The river birds and sunlight woke us early this morning. There was a group of pigeons inspecting our campsite closely on foot and a huge variety of bird calls.
After finding out the hard way that one of the seals on our gas stove connector hose had perished ( leaking gas and half cooked dinner) last night we had finished cooking with the back up stove.
We wanted to find a fix for this and Moree offered cheaper fuel and also an excellent camping store ( Hardmans) who helped us to find and replace the seal and filled our gas for us. We could have spent the rest of the morning checking out their camping gear, but opted for a park beside the Mehi river and cup of tea with lots of geese for company ( a little too close really)
There are pools of water on the roadsides and thick lush green grass and weeds needing a chop back. Can’t believe it’s like this in February! The guy in the camping store says they need rain! He should see the state of the land back a few 100km.!!
After a quick lunch stop at Warialda and a brief chat to the local info people (not aware of any road closures) we started to climb. We were taking the back roads across fords, and through granite and forest country, fenced with black cattle wandering and the occasional grid across the road.
Evidence of recent significant rains was clear with water on fords or evidence that it recently has been.
From the dirt roads we looked out at dark soil ( almost black) and crops of corn.
Then into more forest and granite ( great contours) and a drive along the border for a few km before we got to Texas (!!!) and got brave enough to cross into Queensland.
Since then it feels like we have climbed through numerous hills, as we make our way steadily towards Stanthorpe.
With no designated rest area in sight we stopped in a cleared area just near a small Telstra exchange and made a reviving cuppa from the last of the hot water in the thermos.
We made our way to Ridgemill Estates ( on the Granite belt just below Stanthorpe) where Peter McGlashen is the winemaker and revisited some of their wines. They were still as good as we remembered. Unfortunately Peter wasn’t there, so we still haven’t managed to meet him.
Then we tried to find somewhere for the night. After a number of ventures into the areas near railway, river and bush ( national Park sites were closed in one park) we decided to stay in the Sundown National Park and then found that it was a genuine 4WD to get in the 7.5 km to our allocated camp site ( we used limited coverage to pay online as we entered the park) .
After a km or so we spotted a flattish area off of the rugged rocky track and decided to opt for the more rational way…camping gently outside of the allocated camps but avoiding potential tyre injury and avoiding driving this track in dark.
The clouds were pink as the sun set and we have now eaten a quick tea and are ready to drop into our swags after another 500plus km day.
We hope that they don’t lose control of any of those burning dead trees that we drove in past a couple of hours ago and that the mozzies don’t carry us away in the night.
As it turned out there was no fire overnight but we did have some excitement.
Unbelievably, three vehicles came in along the track at about 11pm and drove right on past us.
By then we had been experiencing a lightning show for hours. Not long after that it started to rain, and did so sporadically for the next hour or two as we snoozed away in the swags
Luvapuzzle 