Chalmers Trip North to Lawn Hill, back through Diamantina River System to SA - Ceduna

June 5 - Wed

Not an auspicious start to our trip.  We did leave home at 8.30 am, however Robyn had to visit Doc for infection in ear (good now thanks :) ).  Ian meanwhile got a flat tyre (we have never had one on an outback trip and hope it stays that way).

Finally left Ryan and Nerrine's home at about 12.30 pm after setting up Eillah's painting easel which was her birthday gift.

Travelled up the picturesque Hunter Valley through to Nundle, then climbed the mountain to Sheba Dam where we set up the Camper Trailer properly, for the first time.

Setting up camp for the first time.  Lovely position on Sheba Dam, which was built for the gold rush in this area.  

Cooking dinner in our camp oven - cold here.

Beanies, woollen socks and boots showed how cold it was here.  Water bottle at night was just lovely.

Looking over Hanging Rock above Nundle, driving from Sheba Dam to Narrabri

After two days, we moved onto Narrabri as we wanted to visit Mt Kaputar.  If you ever want a great holiday, book a cabin via National Parks - 0267927300  - see pic below of the cabins at top of Mt K.

8 June -   Saturday
Travelled Narrabri (we were camped in the showgrounds - basic but good) to Mt Kaputar - 1 1/2 to 2 hours to travel up, depending on how often you stop to take photos.

We were 1510 metres above sea level.  If ever Shirley McClain came up, she would sing 'On a Clear Day you Can See Forever'.  We could see 94 kms to the Warrambungles.

1932 saw 300 people walk or ride horses up here to try and pressure the Government to build a road up here.  Very interesting history.

Rocky Outcrops seen from the road

Red Rump Parrot pair on Narrabri Showground

You can see forever

Rentable Cabins seen from behind trunk.  Wood supplied - Double bed next to fireplace - how good is that.

Sunday 9 June - Narrabri via Sawn Rocks to Bingera.  Bingera is an amazing little town.  Would be lovely to live here.  We camped on the Gwydir river on Peter Rose's farm - Allawah - great fishing.  Quiet and lovely.

So what giant got up here and sawed the rocks?  Amazing

And who placed these rocks into a honeycomb pattern?

Looks like a pipe organ

BEST CAMP - THREE DAYS on Allawah on the Gwydir River.  Best bird life.  We listed these:
Black fronted dotterill (minature plovers - from plover family)
Grebe
Frecked duck?
white faced blue heron
Water hens
Honey eater
Willy wag tail
crows
sulphur crested cockatoos
Gallah
azure kingfisher
friar birds
pee wee
Magpie
fly catcher - white fronted
apostle birds
three types of parrots
plovers
tree creeper
lorikeets


Tuesday 10 June
Woke to a splash of water on my face and then one into my ear - the blessings of condensation.  Very heavy mist.  Warren had the fire going from our lovely coals the night before.  It was starry night at 1 am, but deterioted through the night and day to a heavy rain.

Lovely farmer Peter Rose came down with some yummy caramel slice for us.  How is that for country hospitality?

Sun wasn't able to break through the mist .  Gumboots and woollen socks - only way to keep feet warm.

Tuesday 10 June - Weather improving a little so we drove the 10 kms into Bingera for lunch and a walk around a really lovely quaint town.  Memorial arbore of orange trees for fallen soldiers.  Excellent.

Back at camp revved up the fire and fished - One cod and one carp.

Ian so please to get a Cod - of course this ancient line of fish went back into the river.

You can see how busy and frantic we are. :)

Looking over Bingera

On the other side of the lookout - the Gwydir River

Can you see the bend in my rod?  Very large Carp!!  YUK

Evening Reflections on the Gwydir River.

Wed 11 June - packed up quickly as rain looked like happening.  Half hour later the rain started and came in fits and starts all day.

Drove to Inverell - lovely town
Texas - quaint, rural town - lunched in the park - then the rain came again.
Millmerran - great little bakery

Toowoomba - two night stay in a cabin at the BIG4 Caravan park - very nice to be out of the rain.  Super cell storm happened near Warwick during the night.

