2 months.  Lovely home on a hill with beautiful views albeit overlooking very dry, brown bushland.

Oakey Oasis

As you drive down the hill you are greeted with this nice view.

After morning coffee with Brent, Karen and the May family we left Tinaroo just in time to stop for lunch at the Tolga Pub only 15 km down the road!. We then drove to Oakey Oasis where we spent the long week-end catching up with Jim and Wendy plus meeting new people celebrating a Reunion of their club.

The recreation room over looks the lagoon with camping behind.

The water in the lagoon was very low.

From the top of the hill looking back along Oakey Valley

Showers with a view

You can just see the equipment being used to form a new dam at the bottom of the property.