HEADING SOUTH, CHOOKPEN SERVICE, NSW COAST AND INLAND FOR A MUDGEE XMAS

Long time since a post. We headed south to the Gold Coast. The Chookpen had a service. We hung around the Tweed area for a few weeks and then headed south before turning westward nr Newcastle, through the Hunter Valley and over to Mudgee for Xmas. Thoroughly enjoying ourselves everywhere.

 Bundaberg QLD

Obligatory stop at Eumundi Markets

 Another sensational stopover at Pottsville

 Urunga NSW

 

 Nambucca Heads

  

 

 South West Rocks was just a beautiful place. How's this for digs!!!!!

Trial Bay Gaol

Kempsey NSW. They love Slim here. Also the home of the famous Akubra Hat.

Port Macquarie. Lovely town and fantastic beaches.

 

 Enjoying lunch at Soldiers Point.

 

 

Digs at Branxton, Hunter Valley. Drive through the wine country absolutely beautiful. Sorry, forgot camera. The thunder storms around these parts have been horrendous. The Chookpen has been copping a hammering.

 The elder member of the Chookpen peering through the wire at Lone Pine Barracks, Singleton, remembering a time (thankfully) long gone.

More storms at Willow Tree

The drive out through here has been wonderful. "Absolutely Marvellous" as Richie would say. We are looking forward to Xmas in Mudgee.

 How about "The Back Stump" being out here

                               .........onwards to Mudgee

                                                    Merry Xmas from The Chookpen

                                    

GULF COUNTRY QLD

 

 

 We headed eastwards towards QLD, out through Mount Isa, Cloncurry and then north towards the Gulf Savannah Country

 

 

 

 How's this for a spot to spend a few days

 Dinner time

 We drove out to Lawn Hill National Park

 here we go,......off for a walk again

Rough old road out there with a few obstacles

                            

Further north to Normanton where we boarded the Gulflander for an overnight stay in Croydon.

 Driver is ready and away we go, 5 hrs each way. Top speed 40.

                                                       

 Mail delivery

Who doesn't love waving to a train

 

 Digs for the night at Croydon

 

 It was back to Normanton next day and the further north to Karumba. We absolutely loved every minute of the train trip.

 

You have to love fishing up here. We have never seen so many tinnies.

Back in Normanton

 

 Can you believe it, this is a replica of a croc shot and killed up here in the 1950s

In our 4th week in Townsville at the moment, its pretty tough but someone has to do it.