A SAD FAREWELL TO A KINDRED SPIRIT

TRAVELING REVEALS SOME AMAZING PLACES.... AND SOME AWESOME PEOPLE.

After several hours perusing Wikicamps the previous night I had to admit the Information Centre was right. There are no free campsites or 24hr stopovers anywhere near the southern coast of Queensland.  But once you head a little inland they begin to appear. On roadsides, in little towns, on the outskirts of larger ones or even truck stops, service stations and even hotels! I had found several from Beaudesert to Toowoomba. Beaudesert turned out to be a great town with all the amenities you could need, but I had set my sights on Boonah and a 3pm to 8am stop I had seen there in a beautiful  park next to another Information Centre (they are everywhere in   Queensland!). The good thing here was not only the most amazingly clean toilets ever, but it had great reception for phones and wifi. Because of the vast distances in Queensland, once you start traveling away from the coast, this is not always the case!

 So I caught up on some work and some emails I needed to send. One was to a gang of girls I had chatted to on the Grey Nomads site and promised to let them know where I was traveling.As my blogs can get a bit behind, I let them know I was actually at Boonah. To my amazement I got an email straight back, from Sherria. She lived at Boonah! Within minutes she was knocking at my door with a wonderful open armed welcome and home made fudge! See what I mean about Queenslanders? They are the warmest and friendliest of people. Sherria was just lovely. Bubbly, full of energy and ideas. Another strange co-incidence here was on the way up I contacted a Donkey Farm Sancturary, called destiny Boonah

Eco Cottages to see if they needed free help. Heike, The owner was gorgeous but didn’t need anyone right now, though she asked to keep my number. It turned out Sherria was helping out there! Talk about birds of a feather. Sherria, an ex nurse, was also about to travel, but southwards to Western Australia. However, before doing so, she had begun getting sponsers for a cause she was deeply committed to, Lyme Disease, to display ads on her van- . Wonderful, Amazing Woman!

It had been wonderful to meet Sherria and be invited to park at her place, (Queensland generosity) but I had also heard from another good friend, earlier in the day that I had actually met and spent some time with on my travels so far. Remember Gordon, Scottish, ex Navy at Brou Lake? Well I’d kept up with his great postings on Facebook and I really wanted to hear all about his fabulous travels. Gordon is an awesome traveling companion!  Easy going, cheerful, always a story or some much needed advice or help. And,exceptionally compassionate and understanding of others. My Fibro does not always let me do what I would like to. Sometimes I need to lie down rather than walk, sometimes it’s the other way. Gordon never pushed it. PLUS he was an animal lover!!!  I couldn’t wait to meet up again. 

We agreed that we would meet up at the Royal Hotel, Harrisville, just up from Boonah. A pretty little  place, full of history, which allows you to park at the lawned back area, near the creek. We spent a lovely night over a few lagers and some chips, trying to catch up as much as we could. But so much had happened, we needed a bit longer. So we agreed to travel together for another couple of days. Have to say, although it is nice to travel on your own as it allows you the freedom to do what you want when you want, having a traveling companion like Gordon definitely takes some beating.

The next day, we had chosen to go to a place called Manna Gum Reserve, up in Main Ridge National Park for the night. Gordon loves the Gorges and the wilder areas and so do I. But as it was a relatively short drive, on the way we decided to have a look at Lake Moogerah. So glad we did! This place is stunning! A man made lake rather than a natural lake, it has wide grassed areas and landscaped gardens so beautiful I imagine this must be a popular venue

for wedding photos. But there’s a lovely walk over the Dam for visitors which is nice, and panoramic views of the forests and mountains surrounding the lake. Plus some awesome little covered picnic tables! We decided to have our lunch at one of them, overlooking the deep blue waters where the odd speed boat skimmed swiftly by, towing a raft of giggling children in its wake. It didn’t bother the kookaburras there though. They were too intent on our meal.

It was such a shame to leave Moogarah, but we did. And so onto  Manna Gum. The drive there was so diverse. First we climbed the Mountains on the Cunningham Highway. Little Stu (Gordon’s mature but plucky campervan) was having a bit of trouble in the old accelerator department. Which meant considerable slowing  of speed going up the hills, followed by a huge burst of energy going down. But Gordon and Little Stu had become used to each other, and Gordon knew well, how to get the best out of him. The next stage saw us traveling through flat countryside

towards Warwick, turning off to Allora, then doubling back onto a narrow road which developed into a rough but accessible, dirt road. The farmlands around here were handsome. So many horses and fat, calm cattle grazing slowly in the wide paddocks, with an increasing backdrop of densely wooded mountains. They barely lifted their heads as we passed, totally safe in this peaceful world. Then, once on the dirt track, the fences stopped. The horses had disappeared, but not the cattle, who continued to mooch about, snuffling the undergrowth for the

tastiest morsel, even if it meant standing on the edge of the road or meandering over to the other side. The look they gave us said it all. This is OUR territory. You play by our rules. We were going so slow anyway to avoid all the potholes and streams rushing over the flood paths, there was no way we would have hit anything, whether it moved or not.

When we finally did arrive it was late afternoon and the tall trees hummed with birds as shadows started to deepen.  There were several tents and caravans there already, but plenty of space for the Grey Chihuahua and Little Stu to huddle together. Gordon went for a walk on the paths there, but I, alas, needed to rest a little. I felt for Gordon – he deserved a better  companion. However, as always, Gordon was easy and just went off on his own to explore. By the time he came back I was much better, but the glade was now deeper in shade and getting quite cold! As a matter of fact, it had been really cold for the last three nights, so, as we cooked tea, Gordon said he would go and get some firewood for the firegate behind us. These firegates were dotted all over the campgrounds for every camper.  Unfortunately neither of us had axes to chop our own woods (yep- we are GREAT campers) but Gordon said he  had noticed a sign for firewood at a café he'd seen , on the road as we entered. Alas, things NEVER go to plan.  Glitch one...Gordon had quite a journey that night, as the first café was closed ...and the one after that ....and the one after that! But, never daunted, this staunch Scot, made

a second journey later still. And this time…success! One was open and it had Firewood. Glitch two...A slight drawback was that there were no slim pieces of wood, as we had expected, to start a fire with.  Instead we had one tree trunk cut into several one foot logs! Not good. Nevertheless, Gordon did marvels with the huge pieces of wood that came out of the bag. The fire was roaring, the night sky lit with sprays of stars and I had great company and so much to talk about. What more could anyone want?

The next day we had to say goodbye in Warwick as Gordon made his way south, for the next  six weeks, and I made my way to my next housesit, up north, in three weeks. I was never any good at goodbyes I’m afraid. Especially as I could have done with another few days of his company. I felt choked as I gave him a quick hug and wished him well, then jumped into the Chihuahua and sped away. Two things I do hope happens. One, that I don’t lose contact with such a great friend and, Two, that Gordon WRITES HIS OWN BLOG. Honestly this man can describe things so well, he makes you want to be there. I really want to read the rest of his adventures.

Friends are the Family you choose.
The Grey Chihuahua