We slept well and woke at 6:15am. We started packing up and after brekky, we were ready to leave at 7:54am
First port of call was the Dump Point to empty the shitter. We headed towards Winton but we stopped numerous times for photos. First stop was at the Hamilton channels (9:02am after 80kms), then we drove through the 4 water across the road sections. Next stop was at a Rest stop (10:06am after 70kms) followed by a stop at Middelton (10:48am after 45kms). Marg bought some sangas for lunch. Next stop was at a Rest Area (11:59am after 80kms) before arriving in Winton at 1:35pm after a total of 368kms. Before we stopped at the Tatts Hotel and CP, we filled up with fuel.
We drove to the Tatts Hotel, where we pay ($30) for a powered site. I was buggered and hot, so we only connected power and water, NO Sat dish, we used the TV antenna and we received TV, SO Marg was happy, she can watch House Rules tonight.

During the arvo, I walked over the road to the Pub and had a very pleasant hour sitting at the bar, having a few chilled refreshers. The barmaid is unbelieveably good. She plans to leave in November, so get there before.

Dinner was Mr McCain's pizza, it was nice.

This is our latest itinerary:

• Tue 17th May - Winton - an overnighter.
• Wed 18th May - Barcaldine - an overnighter.
• Thu 19th May - Emerald - an overnighter.
• Fri 20th May - Gracemere - an overnighter.
• Sat 21st May - Gin Gin - an overnighter.
• Sun 22nd May - Hervey Bay 5 nights all booked in.

Tomorrow, we pack up and drive the 288kms to Barcaldine.

I was buggered after yesterday's drive and was asleep before 8pm, consequently, I was awake before 6am. We slept well and Marg woke about 6:30am and laid in bed while she was waking up, watching Kochie. We had brekky, packed up and we were ready to leave at 8:05am
It was good to get back onto a "A Class" roads, I have had enough of the single bitumen and gravel roads. I notcied while checking the tyre pressures that the fiver could do with a couple of PSI, they usually run at 50psi and were down to 47-48psi, SO we stopped at the BP on the outskirts of town and solved that problem.
There weren't too many photo opportunities en-route. I planned to stop at Morella for our 1st rest, BUT when we got there, it wasn't the place I thought it was. I had confused Morella with Morven. Dickhead!!
SO we drove on to the next rest stop (9:55am after 157kms), as we pulled in, the cattle truck that left Winton just before us, pulled out. Seeing as I stuffed up our 'pitstops', we decided to stop at the Roadhouse (10:20am after only 24kms, just near the Longreach CP that we have previously stayed in), for a coffee. We ordered coffee and 3 homemade sangas for lunch (they would have to be the nicest sangas that we have bought from a Roadhouse. Absolutely YUMMA). I also bought a bag of ice (I put crushed ice down our toilet which goes into our 150 liter black water tank and while drive along, the ice 'slushes' everywhere keeping the inside of the tank clean (hopefully). Someone told me this and I do it frequently, the ice melts and when you empty it. It's gone. A brilliant idea.
We arrived in Barcaldine at 11:56am after a total of 287kms. As we pulled into town, I was going to get fuel, but a tanker was filling the tanks, so I would come back later.

We pulled into Barcaldine Tourist Park, paid $29 for a powered site, Delma took the money and Brett showed me where to park. Again I cbf to erect the dish and Marg was happy with FTA TV, so I only connected power, water and sullage. We ate the sangas which were the freshest I have tasted in a long time. The rest of the arvo, I drove into town to top up, Marg had a nanna nap and I managed a 'lie down' mid arvo, but it turned into a nanna nap, but only a short one.

At 5:30pm, Ray Thompson entertained us with his singing, which we joined in. It was great.

Dinner was spagetti on toast, something easy but YUMMA.

This is our latest itinerary:

• Wed 18th May - Barcaldine - an overnighter.
• Thu 19th May - Emerald - an overnighter.
• Fri 20th May - Gracemere - an overnighter.
• Sat 21st May - Gin Gin - an overnighter.
• Sun 22nd May - Hervey Bay 5 nights all booked in.

Tomorrow, we pack up and drive the 312kms to Emerald.

