Our 6 nights at Baffle Creek was really good. We only managed to catch two mud crabs we could keep but at least we know we can sort of deal with them now. On the last morning, we decided to go fish at the mouth of the river. I almost backed out as I was getting really sick of sitting out in the sun catching nothing. At the last moment I decided to go as I wanted to take a look around the area and ended up catching our only fish-a 49cm grunter. The QLD grunter are a bream-like fish that is not related to WA’s nasty little bait stealers and are considered excellent eating (which it was!). We seasoned it, wrapped it in foil and cooked it on a hot plate over the camp fire pit along with some flat chips.
We are now at Miara Caravan Park an hour away from Baffle Creek and on the Kolan River mouth about 45ks from Bundaberg. The park is on the river and surrounded by cane farms. The nearest farm has a few cattle and two horses who wander the roads and paddocks of cane stubble whenever they like. They all seem to love the cane hay/straw and look as fat as mud. The park has a huge semi permanent section and most owners have erected elaborate protection over their vans and the whole site-they really are amazing. One very simple one with an old van somewhere underneath is for sale at $36,000.
After a one hour drive here on Monday and then setting up and getting the boat and trailer ready, we headed into Bundaberg for some lunch and shopping. We had an ok lunch t the local RSL club, drove round town checking out boat shops for motors and depth sounders, and did our grocery shopping at the largest Woolworths I’ve ever been in. Bundaberg (famous for sugar cane, macadamias, avocados, rum, ginger beer and other yummy things) is a really large and quite pretty city on the Burnette River. We’ll head back into town at least once more to visit a couple of things that were recommended to us.
Yesterday we headed out to do a bit of fishing-it seems the fishing is pretty light on so we were lucky to catch a fair sized bream and flat head which we’ll eat for dinner tonight. Russ is out pumping for yabbies right now so we can use them as bait later this morning.
The sea breeze comes in here and cools things down in the afternoon and it also keeps the sand flies away so I’m happy about that. My poor arms and legs are at least not getting any more bites. I got some non-drowsy anti histamines for the bites in Bundaberg and took them last night-I was non-drowsy until about 3 am!!!!!
We’ll be heading to Maryborough/Hervey Bay from here where we’ll spend about a week, then on to Noosa for another week we reckon
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Baffle Creek
Today is day 4 of 6 we’ll be spending at Baffle Creek which is roughly half way between 1770 and Bundaberg. It’s a lovely spot and there have never been more than 11 people here at any time, so I’ve had my wish for a bit of peace and quiet.
The area has been subdivided into mostly 40 acre blocks and we think this place is on two of those. There is 2 camping areas, one powered, one not and we are at the powered one. It has a few van sites, some camping sites, a couple of permanent tents and a couple of funny little cabins. The camp kitchen and toilet block are in the centre of all this. It is really good-I especially love the fire pit just beside it. Last night we cooked a chicken and vegetables in a cast iron Dutch oven over the coals. It was lovely to sit and watch it cook and tasted excellent too.
We were able to launch our boat in a small creek on the park, and then travel down it to Oyster Creek which then flows in to Baffle Creek. So far we have only fished and crabbed in Oyster, but today we have the boat out and plan to take it to Baffle for a look around it. It will be cheaper and faster for us to trailer it there. Our fishing and crabbing hasn’t been too spectacular. We are just using our drop nets to crab rather than the big expensive traps used around here. Russ says we have no more room for another net or trap and these ones are big. We’ve caught two crabs we’ve kept (I picked the meat and made sandwiches out of it both days) and yesterday although we caught 8, they all had to be returned. Two were enormous but female and have to go back here in QLD. We’ve caught quite a variety of fish-black bream, yellow finned bream, grunter, catfish, but all had to go back as they were too small.
The park owners left on Thursday for a few days away. A nice couple from Yeppoon is looking after the place and Cec has been great with trying to help us catch a mangrove jack which is the whole reason for this camps existence I think! He also taught us to throw our cast net so we can catch the live bait needed to catch them too. The net (which we bought in Darwin) came with instructions but neither of us could work out how to throw it. It’s amazing what one lesson with an expert can teach you!
Each afternoon, the owners feed the birds so there is an amazing variety of birds around here. There are shell ducks, bush turkeys, magpies, butcher birds, guinea fowl, doves etc, etc. Cec was a bit late feeding them yesterday, so every time we moved, they thought we must be about to feed them and all flocked around us!
