{"id":5835,"date":"2025-03-25T05:41:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T05:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/?p=5835"},"modified":"2025-12-24T21:52:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T21:52:43","slug":"8-getting-over-alfred-a-trip-inland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/?p=5835","title":{"rendered":"8. GETTING OVER ALFRED & A TRIP INLAND.."},"content":{"rendered":"

As the memory of the recent storm fades, places start re-opening.\u00a0 Often with limited customer numbers.\u00a0 The Boat Shed in Cotton Tree on the move again – with just four punters…<\/p>\n

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… and as it was a few days ago …<\/p>\n

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The deserted campsite …<\/p>\n

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… and as the hardy souls started to return.<\/p>\n

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The ospreys never left and can be seen mixing it with the tourists.\u00a0 Swooping into the river and shallow coastal water to grab a meal.<\/p>\n

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There was even a huge eagley type bird seen soaring over the Maroochy River.\u00a0 I think it was a white bellied sea eagle – they certainly live around here.\u00a0 I have rarely seen ospreys in the UK, and then only at great distance.\u00a0 And I’ve only ever seen one of the eagles at home.\u00a0 \u00a0On the Isle of Wight.\u00a0 Soon after it was released as part of a re-introduction programme.\u00a0 Other than that, we had had to travel north of the Arctic Circle in Norway to view this magnificent hunter at work.<\/p>\n

Baked Poetry, at Perigian Beach has been the source of possibly the best vanilla slices in Australia.\u00a0 (Although it is true to say that those on sale at the Old Telegraph Station in Alice Springs would compete for the top spot!)\u00a0 A visit is compulsory.\u00a0 Through Bli Bli and on to the coast road, past Marcoolah, Yaroomba and Coolum Beach.\u00a0 But tragedy has struck.\u00a0 The bakery has now transmogrified into a posh restaurant.\u00a0 No more delicious comestibles from there, then.\u00a0 And it’s a hell of a way to Alice – some 3030 kms by road!\u00a0 So that’s not an option!\u00a0 A period of mourning has been instigated!<\/p>\n

After the disastrously disappointing stop at Perigian, we decided that a compensatory lunch at the Noosa Springs Golf Club was called for.\u00a0 Always an oasis of calm a few kilometres inland and a bit south of the bustling, tourist town of Noosa.\u00a0 Getting there involves a transit through rain forest on a quaint, narrow “dual carriageway”.\u00a0 And today, the local authorities have decided to prune some of the massive palm trees on the route.\u00a0 The dual carriageway had been converted into a one way system which alternated every 20 minutes.\u00a0 Engines off.\u00a0 Wait patiently, while hoping the restaurant will still be open when we get there!\u00a0 (We might come back to Australian Rules Roadwork Etiquette later!) (If I remember!)<\/p>\n

We did make it before close of play and were treated to a delicious “meal of the day” …<\/p>\n

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… while enjoying the magnificent views over the golf course taking full advantage of our status as universal non-golf-club-members!<\/p>\n

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Afterwards, a lovely walk on the beach from Noosa Spit into town avoiding all shops – at all costs.\u00a0 Well, one of us did the avoiding thing, anyway!<\/p>\n

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Back in the UK, a couple of weeks before we left for the Antipodes, we had been enjoying a hot coffee in the Guardhouse Caf\u00e9 on Berry Head a few miles from home.\u00a0 A noisy group of gentlemen electric bicyclists were sitting in the corner.\u00a0 (Maybe that should read “a group of noisy gentlemen electric bicyclists”.\u00a0 Not sure.)\u00a0 Anyway, one of the group pulled out a cake and passed it round the group.\u00a0 We immediately got into conversation, hoping for a slice!\u00a0 It turned out that the cake provider was heading off to Australia the following week.\u00a0 “Where to?”\u00a0 “Mooloolaba!”\u00a0 “That’s a coincidence, we’ll see you there!”\u00a0 So we did!\u00a0 Here we are having dinner at the local surf club with David and Anne.\u00a0 Anne being the cake baker.<\/p>\n

