The Long Drive Wurtulla to North Arm

Mar 26

I left Joe and Marge home to see my Cousin Norm who lives in Wurtulla Beach he was so pleased to see me he is 87 and can't get about much of late.  We talked about my trip around Australia not forgetting the family and a few cousins dotted around the country side. I then went on towards Nambour and decided to stop and cook up my dinner Chicken with three veg. I started up a generator that a Morgan friend gave me to help me on my way I was most appreciated although it is rather on the noisy side, but beggars can’t be choosers. 

Mar 27

Geoff & Vicky’s home

I arrived at Geoff and Vicky’s home at North Arm it was good to see them again and I was immediately given the down stairs flat to stay in all mod cons with a good TV. Geoff and Vicky went out dancing in the evening while I sat and watched a film on the TV having a drink or two.

Mar 28

Up late nursing a head ache relaxing in a lovely Queens Land home enjoying the sun and fresh air trying to source out the possibility of solar panels for Plod fixed to the roof then no one would be able to steal them! The cost is not a lot more than a good generator.

Geoff & Vicky’s home 

Mar 28 to April 1

While I was at Geoff and Vicky’s I had a restful time helping plant a few plants which did not take long. I was fed and watered they took me out at to a very good RSL club in Nambour one evening. Geoff cooked a BBQ on the verandah while Vicky and I were indulging in a few drinks looking out at the mountains.

 Saturday we went out to visit a few car people in looking at few cars just for a change.

Chris Vermeulen Hot Rods

Chris Vermeulen bikes

Chris Vermeulen trophies

 Then we went down to visit Bill and Rosemary in Mooloolaba as it was their wedding anniversary a party of 15 people with Bill cooking on the BBQ an enjoyably evening I had talking to people I had met from previous years, catching up on their activities as well as mine a good evening.

Sunday was a Thumpers car club run we all met up at a parking place.

Thumpers car club meet

Thumpers car club meet

Thumpers car club meet

Every one had arrived so off we went taking a pleasant drive to Pomona a little Cafe that had a Juke Box in with Elvis Presley singing with a small dance floor and if so inclined you could dance. No one took up the opportunity.

 At Pomona 

 At Pomona my ride for the day

We drove from Pomona to Kenilworth and on to Maleny for our lunch.

Having lunch at Maleny.

Back on our way home passing Montville and Nambour I had a much enjoyable time driving Geoff's, MG it was great. We passed the Jaguar club going in the opposite direction and found out Joe was in his Blue Jaguar.

April 2

I left my comfortably and welcoming home at North Arm as I had to drop off two boxes at Brisbane airport excess baggage, items I had collected over the three years of travelling that I really do not need. 
I met up with Lis for a coffee and parked up for the night  at Tanah Merah.  

The Long Drive Dalby to Wurtulla

Mar 21,22,23

I left Kingsthorpe although a good place to stop for a week or two. I made my way to

 David ‘s place to pick up my Knife that I had left behind. I was able to stay for a few days with power. David was great I cooked him a meal or two although he supplied me with a few goodies. 

David’s project

David’s project

David’s project

I had a phone call from my insurance firm sorry but we cannot pay out as your Generator was not locked up securely in your Motor Home. What a load of rot. What about health and safety!

Mar 24

I am leaving David’s home to day making my way to Wurtulla for a Morgan meet on Sunday, Joe is lending me his +4 for the day what a gem he is.

I drove past Lake Clarendon Reserve a good night spot I had lunch there while talking to a grand old couple I was quite amused when I found out they were younger than I was.

Then I took the road through Esk past the reservoir which was full, a really wonderful drive.

Lake Clarendon Reserve

Esk Reservoir

Esk Reservoir

Mar 25

At  Wurtulla the start.

The start of our run

Coffee on the waters edge

Arrived at Joe and Marge’s home excellent coffee and buns were served. We were just setting off on our run and Joe’s +8 ignition light came on, so I gave him a lift in his car a +4 it was fun a well kept car went extremely well the only problem was that we had to keep slowing down to let the others catch up we did have a slight hiccup at first a few stragglers got left behind at a junction. The horns sounded Joe and my self thought we were all lined up to go alas it were the passers by tooting. We waited for the lost few and off we went after a few phone calls.The run was well thought out and organized, Joe and Marge even provided good coffee at the look out for us all.

Stopped for coffee at the look out

Stopped for coffee at the look out

Stopped for coffee at the look out

Coffee provided by Joe and Marge

On our way again we went off to Flaxton Gardens for our lunch a well run busy Restaurant 

Parked up for Lunch at Flaxton Gardens

Flaxton Gardens

We had a lovely run driving around beautiful country side passing through Buderim, Eudlo, Mooloolah Valley, Mount Mellum, Peachester, Kenilworth, Mapleton, Flaxton, some roads we had to avoid as they were flooded out I think I can sure say we all had a great time.


I stayed the night at Joe &  Marge's home which was a big bonus as I could plug in to power and down load my blog. I am so lucky to have such fantastic frineds all over Australia

The Long Drive Dalby With the Morgans

March16

Ken and I drove to Dalby and booked in at a caravan park as the Morgan club are having a weekend away in Dalby all very convenient. Happy Hour at the Motel then on to the RSL club for a meal. The food in the RSL club was not up to scratch although we all enjoyed our selves.The music was good and jolly.