We slept well and I woke and got up about 6:15am, Marg got up at 7:00am, after laying in bed watching Kochie. We had brekky, packed up and we were ready to leave at 7:45am
There has been 'bugger all' traffic this whole trip, today was no different. Our first stop was at Jericho (8:53am after 87kms), while stopped there, we spoke to two guys who had just driven from Brisbane to Mount Isa to buy an original 1973 XA Falcon Hardtop, which needed heaps of restoration. It cost them $20,000. I told them about my 1974 XB GT Hardtop which I purchased new. We spoke for 20 minutes, before they walked off to buy a coffee and we headed towards Alpha. Our next stop was at Alpha (9:35am after 55kms), as we pulled in a cattle truck passed us and the boys towing the XA Falcon, also came past. Our next stop was at Bogan ville, sorry Bogantungan (10:30am after 67kms) and we arrived at Emerald Caravan Village at 11:42am after a total of 307kms.

We paid $32 plus a $10 key deposit. We were put on site P2, setup power and water, had lunch. I tested out the showers, it was beautiful. After lunch, we drove over to Woollies, had coffee and donuts at Donut King, before doing a small food shop. During the arvo, I setup the Sat Dish, so Marg was very happy, as she could now watch her favourite TV show - Dance Moms. About 5pm, we had happy hour with our neighbours (Len and Dianne). It was very nice.

Dinner was Marg's famous nachos. They were YUMMA.

This is our latest itinerary:

• Thu 19th May - Emerald - an overnighter.
• Fri 20th May - Gracemere - an overnighter.
• Sat 21st May - Gin Gin - an overnighter.
• Sun 22nd May - Hervey Bay 5 nights all booked in.

Tomorrow, we pack up and drive the 260kms to Gracemere.

We slept well and I woke and got up about 6:15am, Marg got up at 7:00am, after laying in bed watching Kochie. We had brekky, packed up and we were ready to leave at 8:18am
As is normal, there was 'bugger all' traffic today. Our first stop was at Blackwater (9:17am after 76kms), our next stop was at Duaringa (10:23am after 84kms) arriving at the Gracemere CP at 11:53am after a total of 262kms. What a beautiful, lush grass park, with a million ducks on their creek with heaps of water lilies.

We paid $32 and were put on site 37, setup power and water and Sat Dish, had lunch. I tested out the showers, it was beautiful. After lunch, I drove to the Car Wash and gave the mighty Navara a bit of a wash with the high pressure hose, it cleaned it a bit BUT it needs a proper wash when we get to Southport. Hopefully, one of our boys will help me. Jay, Lukey, I am waiting.
Mid arvo, we both managed a nanna nap.

Dinner was Mr McCain's pizza slices. They were nice.

This is our latest itinerary:

• Fri 20th May - Gracemere - an overnighter.
• Sat 21st May - Gin Gin - an overnighter.
• Sun 22nd May - Hervey Bay 5 nights all booked in.

Tomorrow, we pack up and drive the 260kms to Gracemere.

We slept well and I woke and got up about 6:15am, I let Marg sleep until 7:00am. We had brekky, packed up and we were ready to leave at 7:51am
As we entered the Bruce Hwy at Rocky, the traffic increased accordingly, but still wasn't much. I managed to set cruise to 85kph and got to Mount Larcom (8:48am after 76kms) without holding up the traffic at all. BUT after that I had 2 truckies catching me and seeing that there were not many passing opportunities, I then set cruise to 100kph and let them pass me on the "Overtaking Lane". After Mt Larcom, we drove another 49kms before stopping at a Rest Area(9:28am). Our next stop was at Gin Gin (11:11am after 141kms). Last night we decided that today, we would stop at Gin Gin for an overnighter BUT as we stopped at the last Rest Area, I rang Marilyn at Scarness CP and asked whether we could arrive today, even though, we were booked in from tomorrow. She said that she could put us on a different site. I told her that I would give her a "hug" when I arrived. At Gin Gin, we topped up with fuel and bought 3 sangas for lunch, but I couldn't park anywhere, SO we drove to Childers (12:02pm after 56kms) and stopped in their Van Park area and had lunch. We had a major dilemma, the sangas that we bought at Longreach a few days ago, we said they were the freshest. Well, today's were even fresher, if that's possible. They were YUMMA. That is the sort of dramas that 'old farts' like Marg and I have to contend with. Major stress.
We arrived at Scarness CP at 1:29pm after a total of 394kms.
As I paid $235 for 5 nights ($47 per night) plus a $20 refundable deposit for the amenities. As I walked out, Marilyn and I 'hugged'. She is a top woman.

We spent most of the arvo setting up with power, water, sullage, half an awning, Sat Dish, clothesline and Marg's naughty room PLUS getting my bike ready for tomorrow's ride. When finished we were knackered.

As we were setting up a guy (Bevin) walked up and introduced himself, he has been following this website for a number of years. We were rapt that someone actually reads it. I hope that you and your friends had a great dinner tonight for your wife's birthday.

