Gloucester in the rain April 2024

This camp was an WCCT Autumn camp organised by Karem Farquhar, who could not attend, it was then handed to Wendy Healy who eventually backed out due to the rain forecast. 

So... here we are, the toughest girls we know, camping the whole weekend in the rain. Well! this photo was taken before the next rain ban rolled in. 

It was a massive fail (a joke) for poor Griff in starting this fire, well! the firewood was a bit damp I must say. she came prepared for bad weather; she has her knee-high gumboots on.

Griff redeemed herself by winning the Trivea night for us all, free drinks all round on the club.

We always enjoy the Chinese meals at the bowling club.

So... what's to do when it's raining Griff?  paint the interior of the caravan of course.

 

I wish I could remember the name of this lovely lady; she was cooking the meat raffle that one of the girls had won the night before.  

And this is Griff's scones cooking in my gas oven.

Griff also made Pancakes 

And this is possibly Chantilly cream, a specialty of hers. we are so blessed to have her with us.

I set up the tarp to shelter the fire and us from the rain.

We are a sociable group; this time we invited a couple to join us by the fire for a chat. Rose is beside me and then Sally, then the couple, I need to find out the other ladies names.

 

Let's get away! 40 + Solo Camping January 2024

This was the hottest camp I've ever experienced at Gloucester, 40 deg plus days in April no less!

I met some lovely new people, a handful of men and a bunch of women and it was here that I again met with Wendy Healy and Sue Mallo Donsworth. Both having something to say to me (a bee in their bonnet from 3 years earlier) and both having the wrong impression of what happened at the said camp at Knorrit Flat. What a shame they carried the problem with them for so long, it must have weighed them down greatly.

Anyway, once again I was not a well chook, I struggled to keep up with the group. 

My fridge did not take kindly to the extreme heat even though I was partially parked under cooling trees.

We all spent most of our time sitting and socializing in the river, so...so cooling being shaded by the beautiful trees,  

The men organized and cooked a baked dinner for the lot of us. Amazingly the only cost was about $7, luckily it turned out the coolest day for cooking, they were super swift in feeding the masses.

And I'm sad to say one Chappie's dog lost his life from the heat, it was a terrible experience for that camper.

 

June/July 2023 Queensland trip

Rose and I headed to Queensland for winter in June. it didn't really warm up at all.

Mitchell camp

Augathella camp

Blackall camp

Said goodbye to Rose at Barcaldine, she continued on to Longreach to see her family members.  The rain was coming, and I was getting worried about where to camp and ride out the weather.

Aramac town. A great place to camp while the rain is about. Cost was $40 for 5 nights with hot showers, washing machine and a short walk to town. The rain had set in for the most part.

 

The local eatery was once the owners lounge room 

 

Didn't look like much but defiantly the Hyundai is not made for mud.

 

My neighbor on the right who helped me drive out of the mud and a pub patron on the left. Waiting for the rain to ease to walk back to the caravan park.

 

Leichhardt's dig tree

 

Breakfast in the park

This fellow was hitchhiking, gave him a lift to the next town 

The rider says the colour of the horse is called flee bitten

Overnight stops after leaving Aramac, Emerald free camped beside the bridge, breakfast at Comet, near Lidwig Leichhardt's Did tree.  Hot shower and a good night's sleep at Dululu, lunch at Banana, at Taroom lions park I woke up to ice and freezing conditions and left as soon as I could to warm up. Lunch at Miles. Next stop was Warialda for the night then left very early for Inverell and onto Thunderbolts Way all the way to the very end at Gloucester. A fantastic way to come home, just the downhill drive coming down from the mountains was a bit dicky.

 

December /January 2022/23 Road trip with Craig

Craigs 'new to him' Caravan   

  3 nights away with Craig, Sharon and Razzy, I met them at Dunnedoo then continued on to Mendororan then to Coonabarabran. Stayed overnight at the caravan park on the outskirts of town, it was very hot so we were in the pool fairly quickly.

The next day we checked out the national park before heading toward Gunnedah for another caravan park and pool.

Craig wanted to see Tambar Springs so we back tracked to Mullawey and did a left turn, there wasn't a lot there, just a pub!

We stopped at Coolah for lunch then continued on to Merriwa, Craig and I quietly celebrated new year in the quietest town in the Hunter. We headed to Singleton Makka's and parted ways there, Craig driving the Putty Road toward Richmond and I on the New England Hwy.

 

January 2023 Gloucester with Joanne

 A short break at our favorite camp, Gloucester caravan park.  On the way there I always enjoy seeing the girls hard at work at their own camping spot

 

Jo's caravan 

My shower setup, I drew flowers on the tailgate tent with tetras after trying tie dyeing but that didn't come out too well. This was all for, while showering in the tent I thought it may be seen through especially when the sun was on it.

Jo's Caravan ornament's

We parked up behind the shower block this time. Theres Rose relaxing with her book.

Rose in her Toyota

The view down into Gloucester town

The creek has changed direction a little after the floods.

April 2022 Murrurundi

 Camping with Joanne at the caravan park in Murrurundi.

Introducing my new Hyundai van.

Fire dragon

Anzac day

Ben Hall's birth place