Western Queensland Adventure Days 2-3

 After a lovely evening by the campfire in Thrushton, we got up relatively early, packed up our campsite, breakfasted and then set off for a quick walk in search of the Woolshed. This we could not find however! So we set off for the day…

Today was a 449km drive through Bollon, Cunnamulla, Eulo to our campsite in the Culgoa NP. Our first stop was Bollon, which was a delightful little town. We enjoyed a lovely coffee in the cafe there, which is set up with interesting yesteryear artifacts. We also had a little potter about the Heritage Museum, where we met a bloke (who opened it up just for us to go and see through), and he explained to us that the Woolshed got taken away about 3 years ago, because the National Parks asked them if they wanted to do it up, and the townsfolk didn’t have the funds to do so, so they knocked it down as it was condemned.

We wandered about the river and discovered a beautiful little walk, the Wallam Creek Walking Trail. It’s not very long but the river was delightful. We enjoyed a spot of morning tea here.

After Bollon, our next stop was Cunnamulla. Originally this had been intended as the lunch spot, however because we spent so long in Bollon, we were here quite late. However, Cath and Mike were still keen for lunch, so they stopped in a park just before Cunnamulla. We were more interested in ensuring we could get fuel, so we went looking for petrol. Surprisingly the BP didn’t have premium unleaded, but we found it at a little outlet - completely automated - you had to swipe your card and nominate a maximum fee. This I found quite interesting - I’ve never been anywhere where the services are quite so remote. We then had a quick look at the Cunnamulla pub, and Russell and I had a bit of lunch in another park. I went back to the pub for a comfort stop and on my way back out, an Indigenous woman in the pub just randomly pulled me over to her and started hugging me! Apparently it was her mother’s birthday so she was hugging everyone. Random.

The rest of the drive was pretty long but uneventful. We arrived at our campsite in Culgoa National Park (Nebine Creek campground) and set up by the creek. It really is very picturesque.

The next day the boys got up early for a bit of a bird watch and then we leisurely had breakfast, potting about before we took a drive in the National Park. There had been a slight bit of rain on Sunday afternoon so the roads had lots of water on them! We made a boys car and a girls car (being Gertie of course) and the wet roads made for some slip n slide action for Gertie! We went down to Red Bank hut for a bit of a look around - interesting little hut but abandoned of course. Then we headed to the ranger station, where the big excitement was Telstra connection! Not to mention a sit down loo!! Woot woot!!!

After this we made our way to Byra lagoon for a spot of lunch, and Cath, Mike and myself had a lovely swim. I was a bit taken aback when Mike dropped dacks and went in absolutely starkers!!!

The afternoon was spent chewing the fat back at camp; a bit of birding for Russell; a 6km walk by the creek for Karen and me, solving the world’s problems (or at least our own!) as we went; but mostly just relaxing by the creek and swotting off flies. They were literally driving us nuts! Cath and Mike got out some big fly net things for their hats and boy do I wish I had one…

But the worst was yet to come… that night we had a massive plague of grasshoppers join us for dinner! The blighters were everywhere. Not even Mike’s yellow lights were a deterrent…!

In all though we had a mostly pleasant stay in Culgoa… save for the insects…!

Western Queensland 2022 Adventure - Brisbane to Thrushton NP

 It’s the Easter school holidays so that means only one thing - its time to travel!

Last year we had planned to go on a big adventure to Western Queensland with Michael and Karen, but sadly that didn’t eventuate - not because of COVID19 as you might expect, but because of floods!

This year it was looking a little like the trip might again not go ahead - and again because of rain. Given the recent Brisbane floods, and then the continuation of rain into NSW and out in Western Queensland, many roads have flooded, and still have not re-opened. Fortunately though enough are open that we are able to make our trip.

We left Brisbane at 7am on the first day of the holidays and set off for Warwick, where we would meet Michael and Karen. We originally had planned to go through Dalby but the floodwaters through there put paid to that. We met in Warwick at the Coffee Club at 9am and had a second breakfast! I was quite shocked at how cold it was in Warwick and thinking about what I’ve packed, and where we were going, I realised I would need another pair of jeans! So I rushed into Rose City to Big W and bought a cheap pair of jeans to wear around the campfire. 

We then went on the Newell Highway towards Inglewood and then Goondiwindi, fuelling up at every available opportunity, and then on the Barwon highway from one end to the other. It was such a long day driving, especially as Gertie doesn’t have cruise control, and because I had not slept at all the night before (like, NOT. AT. ALL) it was very tiring. I had to have Russell take over later in the afternoon (but then he later made me swop back, so it was very difficult!). We stopped off at the Nindigully pub en route - that was such a cute place! The town itself is tiny, a basic, blink and you’ll miss it type place, on the bank of a tiny creek - which was flooded by the way. There’s a memorial there to the Paperback Hero movie, as apparently this movie was filmed there. The pub is so iconic - loads of Australiana on the walls, namely Akubra hats - and really very atmospheric. I enjoyed it very much.

