Aussie Writer & Cycle Tourist

Homeward bound back to Oz.

2008-04-13T23:51:00.000-07:00

Damn daylight saving! And don't tell me there is nothing new under the sun! Every time I turn around I encounter something new!

We booked a wake-up call with the motel desk for 4am. I also set my mobile phone and brand-new $5 travel clock I bought from the Red Shed (Warehouse) cos I had no watch to give me the time for the music leading up to the arrival of the bride. I never did get to hear either of the latter fire up.

The wretched motel phone rang at 3 am instead of 4 am. To say the occupants of the unit were disgruntled is the understatement of the year. Not happy Narelle. Miskeyed digit into the PBX operator's phone? Or forgotten to reset the PBX clock when daylight saving ended? I'm tipping the latter.

Once we recovered from that nasty surprise the rest of the trip proved uneventful and even quite pleasant!

I was vastly amused as I passed through Immigration into Brisbane Airport to notice a sign which said (in effect) "Channel 7 is filming Border Patrol here today. If you do not wish to be filmed please advise staff".

Mercifully as I passed through the final screening after picking up the luggage I passed the crew busy filming a whole mass of some lady's clothing strewn all over a counter. For once trouble didn't seek ME out! :)

Terry was there to pick us up bless him and after a fatiguing car trip made it back to the Bay in one piece. Back to life in the slower lane lol!

Rotorua on the boil

2008-04-11T23:30:00.000-07:00

SATURDAY

D-Day at last. All the preparations were now falling into place!

Suffice it to say it Penny and Bede's wedding was grand. Only immediate family and some friends - but grand all the same.

I think I coped OK with the music- invariably some slips and skids and the organ turned up some vagaries- problems in the electric action somewhere meant that often times when I played a high F# on the Great it sounded an F natural on the Swell. Ouch. Discord to end all discords. However it is quite a nice instrument which is capable of plenty of expression filling St Josephs church fairly well.

The reception at Helen's home (Bede's Mum) was wonderful. A huge spread but best of all the chance to mix with Bede's family and friends getting to know them better and putting faces to names.

Now back to the unit and recuperate for the early morning flight to Oz. I will tidy up this blog and add some pics once back in Oz!

FRIDAY

The best laid plans of mice and men! I had purchased a prepaid SIM card for our mobile when we first arrived here and I was proud of my ability to keep on top of circumstances. Pride comes before a fall doesn't it?

One of our party lost their wallet, possibly at the restaurant or up the street! Off we went checking the spot where we parked, lodging a report at the police station, and then over to the Internet cafe to find the bank phone numbers in Oz to block the account. We finally staggered back to the Lodge to find the wallet had been found behind a bed shortly after we left. Had I given my wife that prepaid number much kerfuffle could have been avoided with one simple phone call to our mobile. Just goes to show I ain't as smart as I thought I was!

After a quick drink we checked out the mud pools in a local park passing up the the famous geyser because we didn't have the time for the pricey full show. Gone are the days when you could just pay to see the geyser up at the Maori village!

More practice back in Hamilton- almost feel now I am getting to know that organ! Helen had invited us around for a magnificent family dinner which was a splendid lead-up to the wedding!

Then THE wedding practice at night!

THURSDAY

Vastly amused the night before to notice a sign over the stove in our Hamilton unit- Fire extinguisher in office. Methinks it would be a tad late by then!

Hamilton is a busy place at the moment - the traffic is horrendous if you are staying in the city as we are. Balloons over Waikato is a gala event for the hot air balloonists and the V8s are on next weekend and already alterations have been made to the town streets for the V8 circuit.

ORF to Taupo and Rotorua fairly smartly. With the drought still rampant is it all up a much drier area.

Taupo township almost reminded me of a flatter version of Queenstown with its busy commercial districts overlooking Lake Taupo. The thermal fields were a real eye opener for me with massive lines carrying steam from a number of wells to thermal stations.

As we approached Rotorua you could see steam rising from all manner on unlikely places in the ground. Maori culture became much more evident.

The Utuhine Lodge was an interesting spot. I thoroughly enjoyed our comfy lodge - two bedrooms and kitchen/lounge room (except the heating had not been turned on for the winter yet- imagine going cold in a geothermal area with central heating running off a steam bore!)

The motel grounds were a tad down at heel with some of the indoor hot pools neglected and inoperational. Outside a hungi type steam cooker was available for use. I noticed at least two steam bores in the ground- one spouting great quantities of steam and soda water into a pool which was MUCH too hot for swimming.

The hot pool nearest our room was excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed a long hot mineral soak.

There was one uproarious episode organising dinner at Lone Star Cafe and Bar with my cycling mate Hoogie. Coral found the number and I rang it. However directions proved difficult. I couldn't find the Strand in the Rotorua map, and the Lone Star staff on the phone couldnt find Lake Rd. Finally transpired we had the wrong Lone Star- NZ white pages phone books are still divided into districts!

Dinner with Hoogie and Sharon and my family proved a treat. Hoogie gave us tantalising descriptions of cycling in the Redwood forests near Rotorua. He also told us that many people in winter used to heat their houses from steam bores- but the demands on the water table was depleting the geyser which is one of the town's big attractions so the Council restricted them! In winter steam even wafts up the grates in the town gutters!

Errr Hoogie also told us it is pronounced G eye ser - a "geezer" is an old man!

I had been relieved the Saturday night before we left to receive a text back from Hoogie confirming he was not involved in the Hamilton Cold store fire which injured every man in Red Watch of Hamilton station and killed the Senior Officer.

Whangerei and Whareora

2008-04-08T14:10:00.000-07:00

WEDNESDAY

Sparrow peep and Bede and I have been to Pataua North beach to watch the sun rise. Superb little holiday village and wonderful beach spot. Lots of good pics.

Norm Gavin's brother is currently down at Noto deer hunting where they accessed the reserve by helicopter. So we don't get to meet Norm. Irene Gavin's mother has come out to the farm at Whareoara for the morning so it is a great time of catching up. Currently 9:30 and it is a hive of activity as a wide extended family swap notes and catch up. more later!

