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Published: November 27th 2010
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Tuesday 23 November – it looked as though it could be a reasonable day today. We had really enjoyed our stay in Kinka Beach in spite of the rain but it was time to go. We had been there eight nights – our original idea was to stay just three! Roger was there to see us off – we hope he lets us know where he and his family decide to settle. He helped with the caravan lights check but the sidelights on neither the car nor the caravan worked. Brake lights and indicators were both fine – we wondered if some damp had got into the connecting lead. Obviously we would need to get it checked but today, as with most days, we didn’t intend driving after dark so carried on our way.
It was quite a blustery, damp day and the road, although the ‘main’ highway, was bumpy and busy so it was not the most pleasant journey. As we neared Gladstone we went by a train carrying coal – it was probably the longest train we have ever seen – it went on and on and on! It had a couple of engines at both ends and
one in the middle. I was hoping to count the wagons but, although the track followed the road for some distance, the train was going quite slowly and eventually I lost count. We continued travelling south and hoped to get as far as Bundaberg (Bundy) which meant we would have travelled 300kms in the day. As we got closer to Bundy we could see the fields of sugar cane and machines busy cutting the cane and then, for the first time, we saw a fully laden cane train actually on the move. It’s big business up here and goes together with the famous rum distillery that was started up in the late 1880’s originally because the local sugar mill didn’t know what to do with the waste molasses after the sugar was extracted. When we were here seven and a half years ago we went on a tour of the distillery which was interesting even though we’re not rum drinkers. At that time it wasn’t the right time of year for cane cutting so it was fascinating to see it all happening now.
We drove through Bundy, refuelled at a Shell garage and Graham bought some replacement fuses in
case that was the problem with the lights. It was a bit of a toss up where we were going to stay. Various people had told us that Elliott Heads was very good and the Caravan Park at Burnett Heads looked nice but, for a specific reason which will become clear, we opted for the beach CP at Bargara which was about 14 kms east of Bundy. It was a big, spacious CP right on the beach front and we were allowed to pick a site ourselves which was nice. It was very blustery but Graham put the awning up and pegged it down and then we went for a walk along the coastal path – the sea was quite rough but there was a group of about 20 surfers braving the conditions. The path seemed to go for a long way and we would like to explore it more another time. When we got back from our walk the wind seemed stronger than ever so to be on the safe side Graham put the awning away – we didn’t want to worry about that all through the night. We still had the problem with the sidelights to solve but
decided that could wait until tomorrow.
Wednesday dawned a bright and breezy day but the weather was very changeable and threatening dark clouds constantly rolled by. We needed to address the problem with the car lights. Graham had replaced a blown fuse but it immediately blew again so there was obviously a “short” somewhere in the lighting system. The main reason for being in the Bundaberg area this time was to visit Mon Repos and the caravan park we were in was only about four kms away from where the action took place – less than that “as the crow flies”. The problem was that we had to get there in the dark and that would be difficult without car lights! I phoned Mon Repos early to inquire if it was possible to walk or cycle there from our CP along the connecting bridle path but the lady said that we couldn’t as the area was closed off to the public at 6:00pm each evening. Blow! The one time our bikes would be really useful we couldn’t use them so we thought we wouldn’t be able to go. Off we went in the car to find a local garage
that was advertised in the yellow pages. Sat Nav found it OK, in the middle of nowhere, but there were no signs of a garage there at all or any people to ask so we went off to the local Post Office to post an important parcel. The very nice chap in the PO said he actually used the garage where we had just been – a small, one-man business which was operated from his shed but confirmed that there were no advertising signs up! Anyway he didn’t think the mechanic there could sort out an electrical fault so we’d probably be better off going into Bundy.
To cut a long story short, we went into Bundy, tried a couple of garages and then found one that specialized in auto electrics. They could help but only if we went back at 1.30pm. Well, that was hopeful anyway. We returned to Bargara calling in at Mon Repos on the way where there was an excellent, though at that time unmanned, information centre. It all looked very interesting and whetted our appetite for what might occur later. We had an early lunch and Graham went off back into Bundy on his
own while I did a few chores. After about an hour and a half, I was just about to go for a cycle ride when Graham returned looking very relieved. Another great Aussie mechanic had found and fixed the problem. The car to caravan electric connector is made up of many cables and one of them had been rubbing against a metal edge and the protective coating had worn away. It took a while to fathom it out but once he had located the bare wire he soon wrapped tape around it to protect it and secured it so it wouldn’t happen again - and all for $30. Another brilliant result. It meant we could go out tonight after all so I was quickly on the mobile to the booking office and managed to secure two places. Once I’d done that I did go for my cycle ride – I went on the path that could have taken us to Mon Repos. It was a delightful track of about 2kms through trees and bush and across a couple of streams but all the signs confirmed that it would be closed to the public at 6:00pm.
Later in the afternoon
we had an early supper, prepared for our evening adventure – mossie protection, warm clothing, torch and cameras - and set off in the car for Mon Repos where we arrived at about 6:30pm. If you want to know what all the fuss is about be sure to read our next blog.
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