We continued on towards Thrushton National Park, to the homestead camping group, and got there not long before dusk. Mike and Cath had already arrived and set up camp. Their set up is awesome - they have a ‘box’ on the back of their Ute tray that basically is custom-made, and houses their entire set up; kitchen, drawers for clothes; waeco; food - anything they need. Their tent is a rooftop tent that goes above it. The tray can be raised up and they can drive their Ute out from underneath, leaving their tent site set up. It really is amazing.

We cooked up our dinner and Mike got a fire going. It was really a very pleasant evening after a tiring day.

The One Where Kylie Gets Covid Part 3

Day 5 of COVID…

Symptoms are still pretty ordinary. I started the day off feeling relatively good - just the voice is still gone (it’s like an octave and a half lower than it usually is). Put it this way, I make a pretty fine Bass at this point.

I thought it would be smart to teach online today - I mean, I know I have the sick leave, but I might need that at some point, right? So I started to teach online and within 10 minutes the little voice I had was completely gone - but not only that, the act of using my voice brings on fits of coughing. I just can’t seem to shake it.

It particularly didn’t help that the Yr 6s seem to have been forgotten today, and no teacher turned up. There I was trying to ‘teach’ 25 Yr 6s who were running around the Piazza and unable to hear me from the one girl’s computer that seemed to have no volume at all. Later on I got a phone call from the Deputy Head saying they were now supervising the girls, and then chiding me for ‘teaching’ online because I was clearly unwell. Yeah no shit Sherlock! I just don’t want to give over my sick leave. Suffice to say that I am not teaching online at all tomorrow.

Another fun thing is I will one minute be feeling chipper and almost normal, and the next I can barely get out of bed or walk down the stairs, I’m so weak. This is nuts.

At least I don’t have the aches and chills I had in the beginning. Although it seems that later in the day, every day, I feel like an elephant is sitting on my chest. This is no fun at all.

I have discovered one little covid remedy though. A candle-lit bubble bath with Star Wars on the iPad always makes things better…

So to all who say covid is nothing - come spend a day in my shoes. This is not nothing. I have been quite unwell with this and I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. Although an anti-vaxxer? - maybe…

The One Where Kylie Gets COVID Part 2

 Those people who say COVID is not a big deal, go away now.

Only a couple of hours after finalising my lessons for day 1 teaching with covid, I began to develop fever, chills, and aches. Tried to sleep because I felt incredibly fatigued, but sleep alluded me. So I woke on day 2 with the prospect of a day’s teaching ahead, feeling like death warmed up.

I got through the day but as I did, my symptoms fluctuated and worsened. No longer chills or fever, then chills and fever. No longer aches, then aches. It’s madness.

I made the decision therefore that today (technically day 3) I wouldn’t teach from home, but just rest. So far I have raging sinus pain, stuffy nose, cough, and muscle aches. My voice is about 2 octaves lower than normal. This is ridiculous. I feel completely crap.

This better pick up tomorrow or I will be very annoyed…

The One Where Kylie Gets COVID Part 1

 

Well, they said it was inevitable. And to be honest, I’m quite surprised I managed to last this long, what with the mask mandate having been lifted a couple of weeks ago.  But here it is - I now have COVID.

Let me give you a little background, which is kind of necessary given I haven’t posted in a year!

Only if you’ve been living under a rock would you have missed the COVID19 pandemic that has gripped the globe since early 2020.  We’ve been through it all: lockdowns; isolation; 1.5 metres ‘social distancing’; toilet paper shortage; hand sanitizer shortage; limits on grocery items (mince, pasta - clearly we’re all making spaghetti bolognese in iso).. wearing masks; not wearing masks; wearing masks in confined spaces but not when outside; vaccinations; check in with the covid app; showing your big green tick so you can get into cafes; you can’t make this crap up. 

So just before Christmas the Premier opened up Queensland borders to vaccinated domestic travellers. That’s when covid finally arrived in full form in Queensland. We had a major spike in January, so much so that she delayed the start of school by a week for Yrs 11&12 (and online only), and 2 weeks for everyone else. Of course that didn’t mean much for the Catholic schools who just put everyone back online. Face to face teaching resumed from February 4 with all teachers and students required to wear a mask.

The masks came off on March 4, and it has taken me only 16 days then to get COVID. I’m pretty sure I will have gotten it from my Junior Chorale. We haven’t had rehearsals for a couple of weeks because I was unwell, then we had the day of our colours selections for the new build, and then there was also the week the Premier cancelled school because of the floods - so our first rehearsal back was Thursday 17 March.  Additionally, some bright spark decided that we need to convert our rehearsal space, which was St Ann’s Chapel, into a classroom, so when I arrived to rehearsal this week the wooden collapsible doors had been pulled closed and I couldn’t open them much - only enough for girls to get into the room. This, coupled with mask-less singing and no air refresh device, created in my mind a perfect storm for COVID transmission.

