6th July Mareeba

I’m very sorry to have to advise that we have had to invest in updated phones with the result I can not  get into my Blog .

I have made the decision to stop trying to find a way to do it. Tried for 2 evenings with no luck.

Thank you for your interest. I will continue to post on Facebook and you may follow me there 

Au revoir, Rosemary .

29th June 2018 Yungaburra

Well, what else do you do in the rain!.......go for a drive in the Rain forest. oh it is so wonderful. We went to the Cathedral Fig Tree, The Chimneys which are the remains of the house of the first settlers in the area. Then we went to check our next camping spot...get ready to start laughing 🤣🤣🤣🤣 22 k to Rocky Creek War Memorial caravan parking area. $5 donation, toilets only. It’s only for a 3 day stop. Because of the rain we wondered if it could be a quadmire, but it wasn’t, so all OK. 

We have had a most enjoyable time even although rain every day. It’s a glorious area.

28th June 2018 Yungaburra & surrounds.

Same anthem......WE DONT DO RAIN.! Oh well, it’s just too bad we want to see more of the beautiful land. The main word is ‘Green’, we took off through the hills, wipers going most of the time but we did see the Malands Falls, called into the Millaa Millaa falls but it was raining to heavy, on to Zillie Falls then backed tracked to Malanda and went to the Malanda Dairy Centre which is a most interesting restaurant with a History of the milk factory and life from war times to cyclones and many stories of families who have lived in this area all their lives. We spent quite a long time reading all the displays. These small town all have Caravan parks and have done special things to make their towns attractive. Perhaps another year we may Camp in some of them.
Brian wanted a tee shirt of The Avenue of Honour but they didn’t have his size. I was able to get a contact, so phoned a was going to get them to post it to Mareeba Post Office.....instead the gentleman said, I’ll deliver it, what site are you on? Talk about service. He was here 1/2 hour later & said he wanted to check out TheAvenue after the celebrations over the weekend. Joy of small town. 😀😀

26th June 2018 Yungaburra

Monday was a ‘non event’ that is to say...except that we actually got a wash done and even dry ( under the awning) and then inside with the help of the heater!
Today we went into Atherton, and because we have been fortunate enough to have been here a few times , we know our way around. Centrelink (needed to clear up a Medicare query), Reject type shop for some more crochet wool, Bunnings for hinges, pop rivet gun and, Big W for a car phone recharge plug.......while there we met a woman at he entrance , dressed as ‘Snow White’ (promoting toy sale!) When I asked ‘where are the Dwarfs?’, I got the perfect response.......They are working down the mine to bring the diamonds in for me! That’s the way to enjoy your job. A call into Woolworths capped the morning.
The afternoon was mine to wander round Yungaburras pretty Village, it was very quiet, showers on & off and not quite the vibrant place that it is in sunshine, however I loved it.
Tonight I had a number of wins as we played Rummy Cub. We do have full TV coverage which is great with the long evenings of the shortest day of the year.

24th June 2018 Yungaburra & Surrounds.

With a break in the weather we took the opportunity to go sightseeing. We headed up around Lake Tinaroo, it’s a long meandering lake held by the Tinaroo Dam which has a quite spectacular plume of water for its outlet instead of a spillway. The area around here just thrills me, rain forest, sugar cane, potatoes, peanuts, corn, avocados, and macadamia nuts as well as dairy cattle.
On the return trip we stopped at a Strawberry farm , bought 500g of HUGE strawberries and the most delicious soft serve ice cream- Strawberry of course!
All evenings have been in the Van because of inclement weather & we have been glad of our heater.
Another most enjoyable day.

23rd June 2018 Yungaburra

This was a very special day in this little town. It’s only 12k out of Atherton and this morning they had  a marvellous Market, it’s the biggest on the Atherton Tablelands, approx 300 stalls. A shame ‘Umbrellas’ were the order of the day. AND WE DONT DO RAIN!
I did enjoy seeing the craft, food, and usual market fare. Brian went walking & got WET!
During the afternoon were were privileged to attend a Memorial Service at Afghanistan Avenue of Honour which is opposite our Caravan Park. It was opened 23 June 2013. Private Chuck’s parents were the instigators as their son was one those who’s name is on the roll of Honour. There was a Service with wreath laying and there were 2 donations of $1,000 each made by The Veterans Association and The Patriots Motorcycle Club. There were 2 Tanks with uniformed soldiers and about 100 motorcycles. It was most impressive and touching. There was a Piper and a Trumpeter  to play The Last Post. How wonderful that we were here at right time to share in this day.

