2021 - The Second half, lots of camping

   We went camping as often as we could, actually going 4 times in the second half of 2021, we had a ball.

Started with a shortish trip to Peter Faust Dam which is not far from Proserpine, a great 4 nights there, the fishing wasn't much, no red claw either but had heaps of fun and relaxation.

The sun rise and sets were beautiful, this taken over the dam.

This is our rig while at the dam, just before we headed home, it took us to many places.

August saw us at Theresa Creek Dam, we had the kayak and Jim used it to set the red claw traps, they were a bit few and far between but that's okay, it was always great being out on the water.

  Had a short time at home, catching up on house chores and the like.

           Early November to Eungella Dam, another beautiful spot only 100km from home, about an hour and a half drive. we had been here before and it was very windy then and it was very windy this time too, still a lovely few days though.  

Good friends spent a couple of nights with us, Robin, Bruce and their dog Sandy.

  Our wedding anniversary is in November, couldn't think of a nicer place to celebrate 38 years of happiness, camping with the one you love is great.

Late November we were off to Theresa Creek Dam again, this time it was my birthday.

We had a few drinks to mark the occasion.

Sun set from our camp site

That was basically the sum of our year (not really, we did do other stuff) it was a fantastic year, full of fun and laughter, the only way one should spend their days. 

Be happy, have fun, stay healthy, catch you in 2022

2021 The first six months - new camping rig and first trip to Kooroorinya

     Hello 2021, lots on again this year, many camping trips with our new van which we bought in the beginning of the year, did some small maintenance jobs and first trip was in May. But I'm getting a head of myself.

We found middle Creek Dam again in February and went for a drive.

Middle Creek Dam

A nice half hour drive for a swim and a lazy afternoon.

This is a (not so good!) photo of our Pop-top caravan we purchased in January, many great days to be spent in this great little home away from home!

Dot at the Beach

In between all the fuss and ado of Camping etc Dot enjoys many walks on the beach.

   In May there is a country race meeting at Kooroorinya, which is where we were in 2014 acting as the camp caretakers. 

This year we managed to go to the race weekend ourselves. We departed home with our new caravan late in April, a two-day trip to Prairie and the races. We had a ball, met with new friends and old, won a little money betting (don't tell anyone)

29th April we stopped at Home Hill for a rest and travelled to Ravenswood for the night.

Halfway at Home Hill for Smoko

Had a problem with the caravan, broke a spring hanger on the back road to Ravenswood, Jim managed to rig it so we could slowly make our way to Ravenswood where we spent the night, continuing to Charters Towers in the morning where we managed to get it fixed and continued our Journey to Prairie.

Prairie Hotel - Prairie

We had a couple of days here camping behind the hotel while we caught up with tom and Andrea, who own the hotel and Ton is the unofficial mayor of Prairie.

On Wednesday 4th we moved to Kooroorinya for the races on the weekend, set up our camp and relaxed for a couple of days.

All set at Kooroorinya

First race day on Friday. 

Dot and I at the races

Saturday was as good as day one. Had to have our picture taken in front of the race sign.

It was a fabulous weekend, as all good things do, it came to an end. We departed Kooroorinya on Sunday morning and travelled all day to home.

We were going to stop at Lake Elphinstone on the way for a night or two but on trying to find a place to rest up at Belyando crossing, discovered there was nowhere to camp, we continued to Mt Coolon, to be told we could rent a room there, costing $135.00!! buggar that, so one we went over the most rough and dusty gravel road we had ever been on. Tired and dusty we finally arrived home at 7pm. Parked the rig as best we could, had a drink and both fell into bed.  10 hours on the road, glad to be home.

Well, that was an experience and a half, we hope to go again next year.

In the meantime, there are many places to see and people to meet in the next half of 2021

See you there.

2020 - Parties, camping and all things good

 Let's look at another year - this one is full of exciting parties and good stuff.

Sunsets and sunrises are always beautiful. In June we had this lovely sunset. 

This photo taken from our front patio

Then, next month, the beach sunrise. 

 Dot is trotting along enjoying the morning

  

            

Jim turned 75 this year, we had a few friends around for a party. Got him a chocolate mud cake for his day. I think he liked it. We all had a great time.

     October, we went camping again at Theresa Creek Dam.

Here's Jim enjoying the sunshine and relaxing.

November was a very full month.

A few friends and myself had a fun day at the Tandara Hotel for Melbourne Cup Day, once again I got prettied up for the occasion.

My birthday, 64 this year. I had lunch at the Palms Restaurant, Sarina beach with some friends. 

They organized a cake for me. I am very lucky 

I have been busy over the last couple of years, being creative, making macrame hangers, playing with clay, making some nice pottery pieces. 

Now I have so many crafty items, decided to see if I could sell some of them at the local Sarina Showground Markets, held monthly.

So, it was a lot of work, very hot and I didn't do very well money wise! I tried, I fizzled, I won't do the markets again!!

That was a fairly hectic year, absolutely enjoyed each and every day, but it came to an end, 

as they all do.

Come again next year. 2021 - should be good!!

                             

 

2019 - Another year

 2019 we spent as much time as we could going camping. 

   In January we took a drive to Eungella Dam to check it out.

Having a look around @ Eungella Dam

It looked really nice, we planned to come up for a few days as soon as we could

In February we arrived, it was lovely except for the wind which seemed to blow incessantly. The fishing was okay, we had a ball 
We were pretty tired after setting up, nothing for it but to have a nap.

 Jim was good at cooking on the campfire

There is a great lookout which we visited to have a look at the view, it was fantastic! 

