 |
Mitsubishi 4WD Owners Club of Qld (Inc) |
|
|
Moore Park - Jan '07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||
Moore Park - Christmas 2006WHO WAS THERE? Graham, Denise and Sonia Baldwin Don and Margaret Williamson Eric and Helga Newmann Lloyd and Suzanne Akroyd Ross Hall Colin Anderson and Carol Laughton Allen and Laurel Boughen Lew and Joy Davidson Greg and Sue Dunstan Chris and Pam Guilfoyle Gill and Jackie Lunn Steve Baldwin and Kylie Gattenhof John and Bev Meston Greg and Naree Paulsen Ian and Ann Petty Tony and Lorrel Roberts Dick and Margaret Stoppelbein Terry and Lucia Townsend Michael van der Velden Ennis and Mary Watkins Barry and Claire Willis David and Loretta Young The Baldwins and Williamsons arrived around lunch time on the Wednesday before Christmas and were joined by the Newmanns around 4.30. After a pleasant little happy hour we went over to the Bowls Club for a dinner of fish and chips. The next day Allen and Laurel Boughen arrived so a shopping trip to Bundaberg was quickly arranged. The weather on Friday was perfect; not hot, not cold, not windy and not wet, just perfect. David and Loretta rolled in around 6.30 and decided that happy hour was more important than setting up. They were joined by friends of their’s, Brian and Jill who look like joining the Club. Saturday, and several headed to town for yet more shopping. David and I wandered over to the Surf Club to check out what was happening there and were intrigued by the menu which featured a “Shank Challenge”. The sign said if you could eat it all you would get a $10 refund on the price of $27 but if not you had to buy the chef a can of rum and cola. Well Dave said he’d be back to take up the challenge and having seen him in action I had no doubt he could knock off two of these giant shanks and then come back for more. Sadly by the time we got back they had all gone! By this time several more members had arrived and happy hour just kept getting bigger and bigger. I’d heard that the Bucca Pub was worth a visit, so on the Sunday I headed a trip up the Kolan River to the weir and then on to the pub. At first sight it was a delightful bush pub with well laid out lawns and gardens, a stage with a live band setting up but with a hundred “do not signs” everywhere as Eric pointed out. Nevertheless it looked quite inviting but unfortunately the people running the place made us feel as welcome as an Arab bomb squad in Israel so after just one quick beer we left. Some people really should not be in business, especially the “hospitality” business. Anyway it was just a short drive to our old favourite, the Avondale pub, where we were warmly greeted and enjoyed a very quick and superb lunch. In the afternoon it was back to the Surf Club for a cold beer where we waited for Santa to judge the sandcastles. This is also a superb beach for a bit of bird watching as they come from all over the place at this time each year and if you look carefully you can see some really pretty ones. Anyway Santa didn’t come so it was back to camp for happy hour. Christmas day and what a day it was! It started with a long walk and then it was time for breakfast which consisted of several bottles of bubbly wines served with ham and eggs and all sorts of other goodies. It lasted for a long, long time and then it was time to start getting Christmas dinner ready ………and still the bottles were popping. And it was a dinner fit for a king, cooked in cardboard box ovens, camp ovens and frypans. There was roast pork with crackling, turkey, ham and all the trimmings. We set up the tables under the fig tree and invited a young French couple, William and Victoria, who were staying in the park to join us. They were on their (belated) honeymoon having married earlier in the year but could not get away because of work commitments. Well lunch also continued for a long, long time with a break of sorts before we attacked Loretta’s beaut plum puddings. The bottles just kept on popping and Eric in particular enjoyed talking with William and especially with Victoria. By this time I wasn’t particularly interested in talking to anyone (nor really all that capable) and eventually someone had the good sense to stop popping bottles and turned the lights out on what had been a superb day in paradise. Boxing day and they arrived in droves bringing the rain with them. Several went into town for the sales but most were content just to relax and watch the others set up camp. On Wednesday all the others arrived so we headed off to the Rosedale