TUESDAY

Family- heaven or hell ! In this case heaven! Growing up as an only child with only rare forays out to extended family it has been an incredible experience driving up to Whangerei with wife Coral and my aunt and uncle to meet first and second cousins for the first time. Also it was great to meet Whitney and Darien - Gavin and Jolen's two lovely daughters and my third cousins (I think- I'm not strong on genealogies!)

My generation is spread out across 45 years. Doug in Melbourne was born is 1929, Penny the bride of the moment was born in 1974. Peter (blue shirt on left) who we have travelled here to meet was born in 1935 and his family emigrated soon after to NZ . One wonders how many people can be squeezed into a small farmhouse but Gavin (Peter's second son) and wife Jolene are doing a pretty good job!

Peter recently suffered a major stroke but he is recovering well and his- in-laws brought him down here to catch up with everybody. Jolene has spent the day cooking up a storm with endless cups of tea and heaps of food on the table Gavin worked in the cow shed in the evening milking nearly 300 cows in a 32 unit dairy.

It was an awesome sight watching 32 bovines lined up side by side at 45 degrees in a herringbone bails with 32 setS of teat cups milking away at one time. Also good to take a brief spin up the paddocks with Gavin as he shifted some cattle around. I can't get over the lush pastures with its high stocking rate. It seems the pasture is ploughed and replanted annually which would keep it fresh.

MONDAY

First day anywhere new can be a tad bewildering. However I coped better than expected. Picked up the hire car, bought a prepaid pack for Coral's mobile (mine is network locked because it is prepaid), "discovered" the organ I will be playing and engaged in some quality practice time. And enjoy some more sleep. I didn't find driving here stressful soon finding my way around.

We finished enjoying dinner out with Helen our hospitable host. We had planned on eating at Valentine's but they were booked out so it was Pizza Hut instead :)

SUNDAY

Good trip to the airport courtesy of Terry and Donna.

We were impressed with the service from Air NZ We went to the desk to check in then collected a wheelchair for Coral- were so well looked after. It was a quick and painless trip through Customs and security. I even got to tag along behind and dodge all the queues because we were together on the one ticket!

Well apart from dum dum me having a two-ring binder of music in my carry- on luggage. Ended up with security guy doing a manual search of my bags! The x ray of the folder had them worried because sharp blades can be stashed in the spine of such things But the security guy was very light-hearted about it all.

I really appreciated the coaching Graham gave me in overseas travel when we flew to NZ two years ago to cycle the South Island. Coral is very experienced too after her Europe trip last year.
So good to get in the transit lounge to find Uncle Alan and Aunt Rosemary (parents of the bride) - like all of us getting older but still bright and cheery. I found it awesome looking out the plate glass windows of the ''sterile area" (I love the terminology) planes, tarmac vehicles- activity everywhere. Boarding the plane again we were so well looked after . Coral was identified early and a hostess came looking for her to board her first.

We taxied out ahead of time and were soon airborn. Initially I thought pda's would be banned for the duration of the flight however once we had climbed to cruising altitude non- transmitting devices were allowed. The lights of Brisbane were magic out to the left hand side.

Dinner was most enjoyable polenta with a vegetarian wrap of some sort for Coral & chicken something-or-other for me with a tasty Merlot wine.

NZ is always fussy about bio- security. Not surprising for a country so heavily dependant on primary industry. Last time Graham and I had our tents very thoroughly checked. This time at Hamitons new terminal Alan and Rosemary had the ''red aisle" treatment. Equine influenza is still a very real threat in Queensland and Alan and Rosemary had just left their farm to travel to NZ.

The drive into Hamilton took us right past the Icepack cold stores where the local Senior Station Officer was killed and several fire fighters seriously injured Saturday afternoon in a massive explosion. Clouds of smoke were still rising in the glare of flood lights a night later as a ladder truck hosed down the remaining fires in the Cold stores.

New Zealand here we come!

2008-04-06T21:21:00.000-07:00

G'day. I am currently sitting at my bro/sis-in-laws in Wynnum chilling out before catching a large alloy pony to Hamilton New Zealand at 6:30 this evening. Cousin Penny is marrying Kiwi Bede next Saturday and a few of us plan to kick up our heels in the meantime. Uncle Alan and Aunt Rosemary, Penny's parents are flying across with us and generally hanging out with us.

Catching up with cycling mate Hoogie and Sharon; meeting cousin Peter and his sons Gavin (and wife Jolene) and Norm for the first time; plenty of organ practice; plenty of sightseeing- quite an agenda for just a few short days.

Stick around for the ride! No pics will go up until we return to Oz, and this blog will probably only be updated two or three times while in NZ- but no matter it will be fun!

Gold Coast Here I Come

2006-10-16T23:32:00.000-07:00

Bird calls are often beautiful. At first light they are truly inspiring. Unless of course you are planning on sleeping in! Matt and I turfed out at 4.30 am so we quite appreciated our unknown avian friend across the road. A quick breakky and bikes loaded on the ute saw us heading for Milton then cycling over Grey St Bridge to South Bank .

I have heard cyclists comment on difficulties experienced riding en masse. Frankly I didn't find it too difficult. Maybe I was too far gone to realise the problems I was
causing others!! Certainly it was awe inspiring to see so many cyclists gathered at South Bank- around 4,000. While we cycled the 15ks busway with no interruptions from traffic lights the long unending string of cyclists was quite something to watch. Later as we waited at traffic lights with cyclists also clumping together in like abilities the ride broke up into peletons ebbing and flowing down the route.

There are many impressions of that ride. The whooshing of hundreds of cyclists around you as everyone hurtled through the tunnels of the busway riding roads normally forbidden to mere cyclists. Graham clocked over 30ks per hour here so top roadies would have averaged well over 40kps. Later as traffic lights changed there would be the snapping sound of countless shoes clicking into cleats.

