I apologize for the lack of photos throughout the blog but as they are so slow to download I left them out.
MALCOLM and DIANNE

24 10.07

HOME

There was 12 mm of rain although it didn’t rain thro the night, left by 0700 and went into rain and strong winds about Olary and Yunta. There was some water over the road but the signs of a lot of flooding on the previous day were evident. We called into Peterborough and also Terowie and had lunch at Burra. The crops from there down were a lot better than expected and some very good, the rain would have helped.

We arrived at Grant and Beks about 1400 and Youngy was there to greet us. We went to Andre’s for tea with P and B there as well. The kids were very excited especially Victoria.

It was good to be back home after14 weeks and approx 10,000 ks and apart from the gearbox at Roxby not another thing at all going wrong. I was very impressed with the AVan which stood up to the rougher roads around Birdsville very well. It did let in a lot of dust in the early stages but after we laid coverings over everything it was a lot better. The plastic over the back window of the Prado was a great idea as the top of the spare tyre was covered in rocks with one about fist size, also the pack rack was great .Before leaving I had wondered if it was too big but on the road it was exceptional, also the canvas bag was good and perfectly water proof. As for the Cooper tyres that a lot of people either love or detest there was not a sign of any of the chipping tearing or ripping off of lugs and in the sand of Fraser Island they were great. The Prado was exceptionally comfortable and we did about 18 Lts per hundred and with the two tanks made for long range driving. Although we did not do any night driving the lights are lousy, I don’t know if the ARB bar blocks it at all but for a new vehicle they could be a lot better. Before another trip I will take the UHF out of the glove box and put it in my reach as Di is not interested and I need to have it closer to adjust volume at times.

23 10.07

BROKEN HILL

Arose to a cooler morning but still cloudy which turned to rain later in the day. Arrived in
Broken Hill about 1030 and booked into a Top 10 Park (first paid one since leaving Fred’s).

We went out to Silverton and looked at some galleries in the town; the old goal at Silverton has a very comprehensive collection of memorabilia pertaining to the old town and the mining history. This is where a lot of films have been made including Mad Max and Priscilla.

As it rained steadily most of the day we spent a lot of time in the van which is a bit squeezy without the annexe.

22 10.07

WILCANNIA ( west of there anyway)

We were up and gone by 0600 which was good as it was quite hot later in the mid 30’s, saw lots of kangaroo’s and emu’s and then around Cobar hundreds of wild goats. The country from Wyandra down past Cunnamulla is very flat and very very dry, we stopped at Cunnamulla which is on the banks of the Warrego River and is the home of the “Cunnamulla Fella”, a bronze statue in the main part of town.”He” was made famous by Slim Dusty’s song of the same name (I think). This is a really nice town with lots of green lawns and gardens which is in contrast to the surrounding countryside. The railway terminates there and the station is one of three in NSW with a closed roof.

Further south we crossed the border at Barringun where I found another cache, it was quite an easy one but there was a red herring as well as someone had left a porno magazine in the same place which was dispatched into the bin nearby. Bit disappointing as this is a pastime enjoyed by children and women folk. I was pleased to find this one as I was the second to find it and had been beaten by only one day by someone else, rather amazing due to its remote location.

We stopped for lunch at Bourke which has the feel of Wilcannia about it with broken windows and boarded up buildings. Down by the river there were a group of people gathered and admiring a gold cup which we found out next day on the news was the Melbourne Cup which is touring the west.

As it was very hot and we didn’t want to stop too early we pushed on and stopped at a truck stop west of Wilcannia after a 13 hour day. It was still in the mid 30’s and was deadly still with no air at all, but this changed at about 2300 when it blew up a gale and blew dust everywhere, we had a blanket on by morning.

21 10.07

WYANDRA

Woke with the kookaburras at dawn and had a hot shower with plenty of water in the basic showers at Wallumbilla Showgrounds, the birds near the billabong next to us were plentiful, a very nice spot considering the price which was nothing.

Went on to Roma where we stopped at Macca’s for breakfast and rang the kids and Bill B. We have decided we will push on for home so we didn’t stop there as planned. The country in that area is extremely dry with crops of wheat and barley dying at the flower stage and no feed to speak of. Literally hundreds of dead kangaroos on the sides of the road, at one stage there would have been 20 per kilometre, also dead emus.

Stopped for a late lunch at Charleville at a park where there are “rainmaking machines, these were a German invention that shot gases up into the clouds to make it rain! Needless to say it didn’t work. Had a hunt for a cache at same place without success.

Turned south there and went down to the very small town of Wyandra which has another free campsite again with hot showers and power, albeit very open with no trees and bare dirt ( at least there was no bindii like the last place). There were two other couples there both in motor homes, so had drinks with them. The showers were a bit different as they were two showers in one room so it was a share situation.

Today was Aunty Nell and Uncle Jim’s 80^th birthday and both A and V and Grant and Bek went to it which was good as Carol was down from Darwin and was able to speak to Bart about his move there.

20 10.07

WALLUMBILLA (east of ROMA)

After having a quick drive around the town and finding the butcher is not open on Saturdays we went back to the park and hooked up to leave when Helen to owner came around inviting everyone to join in morning tea with freshly cooked scones. There were about six couples there and again everyone was extremely friendly and the cones were delicious. Dianne spoke to Helen and asked if she was a Christian as there were scripture verses in the shower block. She was, and Di was able to encourage her especially as they are really in a dire state due to the drought on their farm.

We left about 1130 after doing another tour of the town , visiting the Catholic Church with the inner walls covered in murals and a good collection of old engines and tractors( not in the church!). We travelled north and came to Jandowae, Chinchilla ( where we had lunch an Di rang home), Miles and then stopping at a free camp in the showgrounds at Wallumbilla. This was quite comfortable with hot showers and even some power for the early arrivals, as there was only one other camper we were in luck. We stopped at the tourist info centre and were regaled by one of the local women who was character to say the least. The days have gradually become warmer again after the change that came through when we were on Fraser island and although it was a two blanket night last night it will be one sheet tonight.

19 10.07

BELL

Fred and Pam went back to Brisbane about 1030 this morning after Fred had gone to his physio appointment in TCB. I went in with him and bought some groceries for our homeward trip. Di had an appointment with her for her foot which has been troubling her for some time, so after that we left about 1300. We had a great time with Fred and Pam who made us very welcome.

We filled up with petrol at Gympie and then went back out to Kilkivan passing Fat Hen Creek where we had stopped on the way down. Travelled on past Kingaroy and stopped at a free camp at Kumbia which was very nice with power on a honesty basis and coin in the slot showers and a very clean free BBQ. However, over the fence the neighbour had a pile of rubbish burning that was sending stinking smoke all over the site, so we went on stopping at a caravan park in Bell, that’s ok I have never heard of it either. Anyway it cost $20 and had lawns with clean facilities, we were invited to the “happy hour at six and were made very welcome by the folk there. I said how we were intending to stay at Kumbia and was slightly chastised by the proprietor who said that she and her husband are running the park as well as their farm in an attempt to tide them over the drought and that teach van that stops there is one that the local parks don’t get. I can sympathise with her but we the traveling public also like to have these freebies as well. Anyway the other people there were waxing lyrical about the sites to be seen in the district and said we should stay another night so we may.

