30.03.12 Gordon Country … Pups On The Run

30.03.12

We managed to squeeze an extra night into our weekend, so spent no time hitting the road and getting things under way, passing our last set of traffic lights by 0815.  The day is gorgeous and we hope the entire weekend will stay this way. 

Our last trip got rained out (literally) and now the camper has a musty smell when you open the rear draw door … not happy Jan. 
I’ve also opened the kitchen to pack it and noticed we seem to have a mouldy growth occurring on the stainless steel as well.  I’ve packed cleaning product (vinegar and bi-carb) and added some rag towels to assist.  I’m really hoping the canvas is good, but I’m expecting the worst.  Can you picture us cleaning it’s every surface for the entire weekend?  I sure can … L

Driving along the Logan Motorway towards Ipswich, we note a sign saying “your new highway isn’t far away … thank you for your patience” to which we comment that they will need not just another lane but more like three either side before the motorists will be happy.  Once we reach the Ipswich outskirts, we head south along the Cunningham Highway.  It really is a beautiful drive through the Scenic Rim and we thoroughly enjoy it today.  I can see the tops of the hills to which we will be heading and hopefully looking out from the lookouts right on the rim.

Heading up The Gap is always a nice drive and today we don’t have much delay.  Think we stopped for 30 seconds before we were on our way again. Once at the top we drive about ½ way along the road towards the Toowoomba – Warwick highway and then double back to the top of the range almost.

Arriving at 1030, we’ve already picked where we wish to camp at Gordon Country before leaving home, just a matter of choosing the perfect spot.  We cross Dalyrmple Creek and get out of the car.  It’s required that you don’t drive all over the joint looking for the perfect position, rather sticking to the roads and walking around until you’ve made the decision.  And it’s a hard decision as each spot has it’s good and bad points.  We finally make the final agreement and head back for the car.  There is no-one else on our side of the creek and we hope it stays that way for a goodly while.

It takes a little while to set things up and check the canvas for mould … luckily there isn’t any … and we are sitting on our butts contemplating cleaning out the kitchen by 1130.  Reckon it was the hard floor carpet that was the mouldy smelling culprit as it was the only thing we didn’t remove to dry, but it’s out on the grass as we speak along with various other items that are usually stored inside the closed camper, now out for an airing.  Extra blankets are pegged to ropes, as are hats.  By 1230 the kitchen is once again sparkling and clean, as are all dishes and cutlery within, so it’s time to relax for a while.

Pups are happy to out and about once more.  My water baby has found the water and is having herself a great time going from the water to checking on us and back again.  There is much sniffing of bushes, chasing each other around, and generally enjoying rolling in the grass and laying in the sun.  Having a complete ball.

We wander around this side of the campsite collecting some extra timber, taking photo’s and enjoying what little “people noise” we can hear.  Of course, there is the occasional scream from kids and occasionally the wind changes direction and we can hear a generator or chainsaw.  The sounds of nature are just the best.  Hope it stays that way for the rest of our stay.

We wander up and down the creek as far as we like, avoiding going close to any other camps and I take lots of photos.  Once we’ve had our fill of that, it’s back to camp to have a few drinks, sit in front of the fire and plan dinner.  Steak burgers tonight.  Something really simple so no hard work to clean up.

Later in the evening we head up to the walk along Dalrymple Creek that’s in the National Park.  We also notice that the gate is finally unlocked.  Been wanting to do the lookouts for quite a while now, so we might just get the chance tomorrow. 

Back to camp to relax the night away and notice in the ½ hour we’ve been gone, that we got neighbours.  I’m glad we left the 12v strip light on or they might be a lot closer.