Markets in the rain only to find that whilst all the signs were up advertising the event, we were the only ones there. So some decided to go shopping – it was amazing there was anything left to buy – while the rest headed back to camp. Some played scrabble, some sat and talked and some dozed. Unfortunately Sonia was the victim of road rage as some idiot got out of his car and threatened to punch her and then started following her. It all ended well when she met up with her Dad. Thursday and more rain so Greg led a trip up the beach to the Kolan River. We saw turtle tracks and the locals say there are now more turtles at Moore Park than at Mon Repos. The day ended with a great little happy hour. On Friday David led a trip to Mt Perry and Biggenden and several went to the new Tavern for dinner. I had been smitten with the worst case of a cold in the history of mankind and while I sat dozing someone tied my shoelaces together. I had some difficulty in walking when I woke up much to the delight of the watching baboons. Ina again provided us with a superb happy hour with a variety of hot nibbles and a huge chocolate cake and apple pie. It is really great the way we are looked after by Ina and Anthony every year at Golden Sands Lew Davidson wanted to see the Betsy Bomber and since I was confident of finding “the shortcut” I led a trip the next day. Well we got to Ubobo quite quickly and confirmed the directions at the local shop. Just head down that road over there and you’ll come to a sign “Kroombit Tops NP” and it’s only 18km to the top. 100km further on Greg said “yer goin’ the wrong way!” Well it seems the NP people had erected a series of signs which took us to the Calliope road by various back roads as they obviously did not want people taking the shortcut. Anyway we got to the Bomber and arrived back at camp at 8.30 having saved half an hour by taking the “shortcut” On Sunday several headed for the markets in Bundaberg and when we got back Greg announced that he was going to launch his new yacht, the RMS Tit-a-Nic. We sat and watched in awe as this majestic craft began to take shape. It took quite a while as Greg could only pump in short bursts before he needed a rest and a drink. Eventually all was ready so he and Mike carried the Tit-a-Nic down to the duck pond. It was quite a touching scene as Captain Dunstan finally gave the order to cast off as the pond was so shallow he kept touching the bottom stirring up thick smelly black ooze. Soon it was all over but at least the Tit-a-Nic did not sink on its maiden voyage as did its predecessor of similar name even though it was destined to never sail again. New Year’s eve and what a night it was. It started with a great communal dinner followed by dancing (if that’s the word) to music provided by Graham Baldwin. Everyone enjoyed the night and I don’t know whether someone turned my clock back but for the first time in years I was still up at midnight so it must have been a good night. On Monday we again went to the Avondale Pub for lunch and on Tuesday morning Greg, Eric and Michael headed off for the Betsy Bomber to try and find the “short cut” from that end. Well they were successful and arrived back about 3 having cut over 4 hours off the trip. It seems we should have gone 4km further before turning off but even then it would have been confusing as the sign pointed to Kroombit Tops NP but 30 feet beyond it was another sign saying NO THROUGH ROAD! Talk about confusing. Anyway it is now recorded on Eric’s GPS and a map is now available for future trips. On the Wednesday Eric led a trip through the Watalgan State Forest which he had obtained from the Bundaberg 4WD Club and which ended at the Double Sloping Hummock lookout. Then he took us to Rosedale for an ice cream and to the Avondale pub yet again for lunch. Gradually people started packing up and headed for home. They must have enjoyed the “awful” trip yet again as virtually everyone has re-booked for 2007. If anyone else is interested in Moore Park for 2007 you can book a powered site direct, but be quick. There are only 14 un-powered sites on a first come basis with preference to the regulars. Considering all the good things Moore Park has to offer our members and considering all the reported problems people had at other campsites I think that Moore Park may well be our Christmas “home” for quite a few years to come. Our thanks to Graham and Denise Baldwin for putting it all together and for providing the music on New Year’s eve Don Williamson
Back to Top
|
|
|
