After my Sapphire Sojourn of a couple of good months and my visit to Stephen and family in Hervey Bay which lasted two weeks, I am now back on the road and heading south. Tonight I am at Kumbia for a much needed shower, and doing some washing.
This poor town, there's not much left of it, café gone, gift/craft shop gone, lots of empty buildings. After my shower Daisy and I walked up to the butcher to get her some bones. What a lovely man, he cut them up small for me then wouldn't charge me for the bones. Daisy and I were both very happy.
Heading further south tomorrow and meeting up with a friend on Sunday at Lightening Ridge. I met Cheryl in Sapphire and we have kept in touch. She is travelling with her two Staffy dogs Mother and son, Gemma and Mack. Daisy adores them and thinks they are her family. Gemma keeps her in line like a mumma should.
We will be heading inland south west taking in Bourke and down to Broken Hill, Silverton before crossing into Vic at Mildura.
How Much Can One Family Take: Stephen and Jacinta and the kids are going through a terrible time at the moment. Jacinta, having lost her dad in a flying accident just 3 yrs ago just out of Bundaberg aged in his 50s, is now going through losing her mum aged 55 to cancer. She has been through all the usual Chemo and Radiation. Since the beginning of the year Jacinta has been run of her feet between Gladstone, Hervey Bay and Brisbane. Stephen has been left to manage the household which he has done very well, cooking the meals, doing all the washing, sorting the kids to get to school and after school activities.
Although the doctor gave Jacinta's mum a short time I fear this might be shortened as she goes down hill very fast. She is now living with Stephen and Jacinta and Jacinta is now her mums full time carer. When I first met her mum only this year, she was a vivacious 55 year old riding a Harley Davidson as all the family have done for years. Now she is slowly getting around with a walker and needing to be picked up off the floor when she falls.
How can this happen, it's cruel and to lose both parents in their 50s is so sad for 3 young families.
To top it all off on Monday night they had to call an ambulance to Stephen whose leg sprung a leak once again and was bleeding all over the bathroom. They managed to stop the bleeding this time without a trip to hospital, which happened only a few months ago. He now has an appointment with a vascular surgeon in Bundy to see about having that vein stripped.
Then Jacinta came down with a very sore hip and couldn't walk very well, in so much pain. I thought it might be sciatica but it turned out she had all but dislocated her hip some how. Has been getting it fixed and on bed rest with lots of painkillers.
I did what I could while I was there and looked after her mum for the weekend just gone so they could have a break and fun as a family out at a friends farm, riding motorbikes, horses and having BBQs.
As soon as I left all this other stuff happened but I was told not to worry, her brother came down during the week from Gladstone for a few days to help her get their mums affairs in order and her sister in law has arrived today for the weekend to lend a hand.
I know this is longwinded but I haven't up dated for a while so that's where we are up to now.
Evie n Rhys said
10:55 PM Oct 9, 2015
Life can be so unkind sometimes Marg. I agree, you do wonder as my mum used to say "if you killed a chinaman". I hope their life becomes brighter very soon. Hope to see you in the not too distant future.
Cheers
Tess
wendyv said
11:39 AM Oct 11, 2015
Hope you have time to have a good look around Lightning Ridge. I think it is a great place, though might be getting a bit hot now. The car door tours are worth doing - you can buy a guide to these at the Visitor Centre for about $2. Also well worth driving out to the Grawin area - you can camp behind the Club in the Scrub out there - those fields (Grawin, Glengarry, Sheepyard Flat) are like "old" Lightning Ridge used to be.
We were up in those parts in May and again in July/August - details of those trips are on my blog.
We found the drive between Bourke and LR, through Brewarrina, very pleasant - but it was cooler. Also raining quite heavily! Did not stay at Brewarrina, but would next time.
If you want a break between Cobar and Broken Hill that offers a bit more than a free camp does, highly recommend Warrawong on Darling - about 3kms east of Wilcannia. Secure. Not cheap. Great amenities. great walk area off lead for dogs, around the billabong. Happy hour round a fire pit, campers kitchen. Really peaceful.
Sorry to read of all the family's hassles.
Have you kept the place on the sapphire fields to "winter" at?
Happywanderer said
12:45 PM Oct 11, 2015
Thanks for all that info Wendy. Very handy. Didn't know about a lot of it except the car doors tours.
Yes. I will be back up in Sapphire in March I hope. Looking forward to it already.
wendyv said
04:54 PM Oct 11, 2015
You free camping or caravan park in LR?
If caravan park, recommend the Opal - within walk distance to Bore Baths. Will mind Daisy if you going on any of the tours etc. Very dog friendly and modern place. All drive through sites.
