"Sod This For A Game Of Soldiers"

After leaving Lake Cooroibah, we drove to Standown Park Veterans' Retreat for a few days - well - retreat!  We both needed some peace and quiet after leaving Brisbane, and Standown is usually the place we get it.

Last time we were here (4 months?), Rod (the owner) had designed and was building a Memorial for War Veterans.  He wanted it finished by Long Tan Day, August 18, but the weather was just not cooperating - lots of rain...

Now, however, is a different ball game.  The Memorial is finished and looks fantastic.  He and his assistants have done an outstanding job, and Pam (Rod's wife and partner) has done brilliantly with the surrounding gardens and lawns.

 

 

I just cannot speak highly enough of Standown Park, it has grown from your basic paddock with a fruit trees, to a fully mature caravan park with lots of room for vans and campers.

From Standown, we drove up the Cooloola Coast Road to Maryborough and spent a couple of days at Maryborough Park - the local Showgrounds and Equestrian Park.  We wanted to catch up with Brett and Joanne, and we also needed to get the tug windscreen replaced.  Novus Glass came to our site at the park and all is now well.  Bloody trucks!!!!

And now, here we are at Mingo Crossing again.  It's a beautiful spot and well worth the visit.  Last night was very busy, couple of kids' birthdays as well as the usual mill of weekend campers, fisherrmen and water-ski boats.  Very, very warm though - the A/C got a good run after lunch.  Unfortunately, today is even worse - 38 degrees.  Now, low thirties is kind of OK, providing there is some breeze, but 38 is way over the top!  We may have under-estimated just how warm this choice of route could be.  Consequently, plans have changed!  We will now be heading for the coast (next stop perhaps Bargara) and hopefully, cooler weather.