Arrived at Bushy Parker Reserve at Rollingstone last Tuesday and will stay here until Monday morning before the Ranger comes to check rego numbers. Have been here many times now and no longer go exploring, the weather has been poor it rained all day yesterday Friday but is clearing today.
Have had a visitor from the grey Nomad's forum Frank (KFT) he is staying at the Big4 Caravan park in Rollingston and called in after a shopping expedition further south. Another surprise was seeing Pearl the lady who I met at Wuruma Dam who I was very impressed with and wrote up on the blog, she was selling her jams and preserves from the van.
She had not set up camp but was on her way to see friends in Ingham and decided to see if she could make a few sales. She sold over $100 worth pf jams and all for charity, she has friends who supply her fruits in season and she transfers them into jams when at home. This is the link from my previous report http://yeoeleven.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/more-at-wuruma-dam.html
Otherwise not much is happening, have made lots of friends from the neighbours and one in particular Bob and Lynne who have a Mazda 3500 series bus towing a Suzuki 4WD. For all the extra expense and fiddle they have not used it much but are looking for work and hopefully will use it then. I am having second thoughts about towing a car but not about changing the motor so the saving up in still ongoing.
I expect to take a couple of weeks to get to Townsville and will update this post as I go. John
Dougwe said
01:20 PM Aug 16, 2014
Sounds good John oh, and warm. Cold down here in Penrith near Sydney mate but not complaining as I expected this.
yeoeleven said
02:47 PM Aug 16, 2014
Dougwe wrote:
Sounds good John oh, and warm. Cold down here in Penrith near Sydney mate but not complaining as I expected this.
No problem John, I had my share of the tropics so time for others to lap it up.
I'm warm enough in the tug and the den so all's good.
GaryKelly said
04:25 PM Aug 16, 2014
Great setup you have there, John. Pity about the rainy weather tho. It's raining here in Taree too. Thanks for the update!
barrie said
06:23 PM Aug 16, 2014
The jam lady was at moura 4 weeks ago and we brought jam from her ,must say it tastes beaut
yeoeleven said
04:21 PM Aug 18, 2014
Monday morning and I left Bushy Parker Reserve as planned, bought petrol did some shopping and headed for Balgal Beach via the opp shop, am down to my last book. Didn't camp here on the way north because it is small and there were three vehicles to find places for but just for the coaster it was easier. Still had to wait for some to leave and I was second in the queue and was camped after half an hour.
Today there was a ceremony next to my bus. The Vietnam Veteran's Day Service from the Rollingston Subbranch RSL. Just was set up and a member called round to every site telling us of the imminent ceremony. It was a short but moving ceremony and I sat on one of the chairs provided and was taken back in time remembering my mate Bob who served as a "tunnel rat" and came home with few physical scars but huge mental ones.
I took photos last time I camped here and reported my experiences
Monday morning and I left Bushy Parker Reserve as planned, bought petrol did some shopping and headed for Balgal Beach via the opp shop, am down to my last book. Didn't camp here on the way north because it is small and there were three vehicles to find places for but just for the coaster it was easier. Still had to wait for some to leave and I was second in the queue and was camped after half an hour.
Lucky that they didn't rort the system and decide to stay until early Thursday
FrednCaz said
07:23 AM Aug 19, 2014
ParamountCruiser wrote:
yeoeleven wrote:
Monday morning and I left Bushy Parker Reserve as planned, bought petrol did some shopping and headed for Balgal Beach via the opp shop, am down to my last book. Didn't camp here on the way north because it is small and there were three vehicles to find places for but just for the coaster it was easier. Still had to wait for some to leave and I was second in the queue and was camped after half an hour.
Lucky that they didn't rort the system and decide to stay until early Thursday
^^^ Where is the dislike button, like a dog on a bone, just want give up...
Dougwe said
03:29 PM Aug 19, 2014
Good for you John, enjoy your time there.
roadtourer said
01:16 PM Aug 20, 2014
What a beautiful ceremony to attend i would of been a bumbling mess with complete respect to all. And can i have your temperature lol Gorgeous photo with the trees... oh the serenity. Safe travels John and keep the posts coming.
-- Edited by roadtourer on Wednesday 20th of August 2014 01:16:57 PM
billeeeeeee said
03:44 PM Aug 20, 2014
Howdyeee John,,,, Rain ,,wot rain,,, bout 6 months since we seen any ,,,,, still got your Shadow with you ,,PC,,, stay safe , catch you at Greens ,,, Got 3 other Grey Nomads staying at the Van park , here at Carnarvon,,,,,,, Billeeeeeee...
Howdyeee John ,, We have been at Quobba Point, for 3 days, $16 a day, guess what,,??? we didn't pay, heheheh left before the Ranger came to collect the money,,, PC eat your heart out,,,,,,,,stay excited Nomads,,,,,, Billeeeeeee and no your not seeing things ,,,3 Dunny dumps there......
