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.

04.02.12 Gordon Country ... Pups Out In the Country

So we are packed up and on the road at 0755.  Pretty early for us Weekend Warriors, but we wanted to be on the road earlier than usual … see if we could actually do it I guess.  We head out to Ipswich, where our NavWoman (me) makes a mistake.  Easy enough though since they’ve changed everything around … or at least that’s a great excuse.  We end up heading for Toowoomba rather than Warwick, but I know a quick way back to the highway we need.  Thankfully the shortcut is still where I last saw it.  We are back on the Cunningham Highway losing about 5 minutes.

The trip to the Aratula is fairly uneventful.  We do get stuck behind a bloke doing 80 for about 40k’s though … that’s about the highlight.  Once in Aratula

21.01.12 Murphys Creek Escape – Pups Are Out Again.

We are packed and ready to leave at 0915.  I had to stop at the Post Office to pick up a magazine I’m subscribed to … they won’t leave it in my PO Box alas.  It’s an uneventful drive west on the Darren Lockyer Way(recently named) from Ipswich to Helidon, where we turn off heading north towards Murphys Creek.  Once on Thomas Road, it’s just a few short kilometres to our destination.

As we drive through the property, we count only 5 or 6 filled campsites, so they aren’t overly busy this weekend.  There is room for hundreds of campers, but today lots of empty spaces. 

07.01.12 Riverbend & Sharp Park – Puppies Big Weekend Out

Wanted somewhere close to home this time, somewhere we could go and be in some water before lunch with the pups.  Two solutions are within 100k’s of home, so it’s a choice between the two … which ever is the least busy I guess.  So we decide to check out the 2 sites a short drive from Cunungra … Riverbend & Sharp Park and the alternative being Spring Gully Stays.

We are in 2 cars, as we have The Kid with us for 2 weekends, so that we can bring all the pups as well.  Working on a solution for a one vehicle ride, but that’s a little while off yet

30.12.11 Waterfall Creek Reserve ... Puppies Long Weekend Out

It seems that Glenn has already made up his mind about where we are going for this New Years weekend. That’s a good thing as it saves me having to run off the list of potenial places. And we are taking the pups with us as well, so Glenn has organised things so they can go in the cab of his ute and I know Jack will appreciate the air conditioning being that he’s 13 now.
We aren’t in a hurry to leave today and make sure we pack everything securely which means we head out about 0900. We head south to Beaudesert, then onto Rathdowney which certainly has its fair share of places to stay close by. Once through Rathdowney

17.12.11 Lake Atkinson Scout Camp

I’d made a booking here a little while ago, planning to stay for a long weekend for my birthday.  During the time between then and now, the Camp Manager had contacted me, saying that a family always spent this particular weekend out there and were wondering if I’d mind sharing the camp with them.  No worries at all, but we’ll be taking the dogs, so would prefer if they didn’t let any kids approach them, as they would be off lead.  We were hoping to camp right on the lake shore, so would they mind if we chose the first spot as we’d be out there rather early.

I made sure I rang before we left, telling the camp manager that we’d be out there in about an hour or so.  We headed off towards Ipswich and along the Darren Lockyer Way towards Minden

26.11.11 Andrew Drynan … The Puppies Big Day Out (again)

We hadn’t actually planned where we would go this weekend, it was a very quick decision and one that we were glad we made. 

The weather lately has been really warm.  Really, Really Warm.  But Saturday dawned overcast and remained so for the rest of the day, and this took a bit of the edge off the heat we’ve been experiencing.  Driving past Browns Plains, we are told by someone unknown to park out rig in Depot 218.  We aren’t sure who it is, or where Depot 218 is, but we laugh about it, saying things like “how did they know we were coming?”

29.10.11 Heifer Creek Rest Area (with the puppies)

Glenn went to buy a roof rack for his ute as he’s found a shop that has an opening special that would save him $60.  Why wouldn’t you give that saving a thumbs up?  This means we don’t end up leaving home till 0930, and the day is overcast.  Hopefully no rain to come.  Bureau says fine, fine, fine … let’s hope so. 

