Crystal Creek 26-30/12/2022

On Boxing Day, we set off to spend a little R&R with family.  Only a short trip (75km) to one of our favourite local haunts, Crystal Creek Caravan Park.  
The weather was kind to us as they had recently had plenty of rain in the region but while we were there, only had a shower or two at night which weren't a bother.  However, the preceding rains made for a decent flow in Crystal Creek.  We took a drive up to 'Rock Slides' thinking we'd have let the kids have a dip in the creek somewhere.  Well, that was an assumption!  Hundreds of others decided to take advantage too and each of the many pull-over spots and swimming holes were full.  We did, however, grab a small private pool on the sides of a culvert where the kids had a little dip.  

 

Then we retreated back to the pool at the caravan park.  The crowds were pretty much all day trippers as the Crystal Creek NP campground and the Caravan Park were pretty quiet.
Dear friends, Daryll and Tracey dropped in for a post Christmas catch up over a cuppa and fresh scones.  

Damien and Adri and grand-sproglets joined us and parked up beside us for a couple of days chillin'.

Even though we've been here many times, it's still great to come back as a short stay destination and doing it with family and friends each time makes it a new adventure every time.  

 

 

The crew...

Besides that, the hosts, Rodney and Elisabeth, are the friendliest of people too.  I've known Rodney for many years from my past life in the Electricity Industry (QEC) - he was a boiler maker's apprentice at TPS (Townsville Power Station) when I worked there in the early years of my trade.
Of course, I took the morning opportunities to explore Crystal Creek for its eye candy and caught some nice shots - well I like them!

 

Clermont 01/10/2022

On Saturday, we took to the road out to explore the Peak Range NP in the surrounds of Clermont, Dysart and Moranbah - all visible from far and wide across the relatively flat plains of the Central Highlands.

First stop - Lord's Table Mountain.  From my many years of living and working in this region, this was my first opportunity to get up close and spend some time taking in the truck loads of awesomeness.

Anvil Peak - southern end of Table Mountain

2/3 of our travel crew - Casey, Charlotte, Terry and Kim

We then tracked back past fields of wheat and sorghum to Clermont before heading east along the Peak Downs Highway.

Next stop - Gemini Peaks for a bite to eat and look around...

This collectively 'unusual' formation was given its name by members of our travel party which I won't repeat.  What would you call it?

Next stop - the iconic Wolfang Peak.  Probably the most well known feature of the central highlands around Clermont.  I've made many images of the peak over the years but just had to give it another go while I'm here - right?

So that filled up Saturday!

Later that day, more family (Scott, Bree and the kids) rocked up for an overnighter on their way to Townsville for a surprise visit to Judy's parents.  The surprise component has already occurred so it's OK to mention it here now.

Saturday evening, we all (baker's dozen) gathered at the Leo Hotel for dinner before heading off on Sunday for home.

Started to feel a little off on the journey home and by Monday morning - much worse!  Did a COVID test and yep, Judy and I were both positive!  Altogether, six of us have been struck down and currently isolating since arriving home.

Bit of a 'shitty' end to a great trip down memory road.

I still feel the need to return to the old stomping ground and definitely will even if it's just to have a cuppa with Mum and Dad on the banks of Sandy Creek.

 

 

Clermont 29-30/09/2022

After relocating home base to Clermont Caravan Park, we met up with my Aunty Bet and cousin Therese from Toowoomba.  More family arrivals on Thursday and Friday.

 

Sunrise behind our site at the Clermont Caravan Park

One of the goals of this trip was to take Aunty Bet (89 - I'm sure she won't mind me telling you that) to visit the site of the 'Chiconi' farm at Douglas Creek (out past Copperfield) where mum and her sisters often visited during the 1940's.  The farm was owned by their great Uncle Will and Aunty Mag Chiconi.  We scavenged around for any remnants of the homestead, etc.  The old cattle yards, water tank and bougainvillia are pretty much all that remain 80 years later.  Apart from a few pavers, bricks, fence 'palings' and a couple of stumps - that's pretty much all.  Still all recognisable.

 

Some wonderful memories came flooding back for Aunty Bet as she sat under the shade of the bougainvillea.

Aunty Bet sketched a floor plan of the old place...

...and Terry painted an impression of the homestead from that floor plan.

Anecdotes were flowing freely that day - one that it used to take an hour and a quarter to travel to town back then.  It's all of about 20km!

As the crow flies, about 1-2 km to the south of the farm lies the ruins of Garry Duff - another loosely related family historical site from the early 20th century.

The 2022 rubbled remains of 'Garry Duff' on the southern bank of Douglas Creek

 

Garry Duff (1975) - I took these photos on my first camera and first roll of film

 

The drive back to town takes us past the site of the township of Copperfield - Queensland's first copper mine.  All that remains today is the Copperfield Store and brick chimney.  Nearby, is the Copperfield cemetery where quite a few of our ancestors rest.

Copperfield Chimney

Copperfield Store

We finished a busy day off by taking a quick trip out to Miclere - another site steeped in family history.  My grandad, Tom Sammon had a claim on the gold diggings from 1936 to 1943.  There are only a few mine shafts still around the area these days.  Most of the area has been mined by larger operations since.  There are very little reminders of their life in Miclere remaining. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clermont 25-28/09/2022

This trip has been in the planning for a year or so.  In May 2021, the family traveled from all points of Qld to meet up in Clermont to inter my Mum's and Dad's ashes in the Clermont Cemetery as per their wishes.  Clermont was always considered as home to Mum and Dad - hence the request to be laid to eternal rest on the bank of Sandy Creek.

Onwards a year - Aunty Bet (Mum's sister) wanted to return to Clermont to catch up with her surviving old mates and to explore some family historical sites for one final time.

Judy and I decided to set off a couple of days early and grab the opportunity to stay at Theresa Creek Dam.  It's been on our list for some time.

We broke up the trip from Townsville with an overnight stopover at a roadside campsite - Llanarth.

Llanarth

 On Monday, we headed off to spend a couple of nights at Theresa Creek Dam about 25km SW of Clermont.  

 

Storm approaching!

One of a few regular friendly visitors to our campsite

Theresa Creek Dam

The rest of the family are arriving on Wed/Thur, so today, we headed into Clermont to stay at the Caravan Park for the remainder of our week visit.

Clermont Caravan Park - generous spacious sites