Howdy all,

 

Phew! Here I am and another week done and dusted and it's now August already, where did all the previous months go? Can someone tell me where home is, I forget as I have been away most of those months. 

 

Well, after leaving Townsville in my rear view mirror and quite a few hold ups along the way I found myself arriving at the 'Alternative' Camp in St Lawrence Queensland,  190km north of Rockhapton, now I stayed there about 10 weeks ago and put $5.00 in the box for the night then a $1 coin in the slot for a nice hot shower. On my arrival This time I got talking to a few happy campers and they said no, you don't have to pay to stay, the area is supplied by the local Council free of charge. So I had myself a free night. 

 

The camp area has open space, hot showers for $1 x 3 minutes, drinking water for the use of, and covered BBQ's, now come on, what more do you want, who said you don't get anything for nothing these days? Thankyou to the suppliers of this great camp. I must warn you though if you camp near the Amenities Block there is a pump/motor that goes non stop, so just be aware of that, the camp area can also get very crowded most nights.

 

During Monday night and early Tuesday morning we had some light rain and the first I have actually seen for over 3 months so shouldn't complain. A sign of things ahead probably. The rain caused people to scatter around 4am to quickly bring in awnings and various other things in readiness for their departure, I had to fold the roof of the Avan down in light rain as well, oh well the price of freedom in the playground I spose.

 

On my  journey Tuesday along the Bruce and not long after leaving St Lawrence I decided to by pass everything and make a V line strait to Hervey Bay. I often make decisions that quick, I did this for a reason. You see Up until I retired last year I had the longest and best holiday at Urangan, Hervey Bay, 41 years ago so decided to retrace my footsteps and take a trip down memory lane. I arrived at Urangan and pulled up in front of the  'Windmill Caravan Park'  where I stayed those many moons back and yep they had one site left for 2 nights only so I grabbed it. Now while checking in I was telling the young lady at reception why I was there and she had heard of my friends name. It turns out he and his wife had the park for 30 odd years and the name is well known around town. I also got a very nice discount Thank you very much, 2 nights for price of 1 night. No complaints from this happy camper.

 

Wednesday arrived and turned out nice, warm and sunny with very little wind, so nice day. I met up with Cruising Cruze, John and his wife Marjoleine, another nice couple and a nice chat. Unfortunately their neighbour across the road wasn't nice at all, you see, while we were sitting out the front and chatting over a cup of tea, yes tea, the bloke across the road backed out his driveway right into the front right corner of my car.

 

I was lucky as only have two small cracks on the head light but still works fine and the bull bar got slightly pushed in a bit, nothing all that serious so not getting stressed over it. My people rang My Insurance people and all is in place to wait until my return home over the next couple of weeks. The other car wasn't as lucky, I reckon $3,000.00 +  might see things fixed, his problem not mine.  I just love my bull bar.

 

Now earlier in the day I did the sight seeing I wanted and managed to find and called in on that friend I and another mate came here 41 years ago to visit. I wish I hadn't now as his health is that poor it has effected his physical appearance and not just the 41 years so now I have that to remember him by and not my memory of many moons back. I don't think I will do that again. He did remember me though so that was good.

 

As far as the sight seeing goes, well I spose I expected to see the result of 41 years, the place is huge and they even have a Bunnings Store and all those other big retailers. All the little holiday shacks have turned into huge apartment buildings and huge houses.  That's progress for you.

 

Thursday came up over the horizon and I was on my way at 6.30am and had already decided that due to the mishap I would head inland then down the Newell Hwy and home. However, when I got to the turn off approximately 12km north of Gympie I changed my mind and said bugger it I am going down to Byron Bay, why I hear you ask, well just cos I can.

 

I have always wanted to go to Byron Bay and I did have it in mind for the southern return part of this adventure anyway. The minor damage to the tug can wait as I said earlier. So I just sailed on by The Sunshine and Gold Coast's as my mate on the GC was not answering his phone for 3 days so I reckon he and his wife have slipped overseas as they do about midyear every year.

 

I arrived in Byron around 1.30pm and came across a nice CV Park on the way in so stopped and checked it out, WOW is about the best word to describe it, not modern and definitely  not the flashiest park but really nice  'Belongil Fields' Conference and Holiday Centre, located on Ewingsdale Rd, Byron Bay is a little ripper it has no bells and whistles either and  I tell you that for free, it only coast me $15.00 per night for a powered site so decided to stay put for 4 nights at that rate. Now I had plenty of time to check out all the happenings around Byron.

 

I spent some time looking around and had some chill out time as there was a sign as you came into town saying to "Chill Out" so I did. I will include all the goss form around Byron Bay and surrounds in my next update.

 

The weather gods were really kind to me yet again while in Hervey Bay and so far here in Byron Bay, beautiful warmish days in the low to mid 20's  although it did feel a tad warmer to me and ranged 8 -  13 over night.  Really the only bad weather was mainly when travelling. No complaints from me. 

 

Just very quickly, I here a lot about how bad the Bruce Hwy is, well I have now travelled from Cardwell in the north to the NSW boarder, most of it towing the Avan now and yes there is heaps of road works and some bad sections but that is everywhere anyway, I travel on worse major highways in South West Gippsland daily when home so I personally am not complaining about the Bruce Hwy so don't let it stop you using it. My opinion anyway. 

 

I have included a few pics from Hervey Bay this update. Byron Bay pics next update.

 

Ok enough gable for now so until next time,