Half Century

Last month we did the EKKA family day, plenty thought we were crazy testing the massive show day crowds, but we had a terrific day. We spent the whole day there, from 11.00am until 8.30pm, needless to say everyone was spent when we made our way onto the train for the ride back to Toowong.

Some highlights were the animal displays, the chooks were very impressive. I was particularly impressed with this Leghorn.

Displays included the usual cleaning products, tools and gadgets that impress at the show but if purchased spend the rest of eternity sitting in the bottom of junk draws and cupboards, never used. We did not bother with any of them. The girls had promised to do all sorts of jobs and the like to get some money to buy show bags, if my memory serves me correctly and if the girls keep their promises we won't have to do any housework for the next three months...

The fireworks display was amazing, particularly the quad bikes that towed kites around with fireworks attached, it was a sight to behold.

The police display was good and included some advice on internet and credit card safety. The poor fellow who was looking after his Lowline cattle didn't fare too well when this big boy dropped his rather large rump on him. From all accounts he made a full recovery, it pays to keep clear of bulls bums.

 

Netball season is very quickly drawing to a close, Emily's team has made the Grand Final next week and will need to be at their very best to take home the big trophy. Rosie's team do not play finals, but she has had a very good year and her improvement has been incredible.

Rosie the defender

Emily the defender

Directing traffic

Karren and me at the CCA One State Dinner

 Karren and I spent an evening together at the CCA annual One State Dinner, we had a lovely time and I also got the chance to catch up with a mate from school whom I hadn't seen in 26 or so years. We had a ripper night, and Karren looked lovely.

Yesterday we went canoeing on the Brisbane river, the weather was perfect and the girls were excited about having a paddle. We made our way to the twin bridges reserve, however I was sidetracked to help extract a bogged fisherman before we could launch the canoes. Once the Commodore was retrieved from the riverstones we got he canoes in the water and headed towards Lowood bend.

Emily and Karren get going

Rosie and I cruising the river

Rosie and I shared a canoe, however the difference in weight between us meant the canoe was very unstable, we made a change and swapped Emily into my canoe and things were much more sea worthy. After a couple of hours paddling along we headed back to the launch and made our way home having worn out some muscles we hadn't used in years.

The photo directly below shows exactly how powerful and large the 2011 floods were that devastated the Brisbane Valley. If you look closely you can see two things that look out of place. Firstly there is a log perched horizontally in the tree on the left that was deposited by the flood water and would have been close to the high water mark. The second thing in the centre of the photo, was an incredibly large tree that was uprooted then turned upside down and lodged roots facing the sky in a tree. There are still what look like wool bales, pallets and large plastic bags stuck up very high in the trees along the stretch of the river we canoed along.

Karren and Rosie.

 I will be heading back in the next month or so with Dad to see if we can catch some Bass.

Beach Camping on Straddie

What a fantastic way to spend a few days of the school holidays! I have to say I had a few trepidations about camping on the beach - I have never been a fan of getting sand in each and every nook and cranny! Thankfully all the benefits of beach camping out weigh a little bit of sand in uncomfortable places.

We had to do a fair bit of prep work, making sure we had all the camping gear and sundry equipment to make our three nights a little bit comfortable.

Booking the camp site, beach permit and ferry trip couldn't be easier, a quick visit to Straddie Camping to book a site and beach permit, then to book the Big Red Cat. We camped with our dog Charlie and wanted the convenience of a camp toilet so Flinders Beach was the obvious choice. Main Beach is also dog friendly but without toilets it was crossed off the list at the ladies request. A permit is required to drive on the beaches and the camp sites and Flinders and Main Beach can only be accessed by 4wd via the beach.

Charlie enjoyed the Ferry ride.

On our way to Straddie!

The ferry ride across was uneventful and the 12km journey is usually completed in just under an hour.

Plenty of room this trip

Once on Straddie we made straight for Flinders Beach to grab a mint camp site. Before entering the beach the tyre pressures were lowered to 22psi to make beach travel a little easier on the Hilux. There are nine camp areas on Flinders, with composting toilets provided at areas three, five and seven. We travelled along the beach to area three and after a couple of minutes selected a quiet site in area two just a short stroll from the toilet, but far enough so there were no issues with wafting aromas from said toilet facility.

Our camp at area two.

View towards the beach from camp.

Sunset on Flinders Beach.

The creek next to our camp at the entrance to area two.

Sunset from my seat next to the campfire.

Once camp was set up we headed to Point Lookout to get some supplies that we had forgotten to pack. Our first night was spent around the fire roasting marshmallows and cooking camp oven damper. The damper was beautiful when eaten hot from the oven with copious amounts of strawberry jam! After stuffing ourselves with damper we told each other scary campfire stories, thankfully the girls did not have nightmares that night.

Camp oven damper.

An early morning walk along the beach the following morning was required so that Karren could get her coffee fix from the nearest Cafe, and the walk was lovely! Made even more so by the wildlife along the beach, particularly Pelicans and Dolphins.

