Yeppoon to Hervey Bay

Hello all 
Sorry for the long pause between posts, but I haven't been idle or lost.
Just a reminder for those that don't know..........if you click on the photo's you get a bigger view.

After leaving a wet Yeppoon I headed South towards Gladstone. Gladstone, apart from the need to be part goat to live here(very hilly) is not a very attractive place. It is basically a mining port and support for mining.

Gladstone

Gladstone

With the inland areas still having pretty cold nights, and having a parcel and mail waiting in Hervey Bay, I headed straight down the highway to the Bay.

This meant skipping Tannum Sands, 1770 and Agnes Waters, but after leaving Hervey Bay I will double back to Gladstone before heading inland to Carnarvon Gorge filling in the gaps.
I have been in Hervey Bay nearly a week now............had my in dash Sat Nav/Media Player fitted, caught up my Cousins here and also Kevin, Tanya and Rob from Palomino RV Australia where I purchased my Camper nearly 2 years ago now.
Upon chatting to Kev, I mentioned that while I was here I was going to book a Whale Watch Tour, to which Kevin replied, Rob and I are going fishing on Saturday, why don't you come along? we may see some Whales.
Well, what a day it turned out to be..........................
First we headed out of the Marina towards Pelican Bank.

Leaving the Marina at Hervey Bay

off Hervey Bay heading for Fraser Island

Passing a Whale Watch Tour boat

Pelican Banks

The weather turned it on for us, but while the calm clear conditions was lousy for fishing, it was top class for Whale watching.

Pelican Banks

After a fruitless attempt at fishing in Kevin's secret spot, we headed to Fraser Island.

Kev's 23 footer moored in Coongul Creek, Fraser Island

Kevin from Palomino RV having a rest on Fraser Island

heading back out Coongul Creek

We headed out to the Whale watching areas with things looking a bit grim, and then out of the blue the Whales appeared.

our first view

All of a sudden we were surrounded by 3 Whales, at one stage all three were under the boat!

whales at Hervey Bay

a Whale under the boat

at one stage we had 3 whales circling the boat

Heading up to us for a look

Then the most amazing thing happened.............the whale pictured above swam right at us and probably about 4 metres away rose out of the water, had a look at us, then slid gracefully backwards after checking us out.

coming in for a look

checking us out

checking us out

synchronised swimming

We then came across another Pod of Whales,  showing off for us. They knew we were there, and just put on a display for us, which was amazing. they frolicked, they did upside down swim pasts, they did on the side swim by's and lots of fin slapping.
Quite a show in fact.............

saying hello

on the side swim by

whale at Fraser Island

saying hello

swim past

After a while this Pod decided to come in a lot closer to check us out..............

just showing off upside down

coming in for a look

waving upside down

they kept coming closer to look at us

REAL CLOSE

One of the Tour operators, a friend of Kev's said this is called "mugging" We certainly were being mugged by these whales.................I just kept saying to Kev.........."I think we need a bigger boat"

 After being "mugged" it was time to head back towards Hervey Bay. But first we made a stop at Woralie Creek on Fraser Island.

Kev's boat at Woralie Creek

kev "acting the goat" at Woralie Creek, Fraser island

Woralie Creek, Fraser Island

Woralie Creek, Fraser Island

An absolutely AMAZING day was had and I can't thank Kev and Rob (and Tanya, for giving Kev a leave pass to go fishing) from Palomino RV enough for this very enjoyable day.
Rob took an awesome video of one of the whales "fin slapping" I will get a copy off him and post it on my next update.
In a couple of days I will be heading back up the Coast to 1770 and Agnes Waters, before turning inland to Carnarvon Gorge, so stay tuned....................
Bye for now

Bowen to Yeppoon

Hello all
Since Bowen I am heading South reluctantly.......nights are getting cooler as are the days. I an not enjoying theses 21-22c days and cold nights one bit after a few months of hot days and warm nights. I have even had to dig out an extra blanket for the bed!

I liked Airlie Beach, it had a good feeling to it, not overly spectacular but felt good. Unfortunately at $40/night and no free camping I didn't stay as long as I would have liked. I have found the whole coast pretty expensive, and not very inviting to staying longer.

After moving down to Sarina, I found more greed. A quite nice park but they just kept cramming them in. By nightfall I was close to descending under the next person's awning to exit the steps on the rear of my Camper and was blocked at the front. Thank God there wasn't a Fire! 