I take time and distance to settle into a ride. I really struggled over the hill on the busway near Nathan Uni, but once over it my second wind had arrived with no further major stamina problems all the way to Labrador and Palm Beach. However cramps were entirely something else. By 70ks I was experiencing thigh cramps like never before. I scoffed Staminade until I was sure my kidneys would collapse before the ride ended. However I wasn't alone. There were cyclists everywhere by the side of the road at this point trying to stretch cramps out of their legs! Last
time I experienced cramps like this we were trying to walk to the Baptist Youth Camp at Currumbin in the mid 1960's. That time I made 27 miles (halfway I guess) before I finally gave in. No giving in this time!

Rest spots were well organised. . The early rise had thrown my body routines with the "dogs barking at the door" by the time we reached South Bank. So I was glad to reach that first rest spot at Eagleby State School at 40ks. There was quite a line of people heading for that building down the back so maybe others were having trouble with those "dogs" too! Food and water top up and off again. Many of the roadies bypassed that first rest spot improving their times; thus consigning many of we sluggards further down the line!

I was still making good time at this point- off the busway at 6:44 and into rest spot 1 at around 8am. By rest spot 2 at Coomera (76ks) after a very pleasant ride through farmlands at Alberton (and some huge industrial estates as well) I was slowing- 10:45 arrival. Well there were quite a few hills too! Here at Coomera State School by Dreamworld theme park there was a huge tank of
Gatorade on the back of a ute. Very popular!

Finally somewhere around midday we passed through Loders Creek (again a blast from the late 60's- every Christmas there used to be a CSSM Beach Mission operating from Loders Creek camp ground which is still there).

Of course arriving at 12:30 at Labrador was only the start. Next was the 20k ride to Palm Beach to Kirsti's family. This ride was a HOOT. Slap through the middle of Surfers and down the Indy Circuit being built for the next weekend. At Nobby we swung onto a cycle path which followed the beach. At Palm Beach we were feted like royalty with a celebratory lunch.

However there was a catch- the car was at the Gold Coast and the keys were in Brisbane! Suffice it to say- from my perspective- after a walk to Tallebudgera surfing beach, AND reading the Sunday Mail, AND watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory- we bade farewell to the Gold Coast somewhere around 7pm. 1 am into bed after a superb memorable weekend!

YeeHah- Big Ride Here I Come!

2006-10-14T04:54:00.000-07:00

Well quite a Saturday! Currently sitting at the computer of Spanish Redneck aka Matt (see link bottom left sidebar) - camped at his place for the night with my bike prepped and gear sitting ready in the hallway downstairs ready for a 4.30 am rise and rapid departure.

David and Kay picked me up from home around 8 am. My bike had already sprouted wings and left for Brisbane Tuesday per kind favour of Kirsti. We made a speedy trip to Brisbane with no stops and I was here by around 11.30.

Matt was busy for a while creating a mounting on the rear tray of his ute to carry the two bikes (pics below) and I busied myself with a natty cassette style chain cleaner removing several pounds of Central Queensland bulldust from the chain.

Mid afternoon we drove into the Brisbane CBD to drop off a parcel. What a trip down memory lane! Driving through Chermside I discovered that my old PMG tech training school of 1969 has vanished entirely- the big open space complex being completely built over with extensions from Chermside shopping centre.

Later in Elizabeth St I found the City Training School of Hesketh House had also disappeared replaced with St Stephen's Cathedral facilities. Of course Central Exchange built in 1920's and loaded with memories from my training days has long since gone replaced with some modern low building.

Down in Fortitude Valley the old Light St bus depot has been replaced with modern complexes- change everywhere. Doubtless the Repatriation Department Sisters Quarters has also been demolished down there- couldn't see.

Matt asked me when I had last been to Redcliffe- goodness only knows- decades. Well at least one and some years anyway. So over the new Hornibrook Highway taking a Cook's Tour through the Peninsula suburbs. Sutton's Beach with its memories of childhood seaside holidays. Some of the old houses remain.

When we reached Scarborough we dropped in to Morgan's Seafoods. What an establishment! The fresh seafood area had refrigerated counters ranged around in a huge square- I prowled the entire circuit noticing seafoods I had only heard of. Down the fish'n'chips area huge volumes of orders were efficiently processed in a minimum of time in a small space. It was mindboggling watching the speed and organization!

We took ours out to a picnic table by the seaside. Trawlers rocked in the water only feet away. Further out in the marina lay the pleasure vessels. I'd never eaten calamari like it- so fresh! None of this breadcrumb-coated-rubber-band stuff out of the freezer! Tea was definitely worth waiting for!

Heading back to Matt's place we found Trevor's old home at 175 Scarborough Rd. More memories. Trevor and I trained together in the PMG tech school in 1969 and we have kept contact on and off ever since. Later we passed North Lakes where Coral and I had turned for Trevor's place at Mango Hill a year or so ago. I have vowed to ring Trevor again next week- must be a year or so since we have talked. My heart had really been set on attending his son's wedding soon- until a family engagement party turned up. Perhaps a visit is in order again before too long!

Time for bed- 4.30am rise for the Wilson HTM Brisbane to Gold Coast ride- all 100ks of it. Leaving South Bank at 6am! Pics tomorrow all going well- if I can stop long enough to take some!

Thursday Goin' home- back to the Bay!

2006-09-29T04:11:00.000-07:00

How time flies when you are having fun! Thursday - time to go already! I had barely woken this morn when I heard diesel engines barking through town. I scarpered outside to watch a quadruple header pulling coal empties heading west for Minerva mine south of Emerald. As the train passed it slowed, presumably for Comet River bridge. An incredible succession of loud metallic bangs shuddered down the length of the train as the couplings closed together. Stereophonic sound from way out of sight on the right to almost out of sight on the left!

As I slowly wandered back to the house memories came back of nearly 50 years ago.
Nan's house on the railway reserve was right behind the gangers shed on the eastern side of Comet. I loved going down to the edge of the track by the gangers shed to watch the Garratts and other locos thunder past. This time Dad and Frank were on the verandah watching the fun. As the loco approached Dad yelled out something like "Let off steam!".

Of course the driver didn't hear Dad- but he had exactly the same idea. As the loco rumbled past me a sudden raucous blast of steam saw me spin around flying back into the house as fast as my legs would take me!

