Chapter 9 - Yeppoon 1

Day 74 – Monday 8 August – Yeppoon 1

It was a magic way to start our three weeks at Yeppoon.............

Slow out of bed, casual shower, breakfast outside in the sunshine ...........

As we moved inside to do the stuff that you need to do after breakfast a Kookaburra decided that a spot on the fence behind us was a good place to perch. The fence is 120 cm from the caravan window. It is not a good photo, but I am sure the idea comes across. I then was able to get a clearer photo from outside the caravan - and not through the dirty window.

Not long after the sheets and towels were on the line and the beds remade.

Shirley was on a roll - beds remade, floor mats brushed, floor washed, hand washing. I tried to look busy and keep out of her way.

Before long it was lunch time, so I prepared magnificent gourmet corned beef sandwiches.

Soon it was time for a 3 km (return) pleasant walk along our local (Mulambin) beach. 

Not much happened for the rest of the day. Shirley cooked an excellent stew.

Day 75 – Tuesday 9 August – Yeppoon

The day started on a sad note with the overnight passing of Olivia Newton-John. She was the same age as Shirley and myself. I soon realised from news snippets that I was in London when Olivia competed for the UK in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. She came fourth. Her contribution to cancer research and support will probably out-live "Grease". She was a true champion.

I needed to do something, so I vacuumed the car - the first time in around 12,000 km. It contained red dirt and sand and numerous other contaminants. Even the mats got a wash. It is now fit for friends to ride in.

There was time for reading and sudoku before lunch.

Then it was time for beach walk No 2 - again around 3 km return - this time it was Kemp Beach. The temperature was around 21 degrees with a cool breeze.

Some time elapsed before we wandered over to the camp kitchen at 5:30 to listen to local bush poet Bob Pasey. He was very good and told some ripping bush yarns/poetry. It was a great way to spend 60 minutes.

Day 76 – Wednesday 10 August – Yeppoon

Today was a day of activity. First we started with a 54 km drive to Capricorn Caves - the only known Queensland caves that have always been privately owned (and that is another story).

They have a choice of three tours, so we choose the shortest and the easiest. No need to get dirty clothes or bump heads, or get stuck.

Our guide, Kat, lead us though a number of impressive caves until we got to the best cave of all - the Cathedral. It is very impressive, the acoustics allegedly being better than Sydney Opera House (a claim made by a producer of opera shows in the cave). To prove the sound qualities Kay played a rendition of the Leonard Cohan song, Hallelujah (sung by Pentatonix). The sound was magnificent. 

Click here to get an idea of what we heard and what we saw. There was also a light show to accompany the music.

If you like that click here to hear more of Pentatonix.

Cathedral cave is also used for weddings as well as opera shows. There are church pews to seat maybe 45 people.

Capricorn Caves is the only place in the world where a small tufted terrestrial fern (Tectaria Devexa var devexa) can be found - and it is endangered. As recently as a few years ago there was only one plant in existence. The fern below is approx 600 mm from side to side.

We drove into Rockhampton and visited the tourist information centre. An elderly lady (Jessie) took a liking to us and gave us a detailed history of 'Rocky'. She insisted that we go the Station Museum, which we did after lunch.

We found a café and had a couple of superb focaccias for lunch.

Then off to the Station Museum we went. Jessie had explained Rocky's history of Purrey steam trams from France. Rockhampton now has the only operational Purrey steam tram in the world. It was found by some enthusiasts 40 years ago and was rebuilt and restored. It only runs on a Sunday.

We were met at the station ticket office by a volunteer who has the same "gift of the gab" as Jessie. He even had me pulling levers to change the signals. Lucky the Ghan does not run through the station. He also gave me permission to go into the (working) ladies toilet to see the thunderbox - complete with red back spiders. Photo below.

Our new friend (we were popular today) explained that 100 years ago a steam train had regular services to Yeppoon, very popular for holidaymakers and day trippers.

Above: Archer Park Station
Below: Steam Tram

Lower: Steam Loco

The station had numerous 'in character' statues that have an interesting history themselves. The couple on the left are saying goodbye as he is off to war. The accordion player on the right is based on a local colorful identity.

Below: Thunderbox, complete with a blowfly and redback spiders

Jessie had also strongly suggested that we check out the "Quay Street Historical Walk" and admire the magnificent architecture in the old buildings. So we did.