The only down side to this place is the sand flies. Once again we are being attacked morning and night. I don’t seem to get as attacked as Russ, but he is better at not scratching the bites-I just can’t leave them alone
The area has been subdivided into mostly 40 acre blocks and we think this place is on two of those. There is 2 camping areas, one powered, one not and we are at the powered one. It has a few van sites, some camping sites, a couple of permanent tents and a couple of funny little cabins. The camp kitchen and toilet block are in the centre of all this. It is really good-I especially love the fire pit just beside it. Last night we cooked a chicken and vegetables in a cast iron Dutch oven over the coals. It was lovely to sit and watch it cook and tasted excellent too.
We were able to launch our boat in a small creek on the park, and then travel down it to Oyster Creek which then flows in to Baffle Creek. So far we have only fished and crabbed in Oyster, but today we have the boat out and plan to take it to Baffle for a look around it. It will be cheaper and faster for us to trailer it there. Our fishing and crabbing hasn’t been too spectacular. We are just using our drop nets to crab rather than the big expensive traps used around here. Russ says we have no more room for another net or trap and these ones are big. We’ve caught two crabs we’ve kept (I picked the meat and made sandwiches out of it both days) and yesterday although we caught 8, they all had to be returned. Two were enormous but female and have to go back here in QLD. We’ve caught quite a variety of fish-black bream, yellow finned bream, grunter, catfish, but all had to go back as they were too small.
The park owners left on Thursday for a few days away. A nice couple from Yeppoon is looking after the place and Cec has been great with trying to help us catch a mangrove jack which is the whole reason for this camps existence I think! He also taught us to throw our cast net so we can catch the live bait needed to catch them too. The net (which we bought in Darwin) came with instructions but neither of us could work out how to throw it. It’s amazing what one lesson with an expert can teach you!
Each afternoon, the owners feed the birds so there is an amazing variety of birds around here. There are shell ducks, bush turkeys, magpies, butcher birds, guinea fowl, doves etc, etc. Cec was a bit late feeding them yesterday, so every time we moved, they thought we must be about to feed them and all flocked around us!
The only down side to this place is the sand flies. Once again we are being attacked morning and night. I don’t seem to get as attacked as Russ, but he is better at not scratching the bites-I just can’t leave them alone
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Awoonga Dam and on to 1770
I haven't blogged for a few days-the internet reception was very por at Awoonga dam where we just spent the last 4 nights.
We were about to leave Kinka Beach and head to Biloela via Mt Morgan when we were advised not to take the road but to go over the "razorbak" with the van instead. Neither option sounded particularly pleasant so we decided to head to Agnes Water and The Town of 1770 instead. As we were driving though, we passed a sign to Awoonga dam (just 8ks off the Bruce Highway) so headed in there for a look. It was really beautiful and we decided to stay for 3 nights (extended that to 4) and have a crack at Barra fishing. Well, I've had my crack at Barra fishing and refuse ever to go again unless I go with an expert for about $350 for 6 hours.
Our neighbour did that and brought home some amazing photos of the big fish (over 1 metre and 26kgs) that he caught and released. We didn't even have a barra take a sniff at our lures and we tried a few sorts. It's all very scientific and I have decided I'm not a sport fisherperson-more your hunter and gatherer who is happy to come home with a feed. The fish in Awoonga are released most often as they taste too weedy-what's the use of catching a fish you can't eat?!
The dam and surrounds were very pretty and once again we got the million dollar view in the park with our awning facing the lake. The sun set off to one side and behind a large hill, so afternoons were especially nice.
Today we drove to Agnes Water, but decided the only park was a bit far out of town. We drove on to The Town of 1770 instead and chose the camping ground at the end of the road-that puts it on the corner of the estuary and the surf beach. Our site is at the back of the park, but is a lot larger than many of them and we have one of about 4 concrete slabs at our door which is nicer than straight sand. The park is apparently always full and this was the only site we could have for any length of time (5 days). We'd been advised to ask for a site away from the water and sand too as we'll have less trouble with our friends the sand flies!
We were about to leave Kinka Beach and head to Biloela via Mt Morgan when we were advised not to take the road but to go over the "razorbak" with the van instead. Neither option sounded particularly pleasant so we decided to head to Agnes Water and The Town of 1770 instead. As we were driving though, we passed a sign to Awoonga dam (just 8ks off the Bruce Highway) so headed in there for a look. It was really beautiful and we decided to stay for 3 nights (extended that to 4) and have a crack at Barra fishing. Well, I've had my crack at Barra fishing and refuse ever to go again unless I go with an expert for about $350 for 6 hours.
