mumandpoo: April 2017

The Elvis Festival at Parkes, held every January has been something I have always wanted to attend. I decided that 2017 was going to be the year, so I set to to organise that we could have a group of nine vans. So with sites organized for us to camp at the Showgrounds and tickets booked for the headline shows, we made it happen. We spent the first night at the freecamp at Texas and then moved onto Bingara. Spent two nights there just relaxing by the river. It really is a great place.

We then moved on staying at Meendooran and then Terramungamine. Then on to Parkes where we set ourselves up in the Showgrounds.

They put a sticker on us and we enjoyed our week seeing the sights.

Of course you can!t go to Parkes and not visit the Dish.

Of course we were at the station when the Elvis Express came in from Sydney.
Even Elvis was driving the train
The shows put on by the special artists were wonderful.

The tribute show to Dig Richards was fantastic. Rob E G, Little Pattie and Lucky Star
Then of course there was the Street Parade. Never has Elvis come in so many shapes and sizes.

We left and travelled up the Newell stopping at the Golf Club at Bellata. Being Monday, their bar and bistro was not open for business but we did enjoy the beautiful view.

When we arrived home Koby was so pleased to see his mate.
It definitely was a great trip. So pleased I have now been. Something to do once in your life.

After our Cruise, we arrived home to someone who definitely missed his mate, after midnight but he just wanted lots of cuddles.

So nice to see that while we had been away, we had rain and it was green again.

The year was drawing to a close so it was time for Isabel to graduate from pre-prep.

So 2016 started out with some baby-sitting duties. The grandchildren over the holiday period and our four-legged grandchild while it's parents travelled to Antarctica

Easter was spent again at Kennilworth with our 4WD Club. Great times and good driving.

Rather than return home we decided to stay out on the road for the next four weeks till again we would meet up with the club for their weekend at Peach Trees in the Jimna Forest for the Anzac weekend. Our first stop was the freecamp at Kandanga. The town must be congratulated for what they have done here, a great camp and a wonderful place. Settled in for two nights so we could look around.And a good Kandanga meat stew in the Cobb.

We moved on to Maryborough.

While there we took a day trip up through Burrum Heads.

We spent five nights in Biggenden and made a day trip to the old Chowey Rail Bridge and Paradise Dam, then onother day we wandered through Childers. They have really made a lovely memorial to the Backpackers who lost their lives that dreadful night.

We moved on and stopped at Gin Gin for the night before spending two days relaxing on the river at Calliope.

Then it was Monto, Ceratoga and then Eidsvold, that being our shortest day of travel ever. 11 kilns. We set up camp in the Showgrounds at Eidsvold and made a day trip to Crawcow.

Gayndah was our next stop then Ban Ban Springs.

We continued south with camps at Nanango and Linville.

Then we stocked up in Kilcoy and the next day we headed up to Peach Trees where we settled in and waited for the club to arrive. A great five weeks away with lots of bush camping, just the way we like it. And once again a welcome home from our family.

Was only a couple of weeks when we were back to Peach Trees with the family. The first time bush camping for them and they had a ball. Never once asked for the Tv. Or a Jumping Castle. Wonderful to see. So much so, we were back at Wivenhoe a couple of weeks later.

Our next trip was south. Took our time and on the third day we met up at Enngonia with friends coming north. We had a great chat round the campfire.

Another good nights camp was at Cobar before we arrived at the start of The Great Ocean Road

On to Mt.Gambier and then the Grampians.

We made quite a few stops on the way home and most If possible were on a river bank.

On our last morning

Next trip was with the club on the Brisbane River. Great camp site. An enjoyable few days.

Then came grandparents day

We made a trip to Noosa, Koby,s favourite swimming spot. Johnson Park Cooroy a great campspot.

We took a drive to the "Cooran Tablelands"

The Celtic Festival at Boondooma Homestead was our next trip then from there we moved to Boondooma Dam to stay for a few days with friends. And once again a welcome home party.

We made another trip to Cooroy and Noosa after we had been to Caboolture to get our TVs aerial installed.

It's been 24 years since Poo removed the back stair handrails. New ones are back. So pleased.

September we celebrated a birthday, then in October a wedding.

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Great to have friends camping in our paddock

We spent a great weekend camping with friends and family at Bigriggen.

Then a great day trip with the 4WD club round the Duck Creek, O'Reilly's area.

Next outing was back camping for the 4WD Christmas Party at the Brisbane River. Also was great to have the grandchildren there when Santa arrived. Daniel couldn't wait to talk to Santa.