We pulled into Gayndah, Queensland's oldest town. It was Anzac Day and we had just missed the parade but there were quite a few around the RSL. We decided to go to the free camp on the banks of the Burnett River. Could have been a lovely spot but it was overrun with backpackers. Most of them are here for picking mandarins & oranges. There were tents, tarps, campers, cars etc. everywhere, plus lots of rubbish. This swag, consisting of a tarp with a couple of poles to hold it up, was home to one backpacker from the Netherlands, anxiously waiting for work. He camped next to us, bad luck he had to put up with water pumps, toilet pumps and grey water. He seemed to sleep pretty well though. We unhooked the car and decided to go out to the weir, 3kms. from town and check out the other free camp in this town. Wasnt keen on staying by the river at that stage. Disgusting is the word that comes to mind. Overrun with backpackers. Not a space to even park up the Suzi, let alone a caravan or motorhome. There were clothes hanging everywhere, tents, tarps, the picnic tables covered in crap. Rubbish strewn all over the picnic ground. A refugee camp would present nicer than what we witnessed. The Council ranger doesnt do much, because the area needs the pickers. The farmers cant afford to provide facilities, so they take over public parks wherever they can find water/showers/toilets. But its the travelling public that get tarred with the bad reputation for leaving their mess behind them.
Anyway we decided to do a bit of sightseeing. As we turned down the main street we spotted a fish & chip shop open. Now its been a running joke for many many weeks now how Rick is hanging for a good feed, so with great joy we exclaimed "Fish & Chips !!!! And They are Open"!!!!!!!!!!! when we spotted a shop on the other side of the road. Bear in mind, the whole main street was in view, not a single shop was open, not even the pub, not a single car parked on either side of the road and so Rick quickly turned into the parking spot outside the fish shop. YAY, we were all laughing and joking with him when - Before we could even stop the car, flashing lights of a cop car greeted us. Out they hopped, walked over to us and wanted to know why Rick had crossed double white lines to park. We hadnt realised we had. Before he began to question us, the cop warned us "Not to Lie to Him in Any Details he gave us" HUH?????? Then we explained to him that the double lines had a broken line thru the middle and Rick assumed that that line allowed him to cross over. The cop wasnt impressed. The whole main street has double white lines down it and you cannot cross over them until you get to the end of the street, turn out of the main street into a side street. Anyway we felt that we should be given a warning, it was a public holiday, not a soul or a car to be seen, we were from interstate, but no way. $200 plus 3 demerit points were the punishment. Pissed off big time. Anyway we got our fish & chips and and they were disgusting. Serves us right. We should have never given into TEMPTATION.
Anyway we decided to do a bit of sightseeing. As we turned down the main street we spotted a fish & chip shop open. Now its been a running joke for many many weeks now how Rick is hanging for a good feed, so with great joy we exclaimed "Fish & Chips !!!! And They are Open"!!!!!!!!!!! when we spotted a shop on the other side of the road. Bear in mind, the whole main street was in view, not a single shop was open, not even the pub, not a single car parked on either side of the road and so Rick quickly turned into the parking spot outside the fish shop. YAY, we were all laughing and joking with him when - Before we could even stop the car, flashing lights of a cop car greeted us. Out they hopped, walked over to us and wanted to know why Rick had crossed double white lines to park. We hadnt realised we had. Before he began to question us, the cop warned us "Not to Lie to Him in Any Details he gave us" HUH?????? Then we explained to him that the double lines had a broken line thru the middle and Rick assumed that that line allowed him to cross over. The cop wasnt impressed. The whole main street has double white lines down it and you cannot cross over them until you get to the end of the street, turn out of the main street into a side street. Anyway we felt that we should be given a warning, it was a public holiday, not a soul or a car to be seen, we were from interstate, but no way. $200 plus 3 demerit points were the punishment. Pissed off big time. Anyway we got our fish & chips and and they were disgusting. Serves us right. We should have never given into TEMPTATION. |
| Not sure who he is, just spotted him when we were driving down the road. |
Now, before we arrived in Gayndah, when we were at our last Camp at Ceratodus, their was no phone service. When we arrived in the next town we found missed calls from Daniel & Kristel in Bali asking us to call Justin ASAP. Immediate panic on my part. Was the baby OK? Due on May 14th. Called Daniel in Bali and found out that Rachels waters had broken after a visit to her drs. and that Justin & Rachel were going to hospital. More panic on my part!!!!!!!!!. Then we received many messages from both Justin & Rachel, sent the previous night/morning giving us the news they were expecting bubs that day. Anzac Day, their 3rd wedding anniversary, and bubs was 3 weeks early. What a tummy churning day. Waiting for news, praying all was going well, feeling helpless and missing them terribly. So when we arrived at Gayndah, crappy confrontation with the local cops, confronted by the mess of backpackers we decided to push on to the next free camp. BUT then fellow motorhomers told us their was no phone service at the next two camp spots so of course we had to stay put at that camp and wait for that all important phone call. Ros & I bought bubbly and had it on ice waiting. There was shouts of joy and excitement when we received photos on our phone of our new grandchild, but had to wait a few more hours to get all the delicious details. We toasted the new arrival and felt releived and happy that all had come thru happy and healthy. Both the new mum and dad were stuffed.
Here is Xavier Michael Maroszek. 7lb. 3oz. Not sure what he is listening too but he seems to like it.
Whilst in Gayndah we saw more evidence of the flooding. This town also lies on the Burnett River. The water came thru this town at a rate of 78kms. They put a radar on the highway bridge, before the bridge was covered in water. All of the debris coming down the river caused a blockage/dam at the bridge and hence the water then invaded the town. Cows, horses, pigs all floated down the river. There was a sign in a shop. A young girl desperately looking for her two pet horses, missing since Australia Days Flood. Made me sad to think of their fate. Across from our camp we spoke to a citrus farmer who told us he had an orchid of 20,000 trees. In one paddock, 6,000 trees were washed away. He is in his 70's but intends to replant and keep working. He lost sheds, tractors and his house was flooded, he is renting until his house can be rebuilt. He had a very small creek running thru his farm and during the flood, that creek was 2 kilometres wide. He showed us photos of his farm and it was sobering. All the roads in both directions were cut, no power, no communication in town, residents didnt know what was happening. They couldnt beleive the water would rise as rapidly and as high as it did. Easily 20M High from the river bed. This town last flooded in 1942. This flood was the worst in their history. Its been a very eye opening journey this one. We saw all the flooding and devastation on the news each night but to see what affect it has had is an eye opener for us and will give us a better understanding of what they need when they took about flood relief and the work needed.
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