02.04.11 Stinson Park

I got to drive this time!  Yay!  All the way there and all the way back.  Was nice to be in control of the vehicle and camper for the entire trip.  We reached the campsite at Stinson Park, south of Laravale and along Christmas Creek in an hour and a half.  Bit slower than usual, but I like to see the views and enjoy the journey.

 

As we pulled up, we chose a spot overlooking the creek.  You could hear the creek gurgling away happily.  After setting up, we investigated the creek.  The water is freezing cold at first, but you get used to it slowly ... after the numbness sets in that is.  I sit in it regardless, as it's a gorgeous, warm day.  Glenn wanders up a tributory and I lose sight of him for a half hour or so.  Oh the serenity!

Looking towards the main camping area

 Looking towards campsite 20 and the day area

Afterwards, we investigate the rest of the park and wander up and down the road a little ways.  The park itself has 2 each mens and ladies loo's, 2 electric bbq's for picnickers, and lots of picnic tables and chairs.  It's all rather nice, neat and tidy. 

Campsite 3 overlooking the creek

The park is beside the Christmas Creek Recreation Centre ... for large school groups, scouts etc.  It's a home away from home for kids and seems to have lots of things to do, including tennis courts.  The manager has been mowing the large centre on his ride on.  I'm jealous that he has a ride on mower.  Wish I had one at home to do my yard.  *Sigh*

We wander across the road from the CCRC and find some stairs that go nowhere really.  There is a sign in the scrub that announces it's the assembly area, but I'd say it hasn't been used for a long, long time.  So it's time to head back to the creek and walk up it and down it as far as we can ... which isn't all that far, but better than not being able to wander up and down the creek.  We are surrounded by private property, so no trespassing of course.

It's time to start cooking dinner.  Having a spicy stew tonight, with bread and butter.  Yum!  Set up the Oz Pig and start chopping vegies for the stew, then we'll sit and have a drink. 

We have a neighbour occuping site 1.  An old dutch gentleman who keep seeking our company and telling us long stories of his family and life.  His name is Tom.

Not long after, Peter the manager, rides up on his Quad bike from his house, next door to the park.  He's a very nice gentleman and answers our questions about any recent flooding.  Seems that 2009 was a bad year for the valleys on this side of Brisbane.  He tells us that there is no hurry to pack up, as he has no bookings for Sunday.  Once we've paid our fees, he's off to gather more money from other campers in the park.

We sit and wait for dinner to be cooked and night to fall, listening to the sounds of birds, the creek and occassionally Tom with another story.  He asks if we mind him starting up the generator on the other side of his van, so that he can watch the news.  We tell him it's fine as long as he lets us know the weather report ... although we can see lightning in the distance.  Later he tells us we are to have a thunderstorm, and it is getting windier.

I mix up half of an orange and poppy seed cake and set it to cook on the Pig.  We've heated our shower water, so we busy ourselves getting clean while we wait for the cake to cook and it doesn't take too long.  Tom comes over for a slice.

It's getting windier!  We decide to start putting things away in anticipation of a wicked thunderstorm.  It starts to rain, however the thunderstorm heads a different way and that sprinkle on and off through the night is all we really get.

The next morning, we wake to find a creature has raided our vegie scraps!  Peter assured us that the Possum wouldn't worry us.  Should have known better.  Apple skin was possibly too good to ignore!  Reheated stew on toast for breakfast is really good.  As we are eating, I can hear the campers at site 20 packing up wet canvas.  They leave around 11am.  Peter rides back in to check that we've had a good night and find out that all is well.  He's surprised by the Possums antics.

There is a mist like rain on and off, but by the time we pack up, the canvas is mostly dry.  I open a Hippo to ensure no mildew takes hold.  We head down to the creek for one last foot dunking and then we make tracks.

Burgess Park's creek and bridge

Heading back to Burgess Park, which we passed on the way, we decide to have a look at the creek.  We take a right after Hill View and head to Darlington Park via The Lost World Valley.  It's a lovely drive.  We stop at Darlington Park to have a look around and stretch our legs (although it isn't really needed).  There are still lots of people relaxing here.  I'd say over 20 camps at least, all still enjoying the day.  It must have been quite busy ealier in the weekend.  After we've had our fill of Darlington, it's back through Beaudesert and home. 

We are in the driveway by 1630 and have the rest of the afternoon to settle back into Life in the Suburbs.

Trip Kilometres: 205

Trip Duration: 48 hours