Dinner was Mr McCain's Lamb cutlets for Marg and I just had a couple of 'chilled refreshers' with cheese and bikkies. They were nice.

Tomorrow, I am going riding and we will do a food shop BUT for the rest of the day, we plan to do Sweet FA or Less.

We are all setup at Hervey Bay, so we are in no hurry to do anything. I can go for a ride and Marg can do whatever she wants to do, while I am riding.
We slept well and I woke and got up about 6:15am, had brekky, got dressed into "cycleman" and after saying "Bye to Marg", I left camp at 6:51am and headed towards Point Vernon, then back past camp, out to the end of the Urangan Pier, down to the Hervey Bay Boat Club, out along the breakwater then coming back along "Links Corridor" which is the shared path that runs beside Boat Harbour Drive and stops just after Woollies at Pialba, then I head back to the beach, accessing the beach shared path at the Bat colony and then follow the path back to camp.
Here is my link to today's ride.

I entered the CP at 9:55am but stopped to talk to Bevin. He invited us to drinks later today.
Finally, I got back to camp at 10:39am. Boy, can Bevin talk or was it both of us.

After showering, Marg and I went to the Bay Plaza for some food shopping at Woollies, had a coffee had Zarraffa and on the way home, showed Marg the bat colony, she couldn't care less. During the arvo, I watched the V8s, Lowndesy came 8th.
About 4pm, we walked up to Bevin's camp and we chatted and drank and had a great time.

Dinner was toasted ham, cheese and tomato sangas. Something easy. Very Yumma.

Tomorrow, very similar if not the same as today. I am going riding and we will go for a coffee BUT for the rest of the day, we plan to do Sweet FA or Less.

This appears to be our norm at Hervey Bay, I get up about 6:30am and go riding, getting home around 9:30am, while Marg sleeps in and does whatever she wants too.

SO we slept well and I woke and got up about 6:30am, had brekky, got dressed into "cycleman" and left camp at 6:46am and headed towards Point Vernon (7:21am), then back past camp (7:41am), out to the end of the Urangan Pier (7:58am), down to the Hervey Bay Boat Club, stopping at Chit Chat (8:08am) for a coffee, then out along the breakwater (8:33am), then coming back along "Links Corridor" which is the shared path that runs beside Boat Harbour Drive and stops just after Woollies (9:21am) at Pialba, then I head back to the beach, accessing the beach shared path at the Bat colony and then follow the path back to camp (9:31am).
Here is my link to today's ride.

Now, did I just imagine meeting Bevin, as I walked past his site, it was empty. Was it all in my imagination. I wonder.

After showering, Marg and I walked over the road to our local shops. We stopped at "The French Bakehouse" for coffee and a monstrous Brownie. It was yumma. We walked up the street and went into Tinkerbells (they sell gems and crystals, their gems were stunning and so were their prices). After I managed to get Marg out of Tinkerbells, we walked over the road to the little jetty, took phgotos, then walked back to camp through the shallows. It was very refreshing.
We had lunch and Marg was first to have a nanna nap followed by me, but I only had a short one.

Dinner was Marg's famous mini mes. Very Yumma.

Tomorrow, very similar if not the same as today. I am going riding and we will go for a coffee BUT for the rest of the day, we plan to do Sweet FA or Less.

This appears to be our norm at Hervey Bay, I get up about 6:30am and go riding, getting home around 9:30am, while Marg sleeps in and does whatever she wants too.

SO we slept well and I woke and got up about 6:00am, got dressed into "cycleman" and left camp at 6:33am and headed towards Point Vernon, took a photo of the Lorikeets on the bird bath, then back past camp, out to the end of the Urangan Pier. Here the birds were everywhere (Georges, Egret, Osprey and shag), then over to Chit Chat at the Hervey Bay Marina, where I had coffee and their toasted egg and bacon sanga (not that good), then out along the breakwater, then coming back along "Links Corridor" which is the shared path that runs beside Boat Harbour Drive and stops just after Woollies at Pialba, then I head back to the beach, accessing the beach shared path at the Bat colony and then follow the path back to camp (9:15am).
Here is my link to today's ride.

About 11:30am, we walked over the road to our local shops. We stopped at "Mr Seafood" and ordered Barra and chips, then walked over to the beach, found a seat in the shade with views over the water. We ate it surrounded by seagulls, then walked back to camp through the shallows. It was good fun.
Back at camp, we then drove 20kms to Australiana Cottage Crafts, Marg wanted to check it out, at least she only spent $25. On the way back, we topped up with fuel and air, in preparation for our departure on Thursday.