16/ 17/18 10.07

FRASER ISLAND

After arranging the night before to get up “early”, Fred woke us at 0415which didn’t impress, however we got going and arrived at the Inskip ferry by 0630. It was a lovely morning with flat sea’s and warm. I had done some driving at Rainbow Beach but was still very apprehensive about this “beach driving”. We drove the beach up until Dilli Village where we went into the lakes road system. Yeah, right, roads! More like two wheel tracks in the scrub with scant room to pass another vehicle. Luckily we didn’t meet much traffic and when we did it was OK but there were some area’s that you would have to back up some distance, sometimes up hill in very loose deep sand, if you did. The tracks very very rough with large roots from the trees making it difficult to transverse and in the “really steep” parts there were timber slats and or rubber matting laid down. Drove a lot of it in low range but later found that it was OK in high.

Travelled to Lakes Bomanjin, Birrabeen and McKenzie all of which are magnificent, especially Lake McKenzie. The timber in that area and in Pile Valley is very tall with some huge trees left over from the logging days which make you wonder how big the others were if these were left.

Arrived at Eurong Beach Resort and booked into a top floor double bedroom apartment with lovely views over the huge pool and onto the beach beyond. It was all very comfortable although the girls reckon the cleaner had not done a very good job.

Fred and I went up the beach a few k’s and did some fishing were he caught some small dart and I jagged a 4foot Shovelnose Shark. Literally jagged him as after it was landed which took at least 20/25 minutes, I found that he was foul hooked in one of his wings but he had two hooks in his mouth! One unlucky or slow learning shark so we let him go to try again another day. There were small planes on the beach and again whales out in the ocean displaying their splashing techniques.

Second day Fred and I were up early and drove up as far as Happy Valley and fished on the way back with limited success only catching some very small dart. About lunch time the wind changed and it blew up a smart southerly and blew its guts out. We had seen whales earlier and also a light plane using the beach as the runway so Di and Pam decided they would go with us this time which was good as there were whales only a little way out from where we wereattempting to throw the lines into the wind but with that and the rip of the tide it was useless so we went for a drive up the beach to the Maheno wreck. This ship has been lying there slowly disintegrating since the 1930 ‘s and is an area that they are known to catch tailor. There were some diehard fishermen there and one had actually caught a tailor as we arrived, but most were catching dart which were a lot bigger than the ones we had caught earlier. I had a broccoli box with ice and a lot of bait left over so I gave it to one of the chaps there who in turn offered the tailor but one fish is not any good to anyone. It was interesting to note that they were all using Alvey Reels and were fishing a lot lighter than we would in the lower states for salmon. They use three gang hooks and pilchard but only a small ball sinker and keep belting it out.

By this stage I was getting quite used to the sand driving and feeling a lot more confident, the Prado with the larger Cooper tyres handles these conditions magnificently, in fact when we got back of the beach at Eurong after going through a long stretch of very soft and deep sand I went to take it out of four wheel drive when I discovered it had not been in all of the way up and back! Pretty impressive. I suggested that we go back to Hook Point via the inland road and nearly had my head knocked off by the passengers. It was bloody rough but at least I had the steering wheel to hang onto!

Wendesday evening we had a buffet meal at the resort which was quite good for a remote setting. It is interesting to note that all material from toilet paper up is brought over on the barges in large European made fourby and sixby trucks, ther are dozens of big all wheel drive buses and hundreds of Toyota’s Nissens etc most of which have the mandatory fishing rods on top.

We awoke on Thursday morning early to find it blowing even harder which had pushed the sea’s in a lot further than anticipated which made the driving a bit harder as we had to take the upper beach with the softer sand. There is an inland road 12 K’s north of Hook Point which was marked on our map as “bitumen road recommended for fourwheel drives”, yeah right, it may have been once but it wasn’t anymore, but it was least dry which wouldn’t have been the case on the beach.

As it turned out it was blessing as we met a young woman on the road who we had spoken to at church last Sunday. Her name is Jennifer and that for the last six years been going to the island and had been taking photos of dingoes, strange we thought. Anyway as we were going along this road we saw her on the side taking video footage. On stopping and remaking the connection she told us that there was a bitch and 7 pups there and she had been filming them. As we were talking to her one of the pups, named Coconut, came out of the scrub and onto the road right next to us. She said that she was writing a book and also filming a documentary on the dingoes of Fraser Island. As she has been doing this for so long she has probably more idea of the dingo population there than the local Parks people, although she didn’t say this.

The ferry back over to Inskip was a bit rocking and rolling but wasn’t too bad. We stopped off at Rainbow and washed the car at the car wash and arrived home about 1030 after a fabulous three days.

14 10.07

CHURCH at COOLOOLA COVE

Fred and Pam left for Brisbane this morning and are stopping over night as Pam has an appointment tomorrow.

We went to church in the Community Church here in Cooloola Cove and were may very welcome by the folk there. The pastor and his wife Gary and Heather Everson had been at Endeavour Hills church back at the time Rodney died ( Rod was my brother in law who died 16 years ago). We stayed there for a cuppa and came home and made some phone calls down south.

After lunch we went to Rainbow beach to buy a Fraser Island pass for Tuesday, cost $35 for 1 month pass. Went down to Carlo and arrived as a charter came in, 10 blokes at $200 bucks each and a fair pile of fish, they all thought it was worth it.

13 10.07

HARRYS HUT

Had a big drive today, went down to Noosa and Maroochydore via the back roads via Harrys Hut.

This was over some dirt tracks to the head of the Noosa River going through the Cooloola Sand National Park, a very pretty and interesting trip. The water in the Noosa River at Harrys Hut is very stained by the tannins from the Melaleuca’s in the area and as it runs off the National Park which is all sand it is very clean although looks dirty.

Further on we went to Boreen Point which is on a large lake but as it is in the same river is also is brown, we stopped there for lunch.

We then went on to Noosa which is very crowded with lots of holidayers and lot and lots of accommodation of all kinds. Went on to Sunshine Plaza which is a big centre built over tributary of the river and very flash with restaurants looking over the water below.

Came home along a similar route to the morning, lots of dirt road with some kangaroos and two mobs of cows on the road we had to stop for. Had a great day.

11 10.07

Freds

Quiet day, went into TCB and bought lunch, fish which was very nice at a small eating place. Later went to look for a cache down by the dolphin feeding area, it was close to a takeaway shop and the girl was watching from inside, she came out asking if we were “looking for some internet thing as a chap was here last week and nearly wrecked my garden”! Well we had to fess up and then I had a look around and found it, my third. Looked for a couple others but it is pretty hard without a proper GPS.

12.10.07

Another quiet day with Dianne laid up with a very sore foot, it has been bad for some weeks but was worse today. I did the washing and then Di went to the physio after lunch which helped a lot.

10 10.07

BIRD WATCHING AT FREDS

Went bird watching today with Dorothy a friend of Fred and Pam; she is very passionate about her vocation and does an official count each month. The birds of interest, Eastern Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Greenshank, Redcapped Plover, Red necked Stint, Gull Faced tern, and a pair of Pied Oyster Catchers, were in the upper reaches of Cooloola Cove on a large area of swamp land. We had to walk quite a distance along the shore line, sometimes wading in the water; it was all very interesting as these birds migrate here from Siberia.

In the afternoon Fred and I went to Rainbow Beach fishing where Fred caught two Dart and a Bream in the surf and I caught zip. There were whales out in the bay that made it very entertaining by whacking their tails in the water and leaping out with a great amount of splashing. The girls went into TCBay for coffee.

09 10.07

RAINBOW BEACH

Awoke to light drizzle and the threat of rain but it cleared to a nice warm day.

Went into Rainbow beach and had lunch at the local bakery then to the bait shop for some things and drove up to Inskip Point where we had a chat to the young fellow there about going over to Fraser Island( we have booked to go for two nights next week). From there we drove down the beach nearly to Rainbow Beach stopping on the way to fish. The sand was very hard and easy to drive on as the tide was low. Di and Pam sat in the car while Fred and I threw some bait away until we both caught a flathead each. We were using beach worms and prawns bought from the bait shop, Fred caught his ( a small one) on prawns and I put on a shiny 80 gram lure and pulled a big flathead from the surf, a chap down the beach caught what looked to be a nice tailor.

