Had a lazy, late start to the day as the Cactus Garden didn’t open until 9 am.
What an amazing place. It was started in the 60s and is now run by the two sons of the original gardeners. It shows lots of love and dedication. 100s of different species including a few succulents. Had a chat and a laugh with the brothers after walking through the garden.

Then a visit to the Walk in mine shop for Maria, called into the Visitor Centre once again, a stop to top up with fuel and then back to the cottage for lunch. Saw a few locals on the roadside!

Helen and Maria then went for a walk down into the town to have a look at the murals painted on the walls around the place. The local artist, John Murray, painted them. Helen picked me up and we went to see his Art Gallery just down the road. Fascinating paintings.

Back to the cottage to do a bit more jigsaw and then we went down to a local cafe/restaurant for a hamburger dinner. The eaves of the building next door had been a nesting site for fairy martins.

We are going to try and leave about 5 tomorrow morning.

Had a fairly late morning, none of us are sleeping very well!

We had decided to do the Orange Car Door trail today. It headed out to the Seam Opal fields as opposed to the Nobby Opal fields around here. It was about 100 km round trip on mainly unsealed roads.

The countryside was quite varied, some of it very flat which had been cropped and then into hilly, tree covered terrain. Saw lots of goats and even an emu crossed over in front of us.

We first stopped at the Grawin Club in the Scrub (it’s a golf course, well supposedly). The girls spent some time fossicking and found some small pieces of opal potch.

From there we carried on to the Sheepyard Inn and had fish, chips and salad for lunch. The girls then spent some time fossicking!

The Glengarry Hilton was out third stop. The girls then spent some time fossicking!

We had to return to the Sheepyard Inn as both Helen & Maria had discovered that they were a tool short and as things are very quiet around here, found them both still on the tailings pile!

On the way back stopped for a photo of the enormous Stanley the Emu.

Started a new jigsaw once back at the cottage and waited until the sunset was 30 minutes away and redid the Green Car Door trail.

No dust (it had rained overnight) and so we watched the sunset. Back to the cottage for a quick bite and getting ready for bed!

First thing we headed off to grab petrol, but the tanker hadn’t arrived yet. Had a look at the Artesian Basin mineral springs that are ‘public baths’. They had been cleaned out yesterday, so they were nice and clear with several occupants in the larger one. The water can reach temperatures over 40º.

We then went to the end of the entrance road to Lightning Ridge and photographed the sign. Helen and Maria found a geocache!

On the way back stopped at the Tourist Info Centre. The lass there was very good and gave us all the ‘Car Door’ trail information sheets. There are different colour car doors along roadsides pointing out something of interest.

As the fuel tanker had arrived but the servo was still closed, we headed to the other end of the road to the ‘Walk in opal mine’. Helen and Maria climbed down the steps and followed the self-guide tour. I stayed on top, sitting and watching the birds and butterflies, which was great fun. When the girls came back they scrabbled around in the public fossicking area looking for a ‘bit of colour’. Helen liked the river stones on the roadway too.

Apostlebirds

The opal layer sandwiched between limestone.

As it was getting rather hot we returned home for lunch and a cool down. Maria and I started another jigsaw, whilst Helen played games on the phone, lol.

After a quick dinner we headed out for the Green Door trail as it led to a lookout touted for its great view especially at sunset. However, there was a very strong wind coming up from Dubbo (350 km south) and it stirred up so much dust that the view didn’t really exist. We may try again tomorrow!

In a house made from beer cans!

Maria finished the jigsaw!

P.S. we did eventually get fuel!!!

Had a lovely night yesterday. Went to Bribie Island Hotel about 40 minutes from Maria for a lovely dinner. Anna and Keegan, plus Archer & Charlotte, Tasha and John (& Harrison, who’s due in 4 weeks). Tasha’s Mum and stepfather, Tanya and Les; Anna’s friend’s Molly & Reece plus Oliver & Angus. Not forgetting Maria & Ron, Helen & myself.

Helen and I had seared barramundi and it so melted in the mouth, it was lovely.

Had a reasonably early night and finished packing our small travel bags and packing the car. We left at 6.21 am and basically headed northwest, west and then south. First stop, in Blackbutt, was for a coffee/wee stop,

then a bit later in Dalby for a quarter of a tank of fuel. We pulled into a roadside rest stop area for a quick muesli bar and some grapes

and then stopped in St George for a late lunch and a look at River Balonne, big and muddy looking!

Then the last bit of the trip to Lightning Ridge. There was a Caution sign near Heble for water over the road, which we found several times!

We had to put our clocks forward an hour, so the Visitor Centre was closed. Found the IGA, grabbed essentials to eat and then on to Lavender Cottage which Helen found for us for 4 nights.

