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michelle62

54 Blog Entries
1 Trip
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Trips:

Travelling around Australia

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Trip around Australia

4/5's of the James Family have been planning to go on a trip around Australia for a number of years. We now have the vehicle which we are having modified and we hope to leave late April 2007



Gladestone

Gladstone, Australia

We walked all around Gladestone which is a very industrial town with Queenslands largest power plant, Aluminium smelters and coal facilities. It has a lovely marina with vast strips of lawn and playgrounds which we spent time at. We keep encountering the Australian Army on our travels as they must be on manouveres so when we join their convoys we feel part of it despite not having the camaflauge. We even saw the American marines at Gladestone which was a surprise but their hair cuts are very distinctive. Off to Rockhampton tonight. We will need to stay at Rockhampton to get our computer fixed so we have booked into the Caravan park on the river for four days.

permalink written by  michelle62 on June 2, 2007 from Gladstone, Australia
from the travel blog: Travelling around Australia
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Not Maryborough again!!!

Bundaberg, Australia

I received a call from the bank early this morning, the bank clerk and myself are now friends, and she advised me that I couldnt complete my business in Bundeberg today or tomorrow because if was the 'Bundy Show' (two days public holidays). So, you guessed it, we were back to Maryborough again to complete the business. Today is Market day in Maryborough so the town had swelled and there were lots of stall which Glenn and the kids could explore while I sorted matters out. I forgot to mention that the last night at Wongi disaster arrived as the laptop died, the inverter died, Rileys watch broke and Cailin's hair tie broke (She likes me to add this when I am giving the litany of disasters). So while I was sorting matters in the bank Glenn was speaking to Dell, and the inverter people working out solutions. This all makes the story even richer, it would be boring if everything always went smoothly. We sadly said good bye to Maryborough and headed for Bundeberg where the focus was not on rum or ginger been but only on the 'thunderberg show' (as Cailin called it). We arrived in time to experience the show with all the usual show gear but also pig races, wood chopping, equestrian events and lots of dust. We had a good time despite Cailin hurting her knee on the slide. After the show we headed out of Bundeberg towards Gin Gin. We were looking for a place to lay our heads and we found this in Sharon which was a natural reserve where we could camp for the night. We played cards mainly hearts while Caitlin played with the faux brats she found in her Show bag.

permalink written by  michelle62 on May 31, 2007 from Bundaberg, Australia
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Not Maryborough again!!!

Maryborough, Australia

We stayed at Wongi as long as we could which was about 1.30pm. By 9.00am we were the sole occupants so it was simply peaceful and luxurious. We did our washing, aired all our bedding, had our first solar showers (the best) and generally basked in the sun. Reluctantly we packed up again and headed to Maryborough to complete our business - unfortunately there was further dramas so we sent some emails and headed just out of Maryborough to camp behind the International Equestrian Centre there. There was only us and one other vehicle so it was very peaceful. The plan was to head to Bundeberg and completed our business there.

permalink written by  michelle62 on May 30, 2007 from Maryborough, Australia
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Maryborough

Maryborough, Australia

We left the busy Gympie for Maryborough. We found a parking area for longer vehicles and started exploring the town. Maryborough celebrates the fact that the author of Mary Poppins lived there for a period of time. I was trying to organise some business matters and was stymied at every turn. We knew that we would be back to Maryborough but we left town about 3.30pm. North of Maryborough approximately 17km we turned off on a very corrugated track for the Wongi State Forest. The bumpy drive was worth the effort as the forest was lovely and the camping grounds excellent. We enjoyed our time here and Glenn wanted to stay another night.

permalink written by  michelle62 on May 29, 2007 from Maryborough, Australia
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On the road again

Gympie, Australia

Off early for our belated Sunday lunch on Monday. We travelled to Gympie which was a pretty town and organised the yearly Gympie Country Music Muster which quite ironically is held in Amamoor State Forest. It is a very hilly town and it put me in mind of Dunedin in NZ. We were able to check out the internet there at the local library and Caitlin found a computer there with educational games so it was a tearful session when we had to leave the library. We had lunch a trendy pub which served very nice food and we were tired and hot and looking for a resting place. Just out of Gympie we stumbled on a park area where some motor homes were already camping- so we joined them. By dusk the park was full with all manner of motor homes, caravans, fifth wheelers and even buses- just like Bourke Street. There was an errant Rooster which ended up wandering into our truck and giving me a big fright. It was a good night there.

