Hot, Humid, and Visitors again

The end of the month and it was certainly an interesting start to our time at Nairana. The heat and humidity has been unbearable for Mrs OGO and we have been very grateful for the small air conditioner in the bedroom. Every day the temps have been 30+ degrees before 11am and no relief in sight despite the threat of rain every afternoon.

Red-wing - regular visitor

Despite the heat the OGO has been dutifully mowing around the Homestead and the area is now looking well kept once again.

Mrs OGO has been totally frustrated with trying to access the internet via dial-up and decided after a fourth attempt and three hours of frustration that emails and the blog update would have to wait until our time in Townsville.

We continue our every day trips out into the Park and today tackled a very boggy track down to Mistake Creek . Just the little rain yesterday has made the tracks quite tricky, but we did retrieve some good size red-claw/blue-claw for our supper.

 

Spotted Bowerbird - all day visitor

Fellow caretakers, Col and Lynne, returned for an overnight stay on Friday, on their way through to Cairns. As promised they arrived with fresh supplies of milk and strawberry jam for our scones. We enjoyed a lovely day and evening and it was great to meet new friends with similar interests in retired life. They departed early Saturday morning with a promise to visit us in Toowoomba some time in May.

A nest or a trap? Your guess

Look what I see!

After they left we drove out to Mistake Creek to check the creek levels, as when the OGO took Col out the day before he was very surprised at the rising waters in that area.  My goodness, what a surprise that was.  We have never seen the creek level so high. Although there has been no rain here there has obviously been heavy rains further up stream and we were now looking at Mistake “River” not a creek. The waters are now flowing into Belyando River. We took photos and video to compare with previous photos taken in the same area.

Cooling off in the garden

A 'bird's' eye view

Still very hot and humid at 37 degrees.

A Sunday Morning Drive

Sunrise at Nairana

At 6am the sun was shining brightly through the bedroom window, the skies were clear, and the OGO decided it would be a good day for a Sunday drive. A bit worrying if you have read the blog entry detailing our Sunday drive in 2013!!! But, no ..... this was going to be a different adventure.

Breakfast Chef

The Kubota was loaded up - gas BBQ and bottle – picnic set – chairs – coffee bag – cameras – video – cooler with bacon, eggs, sausages and bread – and by 7.30am we were on a newly found track to Lake Eliza and Corduroy Crossing. 

Lillies at Lake Eliza

We expected there to be a few boggy/muddy sections along the way after trekking to Mistake Creek yesterday, and it was not long before we found them.  Undeterred the OGO bravely walked out a new route to bypass the bogs and we arrived at Lake Eliza at about 9.30am.

After coffee and a snack, we trekked on towards our goal with only slight trepidation. The closer we got to the CC turn-off the greater the feeling that we were not going to be able to get to the crossing today – or anytime in the next three weeks for that matter.

Avoiding the boggy patches

Walking the track

Flooded creek crossing

Navigating a few more ‘sticky’ areas we were finally brought to a halt in our journey by what looked like a small inland lake.  It would appear that the creek had broken its banks at CC and had flowed in over the tracks.  Despite doing a ‘foot recce’ there appeared no way to get around the water, so we accepted defeat and retired to the shade of the trees and set up our lunch cart with water all around us.

Squatter pigeon

The trek wasn’t a complete loss though as we actually saw some magnificent birdlife along the way, including striated pardalotes, red-back fairy wrens, brolgas, a Jabiru, a Nankeen Kestrel, a brown falcon, and three wedge-tail eagles.

Wedgetail eagle

No crossing here!

Brolga in Blacks Creek Paddock

Brolgas in flight

Striated pardalote

Of course, the adventure would not be complete without a little more drama on the return section of the journey.  Returning to the Homestead we trekked along our normal route, assuming, incorrectly of course, that there had been no rain in that area affecting the track.  Mmmmm! Think again. Two extremely ‘sticky’ bog holes blocked our way and there was no alternative area to go around them.  So, you guessed it – we went straight through them. The first one was not too bad but the second was deeper and wider and the Kubota almost ground to a halt as it splayed mud all over the driver and passenger. We did look a sight with mud splashes all over our faces, glasses, clothes – and unfortunately, our cameras.