We did see some interesting sights along the way. A feral red deer, a very dead great black pig, and a kangaroo. A few emu and of course lots of cattle, horses, sheep & goats. Lots of different field crops, some we had no idea what they were, but we managed sorghum and cotton!

and giant cotton wool rolls!

Helen did a great job, with the 10 hour trip. It was noticeable that apart from quite a few large road trains there was very little traffic on the roads. Well done & thanks, Helen! Going to fill up with fuel tomorrow (the BP hasn’t any at the moment) and visit some opal sites!

Happy Birthday Maria xoxo

Had another quiet day, though I am writing this a little early as we are going out for dinner at Bribie Island.

Maria was busy this morning sorting out lots of kg of dog meat, so Helen and I went down to the local birdwatching site. Very pretty, surrounded by tall paperbarks. Birds and fish and bugs abounding lol. Helen went off for a walk, but it was quite short as no path around the lake. We sat and watched the birds and insects and large jumping fish!

Then a quick visit to Bunnings for some phone/car essentials.

Home again for a relax and a jigsaw to tackle.

Dinner report tomorrow, but we leaving early heading down to Ligntning Ridge, so the blog may be a bit late!

We had a quiet day today, still feeling a little weary!

Helen and Maria had a walk around Centenary Lakes whilst I sat and watched the geese, ducks, coots, plovers, corellas, etc. all having fun in the park!

After something to eat and a relax we went for a drive. Collected a few munzees along the way and ended up at a lookout. We could just see the Glasshouse Mountains, but it was a little misty. We did find a longan farm, but they were closed, no fruit!

After a bit more relaxing I went out with Maria for a few more munzees and to collect 3 huge boxes of dog food. Helen visited Ron in his shed and found out about the cars he is taking care of.

Maria has an amazing garden, all this moisture seems to mean everything grows. There are lots of interesting garden ornaments to view as well. Here’s a bromeliad and a black bat flower (Tacca chantrieri)

Planning on an early night tonight!

Well, I left home at 8, with help from Helen & Gary. Arrived at the airport at Terminal 4 and then walked up to Terminal 3 as the Qantas site had said it was 3. Found that bag check in was at 4 and the Gate was at 3. So we walked Perth Airport several times lol. The plane was quite small seat & aisle wise, but we did get to Brisbane without too many bumps!
The hire car place was over the road in the carpark, so we had to travel up the travelator and then down the lift, through an alley to get there. They were experiencing computer issues, so everything had to be done by hand. There was a long queue behind us by the time we’d finished. Luckily the car was just outside.
Helen did very well getting out onto the highway and getting us up to Maria’s.

Not many photos taken, but here’s a sunset one!

We had something to eat and lots of talk before heading for shower & bed. I then discovered I couldn’t find my mouthguard even though I had unpacked it. So my delightful sisters helped search and yet we still didn’t find it. Had a restless nights sleep even though it was a really comfy bed!

(Helen found it this morning, in the bag we had preveiously searched a couple of times, Ron said we had a boy look, LOL)

Having an early time of it tonight, it’s way too cold to sit outside, the wind has no warmth at all. Not much blue sky either, lots of cloud cover!

Reading in bed this morning when just before 5 there was a dreadful racket outside. Ravens, galahs and something else all screaming their heads off. Looked out and there was a hawk with a galah in it’s talons and the ravens frantically mobbing it. By the time I got to the door everyone had disappeared leaving the galah fluttering on the lawn. Grabbed an old towel and caught it, only a baby but with a damaged wing. I wrapped it up and put it into a bag as well and then sat outside doing the usual morning ritual. It was a very foggy morning! Told Tess about the galah and she and Sam suggested leaving it in an empty chook cage for a while. Once the morning moved on a little bit, I phoned work’s Jurien office and they said I could take it into the Cervantes office. So did that, leaving baby behind in towel and bag for an assessment.

Had a drive to Thirsty Point and it’s easy to see why this is called the Turquoise Coast, the colour is lovely. Popped into Cervantes Information to ask about the road to Lake Thetis, as it’s being upgraded and had a couple of heavy-duty vehicles working on it. Road is open, just need to drive around the graders, etc. As they are working on the road, the sign to Lake Thetis had disappeared so I ended up at the end of the road at Hansen’s Bay. So came back and found the correct road. Had a short stroll on the boardwalk as didn’t like leaving my car for too long in such an open area with an open window!

Then I noticed a munzee basically in the middle of nowhere, and thought it would be a nice drive. Up Cockleshell Gully Road (unsealed) through Lesueur National Park. Lots of wildflowers showing, capped the munzee then back down the road to the entrance of Lesueur and the 18 km scenic drive. Amazingly it was all sealed, but only a one-way road. So did the loop and then headed back to the Indian Ocean Drive and popped into Jurien and filled up with fuel. It was an old BP garage where they fill it for you! I checked the bowsers as I went past, all unleaded, so asked where the diesel one was. It was right in front of me, behind the huge fuel tanker that was sitting there. The owner was rather astonished when I said ‘No problem’ to his comment that I would have to reverse into place. His comment then was that most people don’t know how to reverse!!