It was an interesting Thursday morning chasing up family history. Lloyd had rocked up to the party on Saturday with a loaded packhorse as a welcoming committee for Alan! Alan was a drover for many years so Lloyd’s role was significant for two reasons- he claims Alan taught him as a young fella all that he knows now about cattle, and also Lloyd now owns the four blocks where the second family home stood (until mid 1930s) when my father and another brother built huts on those blocks.

I can remember Frank living in Dad’s hut in the 1950’s. Finally Alan owned those blocks and the next two before selling them to Lloyd's family in the early 1960s. Plus my Dad had his blacksmiths shop (which was his fathers initially) on one of those blocks behind his hut in the 1930’s.

I was supposed to return on the Spirit of the Outback train Thursday evening- however a message that morn scotched all that – there had been a derailment near Ilfracombe so three buses were running the Western leg instead. Errk! Somewhere east of Gogango Range all three buses pulled over while the drivers tried to fix the air-conditioning on the second bus. Over one hundred people milling around in the dark on a dirt embankment.

Something up in the roof space had come adrift drenching the back few passengers (and their hand luggage) in foul smelling water. So those with wet seats (in more ways than one) were spread out over the other two buses- obviously I lost my second seat and I found myself wedged in a space so tight you couldn’t have slipped a piece of photocopy paper in with me.

QR stood us dinner at Mobil in Rockhampton- fish, chips and salad was very nice…but the servo was creaking keeping up with the queue which stretched for ages. Then over to the railway station where the buses were completely emptied (and more added)- a full bang tail muster bit like a roll call in Gulag Archipelego. Then we had to reload in different buses sorted by destinations.

Mercifully the milk run bus Gladstone to Gympie was never completely full. I think if I had lost that extra space for the last of the trip I wouldn’t have walked next day. I was in agony with a cramped back by the time I reached Bundaberg. Every time we stopped to drop off/pickup/organize passengers we seemed to be stationary for HOURS.

We pulled up at the truck rest area north of Maryborough (to save time) some time after 4am Friday- two hours late- it must have been a massive logistical exercise suddenly converting a passenger train trip into a bus trip. A wealthy dowager beside me was grizzling about how 40 of them had paid for first class fares (tour to and from Longreach) and LOOK how they ended up.

I subscribed more to the pragmatic view of a couple of labourers working for a railway contractor- they had had first class fares paid too (by their boss!) – but what can you do about a derailment? Precious little! Some events DO occur outside our control. Although I was a tad peeved to miss my long anticipated train ride we were basically commuting all the same- getting from point A to point B. Spose wealthy dowagers are on the train for the whole experience- whatever that is!

Thus ended a superb family time away. Next trip within the next couple of years hopefully- maybe I will have some mates with me to ride that extended loop around Springsure. Check out my thoughts on that in my Crazyguy cycling journals- look for the link on the lefthand sidebar.

Wednesday - Goin' home- Springsure to Comet via Cullen La Ringo

2006-09-27T04:41:00.000-07:00

In view of the poor facilities at the Showground I wasted no time decamping this morn and heading for the park by the museum. There I found good tables and overall a much more hospitable environment. Aunt Rosemary had already rung me the previous night so it was now merely a matter of waiting.

Brekky, send SMS's, enjoy Virgil Fox on my MP3 player (he is good ain't he Dana?) , finish Trevor's book- all made for a very pleasant morning. Once Alan and Rosemary had materialised we made tracks for Rainworth Fort. Wonderful old stone building constructed after the massacre at Cullen La Ringo in case of another uprising (which didn't eventuate). It was restored in later years, and now the old schoolroom and homestead from Cardbeign (circa 1880-1890's) have been brought in.

The homestead is mind boggling. Built of slabs with a "ceiling" made from lime plastered hessian it must have been incredibly breezy in winter. It has quite a few rooms and it would be easily the size of a modern family home- pretty generous for that era. We enjoyed morning tea under the roof overhang of Cardbeign Homestead courtesy of our hosts yarning with other visitors and Lorna from the property. One of our elderly morning tea companions had a (great grandfather?) killed at Cullen La Ringo- one of the shepherds.

After picnic lunch in town Rosemary took us west up the Tambo Rd, then we turned north for the Wills Graves site as it is signposted. An awesome drive through plains and mountains, then a short walk to the site of one of Queensland's worst massacres. Truly unreal standing there on the downs country in the blazing sun reading the inscriptions and realising that dreadful massacre occurred exactly where we were standing 140 years ago, around the same time of the afternoon.

From here we travelled north then east past Minerva mine to the Emerald Springsure Rd. As we drove this route I gradually realised this would make a superb loop ride over several days. More detail in the cycling journal in Crazyguyonabike website- check the sidebar on the left for the link.

Truly a superb day- definitely slept well after I tell you! I DO need to put on record also my heartfelt appreciation of my Uncle Alan. He took quite a fall in the cattle yards the day before bruising some ribs pretty badly. All up it was not an easy day for him gallivanting around the countryside particularly on dirt roads- thanks so much for making this wonderful day possible.

Tuesday Goin' home- Hit the Road Jack!

2006-09-27T04:34:00.000-07:00

Mon foggy Tue fine. Well I was feeling better anyway. With Aunt Rosemary breathing down my neck I had that bike loaded and I was pedalling furiously out the front gate by a little over 7 am.
My first taste of highway riding came on the Comet River bridge. I was admiring the new steel superstructure on the rail bridge, then I started looking down at the old road bridge my father had helped build in his prewar smithing days. Suddenly I realised a B-double tanker was right behind me. With cars coming from the opposite direction he had little room to manouvre. Oops.

However with a generous shoulder on the bridge I still had enough room to stay alive! Shortly after Comet River I swung left onto the Olive Vale Rd and my adventure had started.

I'm still reading up on details but the road from Comet to Minerva (on the Emerald Springsure road) was a coach road. A map of wagon routes pre1880 doesn't show it but shortly after mail coach service number MS108 ran twice a week Comeville (now Comet) to Springsure. In those days Emerald hardly existed- Springsure was the main centre.

I followed the coach road as far as Millroy Downs turn-off then swung left (south) to Springton to the bitumen Arcturus Downs Rd. I didn't notice any obvious relics of the coaching era on this road- there has been considerable development over the whole area as I said over the last few decades, but possibly someone well versed in local history could bring it to life.

