Day 104 - Clermont to Home!

Last day on the road. Bit sad really but also happy to be getting home. Would you believe a cattle truck threw up a stone and put a big chip right in the middle of the windscreen? Luckily it didn't crack because we were a long way from anywhere at the time. High fived at Charters Towers as we finished the lap of the country. Found out that there was a very low tide and wouldn't be able to get a barge till the last run. Did some shopping, had an ice cream at Gelitissimo and later fish and chips at the barge terminal. As the sun set we travelled back to our little island - home at last after going 18,500km at 90km per hour.

Day 103 - Theresa Creek Dam to Clermont.

Left Theresa Creek Dam and took the short trip to Clermont where we met up with Ian and Glenda again so Glenda could have some WikiCamps tuition. No phone coverage at the dam. They had been wondering what the Japanese characters were on they door.

So I SMSed Brinnen and he found out from a friend that they said Automatic Door but they were back the front! Obviously meant to be read from the inside of the motorhome. They were happy to know what it said. Drove up to the Caravan Park and spent a rollicking afternoon with Donna and Steve - our house sitters for the entire time we were away (except for the last 2 days). Early night because it will be a very early start to get to Townsville in the morning.

Day 102 - Victoria Dam to Theresa Creek Dam.

Up very early and headed off at sunrise. Rounded a bend on the track and were greeted with this.

As Jeff opened the gate I snapped this as the sun rose into view.

Long but not terrible drive to Emerald. A lot of caravans on the road again - people are starting to go home to the South. Lunch and a bit of shopping and off the Theresa Creek Dam near Clermont. It is the water supply for them. Met up with Glenda and Ian on their honeymoon - they were married in April and have been on the road for most of the time since then.  This was our view from the motorhome.

Lovely sunset again.

Our motorhomes parked next to each other. Notice how close to the water we were. Lovely evening with them.

Day 101 - Hervey Bay to Victoria Dam.

Left Bernie's fairly early and travelled up through Childers, roadworks are becoming painful. Turned off at Calliope towards Biloela. Ha ha escaped the roadworks - not! They are rebuilding the road and laying the gas pipeline beside the road. yuck. Eventually got to Biloela, topped up with fuel and headed  off to the free camp at Victoria Dam. Hoped we would get there before dark. Over a smooth, unmade road that had literally just been graded - the grader was still there. In through a gate and down a track and voila, Victoria Dam at sunset. Beautiful.

We turned around and the moon was rising over Glen.

A very early, quiet night. Just beautiful.

Day 100 - Tin Can Bay to Hervey Bay.

Hung around on the houseboat till late in the afternoon on the top deck with the new cover over it. Forgot to take a photo of it. Drove to Hervey Bay to visit cousin Bernie and stayed the night in his backyard. He also gave me the research he had done in Italy on the Merlo family tree. We added 2 generations and more sisters to the third and fourth. Fantastic.

Shadow the watch dog was very thorough in keeping watch all night.

Day 99 - Brisbane to Tin Can Bay.

It was very quiet going through Brisbane on a Sunday morning - a warm, pleasant Sunday morning. Motored up the Bruce Highway to Currimundi where our friends Denise and John live. Had morning tea with them and continued onto Mooloolaba for lunch. Drove down the Spit. Big mistake - this warm, pleasant Sunday had attracted the entire population of South East Queensland to the Spit. Travelling in a motorhome down the narrow road filled to the brim with cars and people was not one of my best navigating decisions. We eventually got out unscathed and found a parking spot right outside a Discount Chemist which we needed to go to. Right next door was the most awarded fish and chip shop on the Sunshine Coast. Couldn't resist trying it out - beautiful. Called in to see Rosie and Mo who loves the motorhome and had to show everyone he could find.

Travelled along the Bruce and suddenly the highway became a 2 lane secondary road but with the same amount of traffic. Yuck. Turned off at Gympie and decided as it was getting lat and Pam doesn't like boating out to pick up visitors near dark that we would stay at a rest stop free camp just outside Tin Can Bay.

Days 97-98 - Brisbane.

Got the washing done and dried early, ahhhh warmth in the weather again, wonderful. Lunched with Bekky at the pub over the road. Later watched Collingwood get beaten. Found out we had just missed 2 lots of friends who were both near Moree - timing is everything. Jeff found a lovely Jacaranda tree in the park.

Just next to us is a little herb and fruit garden for the campers to use. Lovely idea.

Left on Sunday morning.

Day 96 - Moree to Brisbane.

So many roadworks! We lost at least an hour with the roadworks between Goondiwindi and Toowoomba. Had a lovely pie at the bakery at Westbrook (From the pie app.) Scary going down the road from Toowoomba. Very steep and huge roadworks with huge trucks whizzing down. Made it to The Newmarket Gardens Caravan Park in one piece though - thanks Ethel (our iPhone map person). The ecca is on and there are a lot of show people here - the children's school van is opposite us. Reasonably good night.

Day 95 - Bogan Weir to Moree.

Left early again - this is what happens when you go to bed early. Had breakfast at Dubbo, did a little catchup shopping and headed off. Lunched near Coonabarrabran but were now going to go straight to Brisbane as the Inverell family are not well. Arrived in Moree and decided to spend the night in the Caravan Park.

Day 94 - Numerkah to Bogan Weir.

Left Numerkah very early and stopped just out of Jerilderie for breakfast. As we motored up the Newell waving at all the motorhomes (as you do) I am almost certain I waved at my cousin Helen but as I didn't have her mobile number I am not sure where she is. Arrived a the beautiful Bogan Weir, alone again except for the pelicans. Had a quiet night.

Day 93 - Melbourne to Numerkah

Left late because Jeff had to get a tetanus shot after is run in with a rusty fence nail while helping Greg pull down a fence on Saturday. With that sorted and shopping done in the midst of a thunderstorm we headed off up the Hume and stopped at Shepparton for my SPC fix. Jeff said we had  the weight of a whole person in cordial and other bits and pieces.

As it was getting late we decided that the border was out of the question and we decided to stay at the show grounds at Numerkah for the night. Lovely free camp all to ourselves.

Days 75 to 92 - Melbourne

We hired a little Yaris for 12 days and got around to see a lot of family and friends. Sorry if we missed you but we will be back in December. Highlight was Georgie's 30th birthday. Thank you Melbourne for a great but cold and wet break. Funny story of the stay was when I decided to go into the State Library by train - now have my own Myki card. I had to search to microfiche and got motion sickness as I scrolled through. Great librarian I am! Luckily didn't throw up all over the State Library floor.