I’ve been lucky with the gravel roads, they’ve been maintained fairly well so quite good drives, even though I stick to 60 km, checking for those kangaroos! Even on the local sealed roads I’ve stuck to 80 km and on the main roads 90 km, no real hurry to get anywhere.

Headed to Cervantes for a very late lunch where I got a call to say they had to euthanise the galah, the wing was too damaged to repair. I also shepherded a western skink out of the eating area back to the outdoors. Yesterday it had been 2 bobtails off roads, LOL.

Back at NS, once again feeding time, but too cold to chat this afternoon. I can hear a pair of kestrels calling outside.

Foggy sunrise Lesueur wildflowers That munzee Thirsty PointLake Thetis

Once again, the morning was very still, so sat outside nice and early, still lots of birds and bugs humming in the trees. A rather thick smoke haze though from the bushfire near Moora. The wind did start up at 6.13 but not as strong as it has been. After breakfast and feeding the animals I went out in the gator with Sam and Tess. The gator is an all-terrain, John Deere, vehicle. It’s nice and low so easy to get into!!! Sort of looks like a bigger version of a golf cart. Anyway, we did a run around the station and checked water troughs and the cows and fences. There is a lot of boundary fence next to Nambung National Park which has to be maintained, but the kangaroos keep making holes under the fence travelling between the station & the park! They don’t go over they go under! I didn’t attempt the Painted Desert walk as it involved a very steep climb in sand!

Once again sat and chatted for a bit and then I headed out for Jurien Bay. Nice enough drive even though still very hazy with smoke. Parked the car at the old jetty site so I could go for a walk and my drivers side window stopped working, stuck open. So googled auto electrician and found Jurien Tyre & Auto. 2 guys spent an hour trying to get it working again, but looks like the motor has gone. All the other windows are fine, just not this one. I usually drive with windows open, but sometimes it is nice to have it half up. Had a very late lunch and then headed back to NS.

After the evening feed (a couple with small children to help) and the girls found a plastic bag big enough to cover the window overnight so nothing can climb in (several pythons around here!)

More chatting then blog time!

I have the 2 baby wagtails on my front doorstep this evening. Sam mowed the lawns today and she said she had a wagtail escort the whole time, catching all the bugs.

 Seagulls at Jurien Cute donkeys Painted Desert Lovely NuytsiaGrasstrees galore

A very still morning, especially considering the very blowy evening. I had a horrible night of not much sleep and tossing and turning. So went outside to the patio around 5.30 and spent an hour out there with the birds and bugs, lol.  The sheep are very noisy in the morning and there were several emus making their thrumming noises as well.

It got too hot too quickly to do the station run so sat and chatted for a while after breakfast. The only other person staying in her motorhome came over for a chat as well. She’s lived in hers for 2.5 years and loves the grey-nomad life.

Accompanied the girls, Sam and Tess, on their feeding run, 2 cows, 3 donkeys, 2 alpacas, 4 lambs (still being bottle fed, though much to big for bottles, but there is still formula left over so instead of tossing it, the lambs may as well have it (I did feed one, lol) 5 rams and a few chooks. Didn’t even see the guinea fowl, they obviously feed themselves.

Oops, the mudlark just paid his visit to the kitchen window, silly beggar! He does it lots apparently.

Anyway, I grabbed the camera and headed out, planning on visiting the stromatolites at Lake Thetis, only to discover the road is being rebuilt with huge graders going up and down it, so headed to the Pinnacles instead. It’s changed quite a lot since we last visited. There’s now a really long road around the area, a great lookout and a discovery centre. Took lots of photos and then headed into Cervantes for lunch at the Lobster Shack. Very big place that caters for lots of international visitors, so it was rather quiet. Had chips, salad and lobster in garlic butter. Very nice indeed. I had a chat with one of the staff as I was leaving as I commented it would be a nightmare when it was very busy. He said their record was 1300 meals in one day!

Headed back to the stationand once again the wind had started blowing. It was so strong that, sitting out on the patio, I could feel the plastic chair under me rocking every so often, so I must have been moving too!!

Once again acompanied Sam and Tess, on the feeding run, but this time last years lambs got some too. What they didn’t eat is now being eaten by an emu.

Supposed to be a lot cooler tomorrow so hopefully the station run will be on if the wind stops.

 Alpacas Lambs  Pinnacles

 Random moth Outside the Golf Club Great weather vaneView from back door