Gin Gin

Saturday 17th
Just a day of driving , popping into Gladstone. We are not use to all these towns being so big. We kept driving and found a great free camp spot at Gin Gin. As we stopped early enough we decided to try out our shower! I thought we might not get to try these before we got home. It worked really well. We got everyone showered with just 2 shower bags. Our tent was really warm too and we used the water out of our 20L that was sitting on top of the car and was a little warm. You can't see the shower bag as it is hanging down inside the tent but we tied it onto the corner of the awning. Next time we are going to try it on top of the car to get it  a bit higher. 

Our shower!!!
At the toilets here there is a mark on the outside door that shows the flood levels in January. This would mean that the water would of been up to Tim's waist in this picture. It's hard to believe. 

Rockhampton

Friday 16th
In the morning a lot of the caravans left the camping spot so we moved our caravan into a corner, out of the way, unhitched and headed into Rockhampton to have a look around. First we went to the visitor centre.

This Cockatoo entertained the kids for ages. It was able to copy a lot of what they said and even told them a few things! He obviously enjoyed the kids and their excitement.

An Auston 7 was also at the visitor centre. We definitely couldn't fit all our family in that.
Then we went to the Botanical Gardens.  There is a small free zoo there so we had lunch and had a look.

 Everyone was very excited that we got to see a real Cassowary. We have seen a lot of signs on the road telling us to watch out for them but hadn't seen any in the wild. So in a zoo was good enough. They can attack you in the wild so it probably was a good thing we didn't come face to face with one.

 These Chimpanzees were funny to watch. They climbed right up the top of the wire at the same time as eating their veges! Very clever.

 These parrots were at the kiosk. They were funny to watch as they nearly went all the way in the milk shake cup. They took it in turns and really didn't care about the people around.

We then drove up to Mt Archer which was specky. At different points you could see for a long way in all directions.

This is over looking Rockhampton.

Last of all the boys and Tim went to a playground while Kimberly and I went to Woolworths.

 I think Manning is getting a free ride.

This was called the monorail and the kids had a great time on it but were exhausted when it was time to go.

It was about 5:30pm when we got back to the caravan and we had to unpack the shopping and put it away which is always a big job. So I went flat out and everyone kept out of my way like they would keep out of the way of a hurricane! Even though I was going fast I really tried not to make any mistakes as it could happen so easy. We would have to have tea in that time too which was hot chicken as they were on special. As I was packing away one of  kids were laying on our bed playing lego with their legs on the lounge. Someone had put the strawberries, the precious strawberries that I rarely buy as they are expensive but on special this time, on the lounge. In no time at all this happy lego player had swung their legs and kicked the strawberries on the steps. AHHHHHH! I raced to save them and only lost 1 out the door. That child was told to please be careful of their feet. I then kept packing away and someone had put the bag with the yoghurt on the lounge. The kid with the happy legs was still in the same position and again kicked the yoghurt out the door. AHHHHHHHH! Another thing I love! This time the yoghurt lid cracked a little and we lost a little yoghurt but not much. It could of been a lot worse. So inbetween unpacking and packing away I cut the chicken up and the salad for tea. All was going well. Manning was hungry so I asked him to bring out the container of chicken and salad and he did an excellant job of getting them to the door and I saw out the corner of my eye someone doing a backflip off the freezer and perfectly kicking the salad container out of Mannings hands and straight out the door!AHHHHHHHHHHHH! Now I stopped and looked at the salad on the ground and first of all thought it is going to take me a long time to cut up some more along with feelings of anger, I give up, noooooo, but then another thought slipped in there before I flipped out. You don't need salad for tea! I don't need salad for tea. My kids will still be healthy even if they miss out on salad tonight. So I chose to go with that last thought and not worry about it. I believe that God gave me that last thought so I had an option  to either cause tension in the air or just go on and everyone stay happy and I remain calm. Once I made that initial decision I know God helped me continue on that line of thought and allow all those feelings that were rising up to just be let go and have no affect on me. God is great at helping us with our decisions, giving us options then helping us follow them through. I REALLY like that.
So that ended a big day out.

Yaamba

Thursday 15th
We have magpies around now. Haven't seen magpies for quite a while. I think from about Townsville we started seeing them again.
We packed up and hit the A1 highway again. Compared to WA and NT it is SO more populated. People everywhere and big towns and little towns all the way. Amazing. We drove till we got to Yaamba and pulled in there for the night. A lot of caravans again. Tim got talking to a couple from Kangaroo Island.

Our van and again clothes hanging out to dry.

Platypus

Wednesday 14th
Finch Hatton Gorge was nice. We had to do a lot of walking and sometimes climbing over rocks across the river but we were all able to do it. We didn't have our bathers on but if we had everyone would of had a swim even though the water was cold. The walk was through dense rain forest most of the time but the walking track was well made.

The walking trail.

The first waterfall. Very nice pool.

The kids are on the other side exploring and Tim this side.

A lizard we found inside a log. He is about 30cm long and was happy to pose for a picture.

This is a strangler fig tree and we are seeing a lot around. Apparently the seed lands up in another tree then sends down roots to the ground and around a host tree. So the start of the tree is up the top of the picture and is the left trunk going out. The main original tree has it's trunk right in the ground and goes all the way up.

Would you look at those muscles. That's why I married him!!! Manning and Baylee there considering if they could climb it.