I started to get a bit of a sore throat on Saturday evening, on my way to the AFL Lions v Port Adelaide. I didn’t think too much of it as I often have sore throats from air con, but by the end of the evening it was pretty fiery, aided by the idiot who was vaping in front of us. I had trouble getting to sleep as I was quite wired, so when I woke the next morning with the throat raging, I didn’t really think that much of it, but decided to do a RAT (nasal swab) anyway. Negative. Ok, all good - off to Shelden’s new church to spend time with him and Lou.

Got home Sunday afternoon and felt really whacked, so I decided reluctantly to have a lie down - its Gabby’s birthday dinner party tonight so I wanted to rest up. But by 4pm my throat was even worse, and I felt very tired - so I did another RAT - this one an oral one - and yup. COVID…

So I’ve let school know, and I’ve set up all my lessons to teach online tomorrow as I don’t feel too bad at the moment. Seems that quite a few teachers are out with COVID as the Deputy immediately emailed me back with updated protocols. We could be in for an interesting time…

Vic Alps Adventure - Feathertop and Bogong

Lately I’ve been becoming more and more concerned about my inability to remember some of my travels, my life experiences, my stories.  So I decided to make a more concerted effort to journal them, in an attempt to keep them alive.  Even if no one else reads them on this blog, I don’t mind.  This is for me. So to that end, here is our Vic Alps Adventure.

Michael had been talking for some time about going down to Vic to climb Feathertop and Bogong, as part of a bigger Victoria walking trip, with Karen and Pete. I think he’s done Feathertop before but I’m not sure about Bogong - and I know Karen hasn’t.  Anyway when he first mentioned it I jumped at the chance.  The only problem was, as it is with most of Michael’s trips, its during school term time.

So I was a bit naughty.  Knowing that the school wouldn’t give me the day off to go bushwalking, I requested a day’s leave without pay. Normally I would have chucked a sickie, but in these covid times, its just as likely damn Annastacia Palaszcuk could shut the borders because someone in Victoria coughed - and then where would I be?  Quarantined or self-isolated til a clear covid test.  How could I explain that to school?  So I did what any normal person would do - I lied and said I had a family wedding to attend, and asked for the day leave without pay. And was granted it.

But then there was a case of covid in Vic, and she did shut the borders, so we weren’t sure we could go.  About 10 days before we were due to leave, finally she opened them again, and we rushed to grab flights, accommodation and so on.  I remember it because we were in the car with Michael and Karen on the way to climb Mt Joyce when Michael said she’d opened them, and he had to pull over so Russell and I could frantically book everything!  Even then, the motel where M&K were staying was now fully booked, so we had to stay at the Casbak Alpine Units instead of the Harrietville Snowline Motel.  The plan was we would fly late Thursday night to Melbourne, hire a car, drive 3 1/2 hrs to Harrietville, check in, sleep, then meet Michael and the others at 9am the next day to go climb Feathertop. Busy.

So that’s what we did.  Sharon Cottam picked Russell up and then me from school, dropped us to the airport, and then we flew down with Virgin to Melbourne.  The Virgin lounge, which Russell is such a fan of, is still not properly open because of covid, so all we could get was a coffee or wine, and some pre-packaged sandwiches.  I went and got a seat and Russell the food, but he didn’t see me, so he got his own seat.  When he realised I was in another section waiting at a table, he came over, and the cleaner threw out his perfectly good sandwiches whilst clearing his table, so he had to go get new ones.

The flight down was uneventful.  Because of covid you must wear masks in the airport and on the plane, except when eating / drinking.  But also because of covid they only serve water and a small snack.  It was pretty crap.

We arrived in Melbourne and made our way to the Avis desk to get the car.  It was a zippy thing. We set off for Harrietville, stopping off at some services on the way for dinner by way of McDonalds. The woman in Maccas was pretty unhappy to be there and not very forth coming in taking our order.

We had told the motel about our late arrival and they had put the key in the door.  The unit was quite functional but odd.  Small kitchen, with a booth style table.  Microwave on top of a bar fridge and no real bench space.  Certainly nowhere to store any food.  The lounge consisted of a sofa, coffee table and a couple recliners I think. The bathroom was narrow, with a small basin and a 70s style shower. The bedroom was functional but shared a wall with the unit behind - and being only a brick wall, the sound travelled.  Which was most unhelpful as the unit behind was occupied by a young family, with crying baby and loudly snoring father.  Suffice to say I did not get much sleep.

We awoke at the appointed time and set off in search of breakfast.  No small feat in a town where everything practically is shut because of covid. In the end all we could manage was a coffee cart near the park that had pretty ordinary sausage rolls and even more ordinary coffee.