21 June 2018 Yungaburra

At 1 pm we drove into one of God’s most beautiful pieces of his handiwork, the citizens of Yungaburra have also assisted in creating one of the prettiest little towns we have seen. It’s on Lake Tinaroo and we are booked in for a week at the Lakeside Caravan Park. Our site has a wonderfull view over the Avenue of Honour for the fallen of the Vietnam War to the stunning lake. It is 2k out of town which I will elaborate on later in the week.

20th June 2018 Mount Surprise

We have had 3 days here at Planet Earth Caravan Park, lovely to be on grass again. We were here 3 years ago and stayed at ‘Bedrock Village’, this year we chose less $s and had a lovely site. Very friendly and helpful staff.

We had asked if anyone knew of someone who could put new hinges in our lift up bed and the assistant there was a real handyman. He was getting round on crutches because he had fallen in the campfire & had burns on both legs. But that didn’t stop him, Peter was a rough diamond and a very hard worker. We were most grateful.

There were 3 caravan parks , they all had food and souvenirs (sort of!) there was a small Fooardmart, a School, 2 fuel stations....naturally both had different prices....amazing! Also a small Gem store which is for sale. 

There are a number of Tours run from Bedrock Village and Brian went on one today 8am departure to ‘Undara Experience’. Look it up on the Internet it’s a tour through lava tubes that very formed during a volcanic eruption. It required fitness because of uneven rocks, rock steps including uneven rock steps with rope handrails. The only entry is with a guide. Brian arrived home about 5pm, exhausted and full of most interesting information. Morning & afternoon tea as well as lunch were included. He had to take any required medication, wear closed in footwear, take a jacket, water, camera and snacks! The whole experience was wonderful, the guide was a real professional woman, Swiss, who is a guide at a number of places around the world!.

I had the day at home, got the chores done a continued to enjoy my book. Oh and also went and had a nosy round Bedrock for old time sake & had a coffee & cake there.....well it was for my lunch!

Tomorrow, another place. 😀

17 June 2018 Gilbert River

We have just had 4 days doing absolutely nothing at Gilbert River. It’s a big cleared area on the edge of the river, big trees block the view but we could walk down paths to the river. It’s a big one with still plenty of water. Some were catching ‘RedClaw’ like crayfish in flavour. Over the 4 days we naturally met a variety of folk, some we would happily meet again & others quite happy not to!
Nothing bad or nasty just unusual. Dust was a problem, some people drive in & out and don’t consider the dust storm they created. The Bridge is one way & our side is a STOP sign, about a quarter of the traffic obey it. All the Roadtrains & Busses do. One of the campers was a volunteer fireman and had his cap on one day as he was out at the roadside. .......one vehicle went through the stop sign, braked, backed back up to the sign, stopped, then went on. GOlly we all enjoyed that story. His fireman’s cap looks like police!
We didn’t even unhook the caravan. The only thing there was rubbish bins. We do like having a mix of free parking and caravan parks.

13th June 2018 The Gulflander Train.

A special day we had planned. Regretted not doing it last time, so it was a must today.
We woke to a surprise.......fog, however it cleared by 8 am and off to the station. Already a crowd there, we had booked, so collected our tickets, with information book and souvenir enamel mug ready for our morning tea. There were 3 carriages, the first is best for view & worst for comfort as the engine is under it. We were in number 3 and it was a rocky ride, quite noisy and a very interesting and clear commentary about history, type of trees, bird and animal life, how the wet season affects them, etc. We stopped at Black Bull Siding for morning tea. The 2 crew set out tea, coffee, milk & sugar, then we walked to the step of the train where there was an urn of boiling water. The were very delectable Danish Pastries provided. We arrived in Croydon at 1.15 and walked to the Hotel for lunch then sat around or went wandering around the town until 3pm when a beautiful Coach with aircon picked us up for the 1&1/2 hr drive back to Normanton. )We had been to Croydon last time & had visited all the tourist spots at that time.) It does travel a LOTfaster than the train!
The couple we had lunch with, were staying at the same caravan park so we all went to the restaurant there for tea together. Again, very nice friendly folk.
Like Christopher Robin I say, “ Thank you God for another lovely day, and what was the other thing I was supposed to say?”
This was our last day in Nornanton.

10th June 2018 Trip to Karumba

What a beautiful day, at 10am it was 26 degrees, ist not far, great for a day trip. The Gulf of Carpentaria is glorious and the village is at the mouth of the Norman River. It’s very much a fishing place, lots of caravan parks and every vehicle has ‘a Tinny on the top’ we felt quite naked!
There was a market on in the grounds of a restaurant right on the water’s edge. It was interesting. I bought some nice nut mix, dried prunes & ginger. Later I was talking to a couple of stall holders and asked about the change from 3 years ago. Today was ‘dead’, restaurant empty & very few at the market. Answer was, change of owner not putting in the effort and change of Chief, also it seems a poor season or maybe a late one.
We had to have our Fish & Chip lunch at Ash’s ship.....same as 3 years ago! Brian bought a very nice Tee shirt from there also.