    It was May before we set off again, this time to Lake Elphinstone, we had visited this lake while we were travelling and was nice to see it again. Didn't get much in the way of Red Claw, we had a great time anyway.

   Here is a photo of our camp site.

The sun rises were really great too.

We got ourselves a kayak, a lot easier than the inflatable dingy we had at Elphinstone.

Took it for a trial paddle to Middle Creek Dam

It was great fun, easy to paddle around in, bit hard to get into and out of though, but we managed okay, will have a lot of fun in it, I think.

Vannessa in the Kayak at Middle Creek Dam

November arrived and decided to dress up for the Melbourne Cup Race Day. 

  Invited a few friends to join me at one of the local clubs, we had a great day.

       

Don't I look grand!!😏😊

        Well, 2019 has come to an end, look for 2020, coming to a place near YOU!!

                See Ya

2018 - catching up on 6 years past

                                                  Continuing my catch-up! 

                                                           2018

Here is a photo of Jims tinnie. He had a lot of fun in this, also managed to catch a few fresh fish.

We acquired a camper trailer to stop my itchy feet, now we can still go travelling. It was a great investment; we spent many hours and days enjoying the local camping spots

  A couple of our favorite places. 

Our camp at Rocky Creek Dam

One we visited was Rocky Creek Dam, the creek is salt water, tidal, fishing was no good, only caught catfish, no good to eat. 

There was a lovely wetland not far from the campsite, I took a couple of hours to enjoy this beautiful spot, so many varied species of birdlife.

Rocky Creek Dam Wetland

We spent 4 days camping here as it was our first trip. All went well.

Theresa Creek Dam

Another great spot we found is Theresa Creek Dam, 4 hours travelling from home 22km from Claremont. A lovely spot, our 2 dogs Dot and Yip had a great time,

Dot + Yip in camp

                                    As you can see, they are very relaxed at our camp. 

    A sad event in 2018, We had to say goodbye to one of our lovely puppies, Yip went to puppy heaven on 6th December, we miss her terribly. We looked after her 5 years, now only Dot to look after.

And on that note, 2018 has ended

It was a good year

looking forward to 2019

Bye for now

2017 - presently 2023 - Catch-up of the last 6 years, firstly 2017.

 Well 6 years has gone and we are enjoying life to the fullest degree!!

  In 2017 we sold our Mobile home, the whole rig actually, we are firmly ensconced in Campwin Beach.

We experienced cyclone Debbie in March, no damage for us but a big event, I have put a short video of it as it happened, taken from our front patio.

   In April there was a cancer council - Walk For Life Relay - in Sarina, I did the walk and raised about $500.00, it was a bit of fun and I did it for my Brother who last his life to bowel cancer.

Here I am on the day.

  In June we bought a new vehicle, Nissan Navara dual cab utility.

A photo of the old and the new in front of our house

Jim also got himself a tinnie, He had a great time fishing.

We discovered heaps of local wildlife, the annual whale migration goes past Campwin beach, that was really exciting, I took heaps of video and photos.

  Also, Turtles dig nests to lay their eggs later in the year from about November, I was very excited the first time I saw the tracks of them coming and going on the beach!!

Curlew and 2-day old chicks

   Another great sight were Curlew, when I saw the first set of chicks just recently hatched. They are a funny bird and highly protective of their young. they nest on the ground, so the eggs are lucky to hatch!

Life is Grand, ain't it!!

   I decided to have a party and invited all my newfound friends. I had a Kabab party, asked all to BYO drinks a kabab which I cooked for them. It was a great event, most of whom I invited came along, it was very crowded in the back patio. All was good though and everyone seemed to have a ball.

  That is our life experiences in 2017.  It was a great year and so many more good times to come. See you in 2018😄😄😄

Lifes a beach at Sarina

                                       Happy New Year
     2017 is here and life is grand.  Happily spending our time taking all things easy.

Bubbler Sand Crab hole and sand balls

Christmas, as usual for us, was fairly quiet.  The New Year arrived without fanfare and we are all having a ball at Campwin. Dot and Yip thoroughly enjoying the beach walks, playing in the surf, digging up crabs and trying to catch the small fish in the rock pools and waves.  
     The Bubbler Crabs on the beach are in the millions, they leave pretty patterns in the sand as they dig their homes and have to renew them each tide, very busy little creatures. The photo is of the smaller ones but there are lots of bigger ones as well, the balls of sand that they leave behind are sometimes as big as large gob stopper marbles (remember those?), the big ones are what Dot and Yip like to dig up, usually having a bit of a chase with them before they expire!!

Speckled Sand crab at Campwin Beach

      Yip has a lot of fun in the surf chasing the Speckled Sand Crab which we have found between about 1 inch to 2+1/2 inches round. They can swim and dig themselves into the sand quick smart, making Yip wonder where they have disappeared to.

Surfs up at Campwin beach

                       So life really is a beach for us at present, and we are loving it.

Very relaxed at the Christmas Carols at Sarina Beach

We had a nice time at the Christmas Carols at
Sarina Beach.  It was well supported, sitting on the sand with every one, even the pups seemed to enjoy the attention. 

Mini B-Double loaded for the dump

     Over the Christmas break we were busy cleaning up a part of the section, keeping ourselves out of trouble but totally worked out.   Jim had a tow-bar fitted to the Jimny and we hired a trailer to do the job.  All was well except for our overworked bodies.




          We have settled in to suburbia for the time being and all is well with us.   
                               Up date again in the future   Chow for now