Just as we make it to the highway, we pass about a zillion trucks all flashing their lights and driving very slowly ... must be some fund raising event.  Wish we knew what for.

01.10.11 Spring Gully Stays - Puppies Big Day Out

So this time Glenn wanted to go somewhere close.  I wanted to take the puppies with us.  So Spring Gully Stays it is.  Mostly because we think River Bend Camping will be completely packed and Flanagan’s is “a bit far” for this weekend.

We hit the road in a timely fashion, some puppies loaded in my car, and the camper in tow with his puppy in his car.  I know a bit of overkill, but that’s how you get 3 dogs to said location without much drama.  He connected up his CB and I switched on my handheld and away we go.  Wish it had been this easy back when I was tailing my parents around the countryside, but instead we used the old light flash for the car behind or the simply pull over for the car in front, ensuring we had a plan prior to leaving.  So much easier to chat about things driving along when one has a CB.

17.09.11 Cedar Grove Campground

We left home at 0830 heading north this time.  It was a last minute decision to head for the Amamoor State Forest.    

As we reached the Bruce Highway, we realised that it must be school holidays as most of Brisbane had also reached the highway and were heading north.  I counted 3 camper trailers and many caravans whizzing past us in both directions.  School holidays sure bring out the “moronic idiot” in some drivers I must say.   

03.09.11 Spicers Gap Camp Ground

Leaving home and heading towards Ipswich, we turn off onto the Cunningham Highway.  Passing Willowbank Raceway, we marvel at how beautiful the day is, considering the local forecast is for showers.  It is a little overcast with a bit of wind, but the sun is rather warm, when it does appear.  Heading through the little towns of the Scenic Rim is always a great drive.  Contended cows are everywhere and we are happy it is finally Spring.

Passing through Aratula, we take note of the usual tourists stopping off to grab some cakes and coffee or take advantage of the fruit store in the centre of town.  On the outskirts we see blokes in 4wd’s pulling up outside the pub and think it is a bit early for it.  Perhaps they are planning to grab some seafood at the mobile fisho

20.08.11 Gheerulla Campground – Mapleton Forest Reserve

If you remember, we almost got to check this place out on our way home from Charlie Moreland.  We walked in about 500m that day and we had a bit of a laugh when we discovered we only had about another 400m to go.

The day dawned perfect.  So much for the Bureau of Meteorology and their showers prediction so far.  It was a little cool and somewhat windy … as is always the case around Ekka (Brisbane Exhibition) time.  Those southerlies always appear right in time for the Ekka and  usually hang around for 3 days … we are into day 4

06.08.11 Murphys Creek Escape

Finally got in our 30th night in Rover 6 days late.  Better late than never I say!  One month out of our year camping has to be a good thing.  Watching a show on the box last week stated that people who go camping are more relaxed, richer, and less stressed than those that don't.  Sweet!  :)

We head west along the Warrego Highway to Helidon and then take a couple of rights, a left and another right and we are there. 

23.07.11 Lake Atkinson Scout Camp

I found this site after a workmate mentioned how they had stayed at a caravanpark on Lake Atkinson.  As you may have already noticed, we aren’t so keen on the whole caravan park thing, preferring the peace and serenity of the natural world … without all the crowds.  When I noticed that this site catered tocampers, well, I was sold.  I contacted them directly via email, and was sad to find the email address was out of date.  I then noted that the website hadn’t been updated since 2005. 

09.07.11 Pardise Valley

Another beautiful clear and crisp Winters day for camping.  This weekend we are off to Paradise Valley, a small, privately owned campground along Lions Road and only 18k's from the NSW border.  Since we won State of Origin through the week, it's probably a good idea not to venture too far into the losing state. 

At 0900 we are on the road and heading towards our destination.  Glenn has picked this site for the weekend.  The day is cool, clear and we are both wearing jumper and beanies!