23rd to 28th Back to Queensland - Texas

            Monday 23rd
We left Ashford this morning heading back into Queensland, going only about 34km to Bonshaw weir by mid morning. A free camp beside the Dumaresq river with a weir across it, making for a pretty place to camp for the night, not to mention I can light a camp fire to cook dinner on.(Yeah!!)

Bonshaw weir on Dumaresq river

Dumaresq river with Bonshaw weir

 

     We had a lovely swim in the river below the weir and watched the fish under the road bridge, I felt like getting the fishing gear out but decided the fish were only Carp! a pest fish which cannot be returned to water - dead or alive, must be destroyed and buried (or similar), so I gave the fishing a miss. We experienced a pretty sky when a bit of storm threatened but nothing came of it except for some nasty gust's of wind.

Stormy sky at dusk - Bonshaw weir

Dot and Yip exploring at Bonshaw weir










Prickly pear cacti at Bonshaw weir covered
with ripe fruit

     Went for walk up the gravel road to see what was there and found a specimen of prickly pear cacti which I thought was huge to what I have seen before today, it was covered in ripe red fruit. Very tempted to pick some but my last experience with these fruit left me in a little pain, with both hands full of very fine prickles, hence the name prickly pear!!. Pain only lasted an hour or so, not life threatening! A very pretty plant in it's own way.


Further up the road next morning this view came into the camera's lens. It is farm land, with a crop unfamiliar to me, being irrigated and the sign on the gate said Emu Plains Farms.

Emu Plains Farmland at Bonshaw weir

 An interesting interlude on our travels and very pleasant evening.

          Tuesday 24th


warning to travellers when entering Queensland

     Off to Texas this morning and across the border to Queensland. Left Bonshaw weir at 9.15 and arrived in Texas at 8.36, back to normal time and have to reverse our clocks by 1 hour. Settled in to the Texas Van park at $24.00 per night intending to spend a few days here.

     This sign just before Texas is a warning to all who love furry hoppy animals - just don't keep them. (Could be costly!!)

Riverside freezing co.
Texas
Rabbit processing works

     They used to process rabbits here in Texas, way back when there were so many of them it was worth while going to the trouble of hunting them down.
     The processing and freezing works building is still here although only a museum piece now.






Texas Memorial Hall

     There are some lovely old buildings in the town, this one of the hall is a beaut!
     Most of the residences are fairly old, some falling in to disrepair and some lovingly restored as well.
     Texas has all you would need to live happily, another great country town, this one seems to be surviving better than some we have stayed in.




Dot at Dumaresq river near Texas

                              

     The town is next to the Dumaresq river which is a bit short on water but still managed to find a hole big enough to have swim. Still pretty and this photo with Dot and the car look good.
     The Qld/NSW border is only a couple of kilometres south of Texas, the river is on the border, if you are on the south bank you are in N.S.W and on the northern bank - in Qld.

           Thursday 26th
     Lazy day today.
      We will continue our slow journey north tomorrow, which will bring us to the end of another month by Saturday.
      Stay tuned next month.
    

11th to 23rd Time spent in Ashford



One of the many Park area's in
Ashford

      Had a great time in Ashford, friendly people, lovely climate and plenty to keep me occupied.
     Swimming for the pup's, bowling for Jim at the club over the road, MacIntyre water falls and Limestone caves to peek at and to top it off, the Ashford Show which I had a look at.


     The parks are a wonderful way to exercise the dogs, Dot and Yip both enjoyed frolicking around them.





Pretty fancy Letter box

     Spent many hours walking the streets of Ashford, with a population of 570, there isn't much left here in the way of business, even the Pub closed down a couple of years ago. The roadhouse doubles as a grocery store/takeaway, there's a post office/library-come information centre, a chemist, rural supplies, a cafe and the bowling club with a great public swimming pool.

     While out on one of our walks we came upon this letter box, well, I thought to myself, that's just lovely, so a photo it became in my album.
                                          Later in the week I drove the dog's about 30km out to
                   Kwiambal National park which has in it's boundary the MacIntyre falls. (Strictly speaking the Pup's are not allowed in the park, but we went anyway)



friendly neighbourhood artistry in the letter boxes on the
MacIntyre falls road Ashford

    


     On the road out were many letter boxes of all sizes and shapes, I have compiled a collage of them.
     Crazy - funny - unique, I found them quite quirky and a product of the locals competitive nature I guess.