What a rip off Billeee, but not in your case, it has gone up from $5 pn when I was there in August 2012.
Keep up the posts you are all encouraging me to continue.
John
ParamountCruiser said
04:56 PM Aug 20, 2014
billeeeeeee wrote:
Some people just don't take the hint,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
No they don't do they Billeeeeeeee. They still abuse the free camp facilities provided
Sneaking off without paying, well that's even worse than than overstaying. Not something I'd be proud of but it obviously doesn't worry you
Don't whinge when places like Quobba get closed due to abuse.
jules47 said
05:42 PM Aug 20, 2014
Actually - the ranger at Quobba Point came by every day, never knocked on our door, even though we were home and had the money ready to pay!
We didn't "sneak" away - left early as we had a heap to do in town! And the campers there, many of whom have what can only be called "shacks" won against the council, they are now allowed to stay, and not be pulled down, as the council wanted, but they do have to tidy them up a fair bit, some of them are in bad repair. Apart from spectacular ocean views, not much there - you have to have a chemical toilet to camp there, as the new toilets are for day visitors, apparently. The rubbish bins, though large, are at the start of the camping area, which is about 3k long - quite a walk to dump your rubbish, and this is where there are also three dump points - at $11 per person per night - not very good value at all really. We are paying $30 a night, for two people, with power and water, in town! Single price is $17 per night!
Agreed not good value at $11 pp pn (or $8 pp pn pensioner) compared to $5.50 pn per van when we were there last year.
You obviously knew the cost but still chose to stop there.
You saw the ranger driving through the campground, so you could have approached him to pay your fees but elected not to.
Sorry but your justification for not paying doesn't wash.
No wonder greynomads get labelled as freeloaders around the traps.
jules47 said
06:24 PM Aug 20, 2014
ParamountCruiser wrote:
Agreed not good value at $11 pp pn (or $8 pp pn pensioner) compared to $5.50 pn per van when we were there last year.
You obviously knew the cost but still chose to stop there.
You saw the ranger driving through the campground, so you could have approached him to pay your fees but elected not to.
Sorry but your justification for not paying doesn't wash.
No wonder greynomads get labelled as freeloaders around the traps.
Sorry PC - didn't SEE the ranger at all - was told later in the morning that she had been - we have covers on the front of the motorhome, so couldn't see anyone passing by - if she had knocked on the door - another story!!!! We would have known she was there, and paid our dues, as we do when we stay at a "paying" camp!
Dougwe said
06:27 PM Aug 20, 2014
Goodness me, can't we all just be nice to each other and enjoy the playground. Life is way too short for this petty bickering.
BEEEEEEE (7e's) HAPPY.
jules47 said
08:23 PM Aug 20, 2014
Well said Dougwe - time to stop the bickering - some people have their own ideas, that don't gel with others - let it be!!!
billeeeeeee said
08:27 PM Aug 20, 2014
ParamountCruiser wrote:
Agreed not good value at $11 pp pn (or $8 pp pn pensioner) compared to $5.50 pn per van when we were there last year.
You obviously knew the cost but still chose to stop there.
You saw the ranger driving through the campground, so you could have approached him to pay your fees but elected not to.
Sorry but your justification for not paying doesn't wash.
No wonder greynomads get labelled as freeloaders around the traps.
-- Edited by billeeeeeee on Wednesday 20th of August 2014 09:11:13 PM
Vic41 said
08:57 PM Aug 20, 2014
I stayed at Quobba Station, just a bit further down the same road to the north, a bit dearer but has showers, toilets and drinking water, see;
Arrived at Bushy Parker Reserve at Rollingstone last Tuesday and will stay here until Monday morning before the Ranger comes to check rego numbers. Have been here many times now and no longer go exploring, the weather has been poor it rained all day yesterday Friday but is clearing today.
Have had a visitor from the grey Nomad's forum Frank (KFT) he is staying at the Big4 Caravan park in Rollingston and called in after a shopping expedition further south. Another surprise was seeing Pearl the lady who I met at Wuruma Dam who I was very impressed with and wrote up on the blog, she was selling her jams and preserves from the van.
She had not set up camp but was on her way to see friends in Ingham and decided to see if she could make a few sales. She sold over $100 worth pf jams and all for charity, she has friends who supply her fruits in season and she transfers them into jams when at home. This is the link from my previous report http://yeoeleven.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/more-at-wuruma-dam.html
Otherwise not much is happening, have made lots of friends from the neighbours and one in particular Bob and Lynne who have a Mazda 3500 series bus towing a Suzuki 4WD. For all the extra expense and fiddle they have not used it much but are looking for work and hopefully will use it then. I am having second thoughts about towing a car but not about changing the motor so the saving up in still ongoing.