Off to Blackbutt to see our friend Kevin. 

Hawkesbury River Fiords - well they sure look like Fiords - tall rocky escarpments around the bays and river

Hawkesbury River Fiords

Well, never thought that the Hawkesbury River would have Fiord-like creeks and bays.  No way did I  realize what a big system this river is and there are large parts where we cannot sail.

Ian sailed to Jervis Bay with mates and then to the Hawkesbury in April.  I went down to join him on ANZAC day.  ANZAC day is quite a significant day, as one year ago we sailed out of the entrance to Lake Macquarie after being farewelled by the RAAF, on our way to the Whitsundays Islands (over a thousand nautical miles).

I drove to Brooklyn where I met Ian and Warren.  Warren then disembarked and drove my car the hour back to his home.

Refuge Bay - close to Brooklyn.  Very busy on ANZAC night long, long weekend.  Filled with club moorings.  By Sunday there were only about four of us moored in here.  Quiet and peaceful even with all the boats.

A Thursday  public holiday is the best news to persons who can have the Friday off and make it a very long weekend.  I think half of Sydney came out boating on the Hawkesbury as the last hurrah for summer.  We anchored in Empire Bay that night – this bay is called the best anchorage on the East coast of NSW by Allan Lucas.  It is full of club moorings as is Refuge Bay with a few courtesy moorings - if you can pick out the light pink mooring bouys in amongst the yellow and red club moorings.  We anchored in Refuge Bay for the first night which was really lovely and quiet despite the many boat owners enjoying the break.

26 April.  We cleaned up windChalmer both in and out and then motored over to Brooklyn to pick up our friends Jo and Belton for a day on the briny.  These are just wonderful friends of whom we never tire for their great conversation, interests, kindness and great sense of humour.  Had a lovely fresh chicken and Quinoa salad lunch with chocolate tart and coffee.  At about four we motored around a few bays and then back to Brooklyn for a walk around the town, which is easily achieved.  

We decided that we must get running lights on the RIB – dangerous boating back to windChalmer in the dark.  As we were anchored on moorings near the railway line we pondered whether it would be wise to stay put.  However, after a light supper we decided that the trains were not too loud and stayed the night.  Amazing how they didn’t disturb us as all.   Great night’s sleep.

27 April.  I have listed the weather as perfect for the whole week.  Wonderful Autumn weather, warm days and nice cool nights.

Hallets Cove - near Brooklyn has a lovely little waterfall and beach - on low tide.  Lots of families brought their kids here to play.

We found a free mooring in Hallets Cove just down from Refuge Bay and decided to hang on to it for the day and night.  We had a very relaxing day, fishing and watching the boat show.  The mooring next to us had five changes through the day and evening.  We were near a little waterfall and beach so lots of boats with kids came to play. 

A cruiser with a young couple towed their rubber ducky on a long painter.  They put the cruiser in reverse and wound the painter rope around their propeller.  He then spent ages diving under the cruiser trying to free the rope.  Finally a boat from Hobart, Mistraal noticed them and had a airhose to loan.  We had a bit of wake disturbance from boats going up and down the river through the night, otherwise very still and quiet.

28 April.  Sunday.  We spent most of the morning fishing out of Little Patonga.  No Luck.  At Patonga Ian caught a reasonable sized flathead which made a very tasty dinner with fresh salad.  I had caught a small whiting the previous night, but nothing else.  Then no one else was catching anything of a keepable size either including the young sea eagle.  I felt sad for him.

Fishing boats trying their luck just outside of Patonga.  Lion Island in view.  This is the mouth of the Hawkesbury River system.  Great river.  Wonderful holidays here.

Patonga Beach - beautiful.

Patonga Beach where Ian caught a good sized flathead.

Our new sport was counting the boats headed towards Pittwater or Sydney.  Train after train of them, looked like those joined together caterpillars marching onwards.

