The journey home…..

 We turned left and followed the road through Atherton and soon we had left the suburbs and were on our way for real.  A quick stop at Ravenshoe for bread we then kept driving to a favourite gravel pit in Minnamoolka.  This large space is becoming more popular and this time there were about six vans in overnight.  We arrived early as Bill wanted to tryout the new mobile aerial he had purchased so we can get internet in the bush.  Together with a six metre pole for it to be attached to it was a bit interesting watching him sorting it all out.  And the best bit is that it worked.  

Our journey from here took us through The Lynd then Hughenden where we stayed overnight at the Showgrounds there.  I was hoping to see The Flinders River with water in it after all the rain Qld had received but other than a couple of puddles it was not to be.  There was however a stunning new artwork on the water tower there.

Next stop was Winton and from there we drove on to Longreach arriving after lunch on Saturday.  We found everything closed but loved the interesting sculpture in the Main Street.  The work by John Underwood is called The Drovers but is also know as Around the Campfire.  It is one of approximately 50 artworks titled The Human Series which were commissioned in 1988 for the World Expo in Brisbane.  With no reason to stay we drove onto Stonehenge where we stayed overnight.  The land as we drove in was green and lush as all the rain throughout The Channel Country has been amazing.  Having a look through the information centre the next morning found some new artwork on the water tanks outside.

Our route from here took us through Jundah, Quilpie and Charleville on our way to Cunnamulla where we were going to stay at Bowra for another few days.  With so much rain here over the last few months all the tracks are closed to vehicles and you can only walk around the camping area.  And use the main track to go to the gate.  The rain has also brought out the flies and they are feral.  Fly nets were the fashion statement of everyone there this time.  A very different visit than normal but it was still fun and Bill did find some birds.

Leaving Cunnamulla the next day we drove to Cobar and camped at Glenhope Camp, a great little site on a farmers spare paddock.  And the daughter runs a coffee van there so a great find.  After some shopping in town the next morning we planned to go on to Lake Cargellgio but with all the rain the camps here were closed so we kept on going to Coleambally where we stayed at a community camp ground.  The temperature has been dropping constantly since we left FNQ and once again it was freezing.  Thank goodness for our heater.

Our first stop of the next day was Jerilderie where we had coffee at the bakery.  As we all know this is one of the places that Ned Kelly has made famous and I loved the sculpture of him made of old bread tins.  A short time later we crossed the Murray River at Cobram and were back in Victoria.  We arrived home at 12.15pm and have to say this is the first time we have come from Cunnamulla to home in three days.  It rained while we had lunch and 13 degrees was not a nice welcome home but it was good to be back.  It was a busy afternoon unpacking the van.

It was good to wake up in a house again though it was a bit chilly until the heaters got going.  We caught up with Judi and Peter for a coffee at Fare Enough and life was back to normal.

until next time…….

Time on the Tablelands………

We left Malanda this morning and I can honestly say I was not sorry to leave this place.  I do hope that one day it receives the love and care it needs as it is such a shame to see the only caravan park in  town looking like this.  Our destination this morning was another caravan park in Walkamin.  This tiny little dot on the map is half way between Atherton and Mareeba and we have passed it many times before but had never stopped here.  This year our usual camp site is up for sale and we had no idea if it was still taking campers so it was time to find somewhere new.  Another wow!  

A lovely little park owned by Dallas and Mark who have made this lovely spot into such a welcoming place to visit.  One of the reviews said you arrive as visitors and leave as friends and that is so true.  Together with on site caretakers Lorraine and Jim this lovely park is beautifully kept and a lovely, central spot to spend time exploring the whole area as we did.  We ended up staying for longer than we expected and thoroughly enjoyed our time here.

With Mareeba only a short drive away we had many trips into town and many coffees enjoyed at Coffee Works and Jacques Coffee Plantation.  Atherton was only a short drive the other way so there were shopping expeditions there too.  We drove down to check out the markets at Kuranda one day and I finally found a hat I am happy with.  I can’t believe how difficult it has been to find a simple hat that was not cowboy oriented.  Though I suppose we are in that sort of territory now.  The market seems not to have rebounded quite as well as pre Covid time with lots of empty stall spaces now.

After lunch at Mungali Dairy one day we called into Lake Eacham Caravan Park to catch up with Bob and Ollie who where staying there.  Another sad little park here that’s in need of lots of love and care.  The birdlife here is wonderful though and while enjoying coffee and cakes with our hosts Bill got some lovely pictures of  the Honey Eaters that visited.  It was good to see them both again.

We visited Jeff and Donna who were staying at the Rodeo Grounds in Mareeba and after a fun morning with them in the lovely sunshine we had a complete change of weather in the afternoon when we drove to Nerada Tea Gardens for lunch.  As we passed through Atherton the rain started and continued all afternoon.  We braved the rain to see the Tree Kangaroos but I left Bill there and returned to stay dry in the car.  Back at home winter had returned in earnest and it was inside with the heater once again.

