Tag: Bridge

5th November–Exploring Goondiwindi

Distance: 153Km
Fuel: 39L

The first visit was to the local Tourist Information Office, it was open and was part of the library – there can’t be many libraries open on Sunday.

Armed with some leaflets we went to sample the delights Goondiwindi has to offer. First stop was the Big Cod!

171105 001 Goondiwindi Big Cod171105 002 Goondiwindi Big Cod

Then a short drive to Salisbury Bridge once again joining NSW with Queensland but this time exclusively for stock movements. On the NSW side a short distance away is a sandbar known as Bondi Beach – a popular swimming spot according to the brochure. The stock bridge is at the end of Bondi Rd.

171105 007 Goondiwindi Salisbury Stock Bridge171105 018 Goondiwindi Salisbury Stock Bridge171105 024 Goondiwindi Salisbury Stock Bridge

Then it was back to town for a walk along the top of the levee as far as the boat ramp. Lots of boats waiting to launch on this Sunday.

171105 027 Goondiwindi Macintyre River Walk171105 029 Goondiwindi Macintyre River Walk171105 030 Goondiwindi Macintyre River Walk171105 031 Goondiwindi Macintyre River Walk

Time for a scenic drive, on the way yet another ‘historic’ bridge to NSW this time across the Dumaresq River – bitumen on the Queensland side, dirt in NSW.

171105 038 Keetah Bridge171105 040 Keetah Bridge171105 036 Keetah Bridge

Arrived in the little town of Yelarbon with the intention of buying food but faced with a choice of two pies or a sandwich at the roadhouse ended up just filling with fuel (115.9c compared to Goondiwindi’s 133.9c a litre).

171105 043 Yelarbon

While we were there the entire police force of SE Qld turned up to talk to a bloke about something.

171105 048 Yelarbon

Had a quick look at the strainer post that marked the end of the longest fence in the world before heading back to ‘home’.

171105 045 Yelarbon End Dingo Fence171105 047 Yelarbon End Dingo Fence

Opposite the Goondiwindi airport a local farmer has got rid of a pile of junk lying about his farm at the same time adding to the cultural life of Australia. Neat eh?

171105 051 Goondiwindi Australia Coat of Arms171105 054 Goondiwindi Australia Coat of Arms

Just a reminder if you click on a picture you get a bigger version.

A Storm

At about 6.30pm there was rain and thunder. Fortunately it was forecast so we had already taken the Gazebo down and had put away everything that shouldn’t get wet. Got into the camper watched the news and Doc Martin on TV. The new ventilation set up seemed to work well; ran the fan all night. During the night the wind was quite strong and it rained again though personally I slept through it all.

2nd November 2017–Grafton and About

Distance: 80.5Km
Fuel: 58L

I have never stopped in Grafton before but I have been over its bridge on several occasions and wondered who designed it to be such a difficult bridge to negotiate. It is very high and narrow for two lanes of traffic with very tricky bends at each end and no footpath either side. I never had to cross it often enough to wonder why.

Today I had a serious look at it. It is a two level bridge with a railway and two footpaths occupying the lower level – you would never know that from driving to or on it.. At one time it was possible to raise a section for river traffic to pass but that was sealed up years ago. It needs a good coat of paint as it is covered in rust but the reason for that could be seen next door where a $240 million bridge is being built.

171102 002 Grafton Bridge171102 004 Grafton Bridge171102 008 Grafton Bridge171102 009 Grafton Bridge171102 011 Grafton Bridge171102 013 Grafton Bridge171102 015 Grafton Bridge171102 019 Grafton Bridge171102 022 Grafton Bridge171102 023 Grafton Bridge171102 020 Grafton Bridge

I suspect the town has been waiting for this new bridge for a very long time as it is such a bottle neck with queues at either end almost continuously yet otherwise Grafton is just a typical country town.

One of the reasons for visiting the bridge was to see the wreck of the SS Induna which was supposed to be at the SW corner of the bridge but I couldn’t see any sign of it. Winston Churchill escaped the Boer War on SS Induna before it became a rail and vehicle ferry across the Clarence River.

Headed south to Shannon Creek Dam 18km away. Not the most exciting dam that I have visited but it was full and nearby they had created a very nice picnic area.

171102 031 Shannon Creek Dam171102 027 Shannon Creek Dam171102 029 Shannon Creek Dam171102 033 Shannon Creek Dam171102 036 Shannon Creek Dam

Then it was north to Junction Hill to visit an Open Garden we had been given a postcard about at the Festival. It was a very beautiful garden in a suburban street which charged $2 for entry (worth it). They also offered morning or afternoon tea of scones etc for $10 and, as it was well after lunch time, we tried that. I wonder how they get on with their neighbours – remember the fuss and eventual closure of Janet’s Royalty Rooms in Woonona?

171102 045 Open Garden171102 047 Open Garden171102 048 Open Garden171102 050 Open Garden171102 051 Open Garden171102 065 Open Garden171102 068 Open Garden171102 075 Open Garden

Returned to Grafton to look at the Arboretum in See Park but it was a bit underwhelming so spent the next hour trying to get round detours for a festival event and road closure. It was hell! (especially when you have no idea where you are going).

Late afternoon took down the gazebo ready for tomorrow’s departure.