Our neighbour did that and brought home some amazing photos of the big fish (over 1 metre and 26kgs) that he caught and released. We didn't even have a barra take a sniff at our lures and we tried a few sorts. It's all very scientific and I have decided I'm not a sport fisherperson-more your hunter and gatherer who is happy to come home with a feed. The fish in Awoonga are released most often as they taste too weedy-what's the use of catching a fish you can't eat?!
The dam and surrounds were very pretty and once again we got the million dollar view in the park with our awning facing the lake. The sun set off to one side and behind a large hill, so afternoons were especially nice.
Today we drove to Agnes Water, but decided the only park was a bit far out of town. We drove on to The Town of 1770 instead and chose the camping ground at the end of the road-that puts it on the corner of the estuary and the surf beach. Our site is at the back of the park, but is a lot larger than many of them and we have one of about 4 concrete slabs at our door which is nicer than straight sand. The park is apparently always full and this was the only site we could have for any length of time (5 days). We'd been advised to ask for a site away from the water and sand too as we'll have less trouble with our friends the sand flies!
Friday, October 12, 2007
Kinka Beach
We've had 5 of our 7 nights at Kinka Beach so far-it's been great. We tried fishing out in the bay and only caught ourselves a handful of small fish. The handful of fish was enough to bait our crab pots and go mud crabbing on nearby Coorooman creek. All we got for our troubles was a big female (who has to be returned in QLD) and another nasty lot of sandfly bites. I was a bit luckier than Russ as I took the advice of our neighbours and wore long sleeved shirt, jeans, socks and shoes-not so many bites, but not very comfortable. I still have bites on my face, hands and exposed neck. Russ has bites all over. I hate sandflies!
We've been enjoying lower priced fruit and veg-local pines 50c (and not a bad size) avocados 70c, limes 20c each, sweet potato $1 per kg, beautiful hot red chillies 7.99kg.
Our neighbours here have been very nice-we are staying with Mick and Sue in Newcastle on our way through in a couple of months and will catch up with Marg and Trevor while they are in Portland over the Christmas holidays. Tonight the eight of us are having dinner together. Mick and Sue making the entree, Marg and Brian, Russell and I the mains and Marg and Trevor dessert.
The night before last, we went to a nice little Thai restaurant in Emu Park-they were very quiet, with only us, another couple and one lot of take away for the night. The owner (a NZer) and his Thai wife (the chef) ended up sitting eating their dinner chatting to us which was very interesting.
Yesterday we drove into Rocky to look at new boat motors. We've decided we need a larger one as ours just doesn't push the boat along fast enough so it takes forever to get anywhere (not a nice feeling if the weather blows up). Mariner looks the best so far for price and weight-some are up to 12 kilos heavier than the one we have now which would be unacceptable!
I'm allowed to tell everyone now that I am going to be a grandmother-Daniel and his girlfriend Verity are expecting a baby in April. I just saw the scan photos which makes it all seem more real! We'll be in Perth when the baby is born which is great.
On Sunday we are heading inland again to Biloela via Mt Morgan for a couple of nights. Then we'll head out to the coast and 1770. It depends on the fishing and the sandflies just how long we stay there, then it's on to Maryborough.
We've been enjoying lower priced fruit and veg-local pines 50c (and not a bad size) avocados 70c, limes 20c each, sweet potato $1 per kg, beautiful hot red chillies 7.99kg.
Our neighbours here have been very nice-we are staying with Mick and Sue in Newcastle on our way through in a couple of months and will catch up with Marg and Trevor while they are in Portland over the Christmas holidays. Tonight the eight of us are having dinner together. Mick and Sue making the entree, Marg and Brian, Russell and I the mains and Marg and Trevor dessert.
The night before last, we went to a nice little Thai restaurant in Emu Park-they were very quiet, with only us, another couple and one lot of take away for the night. The owner (a NZer) and his Thai wife (the chef) ended up sitting eating their dinner chatting to us which was very interesting.
Yesterday we drove into Rocky to look at new boat motors. We've decided we need a larger one as ours just doesn't push the boat along fast enough so it takes forever to get anywhere (not a nice feeling if the weather blows up). Mariner looks the best so far for price and weight-some are up to 12 kilos heavier than the one we have now which would be unacceptable!
