Franklin River

A friend had recommended this spot and it’s the Franklin River Reserve, near Toora in Victoria’s West Gippsland and it is perfect so we dash into Foster for supplies. There are swarms of cabbage butterflies flitting about the roadside in the sun. Foster is alive with shoppers and the shops are bright and cheerful. The local park is a picture with beds of annuals and colourful leafy vegetables. A little wooden bridge spans the creek where gold was first discovered. There are more flower beds down the centre of the main shopping street and a big old magnolia in the … Continue reading Franklin River

Walking on the Seabed

Each evening holidaymakers pick their way over the rippled sand flats sucked dry by the retreating tide. Heads down, people and ibis poke about on what was an hour ago the seabed. Soldier crabs toss and sift the sand searching for food. Gulls puff their feathers against the cool breeze while the setting sun bathes the whole scene a delicate gold. Me, all that I see is music to the soul and music written in the sand. Today’s post was inspired by this morning’s discussion with fellow blogger Miriam of OutanAbout. https://outanabout.wordpress.com/2016/02/10/wednesday-wondering/ Continue reading Walking on the Seabed

Harry Corones & The Hotel Corones

Even when on his deathbed blind and deaf, Harry Corones knew when someone had rung up a ‘no sale’ on the till downstairs. Aviator Amy Johnson touched down at Charleville in Western Queensland on her record breaking flight to London. She asked HC for a champagne bath to celebrate her arrival thus far. Twenty three magnums of the finest champagne went into her bath that night and later while she was downstairs being wooed by the townsfolk of Charleville, the staff rebottled the champagne. Harry got on the phone and sold the lot as “the champagne Amy Johnson had bathed in … Continue reading Harry Corones & The Hotel Corones

Of Time and Tide

The historic Derby wharf stretches out into King Sound in an arc. This was a cattle export wharf in the early days and our van park backs onto what was once the legendary cattle route to the wharf. The causeway across the mud flats that joins the town to the wharf is about a kilometre long and once held a railway line. We arrive at high tide and the pier is busy with fishermen casting lines and tossing crab nets. The wharf cafe is gearing up for curry night. The mangroves are almost submerged in murky water. This place must … Continue reading Of Time and Tide

Easyburn Flatpack Fireplace

We have a mate who talks to dogs. They follow him about as though he is the pied piper, so much so that he is now known at happy hours as Daz The Dog Whisperer. Any way DTDW bought an Easyburn flat pack fireplace and with a flick of a match and a puff of smoke he had us humans flocking to his campfire too. It’s a beauty! It is so good in fact that we ordered one online from the manufacturer http://www.easyburn.com.au in Wauchope in NSW. It weighs 7kg and all of the pieces (6 sides and 2 floor … Continue reading Easyburn Flatpack Fireplace

Where are we?

The showgrounds market is just packing up for the day and the place appears to be somewhat disorganized. There are a lot of horse stables that, by the amount of fresh manure must be in regular use. The van parking area is in a fenced paddock off to one side and there must be thirty vans of all shapes and sizes, but mostly large. Beside us we have a magnificent Winnebago with slide outs and probably worth half a million dollars. On the other side is a somewhat messy van with an old bloke sitting in the sun on a straight backed … Continue reading Where are we?

Rocky Creek

“You are here today because of where we were yesterday”… inscription in the Rocky Creek War Memorial Park. Rocky Creek War Memorial Park near Tolga on the Atherton Tableland in Queensland is huge and when we arrive it has about sixty vans in the free camp area but there is room for many more. This is our third visit to this park and out of respect I make a point of reading every single memorial plaque. I learn that not only was this bush park once the site of a 5000 bed military hospital, but there were 2000 staff and … Continue reading Rocky Creek