He’s Home - Wishes do come True

Nearly two years ago out of strange circumstances we had come to stay with us from Sydney a beautiful Samoyed Dog named Toby. He quickly found his way into our hearts. How could you not love him, just a beautiful natured dog. All samoyeds are known for their nature but he was just unbelievable.

It was to be a three month stay but three turned in to eight months and we started to feel that he may be with us indefinitely but sadly we had to say goodbye.

To our surprise we recently received a phone call telling us that Toby in the twelve months he had been back in Sydney was not happy and would we like to have him back. So he was missing us just like we missed him. In three days we were at the airport to pick him up and it is so good to have him back. It might be just over twelve months since he has been here but he has not forgotten us or the life he had here or the fact that his name has gone from Toby to Koby.

Straight back into bringing in the paper.

Then there is sitting with Poo for that morning coffee and planning the day ahead

In the car and ready for a drive

We started breeding Samoyeds in the early 70’s so any wonder that both daughters who don’t live at home have Samoyeds of their own.In the last month we have been babysitting Moscow and Mikesha from Sydney and we have a semi-permanent border in Kimba while Constable Plod is at Cape York for six months. So what a full house.

We have now made a car trip to Sydney to return the southerners to their brand new home so life is a little quieter and there is just a little less white hair all through the house but we wouldn't change it for the world. So we are back to three and little Heidi doesn't feel so outnumbered now.

It is just so good to have him back, especially knowing this time, he is ours forever.

Not a lot of trippping for a few weeks till we take off for Cairns to then fly to Cape York to spend a week with Constable Plod. Looking forward to that.

The Scenic Rim

Seems ages ago that we had two trips to “The Gorge” within a reasonably short time.

The Gorge at Aratula is a “primitive” camping area, one step up from bush camping, but still a delightful place to spend some time. We all know its the company we share campsites with that matters most, and our two trips certainly filled this bill. Our first was for our 4wd Club Christmas party and being retired, a group of us ventured up earlier in the week for some R & R. Happened to be one of the hottest weeks of the summer and the only cool place was spending the days in the creek. Nothing like watching a lot of retirees floating down on tubes having a ball.

The creek that flows past the camping area

Our second visit was with our group of friends we call “The Old Farts” We make a habit of camping Monday to Friday as this is the best time for getting away and having peaceful campsites. No weekend warriors to annoy us. Being such a hot summer we again went back to the Gorge thinking we would be able to spend our days in the creek. But alas, they were not letting water out of Moogerah, so the creek was not running. Lucky for us the weather was nothing like it was in December and it wasnt at all hard to fill in our time.

We decided on a day out and went driving up to Moogerah Dam for a looksee.

Good to see water in the dam, but since this trip, all the rain in Southern Qld has added a lot more

A great view of Cunninghams Gap from here

From there we spent some time driving through the district and then after a walk through the town of Boonah we went to the Dugandan Hotel for an enjoyable lunch. After that a trip up to Mt French to admire the view.

An easy way to spend a day and add to the great week.

Ten Days at the Beach

I always say that if you are going to holiday at the sea, you must be right at the beach, no point in having to walk too far to dangle your toes.

Well you can’t get much closer than this. We have just had ten wonderful lazy days with ten of our friends, camped right on the beach at Double Island Point in the Cooloola National Park.

How good is this

The view from the camper trailer window as we woke up each morning

The rest of the mob

Time was spent relaxing with some fishing thrown in and a day trip half way through to restock the food supplies and enjoy a counter lunch at the surf-club at Rainbow Beach.

One morning we ventured over the Leisa Track to the Bay to spend some time swimming and walking the rocks.

Half of the group chasing the sun down the beach one afternoon at happy hour.

Only thing missing was our nightly fire, with a Total Fire Ban that was out of the question. The Weber Baby Q got plenty of use for all our meals and the customary scones , bread and carrot cake. So once again, thanks for the great company, ten most enjoyable days of fun and laughs.

To the Gulf and Home Again

Its remarkable just how much you can do in a few days.

I left Brisbane last Tuesday morning for Mt.Isa aboard the Flying Kangaroo. Constable Plod had returned to the Isa from her holiday at Alice and the Rock so she met me and we left at lunch time for Normanton.