Later Fred and I went to a creek in the upper reaches of Tin Can Bay where I caught a small Bream. On the way in we stopped at the Aboriginal Bora site and found my second Geocache, we had looked for it a couple of days ago but this time we were successful. Who needs a GPS!!!

10 10.07

BIRD WATCHING AT FREDS

Went bird watching today with Dorothy a friend of Fred and Pam; she is very passionate about her vocation and does an official count each month. The birds of interest, Eastern Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Greenshank, Redcapped Plover, Red necked Stint, Gull Faced tern, and a pair of Pied Oyster Catchers, were in the upper reaches of Cooloola Cove on a large area of swamp land. We had to walk quite a distance along the shore line , sometimes wading in the water, it was all very interesting as these birds migrate here from Siberia.

In the afternoon Fred and I went to Rainbow Beach fishing where Fred caught two Dart and a Bream in the surf and I caught zip. There were whales out in the bay that made it very entertaining by whacking their tails in the water and leaping out with a great amount of splashing. The girls went into TCBay for coffee.

11 10.07

Freds

Quiet day, went into TCB and bought lunch, fish which was very nice at a small eating place. Later went to look for a cache down by the dolphin feeding area, it was close to a takeaway shop and the girl was watching from inside, she came out asking if we were “looking for some internet thing as a chap was here last week and nearly wrecked my garden”! Well we had to fess up and then I had a look around and found it, my third. Looked for a couple others but it is pretty hard without a proper GPS.

12.10.07

Another quiet day with Dianne laid up with a very sore foot, it has been bad for some weeks but was worse today. I did the washing and then Di went to the physio after lunch which helped a lot.

13 10.07

HARRYS HUT

Had a big drive today, went down to Noosa and Maroochydore via the back roads via Harrys Hut.

This was over some dirt tracks to the head of the Noosa River going through the Cooloola Sand National Park, a very pretty and interesting trip. The water in the Noosa River at Harrys Hut is very stained by the tannins from the Melaleuca’s in the area and as it runs off the National Park which is all sand it is very clean although looks dirty.

Further on we went to Boreen Point which is on a large lake but as it is in the same river is also is brown, we stopped there for lunch.

We then went on to Noosa which is very crowded with lots of holidayers and lot and lots of accommodation of all kinds. Went on to Sunshine Plaza which is a big centre built over tributary of the river and very flash with restaurants looking over the water below.

Came home along a similar route to the morning, lots of dirt road with some kangaroos and two mobs of cows on the road we had to stop for. Had a great day.

08.10.07

FRED’S 2^nd DAY

Fred and Pam went down to Brisbane today as Pam had an appointment with the skin specialist in regard to the surgery she had recently on her face.

We did all of the washing and went into Tin Can Bay for a look and did some shopping. A very quiet day all round.

09 10.07

RAINBOW BEACH

Awoke to light drizzle and the threat of rain but it cleared to a nice warm day.

Went into Rainbow beach and had lunch at the local bakery then to the bait shop for some things and drove up to Inskip Point where we had achat to the young fellow there about going over to the Fraser Island( we have booked to go for two night next week). From there we drove down the beach nearly to Rainbow Beach stopping on the way to fish. The sand was very hard and easy to drive on as the tide was low. Di and Pam sat in the car while Fred and I threw some bait away until we both caught a flathead each. We were using beach worms and prawns bought from the bait shop, Fred caught his ( a small one) on prawns and I put on a shiny 80 gram lure and pulled a big flathead from the surf, a chap down the beach caught what looked to be a nice tailor.

Later Fred and I went to a creek in the upper reaches of Tin Can Bay where I caught a small Bream. On the way in we stopped at the Aboriginal Bora site and found my second Geocache, we had looked for it a couple of days ago but this time we were successful. Who needs a GPS!!!

06 10.07

FAT HEN CREEK

Left 1770 after watching all of the campers “decamping”, amazing , everyone got up pulled their camps down and were gone by nine o’clock, must have lost about 60% of the park, school holidays finish this weekend. Spent some time chatting to the folk from Mt Gambier and left after 1000.

Travelled down to Bundaberg on the smell of an oily rag, found a servo 30 k’s out so pulled in , put the spout in and waited, and waited, asked Di to go in to see them to find it was closed on Saturdays! So kept going and put in 176 litres at Bundaberg-tank only holds 180. Went to the Rum factory and bought some bottles and went on to Gin Gin where we had lunch. From there we went down to Biggenden and stopped at a camp site from the Camps book at Fat Hen Creek, toilet only with two other cars there.

07 10.07

TIN CAN BAY

Had a good night although there was a bit of traffic on the road and it got a bit cool toward morning, left by 0830 and went in to Gympie which is a very hilly town with a lot of old well preserved buildings. Looked to do some shopping at Coles etc but was too early so went on to Fred and Pam’s arriving about 1100.

Spent the afternoon chatting and later went for a drive to an old aboriginal “Bora ring” which is a ring in the earth where they carried out traditional dancing. Went down to a creek in the upper reaches of Tin Can Bay over some rough sand tracks which were a bit boggy in places from the recent heavy rain they had there( 8 inches) good 4 wheel driving territory.

05 10.07

1770

Travelled from Yeppoon to Rockhampton where we had a drive around, some very nice old buildings that have been restored.

Called into Gladstone which is a very industrialised city with power station, coal loading facility and many other large industries. We went to the marina and got a real surprise as there is a lovely park overlooking the coal loading wharf and the marina, lots of lawn and free BBQ’s and very clean toilets. We stopped there for lunch and cooked toasted sandwiches on the very clean BBQ’s. Whilst there on of the three ships loading coal was escorted out by two tugs.

YEPPOON

Left St Lawrence by 0930 after having a look around and driving to the river flats for a look. These flats are quite large with a small runnel of water with the tide out. We were over looking the rail bridge where a train passed over while we were there. There were a lot of trains going through during the night but it was a very good camp spot with excellent clean facilities, a dollar in the slot hot showers free gas BBQ and lawned areas, although not for camping on. The area is used for polo

We rang back home and spoke with both Andre (in hospital) and Ness, things seem to be in a reasonable state but we will need to monitor the situation in regard to our plans. (Rang again in the evening and things are a lot better so will continue down to Fred’s and see).

matches and has a lot of stables and yards there.

03 10.07

ST LAWRENCE

Left Bert and Irene at 1530 and travelled down to St Lawrence and stayed at an excellent free camp with great facilities and dollar in the slot hot showers, absolutely fantastic. Probably better than the town which is very basic, called into the general store which we had seen last trip (12 years ago) and had always regretted not going into, but it wasn’t that good.

WE had a phone call from Ness just after arriving to say Andre’s operation on his ear didn’t go as well as we had hoped and he is in high dependency. This has put a cat among the pigeons and means we may have to change plans.

This morning Bert and I went out to visit a friend of his who has a collection of old stationary engines and also old outboards, rather incredible as he only began 10 years ago. Di and Irene went shopping!

02 10.07

MACKAY

Well it actually rained all day albeit very lightly.

Bert and I cut the drain hose from the sink to find that it was full of silicone from day one( no wonder the BLOODY THING WOULDN’T WORK!!!!!, over two months of trying to get it to dribble out, reminded me of me).)

