The Last Day

Our first stop for the day was to be Monto but I wanted to find a geocache first.  The first one I chose turned out to be on the wrong road, but there was a likely candidate near a rest area in Coominglah State Forest.  I left the girls at the car and went bush.  The cache turned out to be near the highway cutting nearby.  I had just found it when I spotted a reason for us not to rush back onto the road to drive down the range.  Meanwhile the girls were panicking because they had lost sight of me.  By the time we found each other enough time had passed for the roller to get a bit ahead of us.

Vinnies at Monto and the coffee shop nearby were both familiar territory from a previous trip, but there were a lot more people about.  We finally spotted the town's free camp through the shrubbery and it was full of vans.  Since we were there last, the silos at Three Moons just south of town had been painted beautifully.  Sadly, the Mulgildie pub was closed and for sale.

Mundubbera was next, where once we were entertained by the cheerful ladies at the Anglican oppy, but were unable to visit the Uniting Church one, as it doesn't open every day. Jo had timed the trip so that this time it was open, and it is a beauty. The handbag collection has been turned into decor, strung up across the room.  Once Jan had revealed that she works at the Cooroy Lifeline, she and one of the women talked shop for quite a while.  Example: For how many years do you hold stock? Jan: Six weeks!  We found various goodies and were surprised to find that they sell eggs.  Jan and and I bought the last two dozen and discovered that each one contained one green egg. I had never seen one before.  I was relieved to discover that they are not green on the inside.  When we were back home, I ate mine with ham, of course.  Jan's new best friend was happy to take our daily photo, the day's theme being Skirting the Issue.

We headed for the Anglican next but couldn't find it.  I discovered later than it had moved up one block and onto the other side of the road, but by then it was too late. Gayndah was the last oppy stop and we revisted the same two that were there seven years ago, Lifeline and Gunther Village.  The woman in the latter shop explained to me in great detail that she would never allow elephants in any shape or form in the shop with their trunks down, as they are back luck. Trunks up, or not at all!

In the Lifeline, Jo found a treasure.  It is a Brownie Downing wall plaque and these are very collectible kitsch.  It may not look like much, but I found a similar one on sale online for rather a lot.  "How much do you want for this?" says Jo. "Oh...$1".  "I'll give you $2".

We had lunch at the coffee shop that used to be the ANZ Bank, and mine was the best frittata I had ever tasted.  Then it was time to head for home.  Once we reached the turnoff north of Ban Ban Springs, I had travelled the entire length of the Burnett Highway during the space of eleven days, following MIchael's and my trip to Mount Perry on the long weekend.

My last river crossing was the Mary (for the fourth time) on the Wide Bay Highway.  The total river count was fifteen: Pine, Caboolture, Maroochy, Mary (4), Burrum, Cherwell, Isis, Elliott, Burnett (3), Kolan, Calliope, Fitzroy (2), Dee (3) and the Don.

We reached Jan's home at Carters Ridge at 5pm, and it was time for her husband John to judge our quirky items.