But what a hoot – another little Sunday drive adventure!

VISITORS -- VISITORS ---

Extremely thirsty Dingo on his way to the Dam

Our first weekend at the Park proved to be very busy with three research scientists from Queensland Herbarium staying in the Quarters from Saturday (22^nd March) through until Tuesday (25^th March), and a day visit with the caretakers from Epping Forest NP on Sunday.

The three from QH were very interesting to meet – Annie, Sandy, and Mark.  We spent quite a lot of time Saturday and Sunday evening chatting with Sandy and Annie (only met Mark on arrival and departure) about the diverse flora in the Park and Sandy identified the beautiful, sweet scented branch of flowers we had in a jar as the sweet-scented bloodwood (Bucasia something!). The trees in the southern area of the Park, particularly Kapunda, are in full bloom with these cream flowers and there are hundreds of butterflies settling in those trees. Kapunda is the area that is always full of wattle in the Winter so it was interesting to see the cream flowers of the bloodwood, and the red of the wild grevillea, now filling this area with colour.

Caretakers all - OGO, Mrs OGO, John, Lesley, Col & Lynne

 

Sunday was a day of “socialising”. The volunteer caretakers from Epping Forest NP – John and Leslie Ferrier, and Col and Lynne Bonwick – travelled across to spend a few hours with us and to check out Nairana. These two couples were ‘first-timers’ at EFNP and had never been to Nairana.  So it was a good opportunity for them to make a comparison between the two parks, especially as the tasks at each park are so different.  EFNP is a research station for the hairy nosed wombat, so most of the tasks for volunteers revolve around duties associated with that research work, whereas Nairana is mainly hands on maintenance and on-park duties. Both couples were extremely easy going and we took a liking to them immediately – Mrs OGO was particularly thrilled to find both Lesley and Lynne were fellow quilters – so there was much ‘stitching’ chat during their visit. 

As our visitors were due to arrive mid-morning, Mrs OGO had made scones (in the new oven) and the table was set with her lovely placemats – the OGO thought it was a bit ‘posh’ but as it turns out the two ladies were delighted with the stitcheries and the gents loved the scones, jam and cream. Lunch was just as festive and easy-going with contributions from everyone – sausages, home-made burgers, home-made bread, home-bottled beetroot, potato salad, green salad, and a sultana cake that Lesley made that wasn’t eaten because everyone was too full with the meal! There was lots of discussion about travelling around Australia, and places that should be on ‘must-see’ or ‘must visit’ lists for everyone.

Our visitors left about 4pm with a promise from Col and Lynne to call in at Nairana on their way to Cairns next Friday, with some fresh milk and new strawberry jam. What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday at Nairana even in the extreme heat.

Early Days in Paradise - LOST!

Not too many changes to this lovely place.  There is a new stove in the kitchen (which had been delivered last year just before we left Nairana but was not connected then), and the guys replaced the air-con unit in the bedroom last night with one that now works – bonus in this 39 degree heat and 90% humidity.

Our first night was disturbed with a cry for help from the RIC looking for some pain relief at 3am – poor man had developed a tooth abscess and was really suffering. He returned to Clermont this morning and his assistant, James, put us through our annual induction – although we probably know more about this place than he does as he has only been here for three weeks.

As “first-in” caretakers our tasks are mainly general maintenance in and around the homestead for the first two or three weeks – mowing, cobwebbing, cleaning, weed identification and eradication, and maintenance of equipment.

Our first morning was taken up with induction and getting ourselves unpacked and organised. The OGO did a little mowing, whilst Mrs OGO completed the unpacking and set up the kitchen. Mid-afternoon we headed out in the Kubota to check our favourite spot on Mistake Creek. The creek is still quite high after rains in February but James assured us it had actually subsided about 2metres in the last three weeks.