I encountered a wide range of road surfaces. Near the beginning were some wild gravel stretches. Bulldust turned up quite often sometimes unexpectedly. Seen through the sunnies the road seemed the same colour- but suddenly the bike would suddenly swing sideways as hard surface suddenly became powder exactly the same colour. In places blacksoil road promised a wild trip in the wet.

Country also varied widely. Plenty of good rain had grown wheat crops on cultivated land which were in process of being harvested. Poorer soil types still retained scrubby vegetation. After the Millroy Downs turn (to Minerva) there were superb views across the cultivation to the Springsure Ranges west of the Emerald-Springsure Rd.

I held up well until somewhere in the middle of the day. Lunchtime on I found myself flagging and meal breaks were followed by a kip on the side of the road reading The Last of the Nomads (WJ Peasley Fremantle Arts Centre Press) courtesy of Trevor. It is a fascinating account of how the last two nomadicAborigines wandering the Gibson desert were found and brought out in the drought of the 1970's.

I had planned to camp along Springsure Ck somewhere around Kelso. However itwas still only around 2pm, there was no water in the creek or even remotely green grass to camp on- it all seemed so dry and barren in the droughty conditions I decided to push on for Springsure. As the afternoon sun dropped into the west (and I was cycling west!) I could feel myself baking in the heat. The road at this point was good two lane bitumen with B double grain trucks thundering past regularly.

I finally staggered into Springsure around 5pm fairly flogged out but happy. Drink and ice-cream first-and then off to the Showground. I should have realised it would be nothing exciting- no bbq or picnic table and even the amenities were pretty basic. The private park was the same price- and two kilometres away! To hell with it I would wear the privations of the Showground! In fact my energy flagged to the point where I simply rode back downtown and bought fish and chips! And crashed quite pleased with my day's achievements!

Monday Goin' home- the only constant is change

2006-09-27T04:24:00.000-07:00

Stepping outside the horsefloat in the wee hours these last couple of nights (take that whichever way you like both connotations are correct) I was stunned by the incredible glow to the north and east of Comet. When I first came here visiting my grandmother 50 years ago it was heavily timbered country. There was no electric light or running water, and the road to Emerald was dirt. Toilets were dunnies way down the back, sometimes reached by narrow paths wending their way through savage prickle patches. And when you stepped outside the night was as black as the inside of the dozing cow you were about to fall over.

Nan moved shortly after that time to the other family enclave on Boyne Island near Gladstone. So a decade passed before I returned as a young adult. Electricity had finally reached Comet around 1970, and town water some time after that. Brigalow schemes had cleared countless acres of scrub and coal mines had sprang up everywhere. However I could still mark the spot of Nan's house by the railway gangers shed, and the site of the original railway station by the trees my grandfather and others had planted.

Now over the last few years change has been so drastic I need to look closely to identify any landmarks of my childhood. The pub is there, albeit in a trendy heritage style reincarnation, and Ossie Carrington's old store can still be seen. The school, hall and a few original houses are also indentifiable. To my great surprise I have found this time I can leave my mobile on, it actually works- and cousin Tim accesses the Internet on his laptop via the Telstra CDMA network. Change is strong and accelerating in these parts.

Today was one of "those" days. I don't quite know whether to blame Miss Narelle and her fizzy red wine from last night at Trevor's, or just lack of sleep and dehydration. I'll blame Miss Narelle. Misfortune is so much easier to bear when you can blame it on someone else! My thumping head and generally foggy condition was so bad I retired to the cot once more after seeing off the last of the family. By about 1pm the fog had lifted enough to contemplate sustenance then reassembling the bike for tomorrow's trip. Aghhh disaster had struck.

The rear cones were loose yet again, and yet all had seemed OK when I had packed the bike. A screaming trip into the Emerald bike shop (thanks for the trip Aunt Rosemary) revealed I had broken the back axle unawares some weeks previous!! "Fat ass" or (words to that effect) was my dear wife's comment on the phone that night.

By the time I had worked on a few pics and emailed same, and given my Aunty a crash course in burning CD's - well that was the end of the day, hence this late blog up-date!

Change IS the only constant in this world it seems- and looking back over the weekend I have been relieved to see I'm not the only techno addict in the family.When you move in largely non-IT circles techno-addiction seems to carry the same social stigma as bizarre sexual practices!
I counted four of us at least over the weekend snapping away frantically with digital cameras everytime some one so much as twitched; and there was more than one of us rushing Aunty's computer at the end of the day to download and process pics. It is SO nice to have company in a change riddled world!

Sunday- Goin' home- the party continues

2006-09-24T00:53:00.000-07:00

Recovery day. Or more likely - "Let the party continue!!" A BBQ breakfast where people lingered most of the morning. Derek and I had camped in the horsefloat for the night (Derek - my age - from Humboldt station has long connections with the family) and somehow the yarning and cameraderie just didn't stop.

Somewhere around 11am most of us who hadn't headed home went up into the Tolmies Range east of Comet looking for an old Main Roads campsite from the 1930's to record it with GPS plots and photos. When one looks at the mining camps here now with airconditioned dongas, mess halls and all conveniencesthese early road camps boggle the mind.

Forky poles and short bedposts still stand where men erected their tents and flies making beds by running poles through sugar bags and slinging them between short posts. Tents would have been lit with carbide lamps. We found a butchers slab made from flat stones where the meat would have been killed. A big pile of clinker (and cut off tips from jackhammer bits) marked the spot where our Uncle George sharpened those for a living.

Shortly up the road we investigated the dam Robert Ballard made in the 1870's for water as he pushed the western railway line through the Tolmies. The superb stone work is still in place the dam still holding water in good times.The dam is unusual using the permanent way bed (buttressed by the stone work) as the dam wall.

I am currently planning an overnight trip to Springsure from here- possibly down the Comet-Rolleston Road as far as Arcturus Downs then turning right to Springsure. More tomorrow- time for a shower before BBQ with rellies up atTrevor's.

Saturday - Goin' home- roots!