31.03.12

Awake next morning at 0700, Glenn makes coffee and we fall asleep again till 0900.  Perfect start to another perfect day.  After a leisurely breakfast, we head out to do those lookouts about 1100.  Being that this is a dry weather only road, it’s about time we found it open.  Both the lookouts are 500m but it doesn’t say if it’s one way or return.  We don walking shoes and head into the first one.  It’s all uphill of course, but that means it will be downhill on the way back.  The view looking north is amazing.  If it was a bit clearer we could see Brisbane better, but you could see the high rise through a light haze.  Otherwise it’s a spectacular view.  The second lookout is as about the same distance but not as up or down hill.  The view to the south is even better than the first if that’s possible.  Both are well worth the short walk.  The road there is steep in places and narrow in others, so be mindful when passing other cars that there might not be enough room unless you get your wheels into the bush.   It’s something that you could easily do in a 2wd in dry times though, but if there has been rain, consider it 4wd unless it’s closed to both.  Walking through the rainforest is quite cool and you just don’t notice that it’s actually 28⁰C every where else.

Mt Castle Lookout View

 Mt Sylvester Lookout View

There are more campers everywhere we look on our return.  Back at camp, we’ve got more neighbours, between us and the lot from last night.  There are also some more camped up along the 4wd track.  Seems that the impending Easter long weekend may have bought an invasion of sorts to the campsite in general.  We noted on coming in yesterday that there are eskies and tarps scattered through the camps with no people to keep them company.  I guess they are ‘saving a spot’, but I wonder how well this works with no-one present.

Cows wander past camp today.  They are just eating the beautiful green grass, but Kiah thinks they might be worth chasing.  I know they’ll kick her given the chance … something she wouldn’t be expecting at all having no history with these beasts.  They are all in good nick, but a little skittish of people, staring at the dogs … guess they are wondering why the dogs don’t chase them, like the working dogs that we saw last time.  Kiah keeps a good eye on them, edging closer when she can, and we have to keep a very good eye on her.  Closest vet would be Warwick, Toowoomba or Boonah and we definitely don’t want to visit any of them. 

We spend the afternoon sitting around camp, wandering the creek, going up the opposite bank for a look, organising dinner and enjoying yet another perfect day.  This is the life.  Could sit beside this creek for a few weeks no worries, given the chance.

Have yet to see the camper staff coming around to collect fees.  Guess they will turn up when they are ready.  If not, will try to find the house on our way out.

As the sun sets once again, we sit in front of the fire wondering where yet another day disappeared and feeling the coolness of winter setting in.  We retire once more with the blackest of nights inside the camper and the sounds of the rapids to put us to sleep.

01.04.11

Next morning is a repeat of yesterday.  Coffee at 0700 and up again at 0900, this time to the sounds of the camp staff requesting payment.  She reckons there might be up to 3000 people staying here over the Easter Weekend.  Ye Gods!  Yes there is heaps of room, but I’d hate to be here myself.  There are toilet blocks onsite (here and there), but most sites require you provide your own facilities.  Porta Potties being a minimum.

As we reheat leftovers for breakfast, we notice nearly all our neighbours have left already, but by the time we leave, there are others to replace them.  We clean up and head back down towards where our neighbours had been, just enjoying the large expanse of grass that is (at the moment) all ours.  Head back up the creek past some larger rapids, so I stop for some slow water shots.  Satisfied, we head to camp to start a very slow pack up process.  Neither of us, nor the dogs wants to go home.  We’ve spent some very relaxing days here and would be happy to spend more.  I’m glad that Glenn suggested 2 nights here as he doesn’t take time off work very often.  1 night would have been rushing our clean up.

Maybe next time we’ll get to see all of the campsites properly.  We haven’t been up to see the M’s in their own little valley over 2k’s in length and I’d really like to.

One thing that has stuck out this trip were the cars going up and down the road.  Lots of them.  Not Queen Street Mall by any means, but certainly more than one would warrant for a dirt road at the very end of a long valley (we are over 30k’s from the Goomburra Hall).

Around 1330, we are packed and head across the creek towards the opposite campsites and Inverramsay Road.  We are amazed at the explosion in population in this one site.  One thing I noted, with all the campers already onsite, not one party, no doof doof, no loud drunken laughing … at all … well near where we were.

Our trip home is relatively boring really.  We are still completely relaxed, even if somewhat disappointed at having to actually head home.  Back to reality as such I guess.

Trip Kilometres:  346

Trip Duration: 72 hours