After lunch Bert took us for a drive to Hay Point and Sarina. Hay Point is a huge coal loading facility that receives 30 trains a day most up to 2 kilometers long. There were 48 ships waiting to be loaded and as it was a rainy day there may have been more on the horizon we weren’t able to see.

On the Wyt home we went through the city and down to the harbour area which has avery long breakwater protecting a new marina , great fishing spot.

That evening we went to a local club with a group of their friends for a meal.

30.08.07

Halliday Bay

Went through Proserpine to Peter Faust Dam which is 30 k’s upstream from the town, the park there was the old works camp that had been set up to service the building of the dam wall and didn’t look that inviting so moved on. The construction was interesting as it is a rock wall with a clay core, similar to the Ord River Dam.

Stopped at Seaforth and then on to Cape Hillsborough then back to Halliday Bay which has a lovely beach but the park was basic to say the least, still there was plenty of hot water and cost $20 which was OK. Went for a swim.

For some reason today the GPS has decided to not find any satellites so not sure if it is going to work.( It didn’t work for two days and then righted its self)

01 10.07

MACKAY

Travelled through very pretty country from Halliday Bay to Mackay where we went up to the Northern Beaches some of which were very nice before we arrived at Bert and Irene Place’( ex Wudinna and Rodney’s sister). They made us very welcome and put the van onto the front l

Bert and I did some repairs on the jockey wheel that had broken earlier. It was cloudy today with the threat of rain, first cloudy day for weeks.

awn.

28.09.07

AIRLEY BEACH

Left Ayr early and travelled down to Bowen, very interesting country, sugar left behind and into very dry open timbered cattle country and then into very rich market gardens with acres of tomatoes at Bowen. Then closer to Airlie Beach it became very green with rainforest similar to the Mission Beach area and of course more sugar cane.

Stopped at the northern beaches at Bowen which were really quite spectacular, the tide was full it was flat calm and it was beautiful, white sand clear blue water and a warm sun.

Had a fish from some rocks into the clear water overlooking the Whitsunday islands but came up with the same result-zipo.

Went on and booked into a Top Tourist park in Airlie Beach, wow, has that changed in the 12 years since we were here last. The hill overlooking the town is wall to wall units and resorts, the main street is full of young people and the pubs are full. They have what appears to be a Qld thing, a swimming pool on the foreshore (similar to Cairns and Townsville), it was absolutely packed with young people.

We stayed at there as it is the AFL grand final tomorrow and we didn’t want to be in a more secluded place where there may not be a TV.

As I was taking the van off the wheel on the jockey broke off so will have to make do until I can have it repaired.

29.09.07

GEELONG WIN THE GRAND FINAL

Oh dear oh dear what a hiding, Port Power were never in it. Did some shopping in the morning and then to the local pub over the road from the park and watched the footy on the big screen til half time. Watched the second on the camp TV with a few others including the bus load of kids we saw at Charters Towers,( they leave here at 0400 on Monday and go direct home at Warnambool arriving Tuesday afternoon).

Went to the main street after tea and made some phone calls as reception not good in the park. Rang Irene Place and will stay with them when in Mackay.

27.09.07

AYR

Up early and showered by 0700 as Debbie (Ness’ friend from Adelaide) who lives in Home Hill was calling to see us on her way home from working at the local hospital. She duly arrived and is very pleasant and invited us to the farm later in the day.

We went for a drive out of the town and finished up in an area known as Rita Island, though you couldn’t recognise it as an island it is one a few that are formed in the delta of the Burdekin River. It is very rich river flats soil with mostly cane farms with some other crops, we drove a lot of by roads and came to a very pretty billabong with large mauve waterlilies on it, unfortunately the road crossed over a ford but Di was not keen on crossing. Turned back and then spoke to a chap living there who pointed out another route which was lucky as we then saw cane being cut into trucks which in turn took the bins to the rail siding and rolled them off onto the tracks, picked up two more and then back for another load. There are hundreds of kilometers of rail tracks.

After lunch to the farm at Home Hill( I am being suitably vague about its location as you will understand later), there I had a guided tour of the property which is predominately sugar but some of the surrounding properties have green beans sweet corn and millet. I was shown how they water the crops with long lengths of plastic fluming; they have an unlimited supply of water.

They were going to show us a burn of the cane or take me to the river to catch a barra, as I have seen fire before I opted for the river. This is where it gets a bit cloudy but suffice to say we fished at a place where we shouldn’t. My offsider got one with his third cast and later caught two more and I didn’t get a BLOODY THING!! Back to the house for a lovely roast lamb and barra cooked on the BBQ and home by 2200, a very pleasant day.

25.09.07

CHARTERS TOWERS

Very quiet and lazy day, did the washing, bought the paper and read it, that’s it.

Did go out to a Chinese all you can eat restaurant for tea.

Did call in and talk to a chap about GPS’s when I bought the paper.

Yesterday on the outskirts of the town there was a road sign to “Mount Cooper”, I asked about it today and it is a small hill probably like “our” Mount Cooper in SA.

26.09.07

AYR

Up early and went to the weekly cattle sale at Dalrymple Sale Yards to find they didn’t start til 0900 so went into town and bought the paper etc. Stayed at the sale for half an hour and found it very interesting. Cattle all sold by cents per kilo and then they are taken down to the scales where they are weighed, either individually ore by the lot depending on how they were sold. Spoke to some locals who said the prices were down

On the way we stopped at a rest area on the Burdekin River where there is a very old steel bridge over the river, a truly magnificent structure and a nice camp area however the toilets were not that clean.

On the way we stopped at a rest area on the Burdekin River where there is a very old steel bridge over the river, a truly magnificent structure and a nice camp area however the toilets were not that clean.

We went into Home Hill crossing over the amazing steel construction of the bridge over the Burdekin River. Rang Debbie’s mother (friend of Ness’s) who rang us later in the afternoon to say she had been doing night shift at the hospital. She will call in to see us tomorrow on her way home after her shift.

We stopped in the park in Ayr and nearly walked when the woman in charge got a bit rippy with us “As the office is not open til one o’clock and it says that on the notice by the door in three places”. Anyway we stayed and it only cost $18 and was a nice park with good facilities.

24.09.07

CHARTERS TOWERS

Stopped off a the clothing outlet in Townsville and bought some more shorts on our way to Charters Towers. We have defiantly left the rainforest behind and are now back into the savannah woodland which is very dry. Arrived about midday and booked into a Top tourist park and have a spot under a huge mango tree which is complete shade, and dropping flowers everywhere.

Went for a drive into the town which has a very rich past, this is borne out by the local architecture with a lot of the old buildings having been restored. Was once the second largest city in Qld at the height of the gold boom

Drove up onto Towers Hill which overlooks the town, they are old mines and bunkers built during the war to store munitions for the RAAF which was based in Townsville.

Came back to the park to find a lot of other campers had arrived AND THEN a bus arrived with 40 teenagers from Warnambool. I spoke to the staff and they are doing a 17 day trip from home to Ayers Rock Alice Springs Mount Isa Cairns Airlie Beach and then home, FROM THERE 39 hours direct!!. They have two drivers and just keep going, i.e. Alice to Mt Isa in one hit. Apparently the year 11 do a trip each year.

Anyway they are all very well behaved and did not make too much noise.

22.09.07

TOWNSVILLE

Packed up and moved camp to Rowe Bay Park which is pretty full but no traffic and on the very nice beach, realised we didn’t redeem our key money so went back for it. Called at a couple of computer stores on the way to see if I can get the TV card to work but no luck( there is a problem with the software).

