Day 245 - Pottsville to Brisbane and some salutory information for this, the last blog

What a dreamy drive to finish the trip, 130km of excellent highway from Pottsville to the caravan's home port in Brisbane.

There was little to catch our eye, so many times have we driven this route, so photographs are few, save for the ones that confirmed we were close to home.

071214 Our turnoff from the Highway

071214 Almost home for the van

071214 Home at last and snug as a bug in a rug - our home on the road for
8 months takes a well earned rest

071214 We did not have to go to WA to see flowers - lillipillies and frangipani
in bloom in the caravan's back yard

Some summary information and some thoughts to finalise this blog and the trip.

It is not as hard to reverse a caravan as many people make it out to be.

WA roads are probably the best overall.

Distance travelled :
       Total by the car -39220 kilometres
       Total by the caravan 23840 kilometres
       Fuel used : 7018 litres
       Dearest fuel : $2.43/l at Kings Canyon
       Cheapest fuel : $1.32/l at Glen Innes
       Average fuel consumption : 17.9 litres per 100km

We have been very impressed by the performance of the Landcruiser. The extent of damage we experienced was minimal and the Landcruiser was instrumental in limiting this and keeping us safe and sound.

Our six best picks:
     Uluru
     Katherine Gorge
     Lake Argyle
     Horizontal Falls
     Southern coast of Western Australia
     Wildflowers in Western Australia

We enjoyed what has been a fantastic experience in spite of those occasional days when the going was tough, when we were tired or when the Gnome asserted his presence.  It has been a real team effort.  

We hope those who have read the blogs for this trip have enjoyed the experience too.

Auf wiedersehen.

Day 244 - Yamba to Pottsville

We had a short drive of 176 kilometres up the Pacific Highway from Yamba to Pottsville where we were to stay overnight with relatives.  We were back in familiar territory now as we passed along the Clarence River, the acres and acres of sugar cane and the Broadwater sugar mill.  There was green everywhere except at one place, where they were harvesting cane which had previously been burnt.

061214 We had arrived in the northern NSW sugar growing area

061214 Broadwater Sugar Mill on the Clarence River

061214 Broadwater Sugar Mill on the Clarence River

We crossed the familiar bridge over the Richmond River and then through the macadamia plantations inland from Byron Bay.

061214  Bridge over the Richmond River

061214 Macadamia nut plantation - sorry about the blur

061214  A new macadamia plantation underway

There is a tremendous amount of work being done on the Pacific Highway and before long, it will be a dream drive through the Northern Rivers of NSW.

061214 Roadworks on the Pacific Highway

061214 More roadworks on the Pacific Highway

We passed through a heavy storm just before arriving in Pottsville and unfortunately, it all but blotted out our view of Mount Warning.

061214 Mount Warning in the mist

It was a great change from the majority of our trip in that, no longer were we one of very few people on the road.  Rather we were one of many.  This rather inhibited our ability to take photos on the run.

We nonetheless arrived safely in Pottsville, with one night and one day on the road to go.

Day 243 - Yamba and Angourie

Today was a short run up to Yamba along the Pacific Highway after first crossing the Clarence River on a ferry from Grafton.  It was an overcast day.

051214 The Ferry crossing near Lawrence on the Clarence River

Yamba is vastly different from the place we visited many years ago, as a quiet beachside village with not much going for it.

Today its beach environment is not much changed, save for the long groynes that mark the entry of the Clarence River to the sea.  The beaches, Turner and Main Beaches and the headland are essentially the same.

051214 Main Beach at Yamba

051214 Turner Beach with the groyne in the background

051214 The groynes at the mouth of the Clarence River

051214 Turner Beach taken from the groyne with the
lighthouse in the background

051214 Looking up the Clarence River estuary, taken from the groyne

051214 A "Groyne LIzard"?

Elsewhere the place is a bustling beach town and it isn't even Christmas holidays.  We were much surprised by the changes.

051214 One of the streets in Yamba

The overcast day spoiled the beach effects, and it even rained from time to time.

We drove the 8 or so kilometres to Angourie, a little further to the south.  Angourie is much quieter  than Yamba and it has a delightful salt water swimming hole called the Blue Pool near the beach.  Once again the rain spoiled the overall appearance, but this did not stop some folk from swimming in the pool.

051214 Angourie Point

051214 Spooky Beach at Angourie

051214 The Green Pool at Angourie.  On a sunny day it is called the Blue Pool

051214 Diving at the Green Pool at Angourie

The Caravan Park at which we are staying is a beauty, particularly if you enjoy water playgrounds.  The dull weather has not limited activity there.  The park is on Palmers Island on the Clarence River, so it is but 100m or so and we are at the riverside.  Guests of the park can launch their boats from within the park. Something here or everyone it seems. 

