Jewells On Tour – Page 9 – Cycling Around the World

Main

Saturday 17th August

By admin on Saturday, August 17, 2019

We decided to stay in lightening ridge for another night. We spent the morning wondering around the various Opal gift shops and went down a Opal mine.the landscape is overtaking with dirt piles extracted from under ground it really is a barren.The afternoon was spent driving around the area looking at the makeshift homes the miners have made for themselves. I’m sure that very few have found their fortune.a interesting place to visit but harsh conditions to live permanently. This house was made out of beer cans. And I’m not sure I like some of the roads.Or even cope with the toilet.

Tonight after dark if we’re brave enough (if it’s not to busy, we chickened out yesterday ), we will visit the hot springs bath and star gaze, the skies are awesome, But it still is very cold at night the water is supposed to be a constant 40 degrees and it’s open 24/7 and free let’s hope tonight we are the only ones there late.

Main

Friday 16th August

By admin on Friday, August 16, 2019

Another sunny day in paradise. We’re inland and don’t have the luxury of a sea breeze but it’s lovely not getting to hot.

We drove to lighting ridge calling in on dirranbandi and Hebel on the way both small out back towns.

Dirranbandi an old railway town used to transfer cattle across country, now more of a tourist town filled with people and caravans.it provided a welcome coffee break. Then the road to Hebel passed cotton fields and just a long road sat nav told us to head south for 100 miles and yes there was nothing in between but we did spot some emus

Hebel a tiny town a stagecoach rest it’s all corrugated still buildings with a interesting pub furnished with reclaimed materials apparently it hasn’t changed for over 100 years we were talking to the new land lady and she said that they wouldn’t change anything but was in the process of giving it a good clean.

Lighting ridge for the night. a bigger town surrounded by Opel mines. we are thinking about staying here 2 nights and taking a tour of a mine tomorrow. it’s full of little Opel shops and has a hot spring and we are in no hurry.

Main

Thursday 15th August

By admin on Thursday, August 15, 2019

Another 200 miles heading south today. We broke the journey up by stopping in small town Roma. Here they have planted lots of bottle trees in honour of lost soldiers. They make a lovely avenue.it also has a old tree in town that we stopped to admire.

Before we moved on to tonight’s camp in St George. Stopping briefly at a road side rest spot to stretch out our legs. In land we have the roads to ourselves apart from the odd truck.our walk today was into town and back. The campsite had a happy hour where everyone sat around a fire listening to a guy sing along to the acoustic guitar, but we were the youngest there and the songs he was singing was way before our time so we decided to give it a miss. Anyway we’ve not had internet for a while so I needed to catch up.

Main

Wednesday 14th August

By admin on Thursday, August 15, 2019

We have gone north as far as we want to on this road trip. So today we started to head south. We followed the highway up so now we’re going to move inland south. What’s the point of revisiting places when there is so much more to see. But 1st a walk along a route recommended by Tracy.

We drove around 200 miles and found a campsite in a town called taroon beside a river, so tent up we followed the river walk into town to buy some supplies for dinner.

Along the way we chatted to some elderly ladies walking dogs who fell in love with mike and offered him somewhere to stay, I guess I’ll just get dinner for one then!

Back to the camp kitchen we had our meal. That’s another thing Australia does better than America every campsite has a outside kitchen with fridge, kettle, sink and b b q some even have microwaves and stoves. Every campsite so far has been clean and all have been around £10 a night. Shame it gets dark at 6 and the mozzys are around. So early night with my kindle.

Main

Tuesday 13th August

By admin on Thursday, August 15, 2019

Tea and cereal breakfast to follow a lovely nights sleep, unfortunately today we have to say our good byes. It’s been lovely staying here Anne and John our lovely. They are going to England for a visit in October and our planning to meet up with dad,hopefully they can report back all good about meeting mike and I!.goodbyes over we head north to seventeen seventy the place where captain cook first landed. So another beach walk and tea stop.

