Finally Qld!

Hi Everyone, I am actually back in WA,but this starts in Qld!
I have travelled through some beautiful countryside and include (or in the next blog) a few lovely photos that I should have put in the last blog. One of the photos is of Parkes "Dish" which was incredible when viewed in the "flesh" so to speak. Huge , but not really intimidating, set in a natural bush setting and to think that 40 odd years ago, Australia was in the forefront of recording mans first steps on the moon. (I remember it well!)
After Parkes I spent some time at some of the towns with artesian pools, Moree, Goondiwindi and then Esk. Some great caravan parks with wonderful hot pools, I dug out my swimsuit, ( a WEE bit tight) but what the heck! I just jumped in. I swear the hot pools eased my back pain for a few days.
As I ventured further north and east, I was gobsmacked at the damage the flooding had caused in the Lockyer Valley. TV doesn't do justice the breadth of the damage. I drove through the Helidon/Grantham/ Gratton area, fabulous black soil that looks like it could grow anything, and there were all these houses surrounded by cyclone fencing and Danger signs everywhere, 90 homes in all were declared uninhabitable in quite a small area. I felt for the families who have lost it all. In the recent papers, the local shires have allocated new land to the 90 householders via a ballott system, so although these disasters occurred about 6 months ago, they can now start getting on with their lives.
The weather is fInally warming up and I have managed to get back to free camping, ((maybe get my budget back on track), and stopped at a lovely spot on the way toMaleny. I was very keen to visit this area as Paul Mercurio has been on TV with his cooking show, showcasing the produce of the area! It is up in the Mountains inland from the Glasshouse mountains and is really beautiful. I dropped into a couple of markets at Kilcoy and then Maleny as I travelled across the mountain ridge.
 I stayed at the Maleny Showgrounds, which were very nice, a lot of free/cheap camping there!, Monday morning (last) I drove down from my mountain refuge to Caloundra to the Sunliner motorhome people to have a few things checked out in th van. While waiting for thm to do their thing, I drooled over the new models in their show area! wow! I had my leaking hatch checked out, and the reversing camera, which is giving me some grief. and I have temporry repairs and was off to Brisbane.
After a trying attempt at finding a caravanpark in the vicinity, I finally booked into Dicky Beach(!)  a very nice park! then set off the next mornign to my Brisbane booking. More dramas, as it was a public holiday, and as my cappucino machine was supposed to be being picked up by courier for repairs!, I had another days delay for that.! After all that stress, was it any wonder when I arrived at my prebooked parking for the motorhome, I was too big! Luckily I always plan on being very early for my airport arrivals, I had time to be forwarded on to another airport parking place that could accommodate my big rig! I had a pleasant flight from Brisbane to Perth on Friday, picked up my hire car and drove to sister Jean's place at South Yunderup by 6pm.
 Saturday we drove down to Busselton for Mum's 97 birthday lunch with Jean and her husband Lawrie and my other sister Maxine. A very fattening and satisfying luncheon was enjoyed by all!
So look at the next blog for the photos, (unless I manage to insert them ) happy travels and enjoy yourself, life is shorter than you think!
Vicki