Mr Percival?

Rosie loved to explore and do some beach combing.

That is close enough thanks Rosie.

In the afternoon we did some 4wding and had a good look around the accessible parts of the island. A 4wd track traverses the island from the junction of Beehive road and the East Coast road, this track heads in a southerly direction and ends at Tazi road not far from the car park for the Blue Lakes walk. A couple of kilometres along the track is Tripod lookout which gives panoramic views of the island including Moreton Island to the North and Brisbane to the west.

Tripod Lookout

Views towards Brisbane.

Once we reached Tazi road we made our way to Main beach then drove south down the beach as far as I was game without having a travel buddy, the sand towards the southern end becomes very soft, particularly as the tide gets closer to its peak. You are not allowed to drive on Main Beach two hours either side of high tide and one hour either side of high tide on Flinders Beach.

We turned and drove north again to drive Fishermans track which heads North towards Point Lookout from Tazi road, parallel with the beach. After crossing six rather large water holes, the deepest a little too deep for my liking, I stopped at the start of the seventh water hole. Something just didn't look right, so I got out and walked into the waterhole, after a few short but cold metres the water was at that nasty height where water reaches the nether regions. Whilst this is uncomfortable for blokes, it is certain death for a 4wd with a safe wading depth of only 700mm. I am so thankful I stopped to check the depth as to go further would have drowned the Hilux. We turned and went back to Main Beach then travelled the beach back to Point Lookout.

Timing was certainly everything, after a kilometre or so we saw two Hump Back Whales traveling north about 300m off shore. We drove to Point Lookout and headed to North Gorge to get a better view of the whales as they passed. We saw numerous whales, and a dozen or so Dolphin hunting bait fish.

There is a whale there somewhere!

Dolphins

Once back at camp we settled around the fire and enjoyed old fashioned jaffles cooked on the open fire. It was a brisk night and the girls wrapped themselves in blankets to keep the cold at bay.

Only small cooking fires allowed.

Cold enough for Charlie to sit by the fire.

All wrapped up and warm

The third morning we went to the amenities block at Adder Rock camp ground and enjoyed a warm shower. The next thing on the agenda was to do the walk to Blue Lake for a look around. The quickest route from Adder Rock was to take Main Beach south to Tazi road then head west to the Blue Lake car park. I wasn't concentrating when I turned off the beach towards the exit onto Tazi road, lost momentum and got bogged. I let more air out of the tyres, dug out around the tyres and the underbelly of the Hilux but couldn't get out. Thankfully I was able to get a snatch from another 4wd and in about 10 minutes we were out. Not before however, the obligatory smart arse know it all prick offered his f#@k-wittery on all things 4wd to Karren while I was trying to get the Hilux unstuck. Oh you should drop your tyre pressure, you should dig it out, etc. etc. etc.

Once the Hilux was out he started on me, your tyres should be at 18psi and you would have got out, he says in a smug smart arse, know it all, old prick sort of way. I gruffly replied the tyres are at 18psi. He then chirped back that they don't look like it to me. At this stage I was over him and his opinions on all things 4wd and asked him to use my F#@KING tyre pressure gauge and F#@KING check them him self. Prick!

Moral of the story, don't lose concentration, maintain momentum when on sand and just cause you have done a particular track a few times already, doesn't mean you can do it again. On sand tracks conditions change all the time. Oh and don't offer unwanted advice unless you are prepared to get your hands dirty or abused, one or the other, sometimes both!

I then regained a little composure and we headed off to Blue Lake for a walk, things didn't get better when we saw a sign saying dogs weren't allowed to do the walk to Blue Lake so, disappointed, we headed north along the 4wd track back to Beehive road then on to camp.

In the afternoon we went to Amity Point to try our luck and catch some fish off the pier. I didn't hold high hopes of success, but the fun of fishing is trying right? We were each armed with a rod, the same rigs and some Pippies for bait. We weren't there long when Karren landed a small Bream, this heightened the girls level of enthusiasm. It is far more interesting when you think you might have a chance of actually catching something. A few moments later Rosie landed her first ever fish. A Slimy Mackerel, to say she was excited would be a massive understatement. Emily was not quite so lucky, she had numerous bites, even had a few hooked but couldn't keep them on the line long enough to land one. I also landed a small Slimy Mackerel, that we gave to a guy catching Gar for bait.

Rosie and her first fish.

We had planned to cook a camp oven roast lamb, however the wind had other ideas. A strong northerly ruined any chance of the roast, we couldn't risk a fire so we had to settle for sausages on our last night. We sat in the tent and told silly stories before retiring at about 7.30pm. Party on!

Our last day meant the unenviable task of packing up, thankfully it didn't take long and the kids chipped in to help. Funnily enough as we were packing up the Park Ranger called in on us and asked what we were up to. Dogs are meant to be on leash at all times and for the vast majority of the time Charlie was on a lead. Of course as we were packing it was impossible to have a dog tied on a leash to either a tent, car or nearby tree, especially one as interested in the action as Charlie. Of course as the Ranger pulled up next to the Hilux - Charlie untethered - marched on over to say hello, doh! As the Ranger drove off he reminded me to have the dog on a lead!