I'm allowed to tell everyone now that I am going to be a grandmother-Daniel and his girlfriend Verity are expecting a baby in April. I just saw the scan photos which makes it all seem more real! We'll be in Perth when the baby is born which is great.
On Sunday we are heading inland again to Biloela via Mt Morgan for a couple of nights. Then we'll head out to the coast and 1770. It depends on the fishing and the sandflies just how long we stay there, then it's on to Maryborough.
Monday, October 08, 2007
Kinka Beach
We moved on to Kinka Beach yesterday. Kinka Beach is near Yeppoon (which is near Rockhampton). I have to admit I was very happy to see the ocean (South Pacific)after what seems like ages. Our caravan park is called Island View and our view across to Great Keppel which is very pretty. It's cooler but more humid here than Emerald but a sea breeze comes in every afternoon which is lovely. We have booked for 4 nights with an option to extend that to 7-I just hope the two VERY noisy couples behind us settle down a bit tonight as that'll be the decider for me!
Kinka Beach and the nearby town of Emu Park are lovely. Emu Park paticularly, feels like a cross between Yamba and Port McQuarie (both on NSW north coast) before those lovely seaside towns were developed out of recognition. The house blocks are big and the houses are old and comfy looking Queenslanders with wide verandahs and shutters over the windows. The town is quite hilly with lots of beautiful views over Keppel and other islands. It all seems so lush and tropical too after coming through the drought stricken outback. We are on the Tropic of Capricorn here (same as Coral Bay WA) so I guess it should feel tropical!
Our last morning at Lake Fairbairn was our best yabbying morning of all. We got 50 but brought home 40 really good sized ones which gave us enough meat to freeze for two good feeds. I would have like to stay on, but our site had been pre booked by others. I didn't miss leaving the very tight group of neighbours who hardly ever spoke to us. God I hate groups of people who have been going to the same place forever and don't bother with newcomers.
Kinka Beach and the nearby town of Emu Park are lovely. Emu Park paticularly, feels like a cross between Yamba and Port McQuarie (both on NSW north coast) before those lovely seaside towns were developed out of recognition. The house blocks are big and the houses are old and comfy looking Queenslanders with wide verandahs and shutters over the windows. The town is quite hilly with lots of beautiful views over Keppel and other islands. It all seems so lush and tropical too after coming through the drought stricken outback. We are on the Tropic of Capricorn here (same as Coral Bay WA) so I guess it should feel tropical!
Our last morning at Lake Fairbairn was our best yabbying morning of all. We got 50 but brought home 40 really good sized ones which gave us enough meat to freeze for two good feeds. I would have like to stay on, but our site had been pre booked by others. I didn't miss leaving the very tight group of neighbours who hardly ever spoke to us. God I hate groups of people who have been going to the same place forever and don't bother with newcomers.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Storm on Fairbairn Dam
Sunrise on Fairbairn Dam
We’d had 9 fairly uneventful days here at Fairbairn Dam until yesterday. We’ve basically spent the days getting up around 5.30 am to go and check the nets, back for breakfast then housework, a swim and a trip into town or a drive occasionally. Russ has gone out and checked the nets in the afternoon a few times too.
Our catch had slowed down so yesterday morning we decided not to bait up then, but to come back in the afternoon, re-bait then move the nets. I decided I’d come for a change. It was warm and calm when we left and headed the 6 ½ ks across the lake to the dead trees where we have our nets set. There were clouds about, but the wind was blowing the other way and all seemed fine until we lifted the third of our 8 nets-all of a sudden (and I do mean sudden) the wind changed.
Our Nets are Through There
Fortunately we were amongst the drowned trees and were able to tie ourselves to one. The wind howled past us for about 10 minutes then we saw a sheet of rain crossing the lake towards us. It hit and the wind and rain and waves continued to pound and pummel us as we hung on the end of the rope. I’ve been out riding horses and motorbikes in bad weather but I’ve never been out in anything like it before and I’m so glad we weren’t out in the open water. Luckily we had a couple of plastic ponchos, a few biscuits and plenty of water. We also had our life jackets and flares but I’d forgotten my phone.
As we huddled there, we suddenly remembered our awning and the fridge, hotplate, chairs and towels were out. I said I didn’t really care about them so long as we were OK-they’re just stuff.