You know those days when you wished you had stayed in bed? Well day two at Nairana was one of those days for the OGO. Out mowing by 6.30am he returned to the homestead about 8am with a look of horror on his face. Oh dear, what has happened now? Asks Mrs OGO  - hoping he had only run over something – like that snake he had seen in the middle of the night! – Not as simple as that – whilst mowing the wash-down area near the big shed a misguided rock had found its way in through the window of the big slasher – shattering it into milli-pieces. Reporting the incident to the RIC during morning check-in call the OGO was no happier even when told this had happened before.

Yeah - looks flat to me!

About 10.30am we headed out in the Kubota to check a few tracks. Splashy Pig area was the first stop, in hopes to see some waterbirds. No luck today, in fact the waterhole was very low. From here we tracked along the B-Holding paddock as an alternative route to Mistake Creek.  Not such a good idea.   About a third of the way into the route the Kubota managed to flatten its rear tyre.  Back to those mutterings of two days ago and even more when the tyre was being changed in 38 degree heat – just one of those days! An hour later we arrived at Mistake Creek to check our red-claw nets and have a cuppa break – as you do at Mistake Creek.  No red-claw today so the nets were moved to a new location.

 

Approaching storm

Storm over Nairana

Papparazzi has arrived

 Back at the homestead about 5pm it was lovely to sit on the verandah in the cool of the evening and settle in for an evening of relaxation. But you know that old saying – all things come in threes – well the OGOs day of dramas had not yet ended – drama three unfolds.

At Mrs OGOs request the OGO had dutifully set up the water sprinklers on the thirsty looking gardens – water is pumped from the dam into a tank at the homestead for use in the gardens, etc.  Ever so grateful Mrs OGO set about preparing dinner when a rather irate OGO could be heard muttering something about ‘the damn water pump has stopped’.  Oh yes – pump stops automatically when tank is empty – and empty she be! But it is now on dusk and too late to solve any problem with the pump over at the Homestead Dam, so that will be an early morning job for an OGO that should have stayed in bed today.  Meanwhile, let’s switch to the rainwater tanks until the morning, have your dinner, take a shower (with lovely soft rainwater), and get a good night’s sleep OGO. 

Better days ahead I am sure!

What a Day it Was!

Oh what a beautiful morning – Oh what a terrible day! Putting aside the sadness at leaving Dylisglen, Mrs OGO should have known it would be a terrible day when within the first hour she sliced her finger with one of Mr K’s kitchen knives when slicing meat, then burnt her arm on the kettle when putting the offensive knife away after safely cleaning it.

It seemed to take the OGO an age to pack the vehicle grumbling that there seemed to be more in the vehicle than when we arrived – well, yes – an extra five weeks supplies of food and grog for Nairana would constitute MORE rather than LESS one would deduct. But the grumbling got louder when Mrs OGO asked – why is there nothing in the trailer that we have acquired since our arrival? OGO’s reply was unprintable but in essence he had placed the jerry cans, full of fuel, inside the trailer because the f%%%#@#$ things did not fit in the outside brackets and he was reluctant to place anything else against them (for some male reason!). Mrs OGO just backed away and finished her cleaning.

Finally ready to go, an hour later than planned, there were jerry cans, the canoe, and a suitcase, tied down in the trailer. Our planned route was up the Eungella range to Hail creek and Elphinstone via Eungella Dam – the shortest route according to Miss GPS being a 5 hour drive – on a GOOD day.

Approaching the range, five minutes from Dylisglen, the OGO courteously allowed a car and small truck to pass as they were travelling faster than us – keep in mind we are in a 1984 fully loaded Pajero, towing a trailer and about to climb a very, very steep range and we knew it would be slow climbing to Eungella. Big mistake – the car pulled off the road about 200m later and the ‘fast’ truck suddenly lost all its oomph. No passing places so we just crawled along and our five hour drive had now become five and a half hours.

