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Published: September 11th 2010
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The local pig and calf market is held in Warwick every Wednesday morning and it’s a well known local attraction so off we went to sample the atmosphere. The area around the market was very busy with plenty of country folk and farmers with their trucks and cattle transporters around. Buying and selling had been going on since about 7am but the pens were still full of pigs, goats, calves, chickens and geese. It was great to listen to the auctioneer and watch the bidding process but we were afraid to move in case one of us bought a chicken! We chatted to a nice young girl from Allora who had taken the day off school to go along with her parents, to sell her over aggressive rooster and to buy some "chooks" which she did very successfully. She was really pleased with the 7 chicks she had bought - how refreshing to see a youngster fully embracing the rural lifestyle that she is being brought up in. Her parents have a smallholding and had moved to the country a few years ago from the Gold Coast searching for a better way of life in which to bring up their 4
children. Also at the market were fruit and veg stalls and lots of bric a brac most of which seemed worn out or useless but which attracted a lot of attention. We resisted the temptation to buy David some bit of essential kit which we were sure he could manage without!
Next on our agenda was a visit to the local indoor swimming pool which is very handily placed near the centre of town. We were astonished to find the pool virtually empty - there was just one person swimming lengths on the far side. The water temperature was a pleasing 29˚ so we spent a very relaxing hour or so there including a bit of time messing about in the ‘lazy river’. This complex is about 12 years old and is apparently the best in the area and the envy of other towns - hopefully we’ll be back another time.
Lunch beckoned so we headed off to our favourite café for some of their delicious fayre.
We had a quick look at how the sculptors were progressing and one at least showed signs of a shape beginning to emerge. There was a group of school children
gathered round, each with their chisels learning how to sculpt - it’s great how the Aussie’s get their kids involved with all aspects of art and culture.
By the time we got back to David’s it was time for a refreshing cup of tea and a bit of relaxation so that’s what we did!
Another lovely day greeted us on Thursday morning so we got busy early, completed some chores and prepared another picnic. The intention was to stop at Cunningham's Gap and do a bit of walking. In 1828 Allan Cunningham was the first European to find this pass through the Great Dividing Range. It is still a very steep and winding road in places but as it is the main road to Brisbane it gets quite busy with huge trucks. We know from our previous trips that these trucks are immensely powerful so it’s best just to get out of their way as soon as possible. The car park for Cunningham’s Gap is not particularly easy to spot and access so, having passed it by, we decided to turn round when convenient and to go at it from the other direction. We travelled on along the
highway for some way admiring the spectacular view through the trees and had the idea of a coffee stop in the next ‘town’ which was Aratula. Alas there was nothing there that took our fancy but we had noticed signposts for 'Moogerah Dam' and ‘Lake Moogerah’. We had never heard of them but thought we’d go and take a look anyway. It was a just few kms drive off the main road but when we got there we were all amazed at the size and beauty of the lake with a stunning backdrop of mountains. Added to that it was pretty well deserted too. So we got the flask and the cake out and enjoyed our coffee break whilst we sat and admired the view.
As we looked around we could see the potential for walks, so once replenished we set off along the dam wall. At the other end the walk continued up a steep climb. The sign at the bottom said it was Moogerah Peaks National Park, Mount Edwards Section and that it was 3kms to the summit. We thought we could manage that and so we did fairly comfortably. From the top were fantastic views across
the lake to the mountains beyond. Down on the dam wall again we were lucky enough to see some terrapins in and out of the water - we could see them quite clearly just lolling about. At the other end of the wall there were a few frogs croaking away. It was such a splendid spot that we stayed and had our picnic lunch using one of the many picnic tables that were dotted about. Very occasionally the peace was disturbed by a speed boat but other than that the only sounds we could hear were from the birds. It probably gets busy at weekends and at holiday times but today it was perfect. We had the company of cheeky ‘noisy mynas', a kookaburra and magpies. In the distance, sometimes flying over the lake were a group of pelicans and a lone, as yet, unidentified large hawk that was on the lookout for fish - it may be a harrier of some sort. It was all very fascinating for me - meanwhile Graham had a snooze and Daphne read more of her book. After another cup of tea we reluctantly packed up thinking we would have time to stop and
climb the lookout at Cunningham’s Gap but when we got to the car park a couple of big trucks were parked up making it difficult for us to get in so we never did get there - another time maybe!
We needed a few groceries and some diesel so by the time we’d got back to Warwick and done all that it was time for dinner. What a great day it had been especially finding the hidden gem that is Moogerah Dam.
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David mason
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Hi, sounds great! Moogerah is a fantastic spot we have just opened a the lake Moogerah cafe at the spot where you had a picnic!