Australia Day weekend escapades
Travelling this land is never the same. Whilst you might see the same scenery, you do not see the same thing – the colour of the land changes, the colour of the trees, the condition of the land etc. Even though the grass is finally coming across the land, and is lovely and green, it does not mean that it is damp under ground. It is pretty dry when you see a field being ploughed and the cloud of dust behind the tractor.
By way of background, our travel for the weekend is from Brisbane to Bundaberg via the highway on Friday night and back to Brisbane via Childers, Ban Ban Springs, Goomeri, Nanango, Blackbutt, Esk and Fernvale to Brisbane on Monday. It is a round trip of about 830km because we take the scenic trip back to Brisbane.
The creeks, as we mosey along are really waterholes where there has been rain as the creeks are not really running yet. They are a string of muddy puddles masquerading as a “creek”. However, in comparison to our last run through this area in November 2019, it is very green and comparatively healthy.
It is a sad yet wonderful reminder of the different location when you see a sign that says “don’t die on rural roads”. Clearly, there are deaths in these areas – some lovely windy roads, others straight, and others a challenge for those of varying skill and ability who don’t necessarily meet the challenge that they put their bodies and vehicles to.
It is quite something to see a vine/weed covered building, likely a shed, that is being taken over by said weed and slowly returning to the land it came from, slowly disintegrating, slowly degenerating the hardwood that originally formed the framework for the structure. The greenery is lush, but this is a view from the road, some hundreds of metres away. Who knows what thorns and teeth exist in and amongst that growth.
There has been, and continues to be, so much drought and trauma through these areas. We have a deadline to return to Brisbane otherwise we would have stopped at more places for a coffee or other refreshment. This trip we stop only at the Goomeri Bakery – and a worthwhile stop this is. Their food is something else. Their chicken, leek and bacon pie is delicious and the Angus beef pie just as good. Their sausage rolls are amazing too. And then there are the sweet items. You just have to go and see for yourself – we suggest you go experience.
It is lovely to see the change in countryside. The green vistas are beautiful. However, under the earth it does not seem to be terribly dampened – it seems like there is a lot more rain needed.
This trip has been about seeing one pooch who has been through quite some challenges lately – 3 surgeries in about 9 days before being released home. Her tests have come back okay for now, let’s hope they stay that way. It is lovely to see her change over the duration of our visit from a lassie who has not long come home from the dogtor to feeling quite chipper, comparatively, about the world, whilst awaiting the removal of a drain from her wound. It means we can do some sewing for the bushfire affected creatures of the world and see my parents who have looked after this cantankerous bundle of whiteness and westitude (this is said with a great deal of love and affection for anyone who might have any doubts). Would we change her? Not in a million years. This visit is about connection and we achieve that on a number of levels.