Later in the afternoon I had to go back to Stocklands Shopping Centre to find an optometrist as the lens fell out once again (had to have it repaired in Cairns and about three times before we left). Di bought some T Shirts whilst there. Stopped off on the Strand to watch the Offshore Speed boats practice but must have been too late. This is the first time these boats are racing here in Townsville and we saw some coming into town on semi trailers, they are huge and cost up to $1,000,000 each.

Listened to Port Power make road kill of the Kangaroos ( went for a walk at ¾ time as it was too depressing).

Watched John Doe a Garry Cooper movie on DVD, quite good black and white movie.

20.09.07

TOWNSVILLE

Left Balgal beach in brilliant sunshine and calm seas and went down to Townsville were we booked into a Top Tourist Park, didn’t know at the time but it is near the airport and on a busy corner and the sewers stunk, apart from that the internet was dreadfully slow but the sand flies were not too bad.

I booked the Prado in for a service on Friday and then went into the city for a look. It has changed a lot since we were last here and the drive along the Strand is very nice indeed. It is really a very pretty city on the foreshore but when you get back it drops away considerably. Its a very large busy city with a lot of local industry and a busy port.

21.09.07

TOWNSVILLE

As stated prev day this is not the quietest park, lots of noise with planes trains and motor bikes.

I have been having some trouble with the computer in that the c drive was beginning to fill right up so I took it to a computer shop today and the young fellow there transferred a lot of files over to the D drive, all for no cost which was very good of him. The wireless connection here at the park is next to useless so have not had much joy with it.

We went to the top of Castle Hill which is right in the centre of the city and gives spectacular 360 views, although it was very smoky and not that clear.

Took the Prado in to the Toyota dealer at 1400 for a service and walked the very large shopping precinct over the road looking for a new chair which we bought at a place that was full of fishing gear and camping, rather incredible.

Back to the noise of homeward traffic in the park, might move to another tomorrow.

18.09.07 and 19.09.07

BALGAL BEACH

Left Ingham after Di went to the physio to have her ankle seen to, wrapped it up and told her to wear her new shoes with the orthotics ( she had been doing that anyway) and charged her lots of moola. Any way its seems to be better..

Travelled down to Balga Beach which is near Rollingstone and stayed in a very nice council free camp site, just a toilet (clean) but no power or water. Remembered why we stay in paid parks when it got dark and all of the generators started, don’t by a SCORPION, bloody noisy!!

Anyway it was a lovely spot with a lawned park overlooking the beach and a boat ramp into the creek nearby, had every potential to catch fish in both places but no luck. I fished both the creek and the beach.

There were professional netters working out of there and they were returning with Spanish mackerel and queen fish, I spoke to local chap fishing from the beach and he said he caught a queen fish the previous day. There were a couple of queenies and a lot of mackerel heads washed up onto the beach.

17.09.07

INGHAM day 2

Spent a very quiet day as Di had hurt her ankle and was having trouble in walking: made an appointment with a physio for next day. Did some basic shopping and went to the new Woolies that had only opened today, jazz band and an accordion soloist and lots of people.

Spent the afternoon in the cool of the hotel verandah using the free wireless internet connection and caught up on the blog.

There are a lot of sugar trains here and there is a line just down the street from the park, I walked down and counted 197 carriages on one: these were the small cane trucks but they would be about a kilometre long.

16.08.07

INGHAM

Left Kurrimine early and travelled to Cardwell where we stopped for a coffee and milk and bread. The weather continues to get better each day; in fact when we set up camp it was quite hot. Stopped at the lookout overlooking Hinchinbrook Channel, very spectacular and Di said it is better than Daintree.

Went on to Lucinda were I did some fishing from a short jetty with no result, but there were barra working the bait fish there. Spoke to a chap who was a retired pastor who fished there a lot both in boat and pier and he said the tides were all wrong, always bloody is!!!!!!!! The jetty here at 6 kilometers is the longest in the southern hemisphere.

As the park there was very full we went onto Ingham where we booked into the backyard of Hotel Noorla which was built in 1920’s by the Italians and is very quaint, really old world feel with timber walls and a display of butterfly and stuffed bird trays. Also a big wall display of old crockery and plates and saucers, really friendly laidback people in beautiful grounds.

15.08.07

MISSION BEACH

Went For a drive down to Mission Beach and environs. A perfect day weather wise and beautiful white sand beaches for miles, a lot cleaner than Kurrimine.

Stopped on Clump Point where there are magnificent views over the clear blue water to Dunk Island and Hinchinbrook in the distance.

Stopped for lunch at Mission Beach right where the parachutists were landing, three lots of them.

Attempted to ring my cousin Carol but did not have a lot of luck with the mobile (she lives there).The next day when checking my email I found that as Carol did not know my phone number and that she had to go to Cairns for the weekend she had left her details for Anne to put into another email, but by the time I found this out it was all too late as we were then in Ingham. It turned out that she lives in Garner Beach were we had been and she has had cassowaries in her back yard.

Went on to Tully (reported to be the highest rainfall in Aust) and then back to the park on the Bruce Hwy.

Drove into Silkwood which is the nearest town to Kurrimine.

Earlier in the week I had seen on Google Earth that there was a Geocache in the Park behind us so went for a hunt, and FOUND IT, my first and without a GPS. Now that my appetite has been whetted there will be no stopping me (apart from Di not letting me buy one as they cost over a thousand bucks!!!). Anyway I was pretty excited as I didn’t really know what I was looking for.

http://www.geocaching.com/about/

14.09.07

KURRIMINE BEACH

Up and away, reluctantly, and drove to Kurrimine Beach. Arrived at 0930, all of 60 k’s.

Booked into the King reef Hotel Caravan Park this is on the beach. There is a Top Tourist Park but this is back a bit. Very long sandy beach , not as pretty as Etty Bay but if you had not been there first you would think this great. Etty Bay was something Special. This beach has a reef out about a kilometre and on a really LOW tide people have walked out to it( and some have drowned on the way back with a rising tide).It overlooks Mission Beach and Dunk Island, with Hinchinbrook in the far distance.

Spoke to some people on the beach who had returned and had two Sweetlip. It was quite breezy at that stage but in the late afternoon it calmed right down to glassy. The weather this trip has been magnificent and we are both enjoying Nth Qld more than before, maybe as we have more time to take it in.

Went over to the pub after tea and watched the AFL with Collingwood beating West Coast, an exciting game with 72 all at full time. Two five minute time on, and Collingwood got up by 19 points.

The country is very very green with the rainforest on the hills and the acres of sugar cane and bananas, there appear to be a lot of very nice newer homes and some have large areas of mown lawn and tropical trees surrounding them.

Kurrimine Beach is faily large with a lot of nice holiday homes, a few locals and NO shop just the hotel complex. The shop was blown away in cyclone Larry and hasn’t been rebuilt.

There is still some evidence of the cyclone in this area especially the trees, most of them were stripped of all leaves and you can still see the evidence of new growth. Not many homes left in a state of disrepair although in the main street of Innisfail there was big three story hotel still with the roof off and no remedial work being done( it pays to insure).

A lot of the fishermen here use tractors to put their boats in, most yards have one.

12.08.07

ETTY BAY day 3

Another perfect morning, b/fast on the beach and then both had a swim.

After lunch into Innisfail to shop and called at Flying Fish Point.

Prior to tea joined the locals for drinks on the beach, a very friendly lot.

13.08.07

ETTY BAY

Spent some time and finally sorted out the Blog. Pretty slow and only one thing at a time but has potential.

Di let out a big “Malcolm come quick with the camera” and there was a cassowary walking right past our caravan. The newcomers were all out with the cameras but the regulars had seen it all before.

Did the washing and then went for a swim, spent the rest of the day lazing around. Tough life.