permalink written by  michelle62 on May 28, 2007 from Gympie, Australia
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Traffic Jam

Maroochydore, Australia

We didnt make it to Noosa, on the M1 we encountered a horrendous traffic jam due to an accident and we spent ours waiting in the traffic. First available opportunity we headed off and thought we were being clever by taking a back way. Alas, this was the diversion by the road authorities and it had resulted in a second accident further down the line so the traffic wasnt moving anywhere. We pulled off at a lovely beach setting in Maroochydore and thought we would have dinner while we waited for the traffic subside. A number of people joined us waiting out the jam and we had a chat with them and shared coffee with Rodger. The traffic still hadnt subsided by 8.00pm so we decided to stay there the night. It was a gorgeous setting with water, hills, pelicans, fish jumping etc. and quite enjoyable to have our breakfast watching. Off early for Eumundi (do you remember Janine and Julie?)

permalink written by  michelle62 on May 27, 2007 from Maroochydore, Australia
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Mobile phone range again

Gympie, Australia

We loved the state forest so much we stayed another night. Caitlin was in heaven and we were very relaxed. It rained alot and we could only do some small walks but noticed the difference between the forests we are used to and these. The forest was rain forest with lots of Stag horns and strong roots coming down from the forest canopy - very beautiful. There is also a stinging tree which when you brush it leaves a silica fine prickle which results in extreme pain which lasts for a month and is magnified when you get the area wet. Obviously we stayed away from this tree. We said goodbye to Caitlins adopted family and we moved off to Gympie for lunch.

permalink written by  michelle62 on May 27, 2007 from Gympie, Australia
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Lets stay another night

Amamoor, Australia

We loved it so much that we stayed a second night, still having problems dragging Caitlin from the other family. They are planning to travel for the husband's long service leave so we may even see them again as we have exchanged details. It rained most of the day but it didnt matter because it was so lovely and very peaceful. We better start moving soon if we want to get all the way around Australia though.

permalink written by  michelle62 on May 27, 2007 from Amamoor, Australia
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Beautiful Eumundi

Eumundi, Australia

We found our way to Eumundi which is a beautiful market set amongst heritage listed fig trees. There is heaps of good food and lovely crafts and it weaves amongst the trees and timber buildings. I loved it and Glenn was in heaven as there was lots of healthy (vegetarian) food which he sampled extensively. We bought Riley a new hat which should feature in some of the upcoming photographs as it appears that he cant take it off his head unless to go to bed. It is a cute akubra and he looks like 'Joey Jeremiah'. From Eumundi we headed to the state forest at Noosa Heads to camp but alas after driving there it was a no camping zone so we kept going. I found a state forest not far away 20km south west of Gympie so we headed for there. We arrived at Amamoor State Forest about 2.00pm and set up camp. Caitilin immediately found a family across from us which she joined. That meant she dragged her chair over and ate her meals and played there the whole time. I was a struggle to get her back to our site but I guess they had more attractions as they had 2 young girls and a young son and they played chasie, fairy games and off course brats.

permalink written by  michelle62 on May 26, 2007 from Eumundi, Australia
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Dream World

Coomera, Australia

We had a little trouble finding the Biggera Waters Post office to get our mail which Jacinta had kindly forwarded to us. We found no Post office in Biggera Waters and were directed to Runaway Bay as this was where the Biggera Waters Post Office is ( I was starting to get worried). This was not the Biggera Waters Post office and instead we had to go to the next suburb which was where the Biggera Waters Post office, so an hour later we had the mail (Thanks Cinta) and were off to Dreamworld. The park was very quiet which made it easier to get to all the rides and we certainly did this and we also attended Brynley's Church and bought him some souvenirs. It was a good day and we were tired by 4.00pm when we left. We were going to travel post Brisbane and camp but unfortunately hit peak hour and were caught in the wrong lanes, couldnt change lanes, and we did a U turn and tried to retrace our steps. We eventually left Brisbane and I was tired and cross(you get the picture) and it was 8.00pm when I gratefully saw a Truck Food Stop and we drove in. We camped there for the night and it was a good facility with bbq, toilets, showers and laundry facilities and McDonalds, KFC etc. what more could you ask for. We woke after a noisy sleep and had breakfast at McDonalds. I met my second cousin Tony Baker who now lives on the Sunshine Coast and carts fruit between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. After Breakfast we travelled to Caloundra and stopped at the beach for a solid school session. When all the work was completed we headed to Noosa.

permalink written by  michelle62 on May 24, 2007 from Coomera, Australia
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