-- Edited by wendyv on Sunday 11th of October 2015 04:57:03 PM
Happywanderer said
09:57 PM Oct 11, 2015
Hi Wendy, We are parked out at the Big Emu, Stanley. Going out to Grawin etc., tomorrow to do some fossicking. Thanks for the info. Staying overnight.
Glenelg said
08:15 AM Oct 19, 2015
Have you been working your block Marg up in Sapphire .
After my Sapphire Sojourn of a couple of good months and my visit to Stephen and family in Hervey Bay which lasted two weeks, I am now back on the road and heading south. Tonight I am at Kumbia for a much needed shower, and doing some washing.
This poor town, there's not much left of it, café gone, gift/craft shop gone, lots of empty buildings. After my shower Daisy and I walked up to the butcher to get her some bones. What a lovely man, he cut them up small for me then wouldn't charge me for the bones. Daisy and I were both very happy.
Heading further south tomorrow and meeting up with a friend on Sunday at Lightening Ridge. I met Cheryl in Sapphire and we have kept in touch. She is travelling with her two Staffy dogs Mother and son, Gemma and Mack. Daisy adores them and thinks they are her family. Gemma keeps her in line like a mumma should.
We will be heading inland south west taking in Bourke and down to Broken Hill, Silverton before crossing into Vic at Mildura.
How Much Can One Family Take: Stephen and Jacinta and the kids are going through a terrible time at the moment. Jacinta, having lost her dad in a flying accident just 3 yrs ago just out of Bundaberg aged in his 50s, is now going through losing her mum aged 55 to cancer. She has been through all the usual Chemo and Radiation. Since the beginning of the year Jacinta has been run of her feet between Gladstone, Hervey Bay and Brisbane. Stephen has been left to manage the household which he has done very well, cooking the meals, doing all the washing, sorting the kids to get to school and after school activities.
Although the doctor gave Jacinta's mum a short time I fear this might be shortened as she goes down hill very fast. She is now living with Stephen and Jacinta and Jacinta is now her mums full time carer. When I first met her mum only this year, she was a vivacious 55 year old riding a Harley Davidson as all the family have done for years. Now she is slowly getting around with a walker and needing to be picked up off the floor when she falls.
How can this happen, it's cruel and to lose both parents in their 50s is so sad for 3 young families.
To top it all off on Monday night they had to call an ambulance to Stephen whose leg sprung a leak once again and was bleeding all over the bathroom. They managed to stop the bleeding this time without a trip to hospital, which happened only a few months ago. He now has an appointment with a vascular surgeon in Bundy to see about having that vein stripped.
Then Jacinta came down with a very sore hip and couldn't walk very well, in so much pain. I thought it might be sciatica but it turned out she had all but dislocated her hip some how. Has been getting it fixed and on bed rest with lots of painkillers.
I did what I could while I was there and looked after her mum for the weekend just gone so they could have a break and fun as a family out at a friends farm, riding motorbikes, horses and having BBQs.
As soon as I left all this other stuff happened but I was told not to worry, her brother came down during the week from Gladstone for a few days to help her get their mums affairs in order and her sister in law has arrived today for the weekend to lend a hand.
I know this is longwinded but I haven't up dated for a while so that's where we are up to now.
Cheers
Tess
We were up in those parts in May and again in July/August - details of those trips are on my blog.
We found the drive between Bourke and LR, through Brewarrina, very pleasant - but it was cooler. Also raining quite heavily! Did not stay at Brewarrina, but would next time.
If you want a break between Cobar and Broken Hill that offers a bit more than a free camp does, highly recommend Warrawong on Darling - about 3kms east of Wilcannia. Secure. Not cheap. Great amenities. great walk area off lead for dogs, around the billabong. Happy hour round a fire pit, campers kitchen. Really peaceful.
Sorry to read of all the family's hassles.
Have you kept the place on the sapphire fields to "winter" at?
Thanks for all that info Wendy. Very handy. Didn't know about a lot of it except the car doors tours.
Yes. I will be back up in Sapphire in March I hope. Looking forward to it already.
You free camping or caravan park in LR?
If caravan park, recommend the Opal - within walk distance to Bore Baths. Will mind Daisy if you going on any of the tours etc. Very dog friendly and modern place. All drive through sites.
-- Edited by wendyv on Sunday 11th of October 2015 04:57:03 PM
Hi Wendy, We are parked out at the Big Emu, Stanley. Going out to Grawin etc., tomorrow to do some fossicking. Thanks for the info. Staying overnight.
yes Dave. Am heading south for the summer now.