Just after lunch there were screams and squealing and about 5 tandem skydivers floated in and landed on the beach, we had seen them on the day we arrived but had forgotten as they usually do it each day if they have the numbers.

11.08.07

ETTY BAY

Well for the first time we did not see a cloud. Sat on the beach (on tables) and had breakfast looking out over the Coral Sea.

There were dolphins leaping out of the water, well I saw one anyway. Went for a walk around the point and clamboured over the rocks to a very small secluded white sandy beach. Suggested we go skinny dipping but was met with a look of “you have to be kidding”. (Later in the day with the tide out you could walk around on the beach so wasn’t so secluded after all)

Walked back the other way where our neighbours were fishing from the rocks, they had a fish but didn’t know what, had a look and my guess was a Remora; don’t know where the shark was. Interesting bait, they made up a brew of flour into a thick paste add some smell

in a tin of tuna or sardines and then mix in cotton wool to hold it all together!! And it worked.

Spent the rest of the day lounging around, hired 24 hours wireless connection for $7, the cheapest yet so sent some mail out. Also did some work on the annex poles cutting and shutting them to make them less obtrusive, especially after Di banged her head on one.

10.08.07

ETTY BEACH

Left Cairns about 0900 in the warm sunshine (although it got cloudy later, usually does) and travelled through miles of sugar cane, usually very high and some being cut. Called into Babinda a nice little sugar town which has a HUGE amount of rain a year something like 2 metres! Had lunch at the bakery and the cane train ran past in the main street although didn’t get a photo.

Spoke to the chap in the hardware store for a while about cane, he said they plant every fourth year and cut the regrowth on the other years. He used to cut cane by hand in his youth.

Went on to the Babinda Boulders which were quite spectacular and the country is a picture with very lush growth and rainforest. This is the place where John Danielsen saw a chap fall when he was there and he was not found. A very dangerous place. There was a plaque there stating how some chap had died there in 1979 and may have been the one that John witnessed.

10.08.07

ETTY BEACH

Left Cairns about 0900 in the warm sunshine (although it got cloudy later, usually does) and travelled through miles of sugar cane, usually very high and some being cut. Called into Babinda a nice little sugar town which has a HUGE amount of rain a year something like 2 metres! Had lunch at the bakery and the cane train ran past in the main street although didn’t get a photo.

Spoke to the chap in the hardware store for a while about cane, he said they plant every fourth year and cut the regrowth on the other years. He used to cut cane by hand in his youth.

Went on to the Babinda Boulders which were quite spectacular and the country is a picture with very lush growth and rainforest. This is the place where John Danielsen saw a chap fall when he was there and he was not found. A very dangerous place. There was a plaque there stating how some chap had died there in 1979 and may have been the one that John witnessed.

We then went on to Etty Bay which is a lovely as we had been led to believe, only a small beach that is backed onto the rainforest, and there is colour in the water instead of the usual muddy colour we have seen previously.

09.08.07

Cairns day 5

Went to an Assemblies of God Church in the morning and stayed for a meal after which they do every week for visitors. A very lively (loud) church with about 200 people. As we left the park another Prado followed us all the way there, a single woman travelling alone from Bunbury in WA by the name of Sandy. She had been the week before, she came around and had a chat with us later in the afternoon and was very nice.

Spent the afternoon in the camp talking to a chap and his wife from down Geelong way, an old bushie and a real character. Told the story about the families in the district all going to the zoo and a backward family who hadn’t been to the city before. They took their lunch in a big paper bag and when it was lunch time they sat on the grass with some animals including an emu. Well the emu stuck his head into the paper bag and “dad” grabbed him by the throat and nearly choked him. He said there were mums and dads and kids going everywhere.

Later we went to Yorkeys Knob Sailing Club for tea with Simon and Danielle which was a lovely setting on the marina with lots of boats big and small. We had a very pleasant evening with them and were home about 2130.

07.08.07

CAIRNS day 3

Another quiet day, went into the main shopping centre and then to Rustys Markets and bought some bananas and pineapple etc. Spent afternoon lazing around.

08.08.07

Cairns day 4

Into the city to the markets on the front street which weren’t as big as last year. Di bought a couple of things. Had a small look around and then out to Trinity Beach where we stayed last year and on the way back to the park went up to the Barron Falls.

Watched the Crows get done by Hawthorn along with some other South Aussies.

Went back to the city for tea and went to the movies and saw the new Bourne movie, pretty good. Tea was at the night markets where we had all you can get on plate seafood, you can get a lot more if you eat as you go along the line!

The Cairns races were on over the last two days so it was interesting to see the mix of people in the street. There were a lot of young flappers all dressed up in their very best with cocktail dresses and fancy hats and then the tourists getting around in thongs and t-shirts.

Warm and sunny day. Went into the city and had a walk around, went out to the Pier which is practically empty, most of the shops closed and a big new Gym taking up most of the space.

We were walking in the main street when we heard “oy” and there were Ron and Kath! They were stopping in a hotel as just as they got down the mountain from Kuranda his brakes failed, the brake hoses had been peppered with stones and had broken on one side. Pretty lucky.

We met some more people next door Peter and Marg Cunningham who worked with Geoff Dalitz at Mobil, and is good mates with Nick Keros.

05.08.07

CAIRNS

Left Port Douglas about 0900 and went down to Lake Placid Park arriving about 1100, booked in and then went to Smithfield Shopping Centre and bought some basics.

Very friendly people in the park who made us very welcome, one couple from Victor Harbour and other from St Agnes. Went with them to a sausage sizzle tea in the camp kitchen which was a nice evening.

The usual cloudy afternoons with a drizzle of rain.

04.08.07

PORT DOUGLAS

Left Wonga Beach early and were in Port Douglass about 1030, went into the Big 4 Park south of the town and booked into an ensuite site. Not a bad park but not as nice as some, not near the beach but set back against the rainforest 2-3 k’s from Pt Douglass.

Went into the town and did the tourist thing, shopping coffee etc. Back to the park mid afternoon and veged out.

Met some people in a cabin over the road that live in Largs Bay and knew the Engwerdas when they lived in the same street.

04.08.07

CAPE TRIBULATION

Another fine morning which cooled and became cloudy in the late afternoon.

Took some lunch and went up to cape Tribulation. When we were there last year we were not all that impressed however this time we were very impressed. I think the difference was being able to poke around and take your own time and not being held to schedule. Went right into the Daintree Village which was surprise as it is a neat tidy little community whereas I imagined it to be a ramshackle group of hippies huts with hairy arm pitted women. Spoke to a chap there we spoke to who was a 4th generation local.

Went onto cross over the Daintree River by ferry $18 return, bought some very good bananas from a road side stand and went on to the lookout on Alexander Range where you look out over the entrance to the river.

Travelled onto CapeTribulation and then returned stopping at the Mangrove Board Walk and then at the very nice Marrja Boardwalk. Had some lunch at Thornton Beach and called into the beach at Cow Bay. A very nice day with pleasant scenery.

02.08.07

Mossman

Went for a drive into Mossman and bought bread and milk, had a look at the sugar mill but not too close as it was very smelly. Drove up to the Mossman Gorge which is very nice with clear water cascading over the boulders and fish swimming.

Drove into a beach nearby and had lunch in the car as it is still quite blowy. This is true sugar cane country with the cane growing right up to the town and a network of cane trains running everywhere. The rain forest comes right down to the fields and is very dense.

When we arrived back to the park Kath and Ron had just pulled up, so we had a chat with them after tea.

Walked along the beach in the afternoon which is very long could be 4/5 k’s very sandy but a dirty colour and fringed with palm trees. Saw a dead turtle washed up and a chap pulled a basketball from the surf, makes you wonder where it came from!