We easily found a mooring at Refuge Bay – lots of choice.

29 April.  Monday.  More and more boats leaving the Hawkesbury.  We motored from Refuge Bay to Yeoman Creek.  Probably 25 mins of travelling.  A young sea eagle was fishing very close to us – his parents finally turned up and drove him off.  Forcing the teenager to find his own way in life.  

 

Yeoman's Creek Mooring, very picturesque

Huge Rocks on most of the river banks - great art!

Yeoman's creek - viewing the windChalmer from rocks

Most of Cowan Creek or the Hawkesbury River System has this type of banks.

Trees growing out of rocks on most banks

If you look carefully, centre left you can see the young sea eagle, who was trying his luck at fishing in Yeoman's creek - as much luck as us I think.

30 April.  Tuesday.  Woke to spitting rain, however it cleared up.  We took the rubber ducky (RIB) up to the creek head – amazing huge rocks and pools.

Yeoman Creek to Smiths Creek.  Popped into Cottage Point which is a millionaire’s paradise.  We stopped in at the small café for lunch.  Made the mistake of ordering flathead.  Stale.  Smashed potatoes and rocket was nice, but of course overpriced.   Walking was great on very steep grades.  Homes on very long piers.

Cafe at Cottage Point, very pretty little village.  Need large bank account to acquire property in here

Reflections in the river head - Smith's Creek

Loved these pools and reflections.

Just so clear and amazingly huge rocks

1 May Tuesday.  Smiths Creek was again really lovely.  One other yacht on moorings near us.  Tranquility from Sydney.   

Bobbin Head Board Walk

Continuing on from the board walk

Just as on Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, you can hire the Biplane to take you to the Cottage Point Restaurant

Mooring in Smiths Creek

2 May  Wednesday we motored down to Bobbin Head.  Coffee and a good walk.  Lovely area with great board walks.  Surprised to find that we had really good phone service here.  We could get fairly good service in the middle of the creek, but not in the bays where we moored except for Smiths Creek.

Stayed in Empire Bay with one other boat.  Perfect night, very cool.

3 May Thursday – back to Brooklyn where Robyn was offloaded and Warren and Dave C joined Ian for the evening and then they motor/sailed back home.  Managed to sail up to Bateau Bay, then the winds died and they motored home to Lake Macquarie on the Friday, catching the 2 pm Swansea Bridge opening. 

HAWKESBURY -  recommend to anyone who wants a lovely, quiet stress-free holiday. 

We are Home - Last entry for this trip

Well, we are home and feeling very alien.

Been away from 25 April to 5 October!  Six plus months!

Been a great adventure.  Sometimes a little too adventurous.

Inland waterway between Brisbane and Southport.  Quite hairy, as was very shallow in spots and some of the markers were in the incorrect spots.  We had to constantly watch the depth sounder.  We found lots of aggressive boat captains in here and down to Southport.  Usually boats back off and give you space but not here.

Just arrived down the Inland Waterway into Southport - you can see the Southport skyline at the right hand side of this photo.

I promised Ian that I would try and stick with it until Southport.  So Tin Can Bay (near Fraser Island) via Wide Bar Bay to Mooloolooba was the last really long day at sea for me.  9 am to 8 pm.

Luckily, Ian's great mate Dave arrived in Southport on 28 October which was the same day as Ryan, Nerrine and family came up to take me home.  I spent a few days with them at Cotton Beach before coming home on the Tuesday.


Ian and Dave managed to sail from Southport to Balina.  They stayed here for a night waiting and hoping for a northly - however the southerly lessened so they motored for Iluka and then partly motored and sometimes sailed all the way home non-stop.

Some people are beggars for punishment.

Well, right back where we started, well almost.  Dave and Ian anchored outside the RSL Swansea near the bridge.  The blue lights in the photo is the RSL club and the lights to the right are on the Swansea bridge!

 

 

Ian and Dave sailed right to home and back on the mooring on the Friday morning.

BACK HOME - trying to adjust to life ashore, while we think up the next project.