G’day all,
3rd January 2012
Finally back on the road again today, heading a short distance to Tumbulgum for some fun around the Tweed River. We arrived at Stott Island Reserve around lunchtime and soaked up the rest of the afternoon around the caravan enjoying some free space and…the cricket. I have been cricket starved at times and for anyone who knows me this is like torture. So as the kids played I enjoyed some cricket. That was pretty much the rest of the day, dinner and then bed.
4th January 2012
With all the best intentions to find a camp for the upcoming weekend with kids, the cricket caught my intention. The thought of a Ricky Ponting century was too much for a cricket tragic and so I slaved through a day of cricket. I am not really sure what everyone else did…I think, paint toe nails, ride scooters and create some crafty things, not to mention some lego play. For me the day was awesome – Ricky Ponting ton and a Michael Clarke double century and Hussey 50, which turned into a ton. Great day I say, even if we are still at Stott Island Reserve.
5th January 2012
Our good friends Noel, Kylea and kids, Rory, Ella and Jordan met us at Stott Island Reserve for a camping trip out to Woodenbong and beyond. We started the day travelling past Tumblegum through to Uki and then onto Kyogle through the beautiful Tweed Valley and Volcanic Rim. This is a fantastic drive and one to savour for anyone heading out this way.
At Kyogle we stopped at the information centre and agreed on a camping option out near Urbenville being a place called Toolum Falls. To get there we headed North to Woodenbong past the spectacular Border Ranges National Park and through Urbenville. Urbanville has a great little camping area at the North End of town as an option. We carried on however to Toolum Falls arriving mid afternoon and setting up camp, including collecting some firewood for the evening. With most of the day gone we relaxed around the fire getting to know some great people some more.
6th January 2012
More fun at Toolum Falls. Noel, Kylea and family really wanted a trip of chilling out, so talks of a walk were squashed pretty quickly and the day was spent gas bagging with a venture to the bottom of Toolum Falls for a swim. The Falls themselves are right in the campground and should you choose you can pretty much camp on top of them (yep, within a couple of metres if you so choose…the campsite is also dog friendly and free by the way). We all had a swim out to the falls and splashed around for about an hour before heading back to camp to chill out some more.
Noel and I did venture out on a mountain bike ride though in the state forest on the far side of Toolum Creek. In fact we rode across the river on top of the Falls and hit the trails. We followed one trail down the river to a set of rapids and nice swimming hole where you could camp before heading up into the hills. By the end of the ride we were muddy and, only being able to vouch for myself, happy to see camp again.
Dinner and fire ended the day…as did a cool beer.
7th January 2012
Saturday brought more of the same, chatting and banter around camp. However, by late afternoon it became apparent that Noel’f foot (he had puntured it having a swim yesterday) was badly infected, so Noel and I took a drive to Warwick Hospital to get a Tetnis injection and some antibiotics. We are still not sure what the nurses thought when two blokes rocked up, Noel with painted toe nails. With Noel fixed up we were back on the road heading back to camp for our last night around the campfire. Although not the outing you want, it was good to spend some bonding time with Noel and become even closer friends. A fire closed out the night.
8th January 2012
Time for Noel, Kylea and family to leave us. Not before some more coffee and great converation with like minded fantastic people. We have enjoyed the opportunity to make new friends and look forward to next time we will see them…thanks guys.
With our friends leaving late afternoon, we cut some more firewood for a night around the fire and spent some time with the kids. They were off playing with new friends over the past few days and so we kind of missed them.
We all shared dinner and a big fire for our final night at Toolum Falls. We had enjoyed our stay here and enjoyed making new friends.
I have to mention the friendly possums too. Don’t leaveout any food they will take it…saying that the kids love to interact with tame wildlife, so enjoy them too!
Bushman Bud…Enjoying Australia