Day 81 - What goes up must come down

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Dandabah Campground Bunya Mountains NP - Dalby 62km

Route planning over a couple of drams of Whiskey is maybe not the best idea but it eases the disappointment when you realise that the road ahead might not be as straightforward as you think. Due to the big annual show at Kingaroy, there's not a piece of lawn available to pitch a tiny tent nor a bed. So the peanuts will have to wait and we make our way down the mountain heading for Dalby (further west). This is quite the detour but the BOM promises a dry 25° and sunshine plus tailwind! No further encouragement needed for Louise. But first, we need to get down the mountains. 

Leaving the woods

Normally fellow travellers (those in cars and with caravans in tow) wish us luck going up the mountains. This morning it's the other way around. The look on the lady's face is a bit worried, I glance over to Louise, the same on hers. Hopefully the fond memories we have of this magic place will cushion the downhill anxieties. I am sad to see the Bunya trees leave our vision and therefore I don't mind the slow descent into the Western Downs region. 
Heading for the dry

Once the gradient eases and Louise's face shines like the sun above us, we turn our attention back to the standard routine of enjoying a morning tea break - "never miss a meal" as dear friend Liz would say. If there is some kind of interesting wildlife in close proximity, you can be sure Louise will spot it. 

On a mission

This echidna was as much on a mission as we were for the remaining 40km into Dalby. Fast and, this time, very straightforward. The tailwind so strong that we almost missed lunch, thinking it wasn't that time of the day yet. 

When we enter Dalby, I don't get a particularly warm and fuzzy feeling. Maybe it's the presence of the heavy-duty coal and gas mining industry around here. The caravan park is full with minespec vehicles (remember Alan?) and there is high visibility work wear hanging from every clothes line. We don't get a single comment on riding the bicycles to this place, we only get sorry looks. Maybe no harm done to attend to some housework ourselves, do the laundry and find creative refuge in writing some blog posts. Nothing like a clean and dry pair of undies and some dear thoughts from and to the people we love. 







Location: Dalby QLD 4405, Australia

Comments

  1. FrancieApril 30, 2022 at 2:59 PM

    Yes, a welcome greeting is always a good sign. Perhaps the caravan park is more a 'work village' Will you be going to the Kingaroy Show? Or will you be heading across to Chinchilla, or is that out of the way you are generally heading. Beck's family survived a near-brush with Covid. Six from Joe's part time job were sent home with it. He also was sent home as a precaution but has since tested negative several times. The same morning Eddie work up under the weather but a good, long sleep sorted them all. Uncle Joe and I still puttering along. I went out to two grocery stores and to the library yesterday and kept my mask on. Ironically, not having to mask up now; I actually became less aware that I was wearing one!

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