Eungella Dam - future place to camp

Arriving at Eungella Dam we stopped for a coffee break and enjoyed the beauty surrounding us.  This is one spot we could camp at sometime in the future.

Eungella-Nebo Road

Teabreak over we continued our journey along a very interesting dirt road. The views were magnificent and the scenery was constantly changing from lush forest to granite hills to open grass plains and hills, back to dry granite gullies. We saw wallabies, parrots, cattle, a white breasted sea eagle beside a waterhole, and a half dozen Australian Bustard birds – and not a single vehicle did we see until we approached the main Nebo-Collinsville road.

Mechanical dramas

Despite the delights of this little adventure there continued to be one worrying factor getting louder and louder – yep, the exhaust that the OGO had taped up the day before had parted company somewhere. So, in the heat of the day (it now being past midday) we park the vehicle under the only tree in sight, whilst the OGO has a second attempt at patching the problem.

After 30 minutes of unprintable mutterings Mrs OGO suggests it might be advantageous to make a short detour into Nebo to find a mechanic. Good idea – but for those not familiar with Nebo let me tell you this is a small town with accommodation and businesses geared to the mining industry, with one pub and one servo – and not a mechanic in sight.

Picture this – a 1984 Pajero towing trailer making enough noise outside to deafen anyone within sight, and almost as much noise inside the vehicle coming from the OGO after driving through the ‘business center’ of Nebo in 39 degree heat, passing the pub and the cop-shop, and finding nothing to help solve the issue.  Not a pleasant picture from this side.

Approaching the main highway again, Mrs OGO spots two men in high vis gear and makes a non-male suggestion – let’s ask them if they know where we can get it fixed. More unprintable mutterings from the OGO but he did stop and ask the question. Five minutes later we are seeking out “Mick” to fix the problem with the message – Tell him ‘Mick’ sent you and he has to fix it! Fair enough says the OGO with a very doubtful look. Following directions we discover Mick’s workshop and he and his apprentice were most obliging – patched up the problem and an hour later and only fifty bucks out of pocket we are once again on track for Nairana. But not before a stop at the local servo as Mrs OGO has pointed out a rather flat tyre on the trailer – oh and very little air in the spare apparently.

It is now 3pm – just 5 ½ hours since we left Dylisglen! Could the day get any longer or any worse? My word it could.

Back on the road the OGO discovers he’s ‘lost’ his tin of tobacco – now that’s a real tragedy for some and produced more mutterings. However, the Angel of Mercy, finds a new tin in the groceries and we continue in silence for the next hour on a reasonable dirt road – until we crossed from the Isaac Shire into the Bowen Shire. It’s now 4pm, still 37 degrees outside, hotter and dustier in the vehicle (no fancy air-con in this limo) and we hit a very rough patch of track. More troublesome noise emanates from the newly acquired trailer, and – you guessed it – more mutterings from the OGO. What now? Oh, just the tailgate, with number plate, has parted from the trailer – in the OGO’s words – the a%^&e-end of the trailer has parted company – just another little mishap to add to the day’s adventure.

Having travelled this road before we had expected a reasonable drive, however it would appear the Bowen shire council have not graded this road since our travels last year as it was so rough our speed was reduced to less than 30kph making it a long, tiring drive.

So at 6.30pm – just 9 hours after leaving Dylisglen – we arrived at Nairana. The NP Rangers were getting a little concerned at our non-arrival as our ETA had been no later than 3.30pm. Just as we arrived Mrs K telephoned the homestead to check on our arrival and delivered the final blow for the day – we had left the OGO’s iPad at Dylisglen. Mrs OGO decided to leave that little bit of info until the next day!

Dusk on arrival

An hour later, car unpacked, beds made, a replacement air-con unit in the bedroom (installed by the rangers and the OGO), and finally we have a chance to unwind with a cold beer and a catch up chat with the Ranger-in-Charge before taking a lovely cool shower under the stars.

We have arrived once again at our little part of paradise.