Day One

Caravonica, the meeting place and 7.30am, the ETD - but wait! A missing couple! Unaware of the departure time change, they decided to go back for the forgotten chocolate, it was Easter, after all!  We have a convoy - 13 Adults, 3 dogs and a cuddly toy!

The radio banter up the range soon turned into barter, when missing items were noted and suitable swaps agreed upon, on arrival at base camp (Mt Surprise Station). ie chairs for jam, and so on.

Mention of smoke positively billowing from a certain Toyota, made everyone wonder if that remark coloured T's desire to camp alone with only his new snorkel for company!!  Luckily a rogue vehicle was in front for a while and made the Toyota's smoke seem like a mere wisp! The interloper turned off on the Tumoulin Road, for which W provided the meaning in French. Tumoulin means 'windmill', and we saw many of them as we passed the windmill farm. However, unluckily, for a certain Ford, it was noted that its brake lights were missing (as in "not working"!)

The pit stop at Ravenshoe BP saw the caravanning annexe of the club, and D&V, members on their second trip, join the convoy, now 19 Adults, 2 kids, 5 dogs and a cuddly toy!

Next stop - Mount Surprise - Our Leader led everyone in to obtain the fossicking license for the club, have an informative chat with the owners, and to see an interesting selection of gems on display. This encouraged us to have a good dig in the fields. Arrival at base camp saw everyone setting up with many different attitudes, speed and organisational skills, ranging from military precision to the chaotic.

A minor set-back in a certain camp, saw the fridge hose catch fire, resulting in a broken down unit and rations being fielded out for the duration, While in the same camp, another fridge, froze all it's contents! Would that be the same vehicle, as with the brake light problem D? A certain 4WD shop will be expecting an irate customer on Tuesday. As will another 4WD establishment responsible for the rather more serious loss of a caravan's braking system!

The caravanners were very keen on manoeuvres, in order to set up together, while no one else knew if they were coming or going. Meanwhile D was popping his top! And T was busy installing a relaxation device, commonly known as a hammock! The heat on this trip was a major talking point, when suddenly a willy-willy came through and blew away an awning. Happy hour went on late enough for us all to see the full moon, bringing the photographers out in abundance.

Day Two (Lost & Found)

(Almost) everyone left camp for an interesting morning of fossicking. Our esteemed leader lost the track and found another. Club member M eventually found the shorts he mislaid in the gem fields. And everyone else found gems, including topaz!

After lunch, all congregated in an O'Briens creek swimming hole for a pre Happy Hour, Happy Hour, to cool off and discuss the day's events. A beautiful spot just made for swimming and canoeing. While the camp was relatively quiet, the local cattle rampaged through and stole five loaves of bread (and two fish? - No, just poetic license). The non-fossickers of the day were smoked out by the previous night's campfire! And B was seen nibbling bunnie ears before Easter Sunday! Naughty girl!

Happy Hour was before dark this evening. A good move, when noting what followed on the third and final night!

Writing taken over by D.G

Saturday

All took off early morning to do some fossicking. First stop at the gem shop for information about the types of stones we should be looking for. Don & Malcolm hoping to get enoungh Topaz for a snorkel; Nick & Gail for a solar panel for their van; Terry a fridge. Unfortunatly none were lucky enough to achieve their wishes. Malcolm tried sitting in the stream whilst fossicking minus his pants but to no avail. By lunch time all had some small succes and it was getting hot (38 degrees) it was time to head back to camp for lunch and a siesta.

Sunday

All set off again but intrepid leader forgot his shovel, Malcolm & Don their sieve but as they have 'the eye' they reckon they do not reqire it. Jamie toook us off to meet his fiend John who was giving us a demo on how to find topaz. We proceeded up the Bule Hills jump-up and back to McDonal creek. More success this time in locating more topaz. John our guide, had to contend with Monty & Ming - Lyn & Howards' puppies who thought lying in the water where he was digging was a good way to cool down. Lunchtime was approching, Jamie took us back to camp via a good swimming hole at Elizabeth Creek. This was a beautiful cool oasis whicdh all agreed required further investigation at a later date.

'Happy hour' was very entertaining that night with a game of bocce. With the light the game was played according to the rules. but as light began to fade and even played in the dark, it was increasingly interesting especially instead of the player throwing in their turn, all threw their balls at one time. The adjudicator was running for cover. Teams allocated, play began. Final playoff between John & Malcolm; Beryl & Howard; Terri & Lou. The winner being John & Malcolm.

There was much merriment in the camp that night and I thin k a few sore heads in the morning.

Monday

The caravanners - Nick & Gail; John & Deb set off early with the rest of the group following later.

All will agree that a fun time was had by all.