Nov 21, 2010

Kenilworth

Some have left today so we may soon have the park to ourselves again.


Well that wasn't the case, with the 5TH Wheeler's leaving last Monday we then had 34 Caravan's camp around us for the next week. The group were part of the Queensland Freemason Touring Club and were celebrating their Christmas get together & AGM. We thought about moving camp to elsewhere on the grounds to give them & us some space but our immediate neighbours wouldn't hear of it, with them insisting we stay where we are. As things turned out they were a good bunch of people and though we would loved to have had our space to ourselves it wasn't a hardship with Roger beside us plying us with home brew Rum at happy hour.

Freemason Touring Group - Disc Bowl Championships



The past week we have driven out to Booloumba State Forest searching for Geo Caches but with no success, we were so close at times with the GPS indicating we were within a couple of metres but we could find nothing, maybe it's gone. Bellbird Creek Tea House was a nice cafe just 4klms out of Kenilworth, very popular with the motorbike riders who are either trail riding in the Forests or the Road Bikes riding the windy roads. They also sell a good range of Fruit & Veg and the coffee & assorted cakes makes for a pleasant visit.

Bellbird Creek Tea House





Hinterland & Surrounds






We came across some horses in a paddock and had to stop to get some photo's of the baby foals for our granddaughters.



We drove out to Tin Can Bay last Thursday via the Gympie - Brooloo Road, stopping at Imbil & Kandanga along the way. Check out Imbil's Quality Car Yard, sure to be a bargain buy here.

No Shortage of Holden Parts at Imbil





Kandanga has a lovely free camp with lots of green grass plus individual bituminous sections for the van's & new toilet block. The town is certainly pro-active in allowing travellers to camp free knowing that most if not all would spend some money in the small town. We had been to Tin Can Bay about three years ago and was surprised how much things had changed, the cafe down at the boat launching ramp hadn't changed and we had a lovely lunch of local whiting, chips & salad. It was one of the nicest lunch meals we have bought and we told the ladies who served us, they appreciated the compliment.

Kandanga Free Camp



Friday we chilled out at Kenilworth, another walk around town and then a pie and coffee at the local bakery for lunch. Saturday it was off to the Eumundi Markets AGAIN! Yes Red Nomad Oz - what a guy i am ! I really enjoy the markets but this time it was raining steadily all day, still it didn't stop me from buying a coffee and listening to Juzzie Smith one of my favourite market artists. Juzzie plays a mixture of steel slide guitar mixed with harmonica, a great one man band. Another group i enjoyed listening to for the 1st time was Mitch Davis & The Dawn Chorus, they are a local Sunshine Coast group with a great sound. Do yourselves a favour and google or You Tube for both Artists and support them if you like what you hear.

With the rain not letting up we drove to Yandina and the Ginger Factory so Vickie could buy some things. Ive been here so many times i choose to sit in the car and listen to the Mitch Davis CD. Then it was back to Kenilworth where it hadn't rained until we arrived back, it also rained fairly steadily all night. Sunday today and we have busied ourselves and packed up ready to head to Kunda Park & Bushtracker Factory 1st thing in the morning, there we leave our van to have the new awning and minor panel damage repaired, we are booked in a lovely unit at Noosaville overlooking the Noosa River. We are hoping the weather clears up and we can get the Hobie Kayak's off the roof racks and get on the river for a peddle.

Nov 14, 2010

Kenilworth & Surrounds

We have spent our time at Kenilworth chilling out and going for a drive every 2nd day, this area certainly grows on us, it is handy to towns like Malaney, Montville, and Eumundi, lots of bush tracks to explore and the coast is only 40 minutes drive away. Every Saturday we have visited the Eumundi markets, we both enjoy the markets, YES even me a bloke finds them interesting though i am more of a people watcher. Many of the stalls are the same as they were when we visited 10 years ago but neither of us get tired of going. I tend to get a coffee from the Bean & Gone stall and plant my backside down and watch & listen to the musicians, I have seen some excellent Artists performing at Eumundi, OKA, Matt James, and Juzzy Smith were a few.