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Back at base, we suffered from an “henvasion”.\u00a0 It’s a new game.\u00a0 The chicken climbs the steps to the deck.\u00a0 I pick her up and take her back to the lawn …<\/p>\n

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… and so on.\u00a0 For ages.\u00a0 She’s not called Speedy for nothing!\u00a0 And she’s lonely after her three stepsisters recently went to birdy heaven.<\/p>\n

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Changing subject – yet again…\u00a0 We are off for a walkabout.\u00a0 Stanthorpe is a town in the Granite Belt about 330 kms to the south-west of the Sunshine Coast.\u00a0 That’s where Glenda’s cousin, Beryl, lives wirh husband John.\u00a0 It is easily driveable in one day.\u00a0 But we are on holiday.\u00a0 The plan is to take three days!\u00a0 A two night stay in a cottage near Grandchester has been booked.\u00a0 But we are not in a rush.\u00a0 We met a traveller from outer space in Beerwah, near the Glasshouse Mountains.\u00a0 She seemed friendly enough!\u00a0 Or is it a he?\u00a0 Probably best not to go too far down that road!<\/p>\n

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The road from Beerwah to Peachester, about nine kilometres in length, consists of 14,256 bends and curves.\u00a0 There is no straight section on the way!\u00a0 It rises steeply and is fitted with metre-deep rain drains both sides.\u00a0 It REALLY pays to stay on the black top!\u00a0 Full focus.\u00a0 No distractions!<\/p>\n

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The Peachester caf\u00e9 was inundated by motorcyclists.\u00a0 They trek to this section of road from all over in order to “enjoy” the twisty drive!\u00a0 Further down the road, at Kilcoy, we took advice from a local, the incumbent supervisor of the local art gallery (pictured below).\u00a0 “Where’s the best place in town for something to eat?”<\/p>\n

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She forwarded us to Rustic Brew Caf\u00e9 on William Street.\u00a0 Always trust a local – well almost always.\u00a0 There are some jesters about with bad taste in coffee shops!<\/p>\n

Our route took us down the west side of Somerset Dam.\u00a0 A “small” lake on the Brisbane River of some 45 km\u00b2 with a capacity of almost 400,000 ML.\u00a0 Together with Wivenhoe, an even bigger lake (110 km\u00b2 and 3.12 million ML) just downstream, they cover an area about one tenth the area of Greater London.\u00a0 An area which supports a population not far short of a million people!\u00a0 The reservoirs constitute both a flood prevention system and water supply for Brisbane.\u00a0 When we last visited the dam was only 20% full.\u00a0 This year it’s virtually at the maximum allowable capacity.\u00a0 There is an extra 20% left deliberately empty in Somerset Dam to allow for flood mitigation.<\/p>\n

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At the end of 2022, there was about 200 metres of “beach” extending out and down from the current waterfront.\u00a0 Spooky seeing it so full!<\/p>\n

Our next stop was at Nash Caf\u00e9 in Esk.\u00a0 We had a lot of assistance finishing crumbs of cake.\u00a0 Noisy minahs, blue-faced honeyeaters …<\/p>\n

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… and rainbow lorikeets.<\/p>\n

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Driving south from Esk to Grandchester, we passed hundreds of areas which had clearly been flooded in the aftermath of the cyclone.\u00a0 Floodways and creek crossings alike.\u00a0 The debris remained stuck in the trees, bushes, fences and even on unwary farm vehicles!<\/p>\n

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In places the river levels had obviously risen several metres.\u00a0 Luckily for us, that was last week’s problem.\u00a0 We would NEVER have got through!\u00a0 But the floods have now all abated.\u00a0 This week’s issue involved removing huge tree branches, clearing landslips and mending washed out roads!<\/p>\n