Dinner at the RSL 

Mar 17 Saturday 

Off we all went on our run heading for the Bell an old railway station. 

The back of the train shed 

Out side the Bell Hotel and Pub

We passed an RAF Bomber and stopes at a cotton field for a short talk by Kerry a cotton grower him self.

 RAF Bomber

 A Cotton Field

Then on to John and Jeanette's home for an excellent lunch 100 times better than last nights RSL club dinner. They are farmers with a massive collection of all sorts of  fabulous tractors most of them are in show room condition and more to the point they all start up and run. I would say John started up at least 10 tractors with all different ways of starting some had to have a blow lamp to heat them up, I hit a cartridge with a hammer to fire it up  another way of getting the old things going although that way was quite a performance, gosh I had so much fun it was fabulous. Another way was to take the steering wheel off and use that as a starting handle quite amazing I could see John the owner was like a school boy opening his Christmas presents and I wasn't far behind.

Back to the Motel for Happy Hour just to round the day off in stead of the RSL we ordered pizzas and again I believe every one had a great time. The evening went on quite late.

Happy Hour running in to the night.

Mar 18 Sunday

I woke up early and found my Generator had been stolen the thief cut the rope and managed to brake the chain locked to the wheel a walk to the Police station to report the incident they came down to investigate and were extremely helpful. 

I walked back to the Hotel for our Sunday run and I was not in a very good frame of mind.

Roger let me drive his +8 all day which made me rather happy and forgot my misfortune. Roger’s +8 is not only immaculate in side and underneath, it drives like no other Morgan I have driven no rattles smooth as silk. I only had one little gripe the dash was too low at the point where the gear lever was my hand was too big.

 We drove around getting a little lost, we stopped at a beautifully kept house more like a mansion 

Then on to Bunya Mountains were we had lunch the food was fine but the service was rather topsy turvey. The drive was good and we saw some spectacular scenery although no time to stop and take many photo.

Bunya Mountains

Bunya Mountains

Back to the Motel for a well earned drink and to round the day off we went out for a meal I had a fantastic day and was well and truly looked after by Roger, Richard and Julie Rogers  lovely Sister. 

Mar 19

I spent the day trying to get my computer in working order. I waited for the Telstra shop to open at 9pm because I knew it had something to do with the Mobile Broadband. The woman gave me an appointment at 10.30pm She looked at my Apple Mac for roughly five minutes I did say to her how can I find out how much credit I have on my prepaid broadband and said I do not know about Apple Mac and sent me to Nix Fix it took him an hour to find that out from Telstra he reinstalled my unit and checked my Mac out and charged me $50 for the time he was trying to fix the problem two hours it took him and he got frustrated with Telstra I was pleased at what he had done and the price was good.

By this time it was late so I had to book in for another night at Dalby caravan park I got a reduction from $25 to $20 with electric 

Mar 20

I complained to Telstra I got $50 credited to my phone not that I will use it before I leave for England they were good and that was the best they could do as they were unable to reimburse me still that was better than nothing. 

I posted my lost Generator on the Solos network and I got an immediate response Solos is a good network of single travellers connected with the CMCA that try to help out if we can.

I have filled in my claim form and will hope for the best. 

I drove off to Kingsthorpe where a few motor homes are parked up for free on a hobby farm but have to pay for the electric. I will be able to leave my deck chairs out all night without the fear of them being taken by an unknown thief. I am in a very good spot.

On the way to Kingsthorpe

David Park 

David Park my night stop

The Long Drive Glenore Grove, Nobby to Dalby

March15

Ken and I left Davids home and made our way to Greenmount to see a friend of Ken about a Peugeot after coffee and a look at his son’s car putting on a turbo charger all parts sourced from the U.K the new manifold was made by Bogg Bros, UK. Then off to Nobby Qld a free camping spot $2 for power a pretty good deal only I went over to pay my $2 and it cost me a drink or two still it was good company and that does not happen that often (drinks in the pub I mean)

Fitting a turbo charger 

Rudds Pub at Nobby

Camp site opposite the Pub

In the Pub

In The Pub

The Long Drive Wallabadah to Glenore Grove Nr Gatton

Mar11 

Off to Glenore Glove to visit Ken and David, all car frenetic's. 

David’s Home

David’s work shop spraying his race car

David’s work shop

Mar 12

I spent the day servicing Plod changing all oils including the fuel filter greased all nipples ready for another 8,000 km 

Mar 13

Ken and I went to Lockrose Heritage Museum it was a lot more than a museum Neil & Gwen McLeod manufacture Mactec Race Cars all hand built and designed by Neil as well as being the driver Gwen is also a qualified scrutineer the day was ecstatic.

Neil McLead car

Building the car

The Race Car body

Specifications

Mar 14

Was a very lazy day we played around in the garage Ken cooked all the meals and I just washed up.  I got bitten many time’s by those little mosquitoes, I was on antihistamine tablets that make you very sleepy.