On the (backroads) again

Continuing the wandering - I will include names of places I visit even tho they may not mean anything to some, or in fact, be able to be found w/o a copy of Camps6 Australia Wide" BUT some of you out there said "Keep us informed of your travels".  Left Little Yabba Picnic Area for Browns Creek Campground near Eumundi, with a stop at a rest area near Kenilworth to get online and do emails.  Both of these are 'free camp' areas, thus very few facilities, certainly no power.  Three nights is the limit away from power to charge the batteries as the fridge cut off after 1 1/2 days. 

At Browns Creek, a Census lass came around, so I filled out the form: Just grey I guess, not invisible.  The Browns Creek Campsite was nearly full when I arrived reasonably early in the day, I suspect some campers didn't take much notice of the 48 hour limit.  It is also not far off the Bruce Highway, a very busy (therefore noisy) highway. 

I phoned a Grey Nomad couple in Buderim and arranged to catch up with them on Wednesday, which I did after visiting the Eumundi Market and a drive down the coast road from Noosa.  They have done a fair bit of camping in various vehicles so it was very educational for me to talk to them, as not only what areas to consider visiting, but also setting up, esp. for solar, as they had set up their current unit, a small truck with a poptop camper integrated onto it.  Overall, it is not much longer than my vehicle but has it's own dedicated dining area and bed, so there isn't the evening & morning re-arranging for sleeping & day use.  I'm jealous, of course, however my view on camping is that you are roughing it a bit:  With two people the extra 'convenience' would be essential.

 

A lot of good knowledge & experience in relation to solar power, extra water, great tips and places to camp was imparted  quickly, with enough notes to support my not-so photographic memory, BUT what I did photograph was a squirrel glider on it's nest box on their deck!  There is a family of 6-7 living there and they come out late in the evening after the kookaburras (who fancy a tasty squirrel glider) have gone to roost.  What beautiful animals they are and they bring a lot of joy to their hosts (and visitors as well!). 

 

Leaving there this morning (11 August) I set off for Borumba Campground on the Borumba Dam, but as there is no power there I stopped the night at Island Reach Camping Resort in Imbil, not far away.  Once again, the GPS 'guided' me over all nature of road whereas on the map it looks straightforward to travel on main roads.  However there was a bonus as I traveled thru a State Forest with signs pointing off to a scenic lookout well worth visiting, even if I'm not sure if I could find it again. 

 

Met my first Solo Grey Nomad today, a chap roughly my age with more stress than he can handle at the moment so he took off for a few days with three dogs.  He designs & builds houses, tho now retired, but has undertaken to build a house for his daughter, a work-in-progress interrupted by some acute health problems, thus the stress.  He did admit he is reluctant to go to Brisbane for the treatment he needs, hoping - as we mere males do - that with a bit of rest today, tomorrow we will be Superman again.  Again, he had a wealth of experience traveling and was also knowledgeable in solar power and power options generally for free camping.  He had a gas fridge he bought for $350 and reckons it cost him 80 cents/day to run.  He also has a portable solar panel and was happy to discuss it's virtues.  An interesting chap, and in the last couple of days there is much information to think about.