Post by cobber on Aug 27, 2009 20:49:23 GMT 10
G'day Vintage 'vanners.
With no more dogs to hold us back Yvonne and I decided to visit friends in Caloundra and Bundaburg leaving home on the third of this month.
I've always had a high regard for the way Daggsey and Carrots are able to post photos of “Madona's travels” that capture the essence of the places they visit and inspire us all to hit the road.
This is my miserable attempt to do the same.
We decided to wave the vintage caravan flag too.. so the old FJ towed “Driftwood” on this trip.
We went up the coast road via The Entrance (visit my sister) through Newcastle where I decided to buy a new six volt battery for the FJ as the one I had was a bit sluggish, then onto a camp site beside the Myall Lakes.
There is no doubt there are some nice spots to visit along the coast....... but traveling the coast road is not pleasant …. for my money... so no time was wasted getting to Caloundra where we spent four days with friends doing some of the tourist drives.
A little bit of the 50s in Caloundra.
A view of the Glass House Mountains.
We then zapped up to Bundaburg.... without “Driftwood”.
A couple of nice “Queenslanders” at Bundy.
Good place Bundy... bought 20 felt pendants there, $3 each.
On the way back to Caloundra to spend another day with friends we called into Maryborough.
Maryborough Heritage Centre.
Another Ettamogah pub.... seen one you've seen 'em all.
In Brisbane I went to the Bakelite place that has been mentioned here a few times.... he's got it all, well worth a visit if you're looking for retro stuff.
At the end of a dirt road near Aratula on the way to Warwick.
The Maryvale Pub near Warwick.
The Darling Downs Pub @ Sandy Creek-- near Warwick.... lets face it, pubs are often the best looking buildings in some country towns.
On the way to Queen Mary Falls .. Killarney.. east of Warwick..
In honor of the Daggsters
Queen Mary falls .
Bluff rock near Tenterfield... not a happy history that one.
Stopped at this garage in Guyra to find out what the road to Dorrigo via Ebor was like... three of the local “characters” came racing over from the pub opposite to admire car and 'van... one of 'em asked if he could take a photo, no worries said I … he didn't have a camera.... his mates didn't have a camera... he asked could he borrow our camera, this is the photo he took... wants us to send him a copy.
Them and us in the long Paddock on the way to Ebor.
Ebor Falls.
Imagine my excitement when we pulled into the Dorrigo caravan park and saw this.... a Flynn caravan thought I.
The owner makes no bones about the fact he made it two years ago... not based on a Flynn or anything else, just his own idea. It has all mod cons... a roof hatch that senses rain and automatically closes.. TV aerial operated from inside... independent suspension .. it's made with plywood covered with a fibre glass skin.
Then on to Bellingen.... you're right, the 'van stayed at Dorrigo.
The Federal Hotel Bellingen
Then back to Dorrigo.
Dangar Falls Dorrigo from the top then from the bottom.
Dorrigo steam museum is not yet open ...been going to open it for the past 20 years I was told..but there are 15 engines lined up looking good and dozens of carriages yet to be restored.
Hotel Dorrigo.
Into the Oxley Wild Rivers Nat. Park.
At Dorrigo I was told I would die going down the Moonbi ranges in the FJ with 'van in tow.... it was a piece of cake.
The third stage from the lookout.
Tamworth Entertainment Centre, we've been to the Golden Guitar awards a few times but not in this new centre .
About 50 k south of Tamworth is a great free camp site at Wallabadah. It is in a park that has a memorial to those who arrived on the first fleet... pictures tell the story.
From there we made a bee line for home.
2110 miles = 3395 kms … no problems with either the FJ or “Driftwood”
With no more dogs to hold us back Yvonne and I decided to visit friends in Caloundra and Bundaburg leaving home on the third of this month.
I've always had a high regard for the way Daggsey and Carrots are able to post photos of “Madona's travels” that capture the essence of the places they visit and inspire us all to hit the road.
This is my miserable attempt to do the same.
We decided to wave the vintage caravan flag too.. so the old FJ towed “Driftwood” on this trip.
We went up the coast road via The Entrance (visit my sister) through Newcastle where I decided to buy a new six volt battery for the FJ as the one I had was a bit sluggish, then onto a camp site beside the Myall Lakes.
There is no doubt there are some nice spots to visit along the coast....... but traveling the coast road is not pleasant …. for my money... so no time was wasted getting to Caloundra where we spent four days with friends doing some of the tourist drives.
A little bit of the 50s in Caloundra.
A view of the Glass House Mountains.
We then zapped up to Bundaburg.... without “Driftwood”.
A couple of nice “Queenslanders” at Bundy.
Good place Bundy... bought 20 felt pendants there, $3 each.
On the way back to Caloundra to spend another day with friends we called into Maryborough.
Maryborough Heritage Centre.
Another Ettamogah pub.... seen one you've seen 'em all.
In Brisbane I went to the Bakelite place that has been mentioned here a few times.... he's got it all, well worth a visit if you're looking for retro stuff.
At the end of a dirt road near Aratula on the way to Warwick.
The Maryvale Pub near Warwick.
The Darling Downs Pub @ Sandy Creek-- near Warwick.... lets face it, pubs are often the best looking buildings in some country towns.
On the way to Queen Mary Falls .. Killarney.. east of Warwick..
In honor of the Daggsters
Queen Mary falls .
Bluff rock near Tenterfield... not a happy history that one.
Stopped at this garage in Guyra to find out what the road to Dorrigo via Ebor was like... three of the local “characters” came racing over from the pub opposite to admire car and 'van... one of 'em asked if he could take a photo, no worries said I … he didn't have a camera.... his mates didn't have a camera... he asked could he borrow our camera, this is the photo he took... wants us to send him a copy.
Them and us in the long Paddock on the way to Ebor.
Ebor Falls.
Imagine my excitement when we pulled into the Dorrigo caravan park and saw this.... a Flynn caravan thought I.
The owner makes no bones about the fact he made it two years ago... not based on a Flynn or anything else, just his own idea. It has all mod cons... a roof hatch that senses rain and automatically closes.. TV aerial operated from inside... independent suspension .. it's made with plywood covered with a fibre glass skin.
Then on to Bellingen.... you're right, the 'van stayed at Dorrigo.
The Federal Hotel Bellingen
Then back to Dorrigo.
Dangar Falls Dorrigo from the top then from the bottom.
Dorrigo steam museum is not yet open ...been going to open it for the past 20 years I was told..but there are 15 engines lined up looking good and dozens of carriages yet to be restored.
Hotel Dorrigo.
Into the Oxley Wild Rivers Nat. Park.
At Dorrigo I was told I would die going down the Moonbi ranges in the FJ with 'van in tow.... it was a piece of cake.
The third stage from the lookout.
Tamworth Entertainment Centre, we've been to the Golden Guitar awards a few times but not in this new centre .
About 50 k south of Tamworth is a great free camp site at Wallabadah. It is in a park that has a memorial to those who arrived on the first fleet... pictures tell the story.
From there we made a bee line for home.
2110 miles = 3395 kms … no problems with either the FJ or “Driftwood”
I notice you don't park the FJ and Driftwood at the bottom of any waterfall photos you've taken. Is that because the FJ leaks?? 
what an adventure, especially with the setup you have.
then on the way to Caloundra I noticed one windscreen wiper blade had broken rubber in it...... after a few inquiries I learned that early model Land Rovers had a very similar fitting method on their wiper blades so I put one of those on in case it rained (it didn't).