2006-09-23T00:16:00.000-07:00

Judging by stories I have read most of the US seems to experience a major annual family migration every Thanksgiving. I guess the nearest Aussie equivalent would be Christmas.

I have just made a pilgrimage to family roots to join in celebrations for my Uncle's 80th birthday(I am still in migration mode at Comet at this moment) and it has been quite an emotional experience. The McLeod family has been in Comet since World War 1 and my train trips out there in early childhood to see family were significant in my personal development.

I bussed to Comet because my wife is too ill for the trip, which was a real disappointment. On the other hand it was quite a buzz when our youngest son and his girlfriend insisted on chucking my gear in the old family flib carting it to the bus terminal at midnight following me and my boxed bike in the Maxi taxi. So that hour spent together waiting was a real bonus, and it was so good to see their familiar faces waving goodbye as the bus drove out.

Gladstone in the first light of dawn also brought back so many memories. Dad's brother George moved here after World War 2, and later my grandmother and other family members. Tearing through Mt Larcom I could clearly see from the bus the main street where my cousins (George's daughters) and I sold watermelons while my father and George went to the pig and calf sale.

George had filled the back of the ute with watermelons, and then tossed an old cane lounge on top of the melons, and we kids rode on the lounge. What would modern road safety have to say about that now? Sales went well until a woman living in the old chemist shop across the road bought a melon. She had hardly disappeared from view when the door flew open and she strode back across the road to us.

"Where does your father want this melon? Round his neck or down it??" Unforgettable.We wasted no time replacing the offending green melon! I left home at age 19 moving to Rockhampton to work in the PMG and again- so many memories driving through this coastal belt.

Westwood on the road heading to Western Queensland we stopped to pick up a brother and sister heading back to Boulia from boarding school for hols. How times have changed. Savyy kids with the pleasant open friendly manner of country kids, conversant with the rodoeo circuit and good with cattle; and carrying Acer laptop computers slung over their shoulders and mobile phones. In the course of conversation I could really sense his deep love of his country origins, and when I enquired his future plans his response was instant- engineering degree. Today's country kids are incredibly broad in their outlook.

While the kids booked their luggage in I looked up and down the main street wondering if the house my father talked about still stood there. They had been mustering cattle into Rockhampton in the 1930's. The cattle had noseyed along the main street of Westwood well enough until one housewife with more energy than sense shook her broom over the verandah.
Well the cattle certainly came to life bolting willy nilly giving the drovers quite a time getting them all back together on the road again.

Comet finally hove in sight around lunch time. Family members could be seen beavering away in the hall making last-minute preparations and quite a few wandered over to the bus to greet me. Home coming in a very strong sense of the word!

All up quite an afternoon. Mobs of friends and families from a wide area gathered in that historic old hall to help Uncle Alan celebrate his 80th afternoon tea in style. Many photos and mementoes.

I guess the most touching moment for me was when we paused in loading some gear in the Landrover after the event. Alan had stopped to say something but couldn't quite get the words together. Finally he said "Just think all these people coming here just for my 80th."

Well why not? Isn't that what family is all about?

Cycle Touring Down Under

2006-09-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

Yes- it is finally launched- my podcast talking about cycle touring in Queensland. A couple of quieter days work and the first one has been uploaded (and already been downloaded by Dana in California to his IPod). Second one in a couple of weeks will be much easier- the actual recording process was minor compared to the work needed to learn the new software and servers. Create and upload artwork working out how to insert it into the ID tags, work around the countless pages of the various sites involved- the host which stores the MP3 files presenting it with a blog, feedburners, ITunes and other promotional agencies, and of course update this long-suffering blog.

The first link to the left of this takes you to the blog with the link- any URL's etc given in the podcast are presented here, along with one pic at least of the journey! The second line provides the RSS feed, and of course if you locate me in ITunes you can subscribe there.
Until the ITunes directory finally sorts itself out (or I sort it out?) use this link- http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=191665527

Enjoy! In theory I wish to upload a fresh podcast every fortnight. In reality?.....

Cycling the Brisbane Valley

2006-08-21T20:53:00.000-07:00

It's funny how sometimes we make plans that take forever to materialise. Graham and I had planned to ride the Brisbane Valley for years but somehow something always reared its ugly head before we consummated our plans. However last week we finally slaughtered the beast once and for all- well metaphorically speaking anyway!

Last Monday afternoon saw us tearing away from our respective domiciles of Toowoomba and Hervey Bay bound for Blackbutt. Graham beat me in to the campsite by a large margin but returned to Blackbutt after tea to pilot me in.

Next morn off bright and early for Brightview (no pun intended) where Graham left his car. Overall it was all pretty dry. Some farmers still irrigating but not too many. We took back roads to Coominya, then on to Esk where we stopped for lunch. Neither of us were feeling particularly brilliant finding as the day wore on we seemed to get slower and slower. Esk we called in to the local butcher for a couple of steaks on the way out.

That afternoon we cycled the Esk-Crows Nest road then some back roads to Toogoolawah. With the sun setting behind us it was obvious this was it for the day! Certainly 70ks not too bad considering the late start...but a long way to Blackbutt! We camped in Lions Park (listed as overnight stop) and showered in the loo handbasin. The steak was superb complemented by nicely by the cask red.

Despite sleeping between two roads we woke up refreshed heading up the Ivory Creek Rd, cut across two lanes and came into Colinton. We cycled the highway to Moore (with Graham fixing a flat on the side of the road). From Moore it was a short run to Linville where we took the rail corridor to Blackbutt finally arriving around 5pm. The rail corridor is a great ride but it is tightly controlled- ring the Linville Store or Blackbutt Information Centres before travelling to the area to make sure gate keys are available and that the trail isn't booked out for the day.

check out our journal on http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journal/BrisbaneValley2006 for more description and pics.

Podcasting time

2006-08-11T13:01:00.000-07:00

Gday all- well I am still having trouble keeping up to journalling- winter drawing to a close though so perhaps with longer days I might keep up better.

My eldest son in the Czech Republic has introduced me to podcasting and I have discovered a whole new world of sharing information via audio media. Currently as I find time I listen to podcasts from Naxos records, Penguin books and one two others.