051214 Water sports anyone? At the Caravan Park at Palmers Island

051214 Imagine on a warm, sunny day

051214 The Clarence River from the boat ramp at the Big 4 Caravan
Park at Palmers Island near Yamba

We had prawns and fresh bread for lunch, the prawns having been bought from an outlet near to the caravan park.  Much to our surprise we learned the prawns were farmed on the site. 

Day 242 - Glen Innes to Grafton

It was pleasantly cool last night and a mild 21 degrees when we set off from Glen Innes for Grafton, 160 kilometres away, via the Gwydir Highway.

The road was to take us from the Northern Tableland, across the Great dividing Range and down to the coastal flats around Grafton and Maclean - sugar country. We were therefore not surprised to experience a twisty, turning road with many ups and downs.  However the road was excellent for the most part.  The countryside was green and the passages through the rain forests were a delight.

041214 Coming down the Great Dividing Range through the
rain forest in Gibralta National Park

We came across a spectacular view from Raspberry lookout which overlooked the Mann and Guy Fawkes River valleys.  It was hazy because of a heavy moisture content in the air, and in some respects it was good to see it in this condition.  The ridges showed signs of bushfires and there was some evidence of them alongside the road from time to time.

041214 Looking east from Raspberry Lookout on the Gwydir Highway
between Glen Innes and Grafton

The view from Heffron Lookout was similarly veiled in the haze.

041214 View from Heffron Lookout - Heffron Premier of NSW when the
 current road from Grafton to Glen Innes was constructed in 1960

The cattle on the rolling hills looked fat and contented, such a change from what we have seen in the past.  We were of course in dairy country but there were plenty of beef cattle roaming the pastures as well.

Eventually we drove out of the forest at the foot of the range, to be met by a view of the Mann River.  What a sight it must be when in flood.

041214 The Mann River

It was not too long before we came to Grafton and saw our first sight of the Clarence River and nearby, the inevitable sugar cane.

041214 Our first view of Grafton

041214 The Clarence River near Grafton

041214 Our first sighting of sugar cane as we aproached Grafton

We settled in to camp and received a very heavy storm, but we are as snug as a bug in a rug.

Day 241 - Around Glen Innes

Today we had another administration day, probably the last one, as we count down the days to our return to Brisbane.

We did take time out to drive around Glen Innes.  This only served to remind us what a beautiful place the northern tablelands are, and the 25 degree maximum temperature did no harm in the endearment stakes.

We walked through the gardens, alongside the creek that flows through the town and the trees cast plentiful shade.  What a wonder it would be in the autumn.  Silver Birch featured in places, which reminded us of old times when we lived in southern climes.

031214 In the park in Glen Innes

031214 Weeping Willows along the bank of the creek through Glen Innes

031214 Silver Birch trees

Next we visited The Australian Standing Stones. In 1988 the Celtic Council of Australia developed an idea of erecting a national monument to honour all Celtic peoples who helped pioneer Australia.  Glen Innes won the right to build the monument and volunteers carved the massive granite boulders from the surrounding bush.  It has become the recognised national gathering place for Celtic descendants and is the venue for the now famous Australian Celtic Festival, held on the first weekend in May each year.  Celtic traditions are also re-enacted at winter and summer solstices.  It is no surprise that the area around Glen Innes is called "Celtic Country".

031214 Introducing the Australian Standing Stones

031214 The Australian Standing Stones at Glen Innes

031214 The Australian Standing Stones from an elevated position

031214 The plaque commemorating the opening of the 
Australian Standing Stones

031214 A wall built to contain memorabilia from Celtic sources
elsewhere in the world

031214 An example of Celtic memorabilia 

The Stones are nearby Martin's Outlook and the views over Glen Innes and the surrounding areas were beautiful.

031214 Glen Innes from Martin's Lookout

031214 Looking east from Martin's Lookout

031214 Looking south east from Matin's Lookout 

031214 Looking south from Martin's Lookout

We thought it would be appropriate to see some granite boulders strewn naturally across the landscape so off we toddled to the Stonehenge Recreation Park, about 12 kilometres south of Glen Innes. The boulders lie in green grass with backdrops of trees and the symmetry of some nearby poplars was a contrast to the asymmetry of the boulders.  That's probably why the poplars stand out so much. Their dark green colour helps a lot too.

031214 The Balancing Rock in the Stonehenge Recreation Park

031214 Within the Stonehenge Recreation Park

We never realised how much one can appreciate a green environment.  We do now, having spent so much time being exposed to the browns, golds and yellows of the outback.