After hearing of a sighting of some Lesser Sooty Owls we spent a couple of nights visiting the Curtain Fig Tree in Yungaburra.  Just a few metres away was a tree with a large hollow and just on dark the owls appeared.  There was an adult and two juveniles and it was just so great to be able to see them.  Although on both occasions there were other people there as well they seemed to be used to people viewing them.

We visited Yungaburra a couple of times in the day as well.  Once to take a walk along Peterson Creek to see the platypus and we saw four of them in a few different spots.  This year we walked a little further and found the suspension bridge across the creek.  It really is a lovely place to visit.  And of course we had to go to the market there one Saturday.  It really is the best one on the tablelands.  

We drove down to Port Douglas one Sunday to check out the market there.  It was certainly a different story to last year with wall to wall people throughout the market.  Seems people on holidays are not concerned about Covid.  There was not a mask in sight (ours stayed on) so any wonder it is still spreading.  Once again I bought a fabulous tea towel from a local artist and a sweet little platypus from the resident glass blower.

We decided to drive home around the coast road and stopped to have a look at Rex Lookout.  It was a glorious day and we found lots of people here watching the Hang Gliders enjoying the thermals.  While there we watched two guys set up and take to the skies in Paragliders.  It was amazing to see them both though I was a concerned about how they would get back on the ground.  

There were trips to Hastie Swamp, Wongabel State Forest, Julatten and Mount Molloy.  A visit to Atherton to see the Tablelands Regional Gallery gave us the opportunity to see the wonderful exhibition ‘Beyond the Lens’.  This showcased four local photographers who all use different techniques to manipulate their original photos to create stunning art pieces.

A final visit to Cairns where we had a look at the Art Gallery there amongst more mundane chores.  The exhibition called ‘Faceless’ had us scratching our head but as we all know art is in the eye of the beholder.

One incredible experience was visiting The Bat Hospital in Atherton not to see the bats but to see the Victoria’s Rifle Bird.  We were not disappointed and many males and females came in attracted by the fruit put out for the bats.  A noise above me made me look up and right above me was a male dancing and displaying for a long while.  Bill got some amazing pictures and it is something neither of us will ever forget.

As we drove through the tablelands each visit we have always passed a big strawberry farm but have never stopped.  This year we did and what a treat.  Shaylees Strawberries has great coffee, fabulous scones and the best strawberry jam.  We bought a large jar!  And the strawberry gelato was to die for.  Can’t believe we have never found this before.

Finally our visit to Walkamin on the Atherton Tablelands had come to an end.  It was time to begin the long trip south to home again.  We said goodbye to Dallas and Mark, thanking them for a wonderful stay and we truly hope to see them again one day.  

until next time…….

Emerald to Malanda………

We said farewell to Alex and the family as the kids left for school.  It has been wonderful to see them again and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with them all. Our first stop was in Clermont where we had a coffee at Lotta Lattes then we continued on towards Charters Towers.  We camped that night just out of Belyando Crossing.  

Leaving early the next morning we got into Charters Towers in time for lunch.  We had a look around before leaving a short while later and we continued on to Bivouac Junction where we stayed for the next few days.  As it was the first week of the school holidays we expected it to be busy but it wasn’t so we were very pleased.  The days and nights are a little warmer so we can finally change out of the jeans and sleeves.

We had no plans to go into town but the next morning decided to return to Charters Towers as Bill had to find some gadget for the internet and I was still looking for a new hat.  The one I have is useless in the sun but so far I’ve not had any luck.  Still didn’t that day either.  A walk around the streets took us past the Church of England and we saw the old Bell Tower there.  The John Emerson Bell Tower was first erected in 1883 and relocated to its current location in 1994.

After a few days enjoying the warmer weather it was time be get moving again and our next stop was to see Sandy and Patrick in Townsville.  We arrived intending just to spend overnight out the front but on arrival Patrick asked what our plans were and did we fancy going to Ravenswood with them to camp for a couple of days.  Of course we said yes and after a delicious barbecue dinner we all settled in for the night before our adventure tomorrow.

The next morning we followed Sandy and Patrick to the Showgrounds in Ravenswood and set up camp.  Their favorite spot was available and someone had left heaps of wood so it wasn’t long before the fire was on and we whiled away the afternoon solving the problems of the world.  The gorgeous Molly kept a close eye on everything we did.

The following day we walked the five minutes into town to have lunch at one of the two pubs in town.  The Imperial Hotel was our choice and the bar inside was certainly a bit special.  Lunch was delicious and after finishing we walked down to the other hotel, The Railway, to have a drink.  While there we did a tour of the downstairs Whiskey Bar where the owner, Terry, has been very busy creating an amazing space in the underground cellar.  Our tour ended with a rather quirky photo op.

