04.08.12 Gordon Country

This weekend is our 50^th trip in the camper.  It’s also the weekend for social events in Brisbane: V8’s at Willowbank and Sexpo in town.  But we are going camping because we love it so much.

So, what’s the plan this weekend?  Head to Gordon Country of course.  We love the peace and tranquillity of the place, and the fact that you can camp where ever you like.  Find yourself the perfect spot and you are home.  They have many places to choose from, and with 15k’s of creek frontage, valleys and hills to the ridge line, it’s very easy to find your ideal spot.

This time we wanted something a bit more private than we were last time.  Our last camp was wonderful, but we want to investigate the entire property bit by bit as we camp in the future.  So a different location was a must. 

We saw a few that would have been ideal on this wintery day … sun filled locations … but each had a “Reserved – The Manager” sign up, so we had to move on.  Heading over the creek to yet another likely campsite, we found another of these signs.  The location was perfect alas.  Crossing over the 4WD track, we found another great camp, if a little shady for this time of year, and after a bit of a poke around, we decide this is the place for us this time.

We set up camp and are relaxing by 1100.  Of course, throwing the ball is a priority, but so is checking out the creek beside our camp.

Early afternoon we are approached by another car, Glenn thinking it’s someone driving around, but it turns out it’s our host dropping by for the fees.  And I’m really lucky I have enough cash on me this time as it appears there is now a mandatory vehicle fee I didn’t know about, which increases our one night stay cost by 100%.  This angers me a little since we don’t go 4wd-ing rather sitting by camp and doing nothing much, but Glenn decides that we will at least drive around a bit … just to get our monies worth.  Luckily I have a map from our last trip that’s rather detailed in a mud map sort of way, but at least we’ve got more than most, as no map was forthcoming from our current host.  I understand that people do the wrong thing where ever you go, and it now seems that a “user pays highly” rule applies making this site rather expensive for an overnight now.   Our host said he’s competing with the 4WD grounds down the road, but even they don’t charge so excessively if you are JUST CAMPING.

As Glenn & I discuss this once our Host leaves, we come to the conclusion, that this just might make one of our favourite places a little less viable for more people … giving us more campground to camp in.  I guess it’s a plus in some ways … but at what cost? $50 for one nights camping where we provide everything is a bit much in our book.

We get the fire started using the timber left onsite and scout around for as much as we can to validate the nights cost.  We don’t find too much, but enough to keep us going till it gets fairly cold I think.  Perhaps if we had a chainsaw we’d be doing much better.  We can hear one going on and off for awhile and I consider tracking them down to borrow it.  In the almost peace and quiet, it’s a rather annoying sound.

We take the pups down to the water for a dip.  Telashi loves the water even at such cold temps.  Crazy dog.  I chuck the ball around in the water for her for awhile and then we head back to camp, where I chuck the ball around some more.  Alas, she hobbles back to camp with blood streaming from a front paw.  Oh No.  Out with the first aid kit and removal of the ball from her sight.  It’s fun over for her alas … and for a few weeks to come I feel.  She’s cut her paw in such an awkward way and it’s deep. 

This brings to light how small my first aid kit is.  I do bring things specifically for the dogs,  however, as I haven’t used much from it for a while, it’s highlighted how limited it’s purpose actually is.  Thankfully Glenn has a slightly larger kit on hand, so between the two of them, we can render some first aid on the paw.  It makes me re-think how prepared we are (or aren’t) for emergencies.  I’m first aid trained, but if the kit isn’t up to scratch, then there isn’t much I can do but wing it.  In this particular case, duct tape comes in handy, along with a sock from my clothes stash.  Hopefully she’ll be okay for a little while till I can get her some veterinarian attention (after note:  My Gosh the vet saw us coming from a mile away … $600 to give her 4 stitches in her paw and that was after $58 to look at her foot and say how much it would cost … seriously thinking of taking a vet course at Uni now). 

We spend the rest of the day by the fire, cooking dinner and listening to the birds and our neighbours.  Once showered, we seriously rug up as the temperature starts to plummet towards dark.  Even the dogs don’t’ take long to retreat to the (what little it provides) warmth of the camper and their beds with blankets … and that’s even with their new winter coats on.  We brave the cold and sit by the fire until nearly 2000.

05.08.12
Next morning we are up early.  Dew covers everything, which necessitates a plastic covering on Telashi’s paw to keep out the moisture.  Last night it got down to -1.5°C.  The dew slowly burns off in the morning sunlight, but it takes us awhile to actually feel warm. 

Telashi isn’t helping us much this morning and keeps trying to remove the plastic covering.

 

Breakfast is a slow affair with many warming coffees.  Glenn suggests we head out to search for a dam that was mentioned yesterday, hoping it might be a good campsite.  Could be a good chance to camp by one and throw in an opera house pot to see what we can get.  We head off in the wrong direction to start with, but are soon on the right track.  Through a gate sign-posted to be closed to keep the stallion in, and we appear to be heading the right way.  The timbered area opens up into a large slightly sloping field big enough for a camper trailer meet. 

We cross a dry creek and are suddenly we are stopped by a fallen tree that someone has had a half hearted attempt at removing.  Reversing back down the narrow track, we try to find an alternative way around, but don’t have much luck.  Never mind.  There are a few other dams on this property, so maybe next time we are out this way, we might investigate some others. 

We head back to camp for lunch and a very slow pack up.  And I do mean slow.  We take nearly two hours to do what can be done in 30 minutes.  But we are on the road again by 1400 for the drive home.  Thankfully we won’t get stuck in any of the traffic leaving Willowbank raceway where the V8’s are completing day 3 at the Paper Clip and are home in good time.

Trip Kilometres:  364

Trip Duration: 48 hours