Bob Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 Untitled by bobnorth1951, on FlickrDriving around Australia, you get rest stops or truck stops to pull into to stretch your legs or pull up for lunch.Ginnie (Virginia) took this shot of me with the local bird life at a rest stop in between Rockhampton and Mackay in central Queensland, on the main highway running north / south called the "Bruce Highway". 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SafferBlue Posted July 28, 2012 Report Share Posted July 28, 2012 Awesome photo, Bob; thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gizmo Posted July 29, 2012 Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 G'day Bob! Always nice to put a face to the name. Lovely photo - looking forward to seeing more! Its a dream of mine to travel around the coast of Aus- just like in the kids book "Are we there yet?". Keep em coming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted July 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 Untitled by bobnorth1951, on FlickrGoing back in mid May, we left the Adelaide Hills to drop down on to the River Murray flatlands. After going half a day's drive thro the east of South Australia and across the top part of north western Victoria, called the "mallee" after a sub species of eucalyptus trees that only grows in arid parts of Australia and sprouts many limbs from the base.We hit the River Murray, which forms the border between Victoria on the southern side and New South Wales to the north.The river source is high up in the Australian Alps and flows downstream to connect with the Darling River System flowing south from Queensland before finally reaching the sea in South Australia . . . a journey of around 4 000 kms. It becomes much wider and deeper after the Darling has kicked in, but here it only looks like a small river.Anyhow, for me it was time for a coffee break and stretch the legs, after 500 kms driving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted July 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 (edited) On the border by bobnorth1951, on FlickrI have an old mate who was having strife at home, on one occasion explaining how he felt, so we made a plan to go "out bush" for a couple of weeks, sit around a camp fire with a few drinks and talk to our heart's content, as well as sleeping out under the stars each night. We left Adelaide in wintertime and just went north, out into the far Outback and desert country where the blue skies have wide horizons.After four days of driving each day, we pulled up to take a snap of the Queensland border from the South Australian side. Where there is a line of trees seen from afar, there is a creek or water course.With trees come firewood for fires at night and cooking tea, as well as bacon & eggs for brekkie in the morning and in wintertime can keep the chill off you when you sleep alongside the fire. Edited July 29, 2012 by Bob 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllisonW Posted July 29, 2012 Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 Great pics, Bob!You inspire me to travel around this beautiful country.Thanks for sharing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deroche Posted July 29, 2012 Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 Great pics. Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanniewagnie Posted July 29, 2012 Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 Thank you - did you guys notice: no rubbish lying arount, no squatters on the open fields, no need to fear someone coming out of the bush to rob you... absolutely wonderful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted July 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 (edited) Old mates that stayed in the site at the caravan park in Townsville alongside us for a week got together with Ginnie and ganged up on me. They all wanted to go to Magnetic Island, an island with some great sandy bays, for a couple of days. With my arm twisted, I gave in.These shots show the beaches and secluded bays on the islandMagnetic Island, as seen from Castle Hill in TownsvilleUntitled by bobnorth1951, on FlickrHorseshoe Bay on the north side of Maggie IslandUntitled by bobnorth1951, on FlickrBalding Bay on the north east. A small, sheltered bay only accessible by walking thro thick scrub for about 20 minutesUntitled by bobnorth1951, on FlickrSunset at Horseshoe BayUntitled by bobnorth1951, on FlickrA visitor for brekkie on the balcony of our apartmentUntitled by bobnorth1951, on FlickrFlorence Bay, on the east. Great for snorkelling and seeing coral reefsUntitled by bobnorth1951, on FlickrA ketch, moored in the bay, puts to sailUntitled by bobnorth1951, on FlickrEvening at Horseshoe BayUntitled by bobnorth1951, on FlickrAs you can tell, it's often a tough life travelling around Australia, exploring all the little islands and snorkelling among the coral reefs. When you tire of going back to South Africa, you can always explore what Australia has to offer. Hopefully, these will give you some idea of what is out there to see. Edited July 29, 2012 by Bob 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Posted July 29, 2012 Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 Hi Bob,Good to see you on the road again...love all the photos....did you give Emerald a miss this time? Safe travels.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted July 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2012 Am in Townsville, Jill, for another six weeks before we race back to the Adelaide Hills to meet my sister-in-law and her husband who are in Western Australia at the moment. We go to New Zealand for a few days then. I haven't been there since working there for up to six months back in 1973. I reckon New Zealand will have changed a little bit since then???I notice you've left the Sunny Coast and are back in Emerald. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miraclebabycaw Posted July 30, 2012 Report Share Posted July 30, 2012 Wow Bob, great pics. Really nice to put a face to the name. Those look like some gorgeous places. Can't wait to start exploring Australia with the kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted July 30, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2012 Australia is safe.It is safe to pull over at a rest stop in the middle of the day to make yourselves a thermos of coffee and a couple of sandwiches to eat, and it's just as safe to pull up when time gets on in the afternoon to think about pulling up for the night.We've pulled over in all sorts of lonely, remote spots around Australia to spend the night in our caravan and the furthest thing from my mind is getting mugged, robbed, shot or held up.It just doesn't happen here.I've never had it happen to me, nor have I ever come across anyone who's been held up or knows of anyone having been held up.So . . . . . . get out there!!!!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toitjie Posted July 30, 2012 Report Share Posted July 30, 2012 Bob, your pics are beautiful...it really looks so amazing..I envy you for the chance of exploring...what a life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deroche Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 Wow. Bob those are gorgeous pics. So clean! Its the first thing you notice Apart from all the nerves, I am so excited and cannot wait for us to get there.Once we can travel its going to be even better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JellyTots Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 Great pics, can't wait to exprience Australia's beauty for ourselves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keglin Posted July 31, 2012 Report Share Posted July 31, 2012 Wow, I just want to get there now!Awesome pictures.Keglin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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