2nd April to 20th April 2012

2^nd April 2012

It has been about 3 days since it last rained and we have been waiting this time to allow the Trachyte Circuit Track to dry out before we attempt it. Today is the day as it is another dry warm day but the track still has half a dozen wet areas but they were passable without any trouble or gathering mud.   The track is a 6.5 kilometre circuit which uses about 1 kilometre of the circuit track around the base of Mount Tibrogargan which we tackled about a week ago.  It is rated as a grade 4 track although we didn’t rate it as that difficult as it is reasonably flat with only a few hilly bits with loose gravel surfaces, and not many steps. 

About a third of the way round, there is a 100 metre diversion uphill and the bulk of the track's steps to Jack Ferris’s Lookout which offers a view of Mount Tibberoowuccum which you don’t get to see from anywhere else, with Mount Beerburrum in the background.  Whilst on the ‘Lookout’ we were actually standing on the bare Trachyte Rock that makes up the bulk of these volcanic remnants. 




The track meanders through plantation pine forest and natural open forest with “Golden Candlestick’ Banksia scattered amongst it.  It also hosts many 'scribble gums' so named because of the markings caused by ants, and also some very cancerous looking trees.  It is home to the Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo but we could only hear but not see them.





At about the two thirds of the circuit we came across a small fenced off area which at first we thought was an old mine shaft but may have been the entrance hole to the caves that are noted on the circuit map in the carpark.  Either way, this hole in the ground was full of water.  Further round the track we had to use stepping stones to cross Tibrogargan Creek a short distance before joining the base circuit track which returned us to the carpark.  We completed the trip including the diversion to the lookout in 2 hours and 10 minutes.   The part of the combined tracks that is close to Mount Tibrogargan is in a National Park so Foxy couldn’t accompany us on this walk even though we didn’t see any wild life, other than one individual that couldn’t work out which of the 3 car parks he had left his car in, and wanted to know which was the shortest way back to it.  As we walked the final stretch on the base track to the car we could hear a few people calling instructions to each other as they attempted to climb the virtually sheer eastern face of the mountain, but the tree line prevented us from seeing them.

6^th April 2012

We had to drive out to Bribie Island road to collect a canvas annex extension that we were having made to our design and replaces the cheap tarpaulin, and then did some shopping in Caboolture.  As we were leaving, we went round to the Arboretum again and did the 2.5km walk and exercise equipment, but this time when we crossed the suspension bridge we continued on the other side past the sports complex to push it up to a 3.5 km walk.

9^th April 2012

We packed up and moved to Willowbank Village Park in the Ipswich area.

12^th April 2012

Since being in the Ipswich area we have had fine weather during the day and chilly nights, which is typical of the more inland areas.   We have also discovered that it is fairly close to the Amberley RAAF Base which is home to the F18 super hornet fighter aircraft that replaced the F111 and are somewhat noisy during take-off and are accompanied by some other huge cargo planes that fortunately make less noise despite having four engines rather than two. 

They must use different runways as the hornets stay below the tree line along the side of the caravan park and are a long way away by the time they are visible, whereas the cargo planes sometimes take-off and come almost directly overhead.  The good news is that they don’t fly at night.  As yet we don't have a worthwhile photo of the super hornets due to the distance when they become visible, and their speed makes the focal length change so rapidly it is impossible for the camera to focus.


The  park is also close to the Cunningham Highway which also gets quite noisy at times but is not a problem at night.  We haven’t done any of the tourist activities yet but hope to visit Queen Mary Falls soon which has two other falls close by.    

13^th April 2012

We took a drive around by the Amberley RAAF base but only managed to view the offices and accommodation.  There was nowhere that presented a view of the runways to allow a close photo opportunity which is unfortunate as the super hornets move too fast for good air born distant shots from the caravan park.

16^th April 2012

It appears that the RAAF must work a 5 day week as there were no aircraft movements during the weekend.  The fine weather didn’t stay around for long and has now turned to dull grey days with showers and it is predicted to extend throughout the week with possible storms.

20^th April 2012

The predicted bad weather didn’t happen, or at least not here but apparently it was driven south and caused problems in NSW.