We headed up to the Snowline motel to meet Michael and the others, then drive to the start of the walk near Hotham.  Russell drove us as he was going birdwatching.  We started at Diamantina Hut. This is a lovely A frame hut meant to be used in emergencies in winter I suppose. It was quite cold as we started the walk, but as things went on obviously, it warmed up.  What stunning countryside there is here. The views are simply amazing.  Being above the tree line, the countryside is made up of those harsh little scrubs, with views for miles (on a clear day - which this relatively was).

We hiked along the Razorback hiking track until the intersection with Bungalow spur track, where we encountered some 70 or so other hikers.  Later on in the weekend we found out about a 3 peak or something challenge and they were all part of that.  It was another 1.5km to the top of Feathertop, the last part of which was quite steep, and for the first time in my life I found myself over taking Pete and Karen!! Had a spot of lunch at the summit but I wished I had a mosquito net or something - the insects (were they midges? Not sure) were ferocious!  Karen had a net that goes over your hat - I want one of those.

After the summit we headed back down to Harrietville.  This was a long descent but again through very pretty countryside - my favourite being the snow gums.  So beautiful.  The descent seemed to take forever though and we were getting pretty tired - after all we were walking 22kms all up.  Michael was particularly suffering so when we had phone reception we called Russell to come meet us, and save us the last km or so.

Arrived back to the motel to freshen up for dinner.  Michael had made a booking at the restaurant at their motel.  Russell and I walked there from our motel and had a really pleasant chat about the future, enjoying the walk.

It was a lovely meal but afterwards I had a terrible night’s sleep and woke feeling decidedly unwell - the worst I had in a long time! So I was not in a very good state to try and climb Bogong.

We checked out of the motel and met up with the others.  Boy I was feeling grim.  Russell drove the hire car and Michael had his car and we headed off for the start of the Bogong track.

Not going to lie, it was slow going.  Me because of the night before.  Michael and Pete because of their heavy thru packs. Russell and Karen though were in fine form.  The climb basically is straight up.  The first part is pretty flat, as we crossed a couple creeks - for the most part we found the bridge to cross.  But once we got to the staircase trailhead, it was all uphill from there!

Michael had said that if we were to have any chance of getting out before nightfall we would need to be heading back down from the summit around 1.30-2.00pm.  That wasn’t looking likely!  It was so tough. I have never struggled so much in my life and I was kicking myself for it. Karen, Russell and I kept a slow pace but we soon lost sight of Michael and Pete, who were seriously struggling.  When we made it to Bivouac Hut, Karen said we should go on - and it turned out just as well we did, because Michael and Pete were (even at that stage) an hour behind us. In fact, Karen later said she regretted not coming with us because when Michael and Pete eventually turned up, Michael decided he wasn’t going any further and just set up camp.  They’ve already climbed Bogong before so it doesn’t matter to them, but Karen hasn’t, and now she might have missed her chance.

Russell and I set off for the summit and the weather was starting to come in - quite cold and definitely very foggy.  It was hard to see very far in front.  But we kept going.  We met about 80 hikers on their way back down - some 3 peak challenge or something - but they encouraged us to keep going. Eventually, about 2pm, we made it to the summit.  It was freezing and so windy - and all covered in fog - so no view.  But I was glad we had done it.

We set off back down and caught up with the others at Bivouac hut.  I have never seen Michael look so knackered.  I felt for Karen but she had chosen to wait.  We said goodbye and headed off back to the car.  On the way we met a bloke from the 80 hikers who was hauling ass back up to Bivouac - seemed one of the clients thought they left their phone there. We later found out the idiot eventually rang his number and found it in his backpack - but didn’t bother to radio the poor mug who was going off to look for it - so he was not impressed.

It was getting dark by the time we got back to the car and it just started to rain as we got there.  I was shattered.

We headed off to Bright where we had booked our accommodation for the night at the Alpine Motel.  This turned out to be a nice room - but it was part of the pub, and being a Saturday night - very noisy!  We thought we were in luck when it started raining, as then they might shut the doors to the outdoor area - but no.  And it was noisy.  We had dinner in one of the other pubs and the food was ok, but it was very noisy there too.  I was so glad when I finally got to sleep!

On Sunday we had a leisurely breakfast at the cafe across the road.  I was stunned that they didn’t have anyone checking we’d signed in for covid.  In fact I couldn’t even find the book.  When I did, I couldn’t believe that in a cafe so packed, only about 4 people had signed in.  No wonder Victoria had all that covid outbreak it had last year - the second wave - they aren’t taking it seriously.

On our way back to the airport we did a wine tasting at Brown brothers, which was really good.  

The flight back was pretty uneventful - this time on Qantas so the food was a little bit better.  It had been a lovely weekend...