A memory flash from aJulia Creek.....an experience at the Supermarket......I was looking for butter and couldn’t find it so asked this colourful character bandanna, brightly coloured clothes, bare feet, a great smile, willing & wanting to talk. He even carried my Shopping across the road to the car. He is just working for some cash as he is walking right around Australia!! At one stage he was doing it as fund raising but couldn’t exist on what he made, so now he is just doing it for himself. I wouldn’t be surprised if was Budist or something like that. He was so nice. Steven is his name, indeterminable age! I enjoyed that interaction.

9th June 2018

Just a driving day today through typical flat, long very straight stretches of paved road, scrub, dry Outback Australia. 440k from Julia Creek to Normanton. We booked into ‘The Gulflander Caravan Park’ for 6 nights.

6th June 2018

Today we took a trip to McKinley for a trip down memory lane. To the Pub where a lot of the filming was done for Crocodile Dundee. It was 100k each way, flat, dry grass, 5 cattle Stations on the way to “Town”... yes in inverted comers. Golly I would hate to live there. Only a pub, Petrol station, Police Station/cum residence. The Pub was full of memorabilia. There were 5 caravans & one other vehicle there when we were there so it was quite fun, hot chocolate & shortbread. A fantastic morning.

5thJune 2018 Julia Creek

A quiet day at Julia Creek, fueled up at $1.56lt, visited the information Centre which is most interesting. Lots of vans coming into our camp site, it’s very, very dry. It was flooded earlier in the year and now great cracks in the ground everywhere.

4th June Julia Creek

Some updates:
What’s on my mind? I haven’t posted for a few days is the answer to that. So, I had better do something about it.Tuesday was our last full day in Longreach, stock up, visit laundromat (that was an experience in itself. Met a crazy woman who was a cook for shearer’s and talked into my face, non stop, language that my gentle ears had never heard....and remember I worked with soldiers in Germany!!! I think she was ‘high’ on something.)
I was very glad to hear my marching finish & I could escape. The Supermarket in Longreach is very good, naturally a little more expensive than Melbourne. Good drying day, so all set for the next adventure. Wednesday morning we left Apex Park at 9:30 and drove the 175k to Winton. The scenery is non existent, flat , dry, and still many caravans, road trains and plenty of rest stops available.

31st May, Winton. We were able to get a spot at the Great Northern Hotel, there are about 12 vans here, $10 per night and we can use there shower & toilets and there is a tap beside our van which was an unexpected plus. We had seen this spot when we were here 3 years ago, in fact I took a photo of the sign at at time. It is beside ‘Arno’s Wall’
And they have extended it since we were here and it’s now around the edge of the caravan parking area. We are right beside it, so have visitors all the time , taking photos of the wall. It is the one with the blue seat on the motorcycle.

Winton continues....we went to a presentation of Banjo Patterson’s story and poetry put on by a man in the dining room of the hotel prior to dinner last night. This was where Waltzing Matilda was first performed. We also had dinner there . The day had been very hot and very windy. Brian got up at 3:20 to put the awning up, it was flapping & we didn’t want to loose it.
To day we drove out to Dinosaur territory, we had been before, but it was a nice place to go again. We didn’t do the tours because we are not interested enough to pay $100 for the guided tour.
On return we met up with folk we had camped beside in Longreach & I find that Lyn comes from Taranaki NZ, and another couple we met at Fletcher’s Creek last year. This all adds to our trip.
The Dinosaur Centre is up in the hills on the edge of a cliff that overlooks the low land where the bones were found.

2nd June, Winton.
Another summer day for Victorians in Queensland.
Yesterday we went through the Waltzing Matilda Centre and were very impressed with their rebuild. The original was burnt down 3 years ago, just a couple of weeks before we were here last. The new one has amazing electronic visual presentations that only these new centres can do. The also have been able to collect so much memorabilia in the form of machinery and have set up so many things tot do with Banjo Paterson & life in 1800s & first half of 1900s. Entry fee of $27 was well worth it.
2nd May. Today we have been shopping as you will note by my new hat....much needed. Went for a drive around the area, checked a free camp spot at The Water Hole. Looks very nice but lots of flies, so are pleased to be where we are.
Arno’s Wall tells quite a story.....Brian can watch Richmond tonight (don’t think this TV will work though!)
Cook dinner in the coal range(need some coal)
Wash up in the sink (where is the plug?)
Found all the spare parts for our grandson, even the hubcaps that were stolen from his car!

It’s a great sight for photographers.