We both had a nanna nap during the arvo. At 4:42pm, Marg told me there was some action on the beach, see photos. They were freed at 5:20pm. It was exciting at the Caravan park, most of us were sitting outside, with a chilled refresher watching the efforts to free them.

Dinner was Marg's famous mini mes leftovers from last night.. Very Yumma.

Tomorrow, very similar if not the same as today. I am going riding and we will go for a coffee BUT for the rest of the day, we plan to do Sweet FA or Less.

Today is our last day in Hervey Bay.

We slept well and I woke and got up about 5:45am, got dressed into "cycleman" and left camp at 6:13am and headed towards Point Vernon, then back past camp, out to the end of the Urangan Pier. Then over to Chit Chat at the Hervey Bay Marina for a coffee, then out to the end of the breakwater, then coming back along "Links Corridor" which is the shared path that runs beside Boat Harbour Drive and stops just after Woollies at Pialba, then I head back to the beach, accessing the beach shared path at the Bat colony and then follow the path back to camp (9:15am).

About 10:30am, we drove down to the Pirate Cave, then back to "The Frenchy Bakehouse" for a coffee. Back at camp before noon, I asked Phil the manager, whether I can wash the mighty Navara. Phil said you can wash it all day, so I washed the Navara, then the back and left hand side of the fiver plus the wheels. After that I packed up some of our gear with the remainder being done in the morning.

Dinner was Barra'n'chips from Mr Seafood, after yesterday's lunch, we wanted more. SO we had it tonight. Very Yumma.

Tomorrow, we are doing an overnighter at Caboolture, so we have a short 120kms to Broadwater Tourist Park on Friday.

We slept well and I woke and got up about 7:00am, I let Marg sleep until 7:15am. We were in no hurry to leave, so we took our time. Had brekky, packed up and said goodbye to our neighbours (Brett and Maryann) and were ready to leave at 8:46am
First stop was at the Hervey Bay Info centre (9:02am after 7kms) on the outskirts of town, to empty the 'shitter'. We headed into Maryborough and found the Bruce Hwy and headed South. We went with the 'flow' varying speeds between 80 and 100kph. In some parts the Bruce is smooth as and in other parts, it is absolutely 'shithouse'. After going through Gympie and doing a number of 'handbrake starts', we eventually came across the 'Matilda Fuel/Visitor centre at Kybong' (10:56am after a further 131kms). We always stop here as it is a good rest stop with a wide range of food. We had an early lunch, I had 2 egg and lettuce sangas while Marg had a cornbeef sanga, they were yumma. We continued on our way to the Bribie Island turnoff, the sign there was misleading, it said do a sharp turn, (check out today's route map) BUT Tom got us to the Caravan park (12:56pm after 112kms). The Caboolture River CP is 99.9% full of permanents and don't really cater for tourists. Consequently, our site backs onto the Caboolture river, sounds good, but is overgrown and I honestly expected to see snakes. So far, we haven't. The only positive, is its location. Reading reviews on Wikicamps on closeby Caravan parks, the reviews are mentioning police and bad things. We don't need that, so we chose this park.

Assuming that we are still alive in the morning, we will only have 120kms to Southport and that was the whole idea of stopping here, instead of driving nonstop to Southport, getting there mid arvo and doing a FULL SETUP which takes hours, at least tomorrow, we should arrive about 11am and then do a full setup.

Dinner was spagetti on toast, something easy, it was yumma.

Tomorrow, we have approx 120kms to Southport, where we drop anchor for 30 nights and see our 'little' boys and their families. Marg reckons that she is more excited to see them than I am. I doubt it.

We slept well and I woke and got up about 7:00am, I let Marg sleep until 7:30am. We were in no hurry to leave, so we took our time. Had brekky, packed up and were ready to leave at 8:45am
We didn't need to stop at all and the traffic flowed well, so we arrived at Broadwater Tourist Park at 10;16am. After parking the fiver in the exact spot that I wanted, we began a FULL setup. This comprised winding out the awning, attaching the anti flap bars, sliding the front and rear walls and the side wall into the awning and anti flap bars. Connecting our BIG sullage tube to its caterpillar stand. We laid the grass matting on the floor of the annex. Connected Marg's naughty room under our bed, connected the 12v fridge in Marg's room, setup my bike ready for a ride tomorrow and did a few loads of washing after setting up the clothesline and finished by erecting the Sat Dish.
All done and I 'shouted' dinner tonight. I drove over Marine Parade to Maccas and paid for dinner. It was nice.

We are now here for 40 nights, so we plan to catch up with our boys and their families, also I plan to ride daily.