2021 Home Page
October 2nd we had a huge electrical storm. Have you ever tried to catch lightening flashes? As the storm approached it lit up the night sky, briefly
turning the night into day. Michael and Jess came up for another visit and brought Teddy with them too. We timed our walk along the beach with the low
tide as this way the cool shallows are nice and warm. On Seafront Oval there was a display of classic cars, especially the Sandman Panel Vans and
other older waggons done up. Took me back down memory lane. Michael cooked a lovely roast pork dinner.
I've finally added a beer tap to the bar fridge, rather than using the trigger gun. Works a treat. Now I need to order a stainless steel spill
tray to complete the job.
October became the month of visitors. After Michael and Jess, Max and Leanne came, even though they went stayingg with me. Then Sue came with her new dog.
I ended up teaching her about alcohol
Then it was my turn for a quick trip to Charters Towers for grandparents day at their local school. I left the Bay on the Wednesday and was back home
again just after 9pm on the Saturday. Sunday was the Parish Fair which I needed to be back for.
So on the Wednesday I travelled to Emerald, via Rocky, as I was going to spend that night sleeping in the car. There is a 24 hour free camp outside
of the Botanical Gardens there and you use the toilets located about 50m in the gardens. These gardens were founded in 1988 and are set in 42 hectares.
As well as the standard picnic tables they also include bike trails, playgrounds, a rose garden and a maze. There is a bridge crossing the Nogoa River
that links the gardens together.
Dinner that night was Red Rooster - beautiful and moist chicken and well cooked chips. Delicious. By about 6.30 it is dark. Not a lot to do in the car
and too early for sleep. I have an app on the phone called Skyview which I opened and the first constellation that I found was Pisces. Gai was watching
me from above, Bless her! It's quite a fun app and shows also planets etc. Astronomery was a hobby when I was younger. A fitful night's sleep.
Awake around 4.30am to catch the early morning sunrise. Time to hit the road around 5.30am as now hopefully there is no live widlife on the road. About
500km from Emerald to Charters Towers so 5 hours of driving. I remembered this road from our caravan trip where we had planned to free camp, except
the camps listed in the book are just truck roadside stops. No shade or grass - just concrete and a toilet block. Still a good trip and into the cabin
which is my home for the next few days.
Shower, sleep and then to catch up with the grand kids. We all went shopping and they got some gifts from Gai and I. Friday was grandparents day. Off to
school in the morning for assembly and awards. Then off to the classroom for some lessons. Oh, how teaching has changed. All electronic touch screen and
apps now. I even won a game in Kiara's class. In Allyssa's class we looked at what they do in school now, compared to when I went to school. No chalk
and blackboards here. Then to a morning tea and lunch for the children. Back home for around 1pm. A great morning.
Back to school to collect the kids. Time to fix up the train track and then out for a walk with the dog. Saturday morning I was there early as I wanted
to be back on the road around 9am. Once I hit Rocky there was showers and rain the rest of the way home. Not the best driving conditions, especially at
night but I arrived home just after 9pm. Off to the church tomorrow and then some well deserved rest.
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