Day 5 – Mon 20 Jul: Woodgate to Home, 72km

Greg went for a quick ride and Wendy walked around the block. After breakfast, we packed up and were on the road by about 9:30am and home about an hour after that. Van was unpacked and washing was on two hours later. Van was put to bed after lunch. 

Day 4 – Sun 19 Jul: Woodgate

Ride: 10km

After mornos we went for a walk through the Burrum Coast National Park. Wendy only did the boardwalk and a little more before heading home. Spent the rest of the day socialising, resting, reading, etc.

We went for a ride to Theodolite Creek after lunch and had home-made pizzas for dinner in the camp kitchen with the others.

Day 3 – Sat 18 Jul: Woodgate

Ride: 10.5km

As it is Saturday today, we had to go for a ride in keeping with BUG traditions. Today we explored the new estate at Woodgate then had mornos with the others and R&T at our place.

In keeping with our other Saturday tradition, we went back to the pub for another meal. This time we walked there and caught the bus home (Greg walked). Meals were good again.

Day 2 – Fri 17 Jul: Woodgate

Ride : 10km

It was a bit fresh this morning so we stayed in bed a little longer. Greg eventually got up when Gunther came knocking saying he was going off to fly his drone at the pub end of the esplanade. After a quick breakfast, Greg joined him. We then went for a beach walk without M&S as Mark had locked the keys in the ute so had to wait for the RACQ man to arrive and break-in! Wendy had to trade the walk on the beach for a walk on the footpath as the beach was not flat and her back and hip were not liking the angle. Mornos was had at the park café and although the muffin and cake were OK, the coffee was cold, even by Wendy’s standard. Note to selves – have coffee in the van from now on.

 After lunch and a rest, we went for a ride to Walkers Point. Well, Wendy almost made it but did not want to push the boundaries with her hip, but still did a 10km ride, which for a second ride back after 14 months off the bike, was not too bad.

Rob and Tinkie joined us at the park (they are visiting us at Hippo Farm) and stayed in a cabin (#505) and had brought dinner with them – slow cooked lamb. We all joined them in their cabin for pre-dinner drink at 5:30pm, then had dinner complete with sticky date pudding for dessert.

Woodgate: 16-20 July 2020

Day 1 – Thu 16 Jul: Home to Woodgate, 72km

Ride: 6km

Due to the battery charging issues we had last month, we decided to change out the AGM battery for two lithium ones. As Greg was hooking them up, something went wrong and we ended up blowing the BMS. Gunther was kind enough to come over and have a look at it, and even he couldn’t fix it! We rang the company and they said there had been a surge through the system and it would need to be rebuilt. So, we took it off the wall together with the LCD display and sent that off to the factory. In the meantime, Wendy ordered a new BMS that can cope with both AGM and lithium, however, without the display, we couldn’t fit it. So, we thought we would not be able to make it to Woodgate with M&S and G&Y however, Gunther came up with a genius, albeit very simple, fix (see photo) that would enable us to use almost everything (we later discovered the 12V TV point, aerial and 12V fans did not work).

 We left home after an early mornos and arrived at Woodgate about 11am just ahead of M&S and G&Y. We were lucky to get in as it was pretty packed (the lady had to move someone so that we could have the larger site. We are not altogether, not even M&S and G&Y were, but sometimes that’s a good thing in that you can have some time away from the people that you ride, walk, eat and socialise with. We had site #713, M&S had 710 and G&Y were on 702.

 After lunch and a rest, we went for a ride to the Woodgate Beach Hotel to book the booze bus. Wendy managed to get on the bike this time and although she was a bit slow, she made it there and back without any issues. We had a pre-dinner drink at M&S’s before waiting for the bus to pick us up out the front of the park – had to wait about 30 mins! Food was good though and we decided to walk the 3km home in an attempt to settle the stomach contents.

Day 8 – Fri 19 Jun: Kenilworth to Home, 166km

We were both up early as it was quite warm (warmer than it had been) and had both been awake for some time. Greg went for a short walk whilst Wendy started the pack-up process. Had a quick breakfast and were on the road just after 8am and stopped just North of Gympie for mornos. We were home by 11am and were unpacked, with washing on and van put away about 2.5 hours later! 

Day 7 – Thu 18 Jun: Kenilworth

Greg did some riding whilst Wendy did some real work and some housework. Had a light lunch in preparation for tonight’s pub dinner at Kenilworth Hotel. About an hour before we left, the heavens opened and it bucketed down. By the time we had to leave, there was still a light rain falling. We all had good meals with good company. 

Day 6 – Wed 17 Jun: Kenilworth

After breakfast we all went on a self-guided tour of the area. First stop was Mapleton where we had a wander through the town and then a squiz at the Op Shop – nothing to see so moved along quickly.

Next stop was at Maleny for mornos at a coffee shop overlooking the valley and a wander through the shops and galleries. It is all very yuppy here in the mountains and nothing took our fancy. We were going to go on to Maleny however, the worms were biting, and Wendy’s hip was getting tired walking up and down the hills, so we went home. Sat and chatted around the fire whilst the others had their BBQ chicken dinner, cooked by Gunther in his Weber-type BBQ. He also cooked a self-saucing chocolate pudding in the BBQ!

Historical landmark in Montville; An iconic water wheel designed by a lady in honour of her father. The cottage houses a fine art gallery, jewellery shop and an apartment

Day 5 – Tue 16 Jun: Kenilworth

Decided to have mornos at the Kenilworth Dairy which was over the road from the Showground. Coffee and muffins were good. Went for another walk up the street, this time having a look in the shops which are very touristy and therefore quite yuppy and pricey.

Day 4 – Mon 15 Jun: Nanango to Kenilworth, 168km

Left for Kenilworth just after 9am and stopped at Kilcoy for mornos with G&Y and M&S. Arrived at Kenilworth Showground just before lunch to find the inner oven door had shattered spreading glass all over the van! After cleaning that up which took forever, we had lunch then went for a walk on the main street. Night time was spent chatting by the fire.

Day 2 – Sat 13 Jun: Nanango

Greg was up very early whilst Wendy stayed in bed a bit longer. The plan for today was to ride into town, do a bit of op-shopping and have mornos. Well, Wendy could not even get onto her bike, so walked in. We did some window shopping, photography, had mornos then whilst Greg went for a ride, Wendy went home.

After a light lunch, W had a nana nap then did some more socialising then went for a walk with Sue to the Big Bucket. Pre-dinner drinks were had before walking into town to have our first pub meal in a long time at Fitzroy Hotel. All meals were very good and we all waddled home. 

free camp

entrance to the free camp

Seven Mile Peter

John Green

Cenotaph/War Memorial

Southern entrance to Nanango

The Big Bucket

Carmel, Yvonne, Gunther, Sue, Mark and Glen

A gnarly old tree outside the amenities block at the free camp

Nanango and Kenilworth 12-19 June 2020

Day 1 – Fri 12 Jun: Home to Nanango, 223km

We left home about 9am after breakfast and a final pack. Stopped in Kilkivan for a late mornos in the van. Arrived at Kingaroy just after 11:30am and set up the van. No power and no water so have to get used to living on gas and using the water pump. Sue and Yvonne came home before the others so we chatted for a while and did some “crafting”; S&Y did diamond art and Wendy did some crochet. Had a drink with the thers while they prepared for dinner. It was a relatively early night.

Ready to leave home (or so we thought!)

Nanango free camp