18.02.12 Paddys Flat (ClarenceRiver)

We started our day even earlier than usual and were on the road by 0738.  It’s overcast and has sprinkled.  Not the gorgeous weather predicted.  Oh well.  Never mind.  I’m happy just to be leaving suburbia behind for a short while.

Our destination reportedly a 4x4 must do in northern New South Wales.  I’ve done a bit of research into Paddys Flat Road and found 2 4x4 campsites along this road.  As we have the pups with us again, we can’t stay in either.  A bit disappointing, but living with dogs you get used to not being able to access all areas.
  So we plan to stay along the Clarence River at a site known as Paddys Flat funnily enough along Paddys Flat Road.   No map gives us a clear indication of the distances along PFR, so I will be keeping a close eye on the trip meter and hoping that things are clearly sign posted.

We are also trialling our new Dog Box.  Glenn has designed it to fit on the ute with the sides up.  It’s been made up by professionals, and Glenn has modified it a little to keep them cool by using  a coolite slab coated with concrete (used in walk in freezer walls) up on the roof.  It’s a thing to behold and very flash for the pups.  He’s put in a temporary floor as well and we’ve thrown their beds (puppy pillows) in there to give them some comfort and foot holds.  Today is it’s first outing and I’m keen to see how they like it.

As we head down the Mount Lindsay Highway, which is our most direct access to this region, the weather fines up to a beautiful day.  We go through Beaudesert, then Rathdowney where I give Glenn the option of heading to Waterfall Creek again but he continues down the Mount Lindsay Highway. 

 Mount Lindsay

We then cross the border and stop at Woodenbong to see if the local servo (a Royal Auto Club office) has a more detailed map.  Alas.  They do not.  But they do have one a smidge more detailed than I have.   I also take the opportunity to grab a lotto entry.

Back in the car, we head left before the servo and drive another 13k’s to Urbenville.   We stop here to check out the Urbenville State Forest, which we may stay it if appropriate.  It’s on the northern entrance to town.  It’s a small paddock about the size or smaller than a football field and studded with trees and picnic tables.  For a small fee you can get the toilet block key from the Progress Association, but it’s in town, so therefore not our cup of tea.  It is a fantastic stop over though.  Very shaded and well grassed.  A great place to have a picnic or rest stop.  There is one caravan stopped here enjoying the facilities, so if you are after a quick overnighter then this would be a great spot.

 I saw this funny sign ...

From here, we head south east and wing it.  Map says it’s about 12k or so.  I keep an eye out for a sign post, but spot one of the 4x4parks signage first.  Once on the road, get Glenn to check the trip meter and we head south.

The first part of PFR is rather pretty.  It’s paved and we enter valley after valley of agricultural land, pass fat cows eating or resting in the shade of trees.  The scenery has been marvellous and continues to be so until we head up into the hills more.  Heading up is really not quite what we are doing  … rather driving up one of the steepest sections in this part of the country – for what seems like miles.  Up, up and still continuing up for some 20 or so k’s.  The trees have closed in on us, so there is no view to speak of and the road has become a one lane affair, so we are concerned that oncoming traffic are doing it slowly, but we see no-one at all.  Parts of the road are barricaded off due to some rather difficult weather in recent times, so the going is slow.  Glenn is not having too much fun as he’s intent on the road and what may be coming around the next hair pin bend.

We continue on an upward spiral until we get to the driveway for Clarence River Valley Wilderness Lodge.  Here it starts to plateau off for a bit, still climbing but not as steeply anymore.  Once past their drive, we start to notice the track becoming more overgrown with lantana … the pin striping nemesis of many a 4wd.   Eventually we start to head down. 

So far we are at more than our 3 hour limit from home.  Once we arrive at the river crossing we note that it’s been 3.5 hours in the car and we have to let the dogs out for another drink and stretch.  They do seem to be enjoying the new box well enough though so that’s a good thing.  We spend about 15 minutes getting them watered and some trees watered and then pack us all back up to search for this elusive camping area.  We cross over the river and see two blokes metal detecting along the shore line, so this is a great opportunity to ask questions.  They say they are from Clarence River Wilderness and are waiting for canoeists coming down the river.  Yes we are at Paddys Flat and yes we can camp here, although they both recommend heading back to their property.  Alas, we have dogs, so that’s a no go.  We are just lucky that it isn’t a long weekend as there are usually limited spaces available by now.  Agreed.  We chat about things for a few minutes and discover that the bridge was under water last week.

So we turn the rig around and head back to where we were.  The nice fella’s have said if we head further up the river there is a nice spot, so we do.  And it’s a cracker.  Beach and all.  However the river is flowing at a great rate of knots so don’t think we’ll let the dogs wander out too far … might never see them again.

We pick our site, but it’s not level and we spend a bit of time getting things just right and not over a cow paddy.  This makes Glenn a little frustrated as he’s hot and just wants to relax.  I suggest we hit the beach and cool off before doing anything else.  It’s a great idea as we are all hot and a bit bothered and the water is very refreshing although not as cold as some creeks we’ve stepped into of late.  It does drop off rather suddenly so we keep a good eye on the dogs.

Set up now runs smoothly and we are in the shade in under ½ an hour with drinks in hand.  Dogs are sniffing around or rolling on the excellent grass under foot.  And we relax.  Looking around the area, I see debris high in trees that would be well under water during a flood.