(Saw the same people later at Etty Bay and they said that when the basketball had been pumped up it had burst as it was all perished.)

01.09.07

WONGA BEACH

Well last night it really blew and blew and when it stopped it blew some more (it didn’t really stop). Called into the market on our way out and saw a collection of second hand junk you wouldn’t take home from the tip. Stopped at the lookout just north of Mount Carbine which is a very steep and long climb up on top of the ranges(going north) and had lunch at a lovely camp spot on the bank of McLeod Creek, a popular camp spot with 5/6 local vehicles ensconced there for the weekend.

Turned off at Mount Molloy toward Mossman where the country changed dramatically from dry Savannah woodland to tropical green farmland with lots of sugar cane. The last 10 k’s into Mossman down the mountain on a very steep and windy road.

Had been told about the Pinnacle Park at Wonga Beach so checked it out and found it to be very nice, with lots of tall green trees palms and right on the beach which is very long and sandy, although not very white more a muddy colour. The wind which had been blowing very strong all day made the beach quite rough but the park is sheltered and not nearly as windy as Cooktown.

31.08.07

COOKTOWN

Up fishing at 0630 and again after lunch with no success although saw another being caught. A boat came in and moored right where we were fishing and wasn’t due to leave again until 1100 so went home.

Visited the James Cook Museum that had been opened by Queen Liz at some time, it was very good and was in the old convent.

Had a fairly quiet day with Di having a sleep and we had Thai takeaway for tea. Went up to the camp kitchen with the hope of watching the Crows game but it was full of Rugby fans and the AFL wasn’t on anyway.

30.08.07

COOKTOWN

Blow, bloody hell did it blow! All night, it comes in gusts and really makes the van shake then drops off to start over, doesn’t drop off in the morning but lasts all day. Still it didn’t rain today and it is nice and warm, just have to get used to the wind.

Went up onto the top of Grassy Hill( which is covered in trees) for magnificent views of Cooktown , Endeavour River and the surrounding mountains. A very high and steep climb that had mum sitting on my knee, used low 4WD on the way down which is fantastic. Saw Ron and Kath up there but didn’t see them again through the day.

After went to the old Bank of NSW building that has been very well restored although it was still in use in the late 1990’s. It is a very imposing brick building with magnificent timber furnishings and lovely lights. They have a very comprehensive display of photos and drawings of local history. There were 22,000 Chinese there at the peak of the gold fever at Palmer River in the 1800’s and Cooktown was the second busiest port in Qld. Today it is a sleepy seaside village as yet unspoilt by modern development.

Later I went to the jetty and arrived as a nice barra was being pulled up, not that I saw another! As I said yesterday they all use hand lines and live bait. The bait is caught by using drop nets or jigging those multi hook thingo’s with coloured bits on them, there were about 5/6 locals there and they were only too happy to share their bait, not that it did any good, however they didn’t catch any either.

I went back again about 1700 and stayed til sundown but no luck, a chap was leaving and gave me a live bait he had caught a 6/700 mm Barracouta before I arrived.

Before that we went for a drive to the Botanical Gardens and then to the north a bit to a village named Marton which is on the upper Endeavour River. There is a new development there with some REAL flash houses, well actually only a couple but the agent is still hopeful. At one place there is a new strong footbridge over the river which must be used if the road bridge is flooded, probably for school kids to get to school? Also went to the Cooktown Cemetery which has sections for the Chinese, Jewish, Catholic ( Nuns and Priests) and an area that looked a bit feral, like the alternate people were buried there. It is scattered over a very large area and dates back many years, some of the graves are adorned with large clam shells and other seashells, most interesting.

29.08.07

COOKTOWN

Up fairly early and into Coles in Mareeba by 830 where we did some basics, also spoke to a chap in the street about the Porta Bote, I should have franchise as I have “sold” quite a few on the road. Still verging on rain and did so at Mount Molloy (and again in Cooktown).

Road up is very hilly to mountainous in places, stopped at Palmer River the site of a very big gold rush in the 1880’s. This was the cause of Cooktown’s growth as there are a lot of old buildings here including banks etc. We saw Ron and Kath again at Palmer River and also a family of 4 mum dad and 2 teenage daughters, in a 1950’s Vauxhall that we had seen earlier in Croydon. At that stage they were having trouble with a wheel bearing and they had the car (and trailer) taken into Cairns where they had new bearings flown up from Melbourne. I think they live in NSW and had been on a Vauxhall rally to Darwin and had then come east, blooming long way!

Some great scenery on the way to Cooktown including the Black Mountains which were very high but made up of big black boulders piled on top of each other.

Arrived in Cooktown about 1400 and booked into a Big 4 park which is very nice, they said there is wireless internet but then found out you have to pay and was quite expensive. Cooktown appears to be as yet unspoiled by progress and is a nice place but blowing a gale, windy as anything. Went to the wharf area where there were some people fishing and three aboriginal girls had a legal barra in the esky. The interesting thing was that everyone was only using light hand lines but with a bloody big hook. Some were using live bait that they caught with throw nets although some were hooking small stripies. The tide was very low with mud flats and a lot of boats stranded in the mud, after tea went back and the tide was coming in full bore and was only a little below the jetty.

Later that evening I found my hat sitting under the pack rack at the back of the car, the door must have closed on it and held it in place, last time I remember seeing it was at Palmer River 160 k’s back!

28.08.07

GRANITE GORGE via MAREEBA

Again awoke to light rain and cool conditions. Packed up and left by 1000 and went up to Mareeba where we took some back roads past the airport and saw lots of sugar and more maize, saw the first banana crops as well. Stopped into the steel yard where Danielle works and said hello to her, they will be home in a fortnight so we should be back in Cairns by then.

From there we went out to a camp site at Granite Gorge about 15 k SW of Mareeba where we stayed for the night (big trip this day about 45ks!). Bit of a bush camp but it has hot water and power at $12 a head plus $2 for power! A bit rich as we paid $27 at a Big 4 in Atherton and that had free internet. We went for a walk into and amongst the granites in the gorge, very pretty with running water and tame wallaby’s. Didn’t go all the way as it was a rather challenging walk (or climb) but very nice.

Ron and Kath the folk from the last camp turned up as well and came down for a chat after tea.

27.08.07

Lakes Eacham and Barrine

Awoke to rain on the roof albeit very light, it fined up a bit and didn’t rain again but was rather cool for most of the day.

We went into Atherton and did some shopping and filled the first gas bottle( not bad the first since we got the van). After shopping we went for a drive to Lake Eacham and then to Lake Barrine. Both of these are volcano craters and are both surrounded by very dense rainforest, quite picturesque and pretty.

There are a lot of crops of maize in this area that still need to be reaped, wasn’t real sure so stopped for a closer look.

Came back and put the boat back on top and tidied up ready to leave tomorrow, went down and spent some time with Ron and Kath who are also in the park(only ones). They are from Mandurah in WA and are travelling light, in a cruiser and sleep in the back, they have a side annex and not much else, nice folk, they are going onto Cooktown as well so may see them again.

26.08.07

Lake Tinnaroo

Spent a very quiet day reading and doing nothing in general. It was alittle cooler with cloud and a stronger breeze so did not put boat in at all. Watched the first quarter of the Port Geelong game. Made a few phone calls, kids Butters Bill B etc.

25.08.07

YUNGABURRA MARKETS

Got up early and went into Yungaburra markets arriving about 0830 and it was chocka block, very good market but they are all the same weird hippie type sheilas wearing the same clothes they hand made in 1975: and haven’t washed since! Bought some fresh (organic) fruit and vegies. Saw a swaggie bloke there doing Henry Lawson poetry, he was very good. I have seen him down in Adelaide in Rundle Street so it’s a big walk. Spoke to another couple there who we had seen at Cobbolt Gorge.