So a big welcome to any who have come here after hearing my first podcast on cycle touring in general and cycle touring around Southern Queensland in particular. I plan on using this blog as a portal to other sites such as my touring journals; and also as a means of regularly posting updates.

A couple of weekends ago I was privileged to cycle the Mary Valley with Tom who has been a cycling commuter for some time around Maryborough Qld. Recently he decided to enter Cycle Queensland's North Queensland ride in September. So- down to the local bike shop to replace his present old mountain bike with a shiny new hybrid with rear racks and pannniers, and off into training.

The Mary Valley ride was Tom's first tour, and an experiment on my part combining steam and cycle! I firmly believe that in an era of rapidly rising oil prices cycle touring using public transport to reach the start point is looking more attractive all the time where such public transport exists.

We caught the Mary Valley Rattler heritage steam train from Gympie to Amamoor on Saturday, riding from Amamoor over the hills to Imbil to camp by Little Yabba Creek. After checking out more of the local scenery Sunday we then rode the train with our bikes in the guards van back to Gympie.
More in my journal on
Longgg way down unloading bikes from a guards van with no platform!

One treat at Amamoor was watching the loco being turned by hand on a manual turntable.

Still

2006-06-04T19:15:00.000-07:00

Well I am still between long weekends, still writing up a Brass Band Contest program- and still feeling lousy! So much so if I wake up tomorrow feeling as I do now I am staying home regardless!

However there are plenty of positives. My article for Horizons- the Wide Bay lifestyle magazine has been accepted for July edition. The Maryborough Magazine 2006 has hit the streets with its brand new cycling page promoting cycling through Maryborough Parks and the town generally. And Australian Senior has accepted another proposal for an interview with three generations of a family competing together in a triathlon club. All positive.

My adventure article reached it US destination in electronic form- the data CD with the pics hasn't arived there yet. I received a polite email acknowledging its arrival- not quite sure whether "keeping it in mind for future editorial requirements" is optmistic- or a polite brushoff! Time will tell!

Land of the Long Weekend

2006-05-28T19:11:00.000-07:00

I get the impression many countries are envious of the number of long weekends we have in Oz. By some historical quirk Queensland has managed to jam most of theirs into the second quarter of the year- followed by nothing for the rest of the year.

Here in Fraser Coast we have just had our annual Show Holiday- and soon we will have the Queens Birthday weekend. Somewhere in and around all these days off we are supposed to maintain our work productivity! Not of course that I am complaining- I am very partial to long weekends!

My Show weekend was even longer than usual because I turned down a days work on Thursday to attempt a recovery from the flu. In some ways I wonder why I did! Waste of time- I still feel lousy! No matter.

I rode the computer hard and finally completed an article for submission to Adventure Cycling Magazine in the US. Time will tell whether it will be accepted or not! I needed to prepare a CD of supporting pics as well and it was a real nostalgia trip going back over the pics. It was also great to realise that I DID bring home some excellent pics from NZ.

Also I finished articles on cycling Wide Bay region for the Wide Bay tourist mag, and tried my luck with a submission to the Queensland Tourist newspaper.

Busy weekend even if I did have the flu!

Next job- write up a souvenir program for a local brass band contest.

No rest for the wicked!

Forget about makin' bacon- makin' time is my problem!

2006-05-21T20:35:00.000-07:00

Well not much has changed since last time except that I am finding it difficult to spread myself evenly over my priorities. My writing is certainly picking up pace however it is difficult sandwiching it in with everything else!

I had a good chuckle watching the ABC the other night - Clive Robertson and his Agony Aunts sorting out the problems of middle-age couples. One issue which struck me forcibly was this couple who were running a low-key catering business in a half-hearted manner which meant it was using up time without a satisfactory return.

I took the story to heart and have resolved to make something worthwhile of my writing- in terms of financial gain and personal gain. And I have moved on it trust me!

It has been a weekend of family bonding too. Saturday we drove to our kids in the country and I helped with a couple of small jobs rebuilding a trailer. After which we spent some time just "sittin' around a-chewin' the fat!"

Sunday after a very satisfactory BUG workshop (which everyone else organised) I took son number three out driving in the suburbs of the western beaches as far as Toogoom. We had plenty of chance to talk and enjoy the scenery as well as a welcome coffee at the Toogoom Store. Tell you what the lad eats well- cleans my wallet out every time! Not that I mind!

Heigho back to the coal mine for another couple of hours- and plenty more writing over the next day or so!

Cheers
Dave

Making haste slowly

2006-05-18T16:59:00.000-07:00

Gday- sluggish again I know! Been an encouraging couple of weeks from a writing perspective- and also casual work picking up so that is good! My wife is steadily recovering from ill-health so I am gradually freeing up more time again for writing and cycling. One must get one's priorities correct!

One educational organisation emailed last Thursday accepting one of three manuscripts so I was pleased. The Australian Senior has accepted another article as well so two paid articles inside a week or so. Barbara from Outback City Express indicated to me she appreciates receiving well-written articles in electronic format, complete with pics. It makes a newspaper editor's job much easier and she is keen for me to write some more articles. Feather in the cap!

I have already written and forwarded a sequel to the educational organisation- more details on that when paperwork is finalised.

I have unearthed a couple of local tourism writing opportunities so I am working on those to promote Wide Bay cycle touring. One is a commercial magazine which has already accepted an article proposal. Plus I am writing up an article on our NZ trip for submission to a US adventure cycling group.

So busy busy busy!

It is always nice when friends call- and exciting when it is on a BMW motor bike!

Wife dearest always cracks up when youngest son and I keep taking pics of Radar the family stumpy-tailed blue heeler!

cheers

Dave

Get lost- or get a GPS!

2006-04-19T14:11:00.000-07:00

Modern technology is head spinning and revolutionary. Navigation changed dramatically when GPS entered the world- and this old war horse is about to try his hand at a dramatic revolution as he learns modern GPS navigation.