After about 45 minutes, the wind died down enough and we were able to make our way slowly back over the still choppy lake. We got back here to find the lovely young NZ couple next door had caught the awning just before it went over the van (the anti flap bars had already fallen out) and enlisted a few other neighbours to help. They’d realised our door wasn’t locked and packed all the other stuff inside. Our formerly quite standoffish neighbors (the NZers aren’t standoffish) all huddled around us and suddenly wanted to talk! Our van with our beautiful view of the lake was the one that copped the brunt of the storm, but trees here in the park have had leaves ripped off them and people had outdoor furniture thrown around.
Another couple also got caught out there and had to put into the bank for the whole time. They reckoned the wind was probably well over 75ks and gusting around at 100 occasionally-I felt like I was in a hurricane. Our neighbour (who has been coming here for 10 years) told us 5 people have died out on the lake in similar conditions. I was just happy I was out there with Russell because I know I’d have been beside myself with worry if I’d been home here along. Out there I felt uncomfortable but relatively safe tied to our tree.
We’d had 9 fairly uneventful days here at Fairbairn Dam until yesterday. We’ve basically spent the days getting up around 5.30 am to go and check the nets, back for breakfast then housework, a swim and a trip into town or a drive occasionally. Russ has gone out and checked the nets in the afternoon a few times too.
Our catch had slowed down so yesterday morning we decided not to bait up then, but to come back in the afternoon, re-bait then move the nets. I decided I’d come for a change. It was warm and calm when we left and headed the 6 ½ ks across the lake to the dead trees where we have our nets set. There were clouds about, but the wind was blowing the other way and all seemed fine until we lifted the third of our 8 nets-all of a sudden (and I do mean sudden) the wind changed.
Our Nets are Through There
Fortunately we were amongst the drowned trees and were able to tie ourselves to one. The wind howled past us for about 10 minutes then we saw a sheet of rain crossing the lake towards us. It hit and the wind and rain and waves continued to pound and pummel us as we hung on the end of the rope. I’ve been out riding horses and motorbikes in bad weather but I’ve never been out in anything like it before and I’m so glad we weren’t out in the open water. Luckily we had a couple of plastic ponchos, a few biscuits and plenty of water. We also had our life jackets and flares but I’d forgotten my phone.
As we huddled there, we suddenly remembered our awning and the fridge, hotplate, chairs and towels were out. I said I didn’t really care about them so long as we were OK-they’re just stuff.
After about 45 minutes, the wind died down enough and we were able to make our way slowly back over the still choppy lake. We got back here to find the lovely young NZ couple next door had caught the awning just before it went over the van (the anti flap bars had already fallen out) and enlisted a few other neighbours to help. They’d realised our door wasn’t locked and packed all the other stuff inside. Our formerly quite standoffish neighbors (the NZers aren’t standoffish) all huddled around us and suddenly wanted to talk! Our van with our beautiful view of the lake was the one that copped the brunt of the storm, but trees here in the park have had leaves ripped off them and people had outdoor furniture thrown around.
Another couple also got caught out there and had to put into the bank for the whole time. They reckoned the wind was probably well over 75ks and gusting around at 100 occasionally-I felt like I was in a hurricane. Our neighbour (who has been coming here for 10 years) told us 5 people have died out on the lake in similar conditions. I was just happy I was out there with Russell because I know I’d have been beside myself with worry if I’d been home here along. Out there I felt uncomfortable but relatively safe tied to our tree.
Monday, October 01, 2007
Lake Faibairn
Redclaw Yabby (beside Russ's foot!)
Yesterday we drove out to Springsure through farmland which was nice-it all seems so civilised now after the country we drove through to get here. Springsure is in the central highlands and after a look around town we drove out to a few lookouts which gave great views of the area. On the way into town, I saw a big rock that looked like the Virgin Mary in an alcove. I hadn't read the local info, but that's what they promote it as-I was pretty pleased with myself for spotting the likeness!
We drove on through a couple of stations and visited Wills grave and the site of a massacre (19 men women and children were killed by aboriginals) then back to the park. Russ did a bit of fishing and checked our yabby pots, I relaxed in the airconditioning as it was round 36c.
Yesterday we got 30 good sized yabbies, today we got about 25 but a few were very little. Last night we had a really nice redclaw pasta and I plan to try a curry with the next lot. We have booked a few extra nights so we'll freeze the next catches for later on. It's been lots of fun finding out what they like to eat-avocado is the hands down (claws down?) favourite so far with mandarine the next then pumpkin.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
