Narrabri to Hampton, Queensland at last!

Monday, October 25, 2010
Left Narrabri this morning after John & John went for a short drive to check the rain gauges. The driveway was still pretty muddy & slippery but better, as there has been no more rain since yesterday morning.
Stopped for a walk & morning tea at Goondiwindi. John was still keen to make it home today but decided to make his final decision when we get to Toowoomba in a few hours time.
By the time we arrived in Toowoomba he decided it would be best to stop for one more night, but he felt like staying somewhere nice. Found some brochures in the Info centre & booked a night at Ravensbourne Forest Chalets, just past Hampton & just off the road to Esk [where we would be heading in the morning].
Our chalet was named 'The Vines' & it was so nice, just perfect for the last night of our long drive home! We ordered a BBQ dinner pack when we booked in & this was delivered to our door shortly after we settled in. As the late afternoon cooled off John lit the fire which very effectively warmed the whole chalet. You can check out the chalets at http://www.ravensbourneforestchalets.com.au/ . Not cheap but nice for special occasion!

Ravensbourne Forest Chalet, near Hampton, Queensland - The Penguin parked on grass for the night; the spa bath;
the front entry, complete with wood box; the four-poster bed; looking down to kitchen/dinning area;
looking across to lounge, fire & BBQ on back deck

Before cooking our BBQ dinner we took a stroll around the grounds of the property & caught up with a few of the 'locals' - as you will see in the photos the turkey was putting on a great display & the goats were totally disinterested in us! We also met some of the cows but they didn't stay for a photo. Fed the fish in the dam & did take some photos, but fish in a feeding frenzy under water are just not that photogenic!


Ravensbourne Forest Chalet, near Hampton, Queensland - late sunlight on beautiful tree bark;
pink honeysuckle vine in 'our' driveway; bush view from back deck; turkey in all his splendor!; goats quietly grazing;
still had to wind up the Penguin to access our 'stuff' for the night

 Our candle lit dinner of seasoned lamb steaks, oven roast veggies, red wine followed by chocolate & hazelnut steamed pudding with custard was lovely & we even had a dishwasher for the clean-up! By this time we were both too tired to bother with the spa & settled for nice warm showers & into our big comfortable bed!