SUE AND MARG HEADING NORTH IN SEPTEMBER 2015: June 2022

The date is September 21st, 2015. I am on a medium sized bus travelling from charters towers to Townsville, having spent three nights visiting a friend I did scholarship year with in Maryborough Queensland in 1955. Peoples personalities remain much the same, only some move and think more slowly. Perhaps it is our age!!

Growing up on the land, I lived through a few droughts, but the country north of Rockhampton to Townsville to Charters Towers Is desperately dry. Poor stock. You can count their ribs. What grass there is, is brittle and short.

Travelling with sue in her Mercedes from Bundaberg to Townsville was most enjoyable. The small township of Rosedale provided comments of "look at the old pub, the post office and the church." The dance hall resembling others in small communities. They were the days!

Many photos were taken before moving on. To save half an hour, We took the back road which brought us out at Miriam Vale on the main highway but not before we travelled for what seemed miles on a gravel road. My mistake, I missed the right turn to Agnus Water. On our return, we realised the mistake.

Lunch in the gardens at Rockhampton was a welcome break. We set up our picnic supplies on a table under a huge fig tree. Numerous birds in the lake and park kept us entertained. Time to move on as it was a 31/2 hour drive to Sarina where we stayed with sister Fiona, her husband Greg and their two boys Angus and Grant.

We arrived in time to get into the four wheel drive vehicle and go to the newly purchased property nearby. A mob of 150 quiet cows, calves and a bull greeted us. Full marks to Fiona for manoeuvring through long grass to enjoy the 360 degree vista from a hill covered in huge trees shading many black boy grass trees. After scoffing a glass of good red, mid cheese and biscuits, we left as the sun set.

While having a pre dinner drink on the verandah we counted eight ships sitting out from the port at Haig Point, ready to load coal when the price is right.

Departing early next day, we looked forward to the next day's adventure. Sharing driving, good time was made, arriving at the motel in Townsville about 3pm. Sue drove 20 minutes north where she stayed with son Mitch and his family. That was Thursday.

Friday JoAnne collected me from the motel before her doctors appointment at the huge hospital. After a 1 1/2 hr drive into the sun, we arrived at Charters Towers.

Saturday I hobbled around the old town , then back to the house where I enjoyed throwing a ball to the one year old sheep dog.

Monday morning a small bus took key to Townsville railway station where Sue was waiting. We needed a coffee!! Sharing a table with a couple in the mall was like being in a play. Sue started the ball rolling by telling the niave couple from the Gold Coast I was a mega wealthy person!!! We played along.

Again sharing the driving, we detoured to see the towns of Ayre, Home Hill (where we had a great meal,of rissoles and Ceres on the way up) arriving at the beautiful town of Bowen. A pie and coffee was enjoyed in the well kept park near the waters edge.

As you will see from the photos, the view from the hill near the surf beach is beautiful. Photos don't do justice to the water colours. Time to depart, as wanted to be back at Fiona and Greg's before dark.

Rocketing down the highway, we passed the turnoff to St Lawrence. Sue said her Great Grandfather who was the policemen for the area, is buried there. i was driving, so being good at chucking U Es, we drove into the sad looking township where we spoke to the newly appointed policemen and two girls from the council. After finally finding the cemetery, we tool photos and commented what a comfortable life we have today compared with yesteryear.

Buying a cooked chook and a bottle of red, we arrived at the house to be greeted by Greg, two blue cattle dogs and three pups. Fiona had left with Grant and Angus , two horses, a trail bike and a dog and pup to stay at Fairview where she grew up. A 9 hour drive south.

Sue and I made good time home, with a couple of stops, the memorable one being getting a take a way coffee at the magnificently built famous hotel beside the river at Rockhampton.

The next trip? Who knows. Perhaps we will come to a T junction and say "which way?"

As Alice in Alice In Wonderland asked the cat...

"Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?"

"That depends a good deal on where you want to go"said the cat.

"I don't much care where" said Alice.

"Then it doesn't matter which way you go", said the cat.

Read Sue's account if our memorable trip. She should write a book...so descriptive!

We had a wonderful trip as Marg is a great travelling companion and full of mischief as you would agree. Putting the two of us in the same vehicle on a long trip causes many a laugh along with stories of old. Of course every time we are together we manage to have a cry or two. That’s just us, I suppose. Very sooky!!

The shortcut from Rosedale to Miriamvale was an adventure in itself! Full of confidence, I put the foot down where I shouldn’t have. Anyway we came across one of the many concrete pieces that spans numerous dry creek beds. Well this one was at a more acute angle than the previous ones. BANG!!!! I bottomed out!! With that, Marg looks up at the sky, through the windscreen, and says “Sorry Clary”, as the car once belonged to my Dad and he was so pedantic concerning any of his possessions. Needless to say I very quickly lowered the speed until we thankfully hit bitumen!

We had a lovely night with Fiona, Greg and the boys that night, which Marg has already written about. Also on the return home, we kind of entertained Greg, he being the only one home at the time.

Spending my stay at Saunders Beach with my family is always a delight and seeing how much my Granddaughters have progressed was magic to say the least! We spent From Thursday afternoon to Monday morning up there. Only a short visit this time.

I picked up Marg at the Townsville Railway Station, looking a little worse for wear. Her knee had been playing up, so she was quite relieved to see me. First stop was REAL coffee in the Townsville CBD. Of course Marg will start up a conversation with anyone close enough to her! Here she is sitting at a table sharing with another couple, when I bought out our coffees! Well, this old codger was bragging about how much money he had and what houses he sold. That started me off. I thought….I’m going to have some fun with this couple! I Off handedly I mentioned that Marg had sold some of her property for 1.5 Million and that we were both retired, and travelling. With that Marg piped up and said shewas a retired Opera Singer! Honestly I can’t remember what else we spoke about, we were just happy to leave them, the braggers. We were in fits of laughter, when we got into the car. Also we tooted them as we passed!!

Bowen was incredible. We drove right up to the lookout and saw the wonderful vista. Oh, yes, we came across another couple. These gray nomads are all for blowing their own trumpets! This time I think I told them that we had been around Australia a few times. Again, I am sure I made up a few more porkies!

This time Marg was driving and as we passed the St Lawrence turn off, I happened to say that my Great Great Grandfather was buried there. Not to pass up an opportunity for investigation, she made a hasty Uturn. By hasty, I mean bloody fast!! Well, what an eye-opener. So pleased Marg made the decision for me.

In the few quiet moments, free from conversation, we played the audio book of ‘A fortunate Life’. Now Marg & I had both read the book but I recommend anyone to listen to it. As we both agreed we appreciate our life in this era compared to the life of yesteryear.

Finally home.

Thank you Marg for your company, wit and let’s say our confessions!! Now that will have everyone guessing, won’t it!!! Until our next adventure….Hoo Roo for Nou