MacIntyre falls Ashford

    



     The rock formations on the river banks at the falls are colourful, the water not flowing much but still a small fall to see trickling into the plunge pool below.


     Also in the same direction are some limestone caves, which are home to 2 species of small bats. I had a look but didn't venture in too far as the literature about them asks not to disturb the bats at certain times of the year and this is one of those times


     The weekend of 21/22 February is the annual Ashford show. Despite a not too likely weather forecast for the weekend, the show must go on. And it did!
     I found my way to the showground on the Saturday and looked around for and hour or so. very nice. I have some pictures of the local produce and flower competitions, not hug,  but really well done and proudly displayed.

     That was two weeks thoroughly enjoyed.    Come Monday morning we head off north again.



1st to 10th Bingara to Ashford

               Spent the last couple days relaxing, but readying for a move.

Finally on Wednesday 4th we departed Bingara, heading for Inverell via the Copeton Dam road.


Departing Bingara

   
      I couldn't resist a last picture of the Bridge over the Gwydir river which  we crossed many times in the Jimny and our bus as we headed off for the last time from Bingara.




Copeton Dam

     Didn't take long to reach the Copeton dam where we stopped to have a gander and take a few photo's. The dam is only about 20% full at present and it still is impressive, would love to see it when it is choka's full, awesome I reckon!!

We sped on to Inverell where we firstly picked up a new solar controller which Jim had organised from Jaycar and made our way to the Inverell caravan park. Booked in for 2 nights at $30.00 per night. spent the next couple of days shopping and some business and house chores.



fountain of the Macintyre river at
Inverell

Early reflections on Macintyre
river at Inverell

  


      Did some  walking with Dot and Yip in the morning and afternoon and these 2 photo's,  the first on the right, of the fountain in the Lions park on the day we got there, the second of  the reflection of the bridge over the Macintyre river in the early morning sunrise.

             Friday 6th


Ashford's main street

     Travelled all of 70km today ending up at Ashford caravan park, another little country town which is, sadly, slowly dying. The pub has closed down and the main street has mostly empty shops. There is no industry here but a nice bowling club, swimming pool, medical centre, Ambulance, fire services and a police station. Only a population of about 300 or so residents. A lovely town, pity there isn't much here to keep it going. I took a picturesque photo of the main street and the rose gardens which run down the middle of the street.

          Saturday 7th
    Drove out to the Pindari Dam this morning in the Jimny to have a look, taking time on the way to check out a free camp at Wells Crossing, only 7km from Ashford. The camp site looks very nice and we will probably move out there this afternoon. Pindari dam is another which is suffering the long dry in these parts and there isn't much water in it. Still enough to attract heaps of campers with small boats, doing their own thing, skiing, fishing and just having fun.


Pindari Dam New England region NSW

     We had a drive around then went back to Ashford to pack up the bus and move to Wells crossing.

        Sunday 7th + Monday 8th

The river at Wells Crossing

    
     After a cool start to the day it couldn't get any better, weather wise, spent the day in and out of the river swimming with the pup's and having a ball.

     On Monday I tried my luck at catching one of the illusive cod that I know are in the river, but to no avail, no fish for dinner (AGAIN!!)

This photo of the river is not bad, the camping area is on the bank to the right of the picture.


     Tuesday 10th
     Decided to move back to the van park at Ashford today, with the price only $13.00 for a powered site we will enjoy some time at civilisation. May hang a round for few days, catch the next instalment when I know what's going on myself.

Race day at Bingara 31st January

     Last day of the month,  we spent the afternoon at the Bingara Cup Race Day. Jim had the favourite in the Calcutta which was drawn at the RSL the night before but it didn't do any good, picked up a winner in the 3rd. He had a great day.


Race 1 at Bingara Cup day

   

 The pups and I had the best seat in the house on the corner of the course watching from outside,(can't take dogs to the races), we had a ball as well.

the best pew on race day at Bingara

Dot and Yip at the Bingara races
"Who won that one?")

   



     The weather was beautiful for the day, the locals can be proud of a well organised fun day for the whole town.






     February is here and we are departing this beautiful spot in a couple of days time, (sadly in some ways) more adventures along the highways to see yet.