G'day and welcome to my September update. Sit back with a cuppa or something stronger, depending on the time of day I spose, enjoy anyway. The drink that is and hopefully the update.

I will start of with the weather report as last month but still don't have the map behind me or the thingy in my hand sorry. The month started with low to mid-teens overnight and high 20's during the day with a few even 30+ and light to moderate winds varying in directions and those squiggly lines on the map, well they were not too close together so not a lot a of wind before I left Townsville then things changed a little with the nights with temps ranging from -0c to low teens over night and low teens to high 20's during the day and the squiggly lines were close together on a few days so stronger winds rolling around. 

That done and dusted, the month also started with the arrival of my new mattress. You might remember last month I had ordered a new one due to aches and pains, actually, more pain than aches really. Well it was put in place and the first night was a great success, very comfy and I even had room to move around a little as I went from a caravan single bed to a full size King Single, that made rolling over etc so much easier and I tell you that for free.

I also talked about being very aware of the aluminium Tent ATM. Mid-month found me leaving Townsville via the weigh bridge mentioned above but unfortunately due to a bush fire in that area two nights before, there was no power, as power lines were destroyed so I missed out, bugga, but at least no houses or people were damaged so I don't mind at all missing out. I decided that I will do weights and measures at a later date.

So, after a few months with family I started heading south ready for summer. Where am I? I hear someone down the back ask. Well after a one night stand in Home Hill, about one and a half hours south of Townsville behind the shops and beside the railway line and a lovey meal in the middle pub across the road that night, then another night at Waverly Creek Rest Area, about one and a half hours north of Rockhampton on the Bruce Hwy and a one night stand in the GinGin Showground, sort of north west of Hervey Bay area. Not long after I arrived there, I was told of a bad fire on the Bruce Hwy only 10km north if GinGin, it must have just started after I went through the area. We were all on standby in case we had to evacuate but the wind pushed it north not south so all good, for us anyway.

The next morning, I checked the fires and any road closures further south and all good, to make a move through those areas anyway. I left GinGin and headed south along the Bruce Hwy then across the gateway Bridge in Brisbane (that's a frightening looking bridge coming from the north as it is high) and further south finding bumper to bumper traffic along the Gold Coast Hwy (M1) until Tweed Heads area, a long slow and hard drive indeed. After getting through all that mess and roadworks I found myself in Byron Bay. Its like the Collie is set on auto pilot with Byron, so because I was already there and didn't want to waste fuel, I stayed there for five nights, just cos I could and I do like there as well. As soon as I got out of the car this relaxed feeling came over me, must be something in the air me thinks :) I don't recommend the place I stay at all really but does me as I don't need much. Its one of only a few places that actually charge per person so as a solo traveller works well for me but gets a little on the exe side with a couple or more. Seems to be a lot more rules these days with signs everywhere, don't do this and don't do that, don't park here and don't park there. No noise after 10pm (Yeh Sure) That will be the day in this place as to the rules as no one enforces them anyway. The biggest rule is no longer than 28 days stay allowed but I see people there that have been there as long as I have been going there and that's 7 years now. What a joke!

My time in Byron Bay was spent enjoying the area in general and sitting down the surf beach, I love surf beaches and watching the waves roll in. I also got chatting to some locals and found them good to talk to and if you are wondering, no I didn't see Chris (Hemsworth) or for that matter Matt (Damon), sorry. It would have been good to chat with both of them though as I like both their acting.

The time came to leave Byron bay so headed south along the Pacific Hwy with a light to moderate NNE wind following me and still no evidence of fires to the west as no smoke around. I also had some light rain on a couple of occasions but didn't cause any problems. After about 6 hours or so I arrived at my next destination of Bulahdelah.

I had decided to stay a couple of nights at the local bowls club so set up on an unpowered spot of my choice then into the clubhouse I trotted to pay the some of $10 for two nights. You can stay here for $5 per person per night and a total of three nights unpowered or there are a few powered sites for $10 per person per night but they have an ongoing special of $20 for three nights, again, the maximum nights allowed. The showgrounds are right next door for a donation of $18 per night unpowered per site you can also stay there.

I'm not sure how long these two great places will stay like this as I heard someone talking about a new caravan park being built close by so the owners will probably whinge and complain to council about business being taken away from them when they open. You see, caravan parks hate competition of any sort and think they are the only ones with a business in town. Don't worry about them taking business away from motels or similar due to the ever-increasing cabins appearing in caravan parks these days. That all said I didn't actually see any building etc around town so not sure if the information is accurate.  Don't get me wrong, I use caravan parks and all other sorts of places to set up the aluminium tent. 

Gee, I better get down from the soap box!

Moving right along and away from said soap box, I left Bulahdelah early on a Sunday and headed further south along the Pacific Hwy and at 9.00am, a nice easy stress-free run through Sydney via Pennant Hills then onto the Hume Hwy and down to the Jugiong Show Ground, not far west of Yass NSW. After a one-night stand, I left there heading to my final destination.

OK already, where are you then I hear you say?  Down on the farm again is where. Yep, I am now set up on my very good friends, Garry and Roxanne's farm about 7km out of down town Young NSW, about a two-hour drive north of Wagga Wagga NSW.

Oh! The mattress hasn't stopped the pain so bugga that. One med I am on and have been for some time now was changed to see if that might have been the problem so time will tell with that. Something had to be tried. I see the Specialist again soon so I will see what she thinks, she is aware of it already though as I wouldn't change the med without her approval. I will more than likely have a few more tests etc to see what is causing all the pain, oh well, these things happen out here in the playground as well as all the good things.

Very quickly, after my arrival in Young and setting up the Aluminium tent etc I made an appointment to see the GP about the Pain but didn't last the distance and ended up in Emergency at the Young Hospital. After some x-rays etc they let me go with strong pain killers and a referral for an Ultrasound so time will now tell. As you read this I will more than likely be with or have seen the GP for follow ups and who knows what. I must be falling apart me thinks. 

The trip down from Townsville was very smoky indeed early on in the trip but settled quickly as there were bad fires in a couple of nearby locations as I moved down the Bruce Hwy, including around the Sunshine Coast area and inland from the Gold Coast, heaps of road works all over the place but apart from that, a good run down really. One cowboy truckie was abusing everyone that came near him, including me even though I was able to pull over to allow him past, probably frustration due to hold ups. It was the first time in 7 years a truckie abused me. He was the only one though and the other truckies were appreciative of my help to get them past me as quickly and safely as possible. I always got a thanks mate after they were past and now in front of me. I always work in with these hard-working guys and gals as they have heavy demanding schedules.

I spent each morning checking Apps on my phone for any fires or road closures so I didnt get in the way or held up. If there was a problem, I could adjust my daily travel plan before heading off. It all worked too and I got through all areas without any problems so a happy camper am I.  

With all that said it brings this update to a close (I heard that down the back) so until next time Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

OH! I hope you enjoyed whatever drink you decided on while reading this.

DOUG  

Hope all goes well Doug.