Jessie's other gem was to tell us that Rockhampton's name came from Matthew Flinders who realised that the mighty Fitzroy River was too rocky to sail any further than where the CBD now sits. He also included the English town of Hampton, as Hampton denotes a place near water as in Southampton - hence Rockhampton. 

We were out of ideas so we had a cuppa on the banks of the Fitzroy River then headed home. Jessie had been a wealth of information, as had the 'ticket inspector' at the station.

We had dinner then I had a bowls AGM via ZOOM. I kept myself on mute so that I could not volunteer for any positions.

Day 77 – Thursday 11 August – Yeppoon

It had been a very windy night, but the caravan withstood all attempts to rock. We had nothing on the agenda, apart from a beach walk, so we started the day practicing our procrastination. It came very easy to us, as during COVID lockdowns we were experts at it.

The wind continued, so did our procrastination. We did a couple of jobs, but not a lot.

It was a quiet day.

Day 78 – Friday 12 August – Yeppoon

Although it rained overnight we took a punt and washed clothes, as tomorrow has a worse forecast. The sun came out so we headed to Lammermoor Beach for another 3km walk.

Before we stepped on to the beach we studied the Soldier Crab - so called because they are the only crab to walk forwards (the rest walk sideways) and they move in huge numbers. They are a useful species to have around, and their value is commemorated by the sculptures below.

As usual we nearly had the beach to ourselves.

We did find one little critter who was in strife, trying to fit into its cramped accommodation.

We returned to camp then had lunch, then I continued with the saga of trying to master microwave cake cooking. This time it was carrot cup-cakes. The chief tester gave them an honourable mention.

Day 79 – Saturday 13 August – Yeppoon

We were at the weekly community farmers market by 9 am, and were disappointed with the fewer stalls than in previous years. However, we bought some avocados, tomatoes and a pineapple.

After lunch the forecast said rain, the dark clouds suggested rain, but the beach beckoned. The beach won. So we had a walk along our local (Mulambin) beach. It was nearly low tide, and there were lots of little critters scurrying into self-dug holes. 

Day 80 – Sunday 14 August – Yeppoon

The rain seemed to have stopped, so I checked the sky at 6:05 am. It looked right for a good sunrise photo. So off to Mulambin beach I went. It was nearly low tide, but the clouds appeared from nowhere to thwart my morning.

However I was able to catch a fishing boat looking to catch Sunday's lunch or dinner.

It was time to have an early shower, as Shirley still had an hour or more of beauty sleep to go.

It was a Sunday cooked breakfast outside then a relaxing morning.

After lunch we had a stroll on a new (to us) beach - Kinka Beach. 

As we crossed the sandy dunes from the beach to the carpark we saw an echidna scurrying to get into the bush.

The weather was good enough for Happy Hour outside.

Day 81 – Monday 15 August – Yeppoon

The day started as a lovely day and only got better - our best day in Yeppoon to date. Hardly a cloud and a light wind.

It was a slow day with little activity in the Kelly household. A drive to Emu Park to buy some bread was the only activity of note.

Day 82 – Tuesday 16 August – Yeppoon

Another lovely start to the day, and what a huge day it was.......

While Shirley headed off to the hairdresser, Darryl and I repaired a 'Kings' gazebo that a previous park resident had discarded - and Darryl had rescued. Darryl will have a bit of extra wind resistance on his roof rack on the way home.

It was declared mango smoothie day, and so that was what the four of us did after lunch - at Keppel Bay marina. The smoothie was very good, nearly in the class of the excellent smoothies that we had at Darwin and Airlie Beach.

After the smoothie we bought the cheapest diesel that we had bought since leaving home - at $1.91 per litre.

It was time for another beach walk and so that is what we did - again at Kemp beach - which was adjacent to the marina and fuel station.

After some relaxation it was time for more bush poetry, again from local bush poet Bob Pasey. It was a pleasant hour.

Day 83 – Wednesday 17 August – Yeppoon

Yet another lovely start to the day, and what another huge day it was.......

I was rudely awaken by a phone call from our youngest daughter at 8:30. Yep, she was just as surprised as I was.

Darryl and I later headed off to Bunnings and BCF - because we could. The ladies headed into town for a stroll.

It was a quiet period, before I cooked a batch of date scones.

While Shirley ensured that roast chicken was on the table for dinner I admired the magnificent sunset - from the front of the caravan.

This chapter is complete.

Last updated at 7:45 pm on Wednesday 17 August.

Jump to the Next Chapter

Jump to the Previous Chapter

Open the Table of Contents