Naturally a quick stop at the Burke and Wills Roadhouse before continuing on

Then to Normanton. Funny thing, Monday night both in different places and both thinking of the Gulflander Train and both searching the web. Great minds think alike. Timing couldn’t have been better as it leaves Normanton at 8.30 each Wednesday morning for Croydon. So 8.00 am saw us at the station ready for our day out

It was a very interesting trip to Croydon and no mail or deliveries this morning, our only stop other than morning tea was for cattle on the line

Arrived at Croydon round 1.30 and then some relaxing time to take in the sights (and the pub) . What a nice little town.

Then back on the bus to Normanton where we took in the Big Croc and of course a photo of probably one of the most photographed hotels in Australia

We then decided that seeing we were just so close to Kurumba we might as well make the effort and have a look.

So the tent was down so fast and we headed for the water. Made it to Kurumba in time to get my tent up again and be ready for the sunset. And what a wonderful sight to be sitting at the Sunset Hotel looking out over the Gulf.

A beautiful meal at a local restaurant finished off what was a most enjoyable day.

We left in the morning and drove back through Croydon again and Mt.Surprise and decided to spend the night at Innot Hot Springs. That was also a wonderful way to spend the evening.

From there we headed through Ravenshoe and Milla Milla and down to the coast to just south of Innisfail. Through the outskirts of Townsville, to Charters Towers then to Clermont for Friday night , Mundubbera Saturday night and we arrived home yesterday morning. At least I did, then Plod had to go on from here. So in five and a half days we travelled a fair distance. Thanks for having me along for the ride, I enjoyed it immensely.

Back to the River

It doesn’t take much for us to head for our favourite camping spot. A mention by a friend at a 4WD meeting that he would like to try out his new caravan bush camping soon had four couples making tracks to the river for five days of relaxation. Two vans on their maiden voyages so plenty to keep the men happy fiddling and tweaking.

The river always looks good

Acting like teenagers floating down the river on tubes, gee this retired life isn’t bad

Poo and the dog enjoying themselves

Good chance too for me to try out the new Webber Baby Q.

Bread was the first try. Made a great small loaf, just perfect for Poo’s lunch

Then carrot cake for morning tea. Cooling, waiting to be iced. Delicious

We also cooked scones, a larger loaf of bread and a roast and all other meals for the five days were cooked on the Webber. Not a failure. Definitely, a good investment. Lives up to the accolades given it on the forum.

So another great time with once again, great company as always. We are so lucky to have a wonderful haven so close to our homes. Yet as we sit round the fire, you could be miles and miles away from civilization.

This week sees me flying to Mt.Isa to spend a week driving back with Constable Plod who has just enjoyed a holiday to Alice and the Rock. So its tenting for mother and daughter as we make our way back through Qld. Wonder what I’ll have to report on that trip?

Lasting Memories

Well, that’s another adventure over. We left our ship in Longyearbyen on Tuesday morning and after many connections which had us landing at Tromso, Oslo, Copenhagen and Bangkok we finally arrived in Sydney on Thursday morning. We spent the night with our daughter and son-in-law and then back to Queensland on Friday arriving home at 5.30 pm.

Our memories we will always have ,but just a few things

The feeling of coming “home” to the ship after each zodiac excursion

The wonderful zodiac excursions with great guides, Quark really know how to pick their expedition staff

The reality of only going ashore with our guides and each of them with a gun enforces just what dangerous territory we were moving in but their training meant that any danger was reduced to a minimum. It was brought to us on the last day when a group of our walkers came across a bear at eighty metres. But there was a zodiac nearby to extract them. In all the years Quark have never had to kill a bear, and this is a very serious situation as all bears are protected and if that should ever happen, your holiday is over , whether it be the first or last day, and its a return to port, with very serious consequences.

The colours of the icebergs

And that first coming on to the pack ice and seeing the mother bear with her two cubs and the seal

Wow, what a trip and was it worth it, definitely yes. Like we said before we left home, we didn’t think the scenery would surpass the Antarctic, and we still agree that nothing can beat what’s down there in the south but nothing could take away the thrill of those bears. We were so lucky to see so many and so close.

Really one should not try to compare the two, they are both beautiful but they are both so different. As the saying goes, they really are "poles apart”

I.m sure our bear is saying “See you again next time”

Poo being Poo

No need to tell you what sort of a time Poo had.

Whether it be out doing what he enjoys most

Watching icebergs from the zodiac

Wishing he had Chivas to go with it

He might have slept on the way back to the boat but he was straight back on the computer to download

Never to be outdone, no fridges in the cabins and hot beer from Longyearbyen, he soon found a way to overcome. It might have been 20 odd degrees in the cabin, but out on the window sill it was still freezing