This brings me to the Australian Rules Traffic Management Scheme.\u00a0 They do love their lollypop people with their stop\/go boards.\u00a0 (Strictly speaking, “stop\/slow boards”!)\u00a0 Often used in conjunction with traffic lights.\u00a0 If there is a bit of an issue, for example with the grass verge, they are on it.\u00a0 Like flies on a dish of fruit!\u00a0 Bear in mind that country roads here are substantially wider than we are used to in the UK.\u00a0 Usually much straighter and ALWAYS with less traffic, commonly almost none!\u00a0 So, that’s the scene.\u00a0 There is short section of slightly narrowed road, maybe 50 metres in length, which may or may not be being worked on.\u00a0 The ARTMS folk are there in a flash.\u00a0 Warning signs appear at least two kilometres from the “obstruction”.\u00a0 Roadworks ahead – 60 kph.\u00a0 One kilometer further on, a reminder with a reduced speed limit of 40 kph.\u00a0 The traffic lights are customarily red.\u00a0 Lollipop at stop.\u00a0 Ten minutes of muted conversation wiith their opposite number by radio.\u00a0 All very visible because we are near the front of the queue of two.<\/p>\n

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More radio chatter.\u00a0 We get the go slow signal and we are off.\u00a0 A kilometre down the road we come to the obstructed zone with loads of “slow” signs plastered to anything to which a sign can be plastered!\u00a0 At this point, two cars could easily pass each other, although meeting a truck might require some reduction in speed.\u00a0 Of course, the whole set up is repeated in reverse as we depart the zone.\u00a0 Ii this way, a minor constriction can easily be converted to a real drama by the ARTMS.<\/p>\n

I have to say that in the UK, we are usually left to ourselves to decide who will be first to traverse a truly single lane section of road.\u00a0 Getting there first is a good start.\u00a0 Being bigger than the opposition helps.\u00a0 As does closely following the vehicle in front.\u00a0 But how driverless cars of the future will tackle this problem, heaven only knows!<\/p>\n

While we are on the subject of roads, it can be noted that, in town especially, they can be wide.\u00a0 In some cases, extremely so.\u00a0 Commonly, there is room for diagonal parking at both kerbs.\u00a0 Sometimes with cross street parking down the median.\u00a0 Occasionally with two rows down the middle.\u00a0 We stopped for coffee in Allora.\u00a0 The main street was nearly 40 m wide – I measured it.<\/p>\n

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… and this wasn’t the wide version with median parking.\u00a0 To be fair, there weren’t enough cars in Allora needing to park that would warrant the extra road paint!)\u00a0 Luckily, I had packed a drink and a snack to have half way!\u00a0 It’s truly brilliant.\u00a0 A bit of research indicates the New South Wales town of Trundle claims to have the widest road in Australia.\u00a0 At 60.5 metres, it is the same width as a stock route in days of old.\u00a0 Apparently, Trundle was a spot where bullock teams used to stop over.\u00a0 The main street is wide enough to allow a full bullock team to turn around.\u00a0 You could turn round a road train there for that matter!<\/p>\n

At Allora, they don’t have bullock trains any more, but even the side roads are wide enough to accommodate the town’s public conveniences.\u00a0 Built in the roadway!\u00a0 Still with room for two cars comfortably to pass the parked vehicles<\/p>\n

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I feel better now I’ve got that off my chest!\u00a0 However, the road south from Allora was afflicted with six separate sets of road works.\u00a0 Each with the full works!<\/p>\n

I’m going for a lie-down!\u00a0 Stanthorpe will have to wait!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As the memory of the recent storm fades, places start re-opening.\u00a0 Often with limited customer numbers.\u00a0 The Boat Shed in Cotton Tree on the move again – with just four punters… … and as it was a few days ago… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-thailand-and-australia-travels-in-2025"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5835","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5835"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5835\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5886,"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5835\/revisions\/5886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5835"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tappstravels.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}