This really is the latest we’ve ever been onsite, so it’s after lunch before we are sitting and relaxed and we really couldn’t be bothered getting back up again.  The temperature is rising,  so we aren’t keen to do too much, but I guess we must.  Around 1400 we see some more canoe’s got past, so decide to head to the bridge and see if we can find somewhere to let the dogs paddle.  We are probably 500 metres from the crossing and the trip is hot and sweaty.  I’ve got their leads with us, as there were horses on the track when we came in.  Don’t think the dogs will be too interested, but better to be safe.

Once over the bridge we find the canoe’s being loaded onto the Landcruiser and people with happy smiley faces.  This will be the owner’s second trip down here to our knowledge, and it’s a nice spot to be.  I wonder how many more he will make before the day is through.

We head further downstream and I notice some tank traps.  I’m not sure of the history of these, but I’m keen to find out.  As the pups head into the water, so do we.  It’s very refreshing and I don’t want to get out, but I’m getting thirsty.

Back at camp, we do some more sitting, some more drinking, some more splashing of water over both us and the pups.  I love relaxing away from suburbia.  It’s the best.

We note that a lot of planes are flying over.  Each one leaves a trail behind it, so we know that they are going in the same direction.  Brisbane to Sydney perhaps?  Guess we’ll never know.  Wonder how jealous they were of us sitting on the bank of a river?

A motorcycle heads directly past our camp (about 2 metres away) and neither the dogs nor us even hear him coming.  Luckily we are not doing a Nudie Camp which had crossed our minds though.

Time to think about dinner I guess.  Lamb roast with veg.  Glenn sets up the OzPig while I organise the vegies.  We start the fire and get things on to cook.  We don’t care how long it takes.  We are eating by night fall and then the bugs descend.  It’s just bug heaven and we retreat to the camper quicker than you can say “Man there are heaps of bugs here and one just bit me!”.  Looks like the rest of the evening will be held indoors.  And we are off to bed early.  Not too bad as the sound of the river works it’s magic on our souls.

19.02.12

Our day starts early due to the early night.  It’s very misty out there, so we relax in bed for awhile until the pups get too restless, which doesn’t take long once they realise we are awake.

Breakfast is a toasty affair where I learn not to keep your tea bags with your herbs and spices … your tea becomes very herby and spicey.

We head down to the creek for a refreshing dip and wait for the mist to burn off which it does quickly.  The sun beats down and we find it’s to be much warmer than yesterday. 

Glenn notes that the water has gone down a bit since we arrived.  More planes go overhead, no cars go past either. 

I seem to have gotten burnt shoulders yesterday and take some time to coat myself in sunscreen and do some more relaxing.  Around 1100 we’ve packed a few things away and are sitting to let the sweat dry and notice more canoes going past.  The landcrusier must be back down at the bridge waiting for them.  We didn’t even hear it go past.  We plan to be on the road by 1200, as we aren’t 100% sure on how much further PFR goes for before it hits the Bruxner Highway or how long it might take, so we start our pack up in earnest. 

We are going to stop and let the pups have a swim before we head off.  They can be as wet as they like in the dog box.  They love to swim.  Especially Telashi.  She is a swimmer if ever I knew one.  Have to ensure she doesn’t head out too far or we’ll have to pick her up somewhere down stream if she makes it that far.  Once they are thoroughly wetted, it’s back into the car to complete our journey.

We head up hills steeper than we did yesterday and Glenn once more curses the overheating auto in his Hilux.  We discuss whether the bash plates may have anything to do with it but are unsure.  Heat of the day, steep hills to climb, towing a heavy camper … who knows.  Needs looking into though as there are hotter places than the Great South East!  Next place to pass is Pretty Gully which isn’t a gully precisely as I’d know one, but I think it was rather pretty.  It’s another 17k’s to the highway, bringing PFR to a total of 63k.

Then it’s a left at the highway and within moments we are crossing the Clarence River once more.  It’s far more impressive in size here.  The bridge is one lane and same construction as the ones we’ve been crossing all weekend.  Then we are in Tabulum, which is a small country town, that upon blinking has all but disappeared.  Our next destination is a turnoff at Sandiland, so that we’ll be heading north once more.  The sign says it’s a mere 58k to Urbenville once more, but first we must pass through Bonalbo and Old Bonalbo, enjoy the coolness of a state forest, and endure a rather rough back country road that is at times little more than one lane for it’s entirity.

Opened in 1903, it is the longest De Burgh timber truss bridge in NSW

and is of national significance.  It crosses the Clarence River before you

enter Tabulum (home of the original Light Horse Brigade).

Back in Urbenville, we stop once more at the State Forest camping reserve to rest the pups and refresh ourselves.  The coolness of it’s trees makes us want to stay longer, but we must push on.  It’s another 13k to Woodenbong where we plan to grab some fuel so we can make it home.  The servo is closed (alas) but we notice an eftpos machine on the wall and a sign saying “Fuel 24 / 7” so I guess we must learn how it is done.  Simple enough and very entertaining for a first time.

Once again we are on the road back to Queensland.  We’ve been following a storm cloud … once on the horizon, but now looming grandly into the sky.  Somewhere in Qld is getting a wonderful downpour.  We start guessing where it’s raining, but when we finally come across a wet road, it’s much further north than we think.

Coming back into Rathdowney, we note that the caravans in the show ground we saw on the way down are still there and appear to be relaxing their hitches off.

Looking back towards Mt Lindsay to spot another storm.

No rain in Beaudesert either.  No rain in Jimboomba where we get a green light for a change.  Looks like South McLean got the rain, lucky them, and the road is still wet till after the Logan River bridge.

After 4 hours on the road, we pull into the driveway, glad to be home and saying that we now know why people flock there on a long weekend.

Dog Box a complete success!

Trip Kilometres: 445
Trip Duration: 48 hours