The next day we packed up and left after breakfast returning to Sandy and Patrick’s place for another night and the yummiest ravioli made by Sandy.  Eaten with a couple bottles of red we all slept well that night.  Once again we had a fabulous time with our good friends but there was still time for one more meal to share.  Together with their little grandson, Ollie, we walked around the corner to the Commonwealth Hotel where we enjoyed breakfast before finally saying goodbye and continuing our trek north.  The sky looked very grey over Castle Hill as we left and with heavy rain forecast we didn’t know where our next stop might be.

We usually stay at Tito Wetlands at Ingram when in this area but with the weather forecast as it was we knew they would be closed so half way there we saw a little caravan park and decided to stop for a couple of nights.  Well Crystal Creek Caravan Park was another real little gem.  A lovely little park with green grass, palm trees and birds everywhere.  The amenities were large and spotless and the owners delightful.  We had just set up when we heard a voice calling out Bill Harris and on looking outside our door we found Bob and Ollie, our friends from Clermont.  It was great to see them as they had been gone as we came through there this year.  After saying bye to them we popped back to the office and extended our stay another two nights.  Seems to becoming a feature of this trip.

The next day was very pleasant and no sign of the forecast weather so after breakfast we had a walk around.  We found Bob and Ollie together with some friends of theirs and joined them for a while.  Bill talked all things birds with the guys and I joined the ladies for a somewhat more rounded conversation.

Leaving them Bill and I went just up the road to Frosty Mango where we had some lunch and of course a mango ice cream.  It was quite fun watching all the people coming in and taking selfies with Mango Man. Back at home we settled in and tried to catch up on all things social media.  Not very easy with the very patchy signal.  Oh the joys from getting away from the mainstream towns.

The next morning it looked like the forecast cold spell and big rain event might actually happen now.  The sky is as black as and the temperature is falling fast.  It’s time to get the jeans and sleeves back out again.  It had rained a bit during the night and the ground was a bit soggy but held off today till later in the afternoon and when it began it didn’t stop all night again.

A night of steady rain meant an even soggier ground this morning and with no end in sight we decided to drive into Ingham as Bill wanted to research a mobile modem.  We had coffee at JK’s, picked up some shopping and returned home where it continued to rain for the rest of the day.

After all the rain yesterday the ground was very soggy again this morning.  Bill was going to visit Don up the hill in Paluma.  He had been given his name and number by Bob and he was waiting to visit so he could see the Victorias Riflebirds.  They were talking each morning about the weather up there and if it was suitable to get photos.  Still too wet and dark so after the research on the mobile modem yesterday we decided to pop back to the outskirts of Townsville and visit a Telstra shop.  Well that turned into a nightmare of which I won’t go into here but suffice to say after a few hours and two different Telstra shops we came home with what we went for.  Now all we have to do is see if it works.

On our arrival home Don rang and said that tomorrow looked good for Bill to go up so the next morning  he got up early and set off up the hill.  Everyone had told me how scary the road was going up and down so I decided to stay home and do some chores and finally enjoy some sunshine.  Bill enjoyed himself and came back with some lovely photos of the many birds that come into the garden each morning.  The Riflebirds were in short supply and Don had told him that he should have come a bit earlier so they decided he should go again the next day to see if he could improve on the day.  Another extension was necessary and in the end our original two days had morphed into seven.

The next morning Bill went up at 5 ish and came back much happier.  The birds had come visiting in numbers and he had some beautiful photos of the Riflebird.  So very grateful for Don to be so welcoming to all these strangers who love to see the birds that live up here in the forests. He’s in good company as this is also where David Attenborough came to get his shots of the Riflebird which you can see in one of his shows.  Unfortunately Bill didn’t get it displaying so still something to aim for next time.

Finally it was time to leave this lovely place.  The weather was looking up again and we were still going north up to the Tablelands.  We said farewell to Bob and Ollie and arranged to see them somewhere up on the Tablelands in a few weeks time.  We stopped in Ingham for coffee, shopping and fuel and then continued on.  Our next stop was at the foreshore in Cardwell where we had lunch and then made our way up the range to Malanda where we stayed at the caravan park there for three nights.

Unfortunately there is nothing nice to say about our stay here.  After all the rain it was very soggy and boggy.  While that was to be expected it seems that no maintenance ever gets done here.  It’s dirty, smelly and just very run down.  We did think about leaving but with the weather as it was up here, wet and grey, we decided we might not get into another one.  We won’t be going back though!

We filled our few days in with a drive to Mareeba on Saturday morning to see the market there. I bought some very interesting salt and pepper shakers.  Bill went out to Mt Hypipamee National Park but to many people out there to get any photos.  Monday morning arrived and it was time to move on so we took no time at all to pack up and head off again.  Time to find some sun.

until next time…….