Last week i lashed out and spent $50 on a massage, my back & hips have been aching more than usual lately and i was hoping that a massage would give me some relief. I was a bit concerned about the style of massage as it involved lots of manipulation and stretching and i didn't want my hip joint to pop out as that wouldn't be fun but the masseur knew by working on me that my body has been through the mill and didn't work me to hard but he did manage to loosen me up a bit, enough that i was yawning the whole drive home and fell asleep as soon as i sat down in my reclining camp chair. Of course one massage does not perform miracles.

Vickie would love to live close by to Eumundi so she could visit the markets every week, we know our Eldest Daughter would love it here also because she makes & sells baby & children's wear and the markets would be an excellent outlet, her website is called Millaruby Designs, Who knows what the future may hold but with commitments back home we cannot make a decision nor rule out the possibility of one day having a Base our here, a couple of acres and a shed would be a start.

Last Wednesday we caught up with Vickie's sister Sue and her husband Greg, they were up from Victoria playing Basketball in the Masters Games held on the Gold Coast. They had a hire car so we met up at Woodford for lunch at the Hotel. After a nice meal and catching up with all the family chat we said our goodbyes with them off to battle with the crazy hectic traffic on the Freeway to Surfers Paradise and the Gold Coast, for us it was a leisurely drive back to Kenilworth taking in the magnificient views.

I have been a member of Geocaching Australia for a couple of years now but hadn't followed up with it, sitting here at Kenilworth browsing the lap top's bookmarks i came across the Geo site. In case your not aware, Geo caching is a free high-tech treasure hunt where you use your GPS receiver to find caches hidden by other players. It's a great way to be outdoors, enjoy the environment and do something different. A quick look on the Web Site showed there were a few in the area so today we went looking for hidden caches, so far we have found two in the area, we filled out the note book that is included with our name and date we have found it.

Our home here at the Kenilworth Showgrounds has become very busy, the past four days a Motorhome group called Crocodile Wheelers have arrived for their end of year Christmas get together, the majority have 5TH Wheelers though there are a few small Motorhomes with them. Some have left today so we may soon have the park to ourselves again.




Whatever Photo's i have i'll load up later

Nov 5, 2010

Kenilworth

Boy Dog, the poor old thing, whether he had been abandoned or simply strayed we will never know. I phoned a Pet refuge Sunday morning and was advised to take the dog to a vet which i did, Boy Dog as we called him was an old dog with a gentle nature, i was unsure how he would react with me picking him up and putting him in the Ute but he was fine. The trip to the Vet's he just curled up on the seat, occasionally looking out the window, he was obviously used to being in a car.



The Vet was quite happy to take him in and was certain that even if he wasn't chipped that a loving home would be found for him.

Monday our shower screen was replaced and we left Maroochydore and headed back to Kenilworth. We were thinking of going down to Kalbar for a fortnight but have decided to just hang around here, plenty of places in the hinterland to visit and the coast is only 30mins away. Vickie had an appointment with the Orthologist on Wednesday and he was happy with the eye had progressed since her injection, he wants to see her again in 3 weeks time.

New Black Shower Screen



Our time has been spent site seeing around the districts, a lovely drive to Jimna through the forest and a loop back to Kenilworth Via Malaney, such stunning scenery. We never get tired looking at the views of the Mountains & Valleys. We called in at the Jimna Information centre and was given plenty of local information. A visit to the Jimna Fire Tower which is heritage listed and an historically significant Australian Icon. Friends of the Jimna Fire Tower are currently raising funds to restore it.

Photo Courtesy of the Caboolture Camera Club



Tomorrow is Saturday so that means a trip back to Eumundi and the local markets.

Some Kenilworth Photo's



Kenilworth Public Hall



Kenilworth Main Street



Kenilworth Town Park







Kenilworth Cheese & Yoghurt Factory



Vintage Vellocette Motorbike

Caiguna to Boondi Rock and Home

 Arrived back home in Safety Bay WA after battling the worst head winds we have encountered for many years, rain and wind, wind & rain ....