Tonight we are lucky enough to have another nights accommodation provided by instagram friends. Tracy and Stephen the internet is brilliant complete strangers offering places to stay for free. We’ve been instagram friends over a year following their cycle tours with their dog rocket. It’s great to meet up with them.

We had a brilliant evening chatting about cycle touring and traveling with a dog. both mike and I would dearly love a dog so we had lots of questions. Wine and home cooked food went down to well and the night was finished off for me with a face mask as Tracy is a beauty therapist.

Main

Monday 12th August

By admin on Thursday, August 15, 2019

A lovely warm comfortable night in a bed luxury, it gets cold at night here so it was so nice sleeping in a house. We helped ourselves to tea and toast. Perfect start to the day. Anne and John offered to take us out for lunch, buy a fresh pie and eat it on the beach followed by a walk sounded perfect.

We spent the morning relaxing and booked our flights to New Zealand. Mike is loving the pies another thing that you can’t get in America. Apparently there is over three thousand different pies. He had a chicken and pineapple one.

Another beach walk loving this life style I can see why the Brit’s choose to move here. Then home where Mike and John went out in Johns e type jag.

More drinks and a home cooked curry finished off the day nicely.

Main

Sunday 11th August

By admin on Thursday, August 15, 2019

We drove from Maryborough to Hervey Bay which is close to where a long lost relative of mine, my Dad’s 1st cousin lives. They recently have reconnected and Anne would love to meet me. I was very young when she left Wales for a new life in Australia. She has very kindly offered to put us up for a couple of nights.

First we need to do our walk, we arranged to get to their house at 3pm. Plenty of time. We walked along the seafront and along a very long pier. I always think it’s strange walking a pier after all they are always a dead end and then you have to turn around and walk back. Pointless but everyone still does it including me.Walk done time for a little sit down and a cup of tea. America you just can’t get tea it’s all horrible strong coffee.

Relaxed and refreshed we headed to Anne and Johns house. They were lovely and made us very welcome. It was nice listening to stories about my dad growing up and his family, dad hasn’t really spoken much about his family but he is back in touch with some of them now.

They took us out for a drive around the area and we got to see our first kangaroo

Then back to be spoiled with a home cooked meal, gins and tonics and more chats late into the night.

Main

Saturday 10th August

By admin on Saturday, August 10, 2019

We weren’t traveling to far today and both of us our feeling fat and sluggish. I can’t remember the last time either of us did any exercise and were feeling it.

So the plan was to find a nice place to go for a walk. Looking at the map there’s a place called Tin Can Bay right next to a beach called rainbow. A good a place as any we headed there.

A beautiful coastal walk, we walked about 3 miles that’ll do for a start.

Then onto the town where we have pinpointed a campsite for the night. Maryborough, the buildings our very deco but a bit shabby it has a good feel about the place. We stopped in a coffee shop and watched the world go by.

The author of Mary poppins came from here and there are little signs of her all over the town including the pedestrian crossings. Cool.

Main

Friday 9th August

By admin on Friday, August 9, 2019

We left the Pacific coast highway for a bit today as we had heard about a small town just west of the coast Nimbin. This is a real alternative type town full of vibrant colours and cannabis shops. It was the host of the Aquarius music festival in 1970 and it still has that feel about it.

We wandered around the shops and had a cup of tea before moving on. The road took us through stunning countryside, winding around the mountains until we joined the Pacific coast highway again.

We couldn’t find a campsite for tonight so we have ended up in a room above a bar in gympie.

There is a d j playing until 2am and our room is directly above him it’s loud but hopefully I will manage to get some sleep.

Main

Thursday 8th August

By admin on Friday, August 9, 2019

Still following the coast north. Past banana plantations and masses of sugar cane crops we arrived at campsite number 3, Byron bay. This is a real surfers place all the people are young suntanned and long haired. I feel old.

It’s got a good vibrant feel about the place and has lots of buskers and street traders.

The beaches long and has golden sand for miles, the bay is overlooked by a pretty little light house.

This is the busiest campsite yet it’s packed but the weather is perfect and the town boasts its summer all year long, you can see why.

So far every campsite has been clean and well equipped so far so good.