This was the other waterfall and the kids again did some rock exploring and got a little wet!

We found this lizard climbing the tree. He was about 60cm long.
After lunch we went to Broken River at Eungella National Park to try and see a platypus. The road  there was steep and windy! We got there and straight away saw a platypus. He/she was small and it quickly swam around then dived under water. We moved onto the viewing platform and saw heaps of turtles and an eel! Eventually we saw a platypus from here too and it swam quickly from a log to it's burrow in the side of the river.

This bush turkey was distracting us from looking for platypus!

On the way back we stopped at the Sky Window lookout and that was spectacular!

It was too far away to see our caravan but it gave us a good look at the valley.

After we were down the windy hills Ethan has a very true statement to share with us all. I really can't remember how this came about but it made the car load roar with laughter. Ethan " I like cow patties made with meat much better than cow patties made with poo! Cow patties made with meat are so yummy" . Just funny. Like you would even compare the two.
There are signs in the toilets where we are staying that say please keep the doors shut so no unwanted visitors come in. Please turn lights off when you leave to keep away unwanted visitors. Then there is a sign to explain this and we are very happy to keep the door shut and the lights off! Lights attract insects. Insects attract frogs. Frogs attract snakes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is our site with the hills in the background. There has been smoke coming from them all the time we have been here as I guess more burn off is required. This morning an anonymous person left two new packaged McDonalds coke glasses on our table outside for us which was a nice surprise. The kids have wanted us to get some but we hadn't and then they turn up on our table. We just need to get them home without breaking them.

Finch Hatton

Tuesday 13th
Kimberly spent last few hours with Ella as they were heading on too.

Kimberly and Ella.
I asked some last questions about the theme parks on the Goldcoast that I had thought of over night then the McCrorys  headed off north and once we got all packed we headed south.
Today we drove past the big Mango!
We drove into Airlie Beach for a look. A lot of people and houses and shops and boats! Very flash! But we kept going.   We stopped at Proserpine for lunch. Then onto the Mackay area to find a spot to stay. Kirsteen McCrory told me that they saw Platypus in the Eungella National Park. So with a bit of driving around we finally ended up staying at Finch Hatton showgrounds for $20 a night. Electriciy, toilets and showers! fantastic. Again heaps of space for the kids to run around!

Moving Monday

Monday 12th
Saying goodbye to Bluewater Park we headed into Townsville to fill up our 4.5kg  gas cylinder and got it filled for $18. The price of these has varied a little but nothing too bad.
Still a lot of sugar cane on both sides of the road and at one point out in the paddock that had just been dug up we saw 2 Brolgas!!! On all our travelling we have only seen 3 Brolgas.
We stopped at Ayr for lunch at the big snake! Every town has a big something!

You can only see Josiah, Kimberly and Baylee  in this one. 

Zane, Josiah, Ethan and Baylee. Baylee tried going up the neck but it was a little slippery.

This big bridge was the Burdekin Bridge that goes over the Burdekin River. The latest word in our car is berderkin. It's a word we have made up and it means anything the person wants so it was funny coming across the river named that but it is probably pronounced differently.
At Gumlu there was a big watermelon and a big pumpkin!!! Just drove past them. No photo.
So making a decision to stop was a bit tricky as it wasn't very long after lunch but it was either stop early or stop quite late due to no camping spots inbetween.  We made the decision to stop early, a bit after 2pm, and we were very happy we did. The McCrory family came and introduced themselves as soon as we got to the camp spot and they were great to talk to. Again most of the time the most helpful information comes from other travellers. They are going the opposite direction to us so we swapped information and had a long talk about each others holiday so far. Kimberly quickly got to know their daughter Ella and they both had a great time talking and just having girl time which is a little absent from this family. The boys try as they sometimes let Kimberly paint their nails!!


 

Succesful Sunday

Sunday 11th
We visited Beaches Church which was only 10 min down the highway. Very friendly bunch of people and used some songs that we use to do as teenagers which was fun. The kids enjoyed their kids church and came back with fishing lines they made. It was then off to Hungry Jacks for lunch. That was next to Willows shopping centre so we popped in there as there was a dinosaur display.

These dinosaurs were moving so Manning was a little worried at first. Baylee , Ethan and Zane are in this photo.

You walk through this mouth! Baylee and Kimberly in the front and Ethan and Manning are behind.
We then headed back to our caravan and Tim got onto fixing the car while our very helpful neighbour is still here.

Zane and Josiah helped Tim. Zane is here in this picture. Tim was so grateful of our neighbours help and finally fixed the noise so we are happy to keep on our way. It really was a God thing getting a spot to camp here. I was wondering why all the camp spots before this one were full when we were looking on Wednesday. Then coming into this Bluewater Park, it looked full but this guy waved us down and said we could pull in in front of his van, and this is now the same guy that has helped us SO  much with the car. God knew and what I could of got frustrated about, the other parks being full, has turned out to be a huge blessing. Ahh He wants to look after us ALL  the time in everything.
The kids have spent a lot of hours in the playground here and have learnt some tricks on the swings.

 Baylee has done a complete back flip off the swing landing on his feet. In this picture he is upside down about to flip his feet around!

 This is Kimberly jumping off the swing, flying through the air.

And this is Ethan also jumping off the swing but he twisted like a cat in mid air and lands on his feet like spiderman.