Interesting to hear Hazel's comment- "No use telling Dave to "Get Lost !!" now . . . . . the sod'll find his way back !!
Unless . . . . . there is a battery in the GPS that we can sabotage or move some lamp posts to confuse him !"

more on the GPS later- but I have learned basic operations on the GPS (loaned to me per kind favour me old china plate Jeff) and I can download a track to a software programme on computer which generates a map and graphs elevation and speed.

I have been encouraged to see several articles in print lately- our New Zealand cycle ride is in the March and April editions of the Outback City Express and the April Qld edition of the Australian Senior has an article on a great Bundaberg senior Harvey Flanders who spent his working life as a sugar mill engineer and now drives and maintains the sugar trains running in the Botanical Gardens in Bundaberg.

One Saturday a couple of weeks ago I spent a very interesting afternoon at a workshop collating trails for the Fraser Coast District Sport and Rec strategy. After much hard slog I was able to present a 50 page document to Neil our consultant which documented my suggestions and also (I hope) with numerous colour pics and descriptions adequately justified my choices. Over the next week or so I will feature different trails I have suggested along with some pics.

"Trail"-ing along

2006-02-24T15:37:00.000-08:00

Hmm- promises promises!! Every day is a new day for resolutions! Must admit I have been busy and most of it has been writing of a different kind. Currently 4 Councils in our area- Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Tiaro and Woocoo have joined together to prepare a 20 year strategy for sport, rec and open spaces. Beneath "rec" read trails- all kinds, canoe, dive, MTB, horse and cycle. Needless to say I have ended up involved in the recreational cycle touring area.

I've been developing spreadsheets galore identifying potential trails from my past experiences acros the 4 Council areas, and now we have started riding the unknown ones to test them. Last weekend Pat and I investigated Musket Flat and took the consultant out on some trails around Theebine in the Tiaro Shire.

Next Thursday I will be testing some Maryborough trails, and next weekend hopefully tackle the Bicentennial National Trail component of some of the Tiaoro trails.

So writing of a formal nature has taken back seat. However I am back to creating submissions to editors so hopefully at some stage I will start getting feedback from a few editors- for good or for bad!

More from me in a day or so
Dave

Longggg Holiday

2006-02-08T11:13:00.000-08:00

Gday- yes I am back after an extended holiday! End of year seems to be crashdown time for me (read meltdown) and it takes me until about February to crawl back up on deck again. First week of school hols was spent at Elliott Heads near Bundaberg with my dear wife in the family caravan. Then a quiet Christmas with family at home- and December 30th my kids dropped me in Brisbane for the start of 19 days cycling South Island of New Zealand. Absolutely magic! Journal is on http://NZJanuary2006.crazyguyonabike.com

More from me tomorrow- promise!!
Dave

day 1- leaving the motel at Christchurch for the Railway Station to catch the Tranzcoastal train to Blenheim.

Towards the end of the trip on the road to Milford Sound we climbed the first stage of the Routeburn Track to Key Summit.

Glory to God in the Highest!

2005-12-07T11:10:00.000-08:00

Yes- it is Carols by Candlelight time again! The last few days been unbelievably busy- and I am supposed to be tidying up an entry in a short-story competition! Last night was the Maryborough Candles by Carol-light (or something to that effect!) and Maryborough Brass was on stage for most of the night leading the community carols along with many other wonderful folk. As well as enjoying the night I had the tricky parts of my short story on the music desk and while we were in the Green Room for one short break I managed to write up quite a few changes.

I receieved a great email from Mark at Break Loose Adventure Directory- I had submitted three articles in a trilogy discussing beginning cycle touring in terms of our trip to Burrum Heads recently. Mark has researched many links for submitting some articles for upcoming NZ trip and also gave me some great ideas on blogs and writing, and articles for the Net. Any developments in any of these I will post here.

A busy couple of days with Graham when he arrives this afternoon starting training for NZ trip (much too late), checking packing and looking for any missing last-minute details! Hoogie- avid touring cyclist from South Island NZ emailed me his train bookings yesterday so we will have company for the first five days- really looking forward to hoogie joining us.

Heigho off to my short story.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

2005-12-04T01:46:00.000-08:00

Well the grand sounds of Handel's Messiah are still ringing in my head. Two local performances yesterday and one in Bundaberg today (add to that staff Xmas party Friday night) and it has certainly been one wild weekend. TGIM- thank goodness it is Monday! Well almost.

Our venue yesterday was a magnificent modern Anglican church with soaring timber ceilings which has quite a good accoustic. However large areas of carpet and the square shape of the building (in my opinion) meant we were singing in really full voice and articulating consonants heavily to project clearly to the rear of the auditorium. Very tiring- and rugged on the throat. Three tenors for a choir of 30 odd (plus a bass seconded occasionally) meant we tenors were REALLY working hard. Wonderful appreciative combined audience of around 650 for the two performances.

Glorious evening outside and cherished memoried of choristers lounging around outside to one side socialising while waiting for our call- much-needed human interaction in a busy world. I picked up on a lovely plot for a girls story in one conversation- a young lass known to a few of us has stopped playing her violin after her much-beloved grandfather passed away- the associations have been too strong. The seed of a story there.

Today we performed in Christ Church Anglican Church in Bundaberg- a massive brick pile dating back to early in the 20th century with a very dark timber ceiling over the truss work. Love these old churches with their stained glass windows and tremendously evocative atmosphere. Much more reverberant accoustic than yesterday which of course meant still much hard work on the diction so it wasn't lost in the swirling echoes. However these reverberant spaces are wonderfully supportive of vocal ensembles and soloists alike and we were told later we sounded truly grand.

Both performances the choir was complemented with a wonderful chamber ensemble who worked tirelessly (particularly the continuo instruments such as the double bass, celli and the keyboard who played every number in the score from memory). Inevitably in small regional productions some instruments simply are not available but the instrumental ensemble sounded excellent regardless and their contribution shared in creating a memorable performance.

Singing in a chorus like this provides plenty of chill-out time during solos and symphonies and the like and I found that very therapeutic and meditative- and a chance for my Muse to come calling!

Time to get on the road again tomorrow- cycle training sadly neglected. And some short stories to finish and despatch away along with my short story for Brisbane City Council competition Wednesday. No rest for the wicked or the idle!