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Hi all, well its been some time since my last blog, and time gets away! For those I haven't had regular contact with, thought I would update you with my travels. Stayed at Jenny and Waynes for another week to attend Tegan and Dans wedding which was held at Sunshine coast. She looked radiant, being 7 months pregnant, and she has herself a fine little pommy bloke! Dan is a lovely young man and a welcome addition to our family, and has bonded well with Kym- too much, Tegan would say! After the wedding I returned to Brisbane, spent a couple of weeks at Kyms, then a couple with Kristie and Justin. Thought I better make tracks, before wearing out my welcome, and so headed for Texas. Had wanted to go there on the way up, but they had been flooded when I was at Tamworth, so set off. Only got a couple of k up the road, and still in Brisbane, when smoke began pouring into the cabin, thinking I was on fire, I jumped out at a busy intersection, everyone tooting and hollering, me yelling back, bit scary! Looked at the motor, no obvious smoke or flames, so I
Water level,Texas
The white line on the post is 2006, the yellow line is this year jumped back in and took off to the nearest turn off to the left, jumped out and called the RACQ. Wouldnt you know it -I'm at University mortuary! Anyway, after waiting a couple of hours, they came with the tow truck and took me to a repair place. RACQ put me up in a motel for the night, while they checked out Roy. Seems that while at Kristie and Justins, there was oil on the concrete, and Justin had fixed the rocket head gaskets, and not sealed them properly, and oil had got through all the pipes, and coming up through the vents.- A little bit of knowledge is dangerous! So after they had degreased all that they could get at, they told me the residue would have to burn off. Next day headed off again, heading for Texas, not knowing that I had to get over Cunninghams Gap- no mean feat, and to top it all off, most of the road had been washed away in the floods, so roadworks all the way, having to stop, start, all the time- when idling for too long, smoke filling up the cabin -lot of fun! Finally got to Warwick, and tracked
down the RACQ there, just for confirmation that I wasnt going to burn, when the youg fella came out and couldnt even find the motor, I figured I was wasting my time, and kept going! Since leaving home, I hadn't driven at night, mainly because of the quality of the lights, but also the amount of wildlife on the roads. So, I as the sun set, I pushed on for Texas, knowing I would be arriving in the dark. I took a short cut, trying to avoid all the trucks on the Inglewood Rd, and as I came back on the main road to Texas, lost all power!! I was probably 10 ks out, pitch black, and Im standing with a torch looking at the motor- it was still there. Thankfully 2 young fellas came along, Ben , the local electrician, and his apprentice. Luckily Mum had bought me a tow rope before I left, so they towed me to caravan park in Texas, and left me there. Next morning I went to the RACQ, he couldnt look at it for 5 days, so I now was stuck in Texas! Upon talking to a few at the park, found that
Debris in trees
See how high, they reckon 30' water through some places they were volunteering in the flood relief clean-up, and hence, had all their accomodation and meals paid for, so thought that would do me! Started next day, mainly clearing debris from houses and fences, fencing, and removing "trickle tape" from the river systems. "Trickle Tape" being similiar to soaker hose, black plastic tubing with holes inserted, and used by only one of the bigger farms for irrigation. They estimate that up to 350ks of this tape ended up in the rivers, and when you see how high this is wedged in the trees, it is simply amazing. Met some wonderful people who had travelled from Tas, Sydney,Canberra etc to volunteer. Finally had the car looked at, and it seems, when I had Roy serviced at Yandina, they had put faulty points in and they had broken off. So, I should never had him done- had no trouble prior to the service, and now I was on first name terms with Debbie at RACQ! Volunteered for the month, and got along famously with Gloria and Geoff at the park. They have a block out of town, and only leased the park for a year while they build out there. They also
Flood damage
The water has just laid down and broken off trees split and bundle kindling that is sold at servos etc, and I went out for a couple of days and helped there. Ran the park for a couple of days, while Glora went to Warwick, and Goondawindi for shopping, all in all, fitted right in with the family, and hope to go back for the country music weekend in Sept. It was through Gloria that I have now ended up at Injune- her and Geoff have a mate working for Clarrie and Noelene Sellars, who were looking for a cook. I had lined up bar work at Wee Waa, then had last minute change of plans, and headed north instead, they were paying more money-2 weeks on, 2 weeks off. The Sellars 'run an earthmoving business, they do all the road works and pads for Santos gas, just up the road. Unfortunately no-one warned me that the 14 k of dirt from the main road is strictly for 4 WD, and I was rally driving in Roy, and done a shocker.
So , after the first 2 weeks, I was literally stuffed! Cooking for 20- sometimes more, washing etc- long days-12+ hours a day, my hands were giving me grief,
and dermatitis that was itchy and sore. The house is a menagerie- 30+ dogs, wild pigs, cats, calves etc. Lovely people, they were desperate for some-one as their daughter is due to have a baby in the next week or so in Toowoomba, and they wanted to be down there. So, I've nearly finished my 2 off, which I have spent at Rolleston with Maureen and Frank Thomas. Maureen is Colleens friend, Bronny Millards' mother, and has been up here for 20 yrs. I have managed to rest up and have been to Emerald, and Springsure to the Drs, who has finally given me something for the rash, and its working! The hands, well I need carpal tunnel op, but until then she suggests that I splint them at night, for relief, and hopefully sleep! So, I head back on Sun, to start Wed for the next 2 week stint, this time I will leave Roy at Injune and not go out to the property til some-one picks me up. I'm hoping to be able to do the next 4 rounds, as Colleen and I are planning a trip in a camper- hopefully as far as the Kimberleys, in Oct,
and I need the $$$.
Just to finish off- Tegan and Dan last Sat welcomed Isabella Louise to the world, love to you all xx
Hopefully not so long before I blog again, til then xx
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