Day 6: Sat 1 Jul 23 - Gladstone

Sat 1 Jul 23 - Gladstone 

Weather: 11 feeling 6 Deg this morning, warming to a very pleasant, clear sunny 23 Deg day with a slight breeze. 

Another latish start to the day with a 5km walk around Barney Point, returning for breakfast at the van, then up to Mum's to catch up with all four of my brothers - a very rare occasion. Mum had a Legacy Lunch to attend with her friends at Tannum Sands, and she felt bad about not being there with us, but from all accounts, she thoroughly enjoyed herself (as was expected, the reason we encouraged her to go). One of her friends was certainly very appreciative - see the note she wrote us below - just beautiful. 

After my brothers parted ways at about 1400, I climbed onto my bike for a leisurely ride around the harbour and the lakes behind the racecourse, then to Sun Valley to check out my brother Jason's new home before returning to the caravan - a lovely 23km ride. Jason met me back in town and we went down to Wards Brewery for a pint of their very tasty craft beer. I remember Wards Cordial factory when growing up in Gladstone, and Michael, the current owner has transformed the 100 year old factory on Auckland St into a very nice laidback brewery. The Summit beer was superb. Another pint was very tempting, but I decided to save it for tomorrow on my return from climbing Mt Larcom🤞. Back to Mum's where I cooked a Thai Green Curry Mud Crab and rice for dinner (Chicken and Chips for those with a seafood allergy), then back to the van to prepare for my hike up Mt Larcom in the morning. Another full and very pleasant day, and more great weather.


Barney Point Mangrove Walk - Queensland Alumina Plant in the background

Barney Point Mangrove Walk

Barney Point Mangrove Walk - Queensland Alumina Plant in the background


Barney Point Beach

Barney Point Beach

Barney Point Beach

Barney Point Beach

The former Port Curtis Dairy Co-operative built in 1929

Bike ride around one of the lakes behind the racecourse near Kin Kora - hundreds of Magpie Geese on the opposite side all bunched together

Bike ride around one of the lakes behind the racecourse near Kin Kora


A note from Pat thanking us for letting Mum go to her Legacy Lunch today - how beautiful!

Wards Brewery - one of the most flavoursome Craft Beers I have ever tasted. I have a strong feeling I'll be back tomorrow to try another. 





 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 63: Sun 27 Aug 23 - Lightning Ridge

Image
Sun 27 Aug 23 - Lightning Ridge Weather:  3 feeling like 1 Deg and clear this morning with a steady NE wind, reaching 26 Deg, cloudy and no wind by mid afternoon.   It was a slow start to the day, but after coffee, I went out for an extra long walk, about 1.5hrs to the information centre and around town, returning to the van to grab my towel and head across to the Artesian Baths for another dip. It was very hot again this morning, at least 40 Deg, and while sitting there, I struck up a conversation with a retired Vietnamese soldier who came to Australia in 1980. He is traveling in a motorhome with his wife who is unwell, and it was great talking to him and hearing his story.   After returning to the van to get changed, Noel and I   drove into the Main Street for our morning coffee. Having visited Lightning Ridge just two years ago, there wasn’t much more that we wanted to see or do, so the rest of our day, apart from an afternoon drive along a couple of the car door ...
Read more

Day 62: Sat 26 Aug 23 - Goodooga to Lightning Ridge

Image
Sat 26 Aug 23 - Goodooga to Lightning Ridge (Towed 75km) Weather:   5 Deg at Goodooga this morning, reaching 26 Deg at Lightning Ridge. Clear and sunny all day with no wind - more perfect weather.  I ventured out for my early morning walk as the sun came up, and then returned to the thermal pool for a very warm and soothing dip. It felt warmer than yesterday afternoon, maybe closer to 45 deg, despite the fresh morning air. Unfortunately one old guy collapsed at the edge of the pool and he was unresponsive for a few moments. I was at the other end of the pool, and there were six people standing next to him just looking on, but not one did anything to help him, so I rushed over. By the time I got there, someone else from outside the pool came to help me with him, then he started to come too. We eventually got him sitting up and leaning against a pole while he gathered himself, before he was able to eventually get back to his feet and return to his van. He didn't appear to hit hi...
Read more

Day 64: Mon 28 Aug 23 - Lightning Ridge to Molong

Image
Mon 28 Aug 23 - Lightning Ridge to Molong (Towed 472km) Weather: 13 feeling like 8 Deg at 5am at Lightning Ridge, reaching 24 at  Marthaguy Rest Area  (12pm) and 13 Deg on arrival at Molong (3.30pm). We were awake early, so we packed and drove away earlier than planned at 7.20am. There was almost no traffic in either direction, but the road for the first 200km to Coonamble was simply t errible, with lots of roadkill . We drove straight through Walgett, then stopped at a gravel pit for mornos at about the 150km mark, and then continued through Coonamble as well. As we approached Coonamble, the countryside transitioned from dry and arid to more green pasture and  evidence of recent rain along the road side. We stopped at  Gulargambone (240km from Lightning Ridge) to check out the artwork around town. It's a very quiet town with not much here, I  only saw one store open. We stopped here two years ago, and a walk around the small town was just as enjoyable today. J...
Read more