After Toowoomba, we headed north in the vague direction of Rockhampton. After a few hours driving, we pulled off at a caravan park near Bjelke Petersen Dam. Given his impact on Australian Politics in my youth it seems appropriate to run into the name in Queensland.
Bjelke Petersen Dam is on the road to Goomeri
The spot it a favourite for fishermen – the urinal in the men’s toilet features a catch limit poster – but also has many family groups. It was a pleasant spot and the first camp where we did not run the heater at all.
Hungry visitors to our caravan
On the following morning, we had some visitors checking for food.
Margo’s family in Toowoomba heard about our visit to the Corwa Japanese Gardens and wanted to show us theirs.
It was part of the University of Southern Queensland, and was more an Australian Garden (Australian plants and picnic benches – no tea houses) in the Japanese style.
Ashleigh and the Goose
The gardens were well used with several groups having picnics and gatherings at the various locations. It struck me as an ideal place for a philosophy tutorial!
Nieces Clare (right) and Julia (left) – strangers in the background
I would say the Cowra gardens pip these, but it was an excellent morning mosey.
Just as we were leaving the Brunswick River, I rescued a poor little froggy who was hiding under the wheels of the caravan. I popped it onto the car bonnet to keep it from being crushed and to get a photo. I have since realised that it was our first cane toad. Fortunately, I have not come out in a rash or had weird dreams from touching him.
“I own you and your car, your caravan and your dog. I am merciful though and will leave you a reserve to live on”
I am sure rescuing cane toads is on par with getting involved with foreign wars, so I expect to face the full force of the law on my return,
We are travelling north again and have reached Toowoomba in Queensland. The weather has cooled down again as Toowoomba is quite high from sea level.
The drive from Brunswick Heads was uneventful after an inauspicious departure. We left in periodic rain showers, and of course its Dad’s job to be packing up the outside! However, once you are wet, you can only get dry again by packing everything away and getting into a car with the heater on.
Clare and Dog
A dry dog in the car is more important than a dry Dad, so he was coddled while I got wet!
We were joined at Brunswick Heads (just north of Byron Bay) by Clare, my niece. She was interested in checking out Byron Bay and also catching up. The third day she was with us was beautiful and sunny, so we took the canoe onto the Brunswick River.
A Skate on the river bed
With the tide turning, we were able to mosey along the riverbank, annoying many birds, fish and rays. The pelican was the most relaxed, watching our approach without disturbing his grooming.
This pelican let us get very close
A big effort to take off
Gracefully cruising away
Past the island, the environment changed from mangroves and mudflats, to forest and sandy beaches. We sneaked up on an eagle having a bath.
This looked like a chicken washing
Up closer, we saw the hooked beak
Further upstream we found a few cormorants to sneak up on a threesome of cormorants or herons – I can’t really tell the difference. They really weren’t bothered by us so we got almost underneath them.
Three cormorants watching our progress
When we found on why, I began paddling quickly. Can anyone see what is to the right of my paddle-head?
Alex escaping while Clare focusses on the all important selfie!
Here is the cause of my anxiety. We got to within 5 metres of her before I clued up to the interesting diamond pattern in the tree.
Sleeping after breakfast
She was about two metres long and did not move. Still, I believe Python’s should be admired behind a nice glass wall with a near label assuring me that it is not deadly. Clare insisted we go back for a better selfie, but if the snake joined us in the boat, no amount of restatement of the word “harmless” was going to stop us from swimming back to camp!