The run from Sarina down to Rockhampton was pretty dull, with not much to be seen, which was good as all eyes were needed on the road. I have found the truck drivers becoming more aggressive. I used the UHF to tell one driver "how the hell do you expect me to pull over when safe, to let you past when you are sitting so #$%$$#### close you can't possibly see my indicators............." there was silence from the radio and he backed off.
I have ordered a new intergrated Sat Nav/media player/ bluetooth for the ute and that has arrived in Hervey Bay ready for me. I will update more on that when I have it fitted.
Upon studying the maps here in Yeppoon (in the rain) I can see no simple way of seeing what I want to see without doubling back. So this means I will head straight down the highway to Hervey Bay for a week or so and get my new Media System Fitted and catch up with my Cousins there and also Kevin and Tanya at Palomino RV who are keen to see how their product has held up under the punishment I have given it.
After a break at Hervey Bay, I hope the nights have warmed enough for me to tackle Carnarvon Gorge and the Roma area.
Bye for now  

Bowen to Townsville back to Bowen

Hello all
I headed back to Townsville for a few days to have a look around, as I only overnighted there on the way through. The last time I was here was probably about 1986, so things have changed a bit since then.

 I had booked a few nights, so took the camper off to give the ute a bit of a rest.

Magnetic Island from Castle Hill Lookout

Townsville looking South

Townsville looking North

Rowes Bay from Castle Hill

Well, the rainmaker has stuck again................after 5 days of retail therapy and 50mm of rain it was time to think about making tracks and heading South. If your area needs rain let me know...............over 100mm of rain in Alice Springs, 35mm of rain overnight at Mount Surprise, six days of rain in Cairns, now 50mm in Townsville I am considering hiring out my services as a Drought Breaker.
 

Gloucester Island off Bowen

 After over 20,000km and just over 6 months on the road, I have seen a lot..............so
I have decided to introduce a "What pisses me off" segment.

What pisses me off #1

A free/cheap ride for those not needing it.
To clarify - local councils pandering to the wealthy traveller by providing low cost or free accommodation to people with self contained rigs.
In my opinion if you can afford to by a motorhome worth over $100,000 or a caravan worth over $80,000 and a tug to pull it worth $50-60,000 or more why should you be given preferential treatment?
Example 1
Home Hill Queensland
The Home Hill Showgrounds provide powered sites for self contained rigs for $15/night
Yes, there is the free comfort stop in town but what if I would like power on an overcast day like today? the only option is a Caravan Park for $29/night.
Example 2
Julia Creek Queensland
The Julia Creek Free Camp, provided by the Council is available only for self contained rigs only. My only option is to book into the Council run Caravan Park at $20/night single rate.
You can stay in the Free Camp for 7 days then you can move to the Caravan Park for $15/night double rate to fill your water tanks, use the washing machines and charge everything up.........just doesn't seem FAIR to me.
On top of that the Council run a Free bus out to the Free Camp on Monday nights to bring everyone into the Caravan Park for a $10.00/head two course dinner.

I love a cheap/free camp as much as everyone but these councils are pandering to the people who don't need it.
I am self funded and am travelling on a tight budget but I cannot get all the lurks and perks that people travelling in well over $100,000 rigs get. 
It is the budget traveller that needs a hand, but the Councils are catering for the well off!
This is my Blog, and my opinions, and no correspondence will the entered into.

That's my rant for today people, moving on.....................
Tomorrow I am heading to Airlie Beach in the Whitsunday's for a day or two.
Bye for now

Ilfracombe to Bowen

Hello all
After a pretty cool night in Ilfracombe (6c) I headed off to Barcaldine.

Barcaldine is the site of the 1891 shearers strike, and it was under the Tree of Knowledge that a deal was brokered, ending the strike.

Tree of Knowledge

This led to the formation of the Australian Labor Party, in 2006 it was Classified as a significant site, in the same year (2006) it was poisoned by round up by persons unknown, and died. the stump is now protected from the elements by a grotesque structure.

Tree of Knowledge

2006 also marks the LAST good idea or policy the Australian Labor Party had............and the poisoning also affected all the Leadership Team. As you may have guessed I, as an Australian, am ashamed of the debacle we have been subjected to over the last few years by this bunch of clowns................enough said, my opinion..............moving on.

Artesian Hotel Barcaldine

I am now in 'transit mode' back towards Townsville to pick up the Coast where I left to head for Isa.

I will be heading back through this area after Townsville, so am skipping lots with the plans of a slow trip back through and spend a lot more time exploring. I have a parcel arriving in Townsville and the Ute is due for a service, so I plan on a few days with the camper off to run around town.

There will be a bit of covering the same ground twice but after six months and over 20,000km it is inevitable for this to happen. I am currently in Bowen for an overnighter and will head to Townsville tomorrow.
Bye for now.