Fresh Water / Scenic Rim / Condamine Trip 26th Jan 13

[Boxy]

Well we started with a trip to Noosa North shore, camping at Fresh Water Camping ground, then cyclone Oswald decided to make a visit.
Noosa north shore was considered not to be the best idea with record storm surges. A plan was hatched to go to Scenic Rim (inland not the coast) could be fun in the wet.
So of we went to meet at McDonald in Beaudesert
when we were all assembled
Dave and Kids
Ben, Jane and Kids
Jonthan and his work mate Tim Grande
Tim J
Mark and Arie
Allan and Tim B
it was decided that with all the rain a drive up to the Condamine river head waters and Queen Mary falls was a better idea.
So of we headed at 9:15 through Boonah and up the hill as you know the road up to Mary Falls is steep but is tarmac all the way
Stopped a few times at the scenic lookouts only to see exhust smoke that was so thick (from the Toyota's) it looked like fog.
Once we were on top of the range we were all informed about how some of Jurassic park was filmed at this very spot (amazing)
Then it was of the tarmac and down the Condamine river road with 12 creek crossings to complete.

This road in the rain was fairly popular as we leap frogged the Motley crew and others all day.
Finally we got up to Queen Mary falls for lunch which was interesting in the pouring rain without a shelter at the start.
We rigged up a bit of a shelter with the awing and a small tarp with give a bit of cover until a shelter became availabile
Then it was back again the way we came, with the water getting higher and higher as the rain continued to fall.
Every ones vechile was give a good clean underneath was we crossed the river 12 times again on the way down the road
Finally to Tim's for coffe and talk about there we had been, and dogs ?

P.S. Have a few photo's but can't get them on the page

[Dave]

Thanks for the geat trip report Boxy. I can help with some photos.

At the top of the range we ran into clouds.


Had dozens of photos of vehicles crossing the creeks, but here are just a couple (Prado first).




A quick photo of one of the water falls (have already forgotten the name).


As Boxy mentioned, it was still raining during lunch.


Another creek crossing


Large water puddles were forming in the middle of some tracks. Note the muddy water splashing out from the wheels.


The only side track we found was still an easy grade.


Heading home we again drove through some thick clouds.


And finally, there was an opportunity to wash our cars on the black surface.



I'll post a video in the next day or two .... I'm still editing the footage (adding crocs into the water )

[Capella_Ben]

Nice trip report Allan. I'll post some photos/videos once I get proper power at my place.

[jonathan.viki]

Thanks Allan, nice report.

You can even see some tracks that are peculiarly sideways at the bottom of that side track, I wonder where they came from?

I have a few photos that I'll post later tonight or tomorrow, not too many as my photographer was at home.

PS There's no way that's Toyota smoke, it's nowhere near black enough!

[Dave]

I just remembered to put together the video. Various web sites mention 14 river crossing. I didn't think it was that many, but here are some of them.

[Capella_Ben]

I have a few photos

[Capella_Ben]

[Dave]

Nice video footage Ben. But there was a problem selecting the resolution. I couldn't find the 1920x1080 resolution. Ahhh .... it probably still uploading, and loading and loading, etc

But on the serious side, was the footage from when the camera was mounted on the door stablised at all? It seemed much smoother than the "roof" footage. And I wonder if we need a spray on the lens to keep the water off? Though my camera would be far worse with water droplets on the lens.

But overall ..... some very nice video. Thanks for posting it.

[cuboid]

You happy with your camera Ben. Pitty about all the water on the lense, you are going to have to create a little windscreen wiper for it, auto sensing of course. Also it was amazing the difference in bounce between having it mounted on the roof and on the side of the car.

[Capella_Ben]

The rain wasn't the best. I need to make a couple of tweaks. It seems the camera rattles a little within the housing (that accounts for the noise). The magnet mount is good, but the rubber grip around the magnet is too loose. I need to put in a stiffening layer between the plastic of the shoe and the rubber grip material.

I also had some problems with the battery in the remote control and the camera. I have upgraded the firmware on the camera (not a straightforward job) and given the remote a good change, so hopefully it should be good next time.

Next time I will put the camera on the roof at the back pointing back so we can see all the cars in convoy.

One thing we should do is combine the video everyone took from 2012 and make a movie...