The land here on the Atherton Tableland is very fertile; everything is very green and lush. Stopped and took some photos of cane cutting gear.

Back to the camp about 1230 and spent a quiet afternoon reading the paper and Di reading her book. Later I went out in the boat for a while but nothing about although spoke to a chap who had caught a black bream on peeled prawn. I have had the net in all of the time but nothing in it, I think they need to be closer to tree stumps etc.

Later I got the TV card set up and seeing that it worked took it over to the toilet block where I pinched a power point and watched the Crows Brisbane game. A chap named Ron from Mandurah in WA came and joined me.

It is to be noted that there have been huge amounts of rain down where Fred lives, up to 800 mm in some areas. There is no sign of it this far north where the day temp has been about 27 28 degrees and needing two blankets at night.

24.08.07

LAKE TINNAROO

Arrived at Barrabadine Scout camp site about 1400 after shopping at Big W etc and to PO.

Yesterday there was no one else here but today there are a few other campers not that it makes any difference as it is very large and very private. Put the boat in and threw some lures from the bank. A very quiet and peaceful spot may stay for a few days.

23.08.07

ATHERTON2

Had a quiet day doing some washing and then into the town for a walk and shopping.
Di had a haircut for $25 after refusing to pay $55 at the first place asked, maybe she should have paid it as the cut wasn’t that good! After we went out to Lake Tinnaroo for a drive and to look at a camp site we had been told about, Barabadine, it is a scout campsite and has a resident caretaker. There was a note on the blackboard to say they were “in town shopping”, so had a look around and decided we would go back next day, very quiet treed site on the edge of the lake, no one else around.

Spent the afternoon on the internet as it was now working at the van. Rang kids etc at night.

22.08.07

ATHERTON

Up early due to the kookaburras believing it was their duty to wake the whole camp at 0530; the same ones sent us to bed previous evening :( No Victoria they weren’t sitting on an electric wire but Grandma did see one on the power lines today), so we were away by 0730. Stopped at Mount Garnett for a cuppa and then went onto Ravenshoe where we went to the bakery for lunch and had a walk around, also did some shopping. There is a steam train running from there once a week on Sundays, and along side is a nice clean green area with lots of people camping. Spoke to a chap working on the train and he lives in Brisbane and comes up a few times a year as he has a boiler master’s ticket.

Continued on toward Atherton and stopped on a big hill to view the wind turbines. From there there was road to Millaa Millaa Falls but it had signs saying “Not recommended for caravans”, I figured we had a camper trailer and that would be OK. Wrong, after a few K’s of very narrow road we turned back. However we did stop at Millstrem Falls that are supposed to be the widest in Australia.

Arrived in Atherton and booked into a Big 4 park which has internet access free, so that is probably worth 10 bucks, however it won’t work away from the office so sat by the pool to reach the network. Checked email and sent one out, rang everyone after tea as the mobile works again after a long while.

21.08.07

UNDARRA LAVA TUBES

Left Forsayth about 9 and went back to Georgetown where we stopped at the local butcher and bought some steak, sausages , corned silverside and some mince for $30. The sausages are monsters. Stopped the local park and had a cuppa and cakes bought at the general store and went to the information centre.

Went through to Mount Surprise where we put in $100 of petrol and as it was only oneish decided to go onto Undarra arriving about 1400. We booked in for a two hour tours at 1530 so will only stay the one night. Changed over the regulator on the gas as there was a leak.

Went in a bus about 56 ks to the lava tubes which are amazing, they say there is 160 k’s of them some with the roofs fallen in and others complete. Truly amazing and have to be seen to gain a true perspective of their size, the guide was excellent as well.

Cooked up a pasta dish with the mince bought earlier and after tea I went to the camp fire where some young bloke was talking about feral animals in the park.

20.08.07

COBBOLT GORGE

Up at six and showered then drove 45 k’s into Cobbolt Gorge Park ready for the 0800 boat trip. Lots of cattle and blue kangaroos on the road in. Went in a 4WD bus for 5/6 k’s to the Gorge which was incredible. The sides a very high but the width is only a few feet across with the punt nearly touching on both sides. The punts are powered by electric motors so it is very quiet and the water is still. This area is on a working cattle station and although it had been known for many years it was only explored at water level in 1994 when the son of the owner and some mates took a tinnie in there to explore. They were equally amazed and from this a full blown tourist venture has emerged. There is a caravan park with cabin accommodation and the normal tourist facilities but all of it done in a very plush way, no expense has been spared. A thoroughly enjoyable experience.

After a lunch at the van we went 100 k’s to the east to the town of Einasliegh were we saw another very rugged gorge, the Copperfield Gorge. A very small town with a pub but no shops, this was a copper mining area and the locals are very hopeful of it becoming a copper mine again. We stopped at the pub as the people at Gregory River (by Lawn Hill) had told us they had been looking after it while the owner was away on holidays. Also bought some hydroponic tomatoes and lettuce from a chap in the caravan park, no vans but he is ready!

Late afternoon we all gathered again in the kitchen area for drinks as some of them were leaving next day for home. A very nice day all round.

19.08.07

FORSAYTH

After washing the van at Croydon park we left about 0900 another cool and cloudy morning.

Traveled through to Georgetown stopping at an old gold workings at ?????????? where there was a nice billabong and a good camping spot. Bought some things at Georgetown and then went onto Forsayth on a good dirt road.

This is a very small and quiet town of about the same size as Port Kenny, a pub and one store. There are some lovely bougainvillea flowers in the gardens; it is also on the Savanahlander train route which is a tourist line. We booked in for two nights and will do Cobbolt Gorge tomorrow.

We had just cooked tea when a chap from NZ and his wife asked if we would like to share tea with them and others in the camp kitchen. There were two other couples and three single chaps and we had a very nice evening. These people are here prospecting for gold of which there is a reasonable chance of finding, if you are real lucky. Both of the couples had at separate times been to Eyre Peninsular and one had actually camped at Talia Caves.

18.08.07

CROYDON (day 2)

Decided to stay another day as we do seem to be travelling through quickly. Not only that there are Barra in the local dam, and a lot more history to pursue. Went for a drive to the dam and threw a few lures about without success, a couple there fishing for grunter but none today although they had three yesterday.

Had another look around the town, the old mine battery, the “oldest shop in Oz” and the Chinese section. Later went back to Belmore Lake and once again came home empty handed.

17.08.07

CROYDON

Had rain through the night which caused us to get up and put pegs into the annexe, not very much but it was quite cool and windy all day.

Stopped off at Normanton at the library where we checked email etc in the old Burns Philp building, very old timber framed galvanised building with lots of history. As we were nearly empty I put $200 worth of petrol in at $1.36.

Travelled along side of the Gulflander rail line to Croydon which is a popular tourist route, it runs down on Wednesdays and back on Thursdays which means an overnight stay in Croydon. Probably the most boring bit of road we have travelled so glad we didn’t do it on the train as well.

Stayed in a nice green park at Croydon and went for a walk around the town which is only a shell of what it once was. There is a pop of 300 but in the late 1800’s it was booming gold town with a pop of 7000 with 60 pubs, over 1100 kids in three schools. There are a lot of heritage buildings restored and a very friendly information office. Had a couple of beers at the pub and went back to have prawns for tea, (bought for $15 kilo at Karumba). This park has cable TV so perhaps we should have brought the portable, watched DVD “The last time I saw Paris” with Elizabeth Taylor and Van Johnston-boring.