Here We Go Again - Chapter 16 - Gladstone to Yeppoon

It rained through the night, and is still raining when we awaken. We need to move quickly this morning to be out of the park and in a place where the internet works well for a presentation I am doing at 9.00am. 

The rain brings with it mud. Instead of being able to simply sweep off the welcome mat the mud cakes and striates across the matting. It, along with a whole heap of other things will be opened wet at Yeppoon. I attempt to sweep the leaves and other accumulated jetsam off the awning to little avail. It too will be opened wet and potentially showing us with leaves and debris transferred from Gladstone.

I have a video presentation to give and silly me I have arranged it for 9.00am going at least an hour which means I may end up overstaying our allotted time in the park. Robyn and I get going early, the rain has stopped now, and are ready to head out at 8.15. To ensure the internet coverage is as good as possible the plan is to get to higher ground adjacent to a local shopping centre close by.

The others head off before us as Rose wants to get to a hairdresser in Yeppoon by noon. The presentation sees us not moving before 10.30am so we are well behind. The streets of Gladstone are centred with hedges of Jacaranda in varying colours. Wouldn’t like the job of keeping them in tow, given their propensity to grow nast thorns. They certainly do add colour to the drive.

One thing about Gladstone, no matter where you travelled in the town the curbs and gardens managed by the Council were prsitene. Nothing appeared out of place or unkempt. A really manicured city.

Just out of Gladstone we come across a large, empty coal train. It is stationary for now but it seems to go on forever. Midway through the carriages there are two more locomotives to add to the power to move the product. Less than a kilometre are finally passin the mammoth coal transporter we pass another train, coming in the opposite direction. A short cattle transport, then a short distance further on, heading ion the same direction as the coal train a freight train is transporting containers. Interesting to see three trains in close proximity to each other. The Queensland government are getting their full value from the rails today.

To get to Yeppoon we have to travel through Rockhampton and over the Leichhardt River. This is a large town with lots of shops and businesses. The Jacaranda are here too but  not like Gladstone.

We travel through the city and turn left towards Yeppoon and venture along this lovely dual highway heading east away from the metropolis that is Rockhampton and onwards towards the gateway to the Capricorn Coast and the mainland entrance to the Keppel Islands.

The dual laned highway finished abruptly and for no apparent reason other than the money ran out, and we are back to single lane road.

Through the town, including a very long detour around some road works, into the suburbs, we arrive at the park. Nestled out of the wind and being the protection of the coastal action, this NRMA park is well maintained and easy to maneuver around, until it comes time to actually park. A slight nightmare as I need to roll onto thankfully empty sites across the way to get the right line to get my van into position. Here for 4 days so now we are in, there is no worry.

Set up and wondering what to do. Silver Leader has gone to retrieve his wife from a hair appointment made on the way. Forbsy Robyn and I decide to go wandering in search of, we know not what. 

Out the park and turn left is about the sum total of the plan. Before we get onto the road though there is the matter of the evening repast to order from reception in readiness for the Rugby League State of Origin which is being shown on a big screen in the park. We are outsiders here and we expect to be heckled mercilessly for the audacity of turning up in their domain to watch the game.  But thats a later issue.

For now we are investigating. My cousin Darryl, a veteran of many years of army service, has suggested there is a memorial here worthy of investigation. That is Emu Bay a little ways down the road and the direction in which we turn.

What we find is mind blowing. Not a huge monument to the madness of war but a tasteful remembrance of World War 1, the input from locals and tributes to all the theatres Australians served. One exhibit is a glass mural of diggers traversing the beach head at Suvla Bay. Straining to get the right angle you can snap a shot with the ocean behind as a chilling reminder of the carnage that was Gallipoli. 

The boardwalk extends around the point to an artifact called the Singing Ship. Here the wind whistles through the pieces of the construction like the pipes of an organ, singing to the passers by. I take a video hoping to capture some of the tune.

We walk back to the car, more pensive than we started.

Back to the park, its time to ready ourselves for the big night in font of the screen. We retrieve our dinners and eat at our vans. Rugged up because the temperature has dropped significantly, charis (and a blanket in hand) we head for the outside cinema.

The temperature or lack of it has certainly had an effect on numbers, and what are her,e seem to be the heartier NSW variety of fan. The game starts and the banter begins. The cane toads are quickly silenced and other than for a short time just before half time when the referee continually restarted the tackle count infuriatingly often, they are never really in it.

We retire with the pride of NSW completely reinstated after the misery of last year.