We left camp, headed to the roadhouse, pumped up the tyres and headed to Point Lookout to do the North Gorge walk and spot some whales. We were not disappointed, spotting another six or so whales, some more dolphins and some school and bait fish as we walked.

North Gorge

Whale Rock

Main Beach looking south.

On the North Gorge Walk.

Our holiday was all but done so we headed back to Dunwich for the ferry ride back to the mainland however, Straddie was to throw us one last surprise! As we headed into Dunwich a Koala crossed the road in front of us, as we stopped to check him out he sought refuge, by climbing a small tree in front of the Primary School.

What are you doing up there?

We had a wonderful time and would recommend it to anyone.

Burst water pipes, bonfire, bushwalks, blowouts and a big day on the river.

We have recently had another nasty episode with our Laptop. Thankfully the lesson learned last time was a good one and when a RAM stick failed we only lost two days of junk mail. A quick trip to the Apple shop, a diagnosis and some handy advice, provided gratis, meant I was able to replace the $50 Ram stick myself and get the damn thing up and operating again with a minimum of fuss.

This second PC crash prompted me to do a full reconciliation of all our most treasured PC based assests - our digital photos! The digital reliance began with our first digital camera that I purchased to capture Emily's birth. It seems that when the hard drive failed we had about 37 images disappear from our library, albeit with thumbnails of the images intact!? Could have been much worse!

It was a wonderful few hours going through 8500 images spanning 11 years, you quickly forget how much the two girls have grown and changed.

Anyway, I stumbled across quite a number of photos taken recently that had not been saved into our library. They included a trip in the last term break where the girls visited GOMA to see Cai Guo-Qiang's exhibition called Falling Back to Earth.

Falling Back to Earth

Falling Back to Earth

A few short weeks ago we spent a big day traveling the Brisbane River on the Ferries.

Brisbane River

South Bank Ferry Terminal

We boarded at St Lucia and traveled downstream to Newfarm Park which I have to say has the best adventure playground I have ever seen the girls play on. The highlight for me was the enormous Fig trees incorporated into the playground for the kids to climb.

Climbing a Fig at Newfarm

At the top of the Spiders Web

We left Newfarm and cruised down to Portside wharf, where we visited the Eat Street Markets for a feed.

Pancakes, berries and cream

Potato Slinkys

On our return journey I quickly called into the Brisbane Apple store to pick up the Laptop after having the aforementioned dodgy RAM stick diagnosed.

The day after our Ferry rides Karren and I spent some more time in the garden, just a couple of hours to plant a few more additions to the front garden. Now you may recall that we have a hidden fence to keep our beloved Charlie from wandering the streets. Not surprisingly when planting two new variegated shrubs in the garden I cut the wire that keeps him contained, not once but twice. That seems to be my luck of late, in addition to cutting the hidden fence, I have also chopped up the garden irrigation pipework no less than a half a dozen times and just yesterday I holed the water mains twice as well. It seems that wherever I dig a hole I find another service to cut or put a hole in.

Repaired Water Main

There was a huge amount of dead wood, branches, leaves and palm fronds that had accumulated around the garden and it was time to get rid of it. A bonfire seemed like the best way to dispose of it all. A couple of afternoons work to gather, break, cut and stack in to a large pile ready for combustion. I set it alight at about 5.30pm, a very short time later we had a visit from a neighbour who was concerned that our house was on fire, such was the sheer size of the initial blaze. At its peak there was a 10 metre high flame illuminating the whole gully behind our house. I had sufficiently planned and set up the bonfire so that there was never any danger of it running away or causing any spot fires. Needless to say though that Karren was not impressed by its size. By midnight the fire was all but done so we doused it with water before retiring for the night.

After the fire had settled

Nearly done.

Kondalilla Falls seemed like a good place to visit for some sight seeing and bush walking, Kondalilla is about two hours north of our place, so prior to heading off I gave the Hilux a quick once over, you know the usual water, oil, tyre pressures and a quick once over. To my horror I discovered a little issue that had occurred sometime since the brakes were replaced, most likely while we explored Mt Mee. It looks as though a rock or similar had become stuck between the upper control arm and the front tyre of the LHS front wheel. The said stuck stone then set about gouging out a 50mm wide section of rubber from the front tyre. It actually looks far worse than it actually is and I reckon the tyre will be replaced shortly as all four tyres are nearly shot with only a couple of millimetres of usable tread left.

Could have been much worse!

The trip to Kondalilla was great, it was a great day for a walk and the falls themselves are very picturesque. I would recommend a visit if you get the chance.

The Rock Pools

Rock Pools

Kondalilla Falls

Bottom of the Falls

Lovely Walk

Clambering over rocks

Kondalilla Falls.