I expect to take a couple of weeks to get to Townsville and will update this post as I go. John
You know I'm not one to gloat but
I just knew that you would want to know CYA John
I'm warm enough in the tug and the den so all's good.
Monday morning and I left Bushy Parker Reserve as planned, bought petrol did some shopping and headed for Balgal Beach via the opp shop, am down to my last book. Didn't camp here on the way north because it is small and there were three vehicles to find places for but just for the coaster it was easier. Still had to wait for some to leave and I was second in the queue and was camped after half an hour.
Today there was a ceremony next to my bus. The Vietnam Veteran's Day Service from the Rollingston Subbranch RSL. Just was set up and a member called round to every site telling us of the imminent ceremony. It was a short but moving ceremony and I sat on one of the chairs provided and was taken back in time remembering my mate Bob who served as a "tunnel rat" and came home with few physical scars but huge mental ones.
I took photos last time I camped here and reported my experiences
http://yeoeleven.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/balgal-beach-north-of-townsville.html
Plan to stay here until Thursday morning. John
Lucky that they didn't rort the system and decide to stay until early Thursday
^^^ Where is the dislike button, like a dog on a bone, just want give up...
What a beautiful ceremony to attend i would of been a bumbling mess
with complete respect to all.
And can i have your temperature lol
Gorgeous photo with the trees... oh the serenity.
Safe travels John and keep the posts coming.
-- Edited by roadtourer on Wednesday 20th of August 2014 01:16:57 PM
Howdyeee John,,,, Rain ,,wot rain,,, bout 6 months since we seen any ,,,,, still got your Shadow with you ,,PC,,, stay safe , catch you at Greens ,,, Got 3 other Grey Nomads staying at the Van park , here at Carnarvon,,,,,,, Billeeeeeee...
Howdyeee John ,, We have been at Quobba Point, for 3 days, $16 a day, guess what,,??? we didn't pay, heheheh left before the Ranger came to collect the money,,, PC eat your heart out,,,,,,,,stay excited Nomads,,,,,, Billeeeeeee and no your not seeing things ,,,3 Dunny dumps there......
http://yeoeleven.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/on-to-quobba-and-blowholes.html
What a rip off Billeee, but not in your case, it has gone up from $5 pn when I was there in August 2012.
Keep up the posts you are all encouraging me to continue.
John
Some people just don't take the hint,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
No they don't do they Billeeeeeeee. They still abuse the free camp facilities provided
Sneaking off without paying, well that's even worse than than overstaying. Not something I'd be proud of but it obviously doesn't worry you
Don't whinge when places like Quobba get closed due to abuse.
Actually - the ranger at Quobba Point came by every day, never knocked on our door, even though we were home and had the money ready to pay!
We didn't "sneak" away - left early as we had a heap to do in town! And the campers there, many of whom have what can only be called "shacks" won against the council, they are now allowed to stay, and not be pulled down, as the council wanted, but they do have to tidy them up a fair bit, some of them are in bad repair. Apart from spectacular ocean views, not much there - you have to have a chemical toilet to camp there, as the new toilets are for day visitors, apparently. The rubbish bins, though large, are at the start of the camping area, which is about 3k long - quite a walk to dump your rubbish, and this is where there are also three dump points - at $11 per person per night - not very good value at all really. We are paying $30 a night, for two people, with power and water, in town! Single price is $17 per night!
Agreed not good value at $11 pp pn (or $8 pp pn pensioner) compared to $5.50 pn per van when we were there last year.
You obviously knew the cost but still chose to stop there.
You saw the ranger driving through the campground, so you could have approached him to pay your fees but elected not to.
Sorry but your justification for not paying doesn't wash.
No wonder greynomads get labelled as freeloaders around the traps.
Sorry PC - didn't SEE the ranger at all - was told later in the morning that she had been - we have covers on the front of the motorhome, so couldn't see anyone passing by - if she had knocked on the door - another story!!!! We would have known she was there, and paid our dues, as we do when we stay at a "paying" camp!
Goodness me, can't we all just be nice to each other and enjoy the playground. Life is way too short for this petty bickering.
BEEEEEEE (7e's) HAPPY.
-- Edited by billeeeeeee on Wednesday 20th of August 2014 09:11:13 PM
I stayed at Quobba Station, just a bit further down the same road to the north, a bit dearer but has showers, toilets and drinking water, see;
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t57615927/blowholes-camp-area-quobba-station-caravan-park-75-kms-north/
The sign for the Quobba Blowholes camps says $11 per vehicle, not each person, or it was in May when I was there.
(Sorry for the OT John (Yeoeleven) )
-- Edited by Vic41 on Wednesday 20th of August 2014 09:14:43 PM