Monday 4th June,
Today we have driven north 278k to Julia Creek. We are in the Council run free RV caravan park by the river. They also have the caravan park in the town which has a population of approximately 400. They have a very progressive Council and came up with the idea of putting on a meal on Monday nights in the main Park which has the facilities. Both Pubs are closed on Mondays and they approached the different community groups with the suggestion that they could take turns of putting it on and using it as a fund raiser. Tonight was the CWAs turn & they served corned beef, potato, cabbage, corn on the cob and damper - then sticky date pudding & cream , all for $15. The Council bus came and picked up all who want to go & then returned us after....for free. There would have been 100 there and it was really, really great.

28 May Outback Adventure.

Wow, what a day....we “Made the OUTBACK Connection. Longreach to Ilfracombe, to Isisford, to Emmet, to Yaraka....then back, 400k.
Ilfracombe is very interesting and has established a mile long display of old farm machinery as well as historical sheds of how the junction was formed to transport wool in the early days.
Desperately dry, scrub, mainly very straight road, a lot of single lane with very wide graded verges, very flat except for the consistent signs ‘Road subject to flooding, indicators show depth’ with the concrete dip in the road. It gives a very up and down experience. Quite a bit was gravel, we were going to do the round trip between Yaraka & Isisford but that was all gravel and not by the river like we had hoped. We had lunch at Emmet. One house and a railway station. No railway! Oh, and there was a picnic table even with a cover over it. And what’s more.......we weren’t the only ones there! A couple with their camper & her brother with his SUV & his swag in the back. Nice to have company for lunch. Getting near Yaraka there came into view the Yang Yang Ranges, a complete surprise. There was Mount Slowcombe, a bit like Ayres Rock, a stand alone formation that could be driven up and there was a lookout up there with a 360 degree view of the Ranges and surrounding country. It amazes us that people want to live in isolation. There are big cattle stations out there but we saw very few cattle. A few Emu, kangaroo (mostly dead) a coupe of long legged birds, pink & grey galah and one big lizard, about 18 inches long.
It was a big day and so very worth it. What an amazing country this is.

24 May Longreach.

Well, the spirit moved during breakfast, the spirit of ‘Go North Greay Nomads’, and we obeyed.
It was only 214k to Longreach and we knew of the Apex Park, 2&1/2 k north west. Easy to find, it has toilets and 1 tap of drinking water. There are tress that obscure it from the road so as we turned in it was a case of ‘Oh my goodness’ there were about 99 already here!!! OK that doesn’t matter, there was still room for more, on this huge area of flat packed sand. We were able to get a site on the inside edge so are able to run our gray water out into the scrub & not have to bucket it out. There is a fee, wait for it..... $3 per night or $15 per week 👏👏👏👏
We started listening to another audiobook during the trip up, ‘Five Fires’ by Courtney Patterson, well we have laughed so much and are enjoying it to the extent that we even play it in the van, a disc when we have an hour.
The weather yesterday was perfection, at last no heater needed. To day has only been 23% and full cloud, Brian walked to town this morning and I made fried rice which was really enjoyed for midday.
We had a quick drive into town this afternoon and then went for happy hour with Ken & Robyn who were with us at Charleville. They are from Christchurch & now live in Brisbane. They have a lovely ‘Swift’ caravan, English built and very light weight. It’s a similar layout to ours without our slide out.
They are coming here tomorrow.
We plan to stay a week here & tomorrow temperature promises to be 27, & remain so for the week.
Well Brian has gone to bed, so I guess I will take my book & do likewise.

22 May Blackall Queensland

Yesterday was our last day in Charleville, washing, Supermarket, fuel and a lovely evening round the campfire. Pauline, the Camp Hostess made Damper and it was cooked in a Camp Oven by her husband John. It was delicious, quite spicy withe lovely crusty edges. Hot with butter....delicious. It was great talking to other campers & hearing about camp spots.
Up this morning at 7am and a leisurely pack up for a 9am departure. Scenery was nil with the only excitement being a small herd of black cattle having right-of-way on The Mitchell Highway.
We arrived at Blackall about 1:30 and are by the river/creek same as a year ago. We are here 2 weeks earlier than last year & there are not as many on site.
It’s a perfect day, 23% full sun & blue sky. This camp is pretty well in town & it’s only $8 per night, no water or electricity but toilets and showers.
Don’t know if we will be here 1 or 2 nights....just as the spirit moves. How blessed are we!

20th May 2018 Charleville

The 451k drive to Charleville took us through very dry northwest NSW  & southwest Queensland, this area is desperately dry, roadkill more & more, kangaroos, pigs a emu. We saw very few live kangaroo but lots of emu. Temperature rising, up to about 24% and noting the longer daylight hours. Full sunny days but still chilly nights and early mornings. We have booked into a Bush Camp, 2&1/2 k north of town. Friday, as we drove in we wondered what had happened....the town was shut, even the Supermarket!!! It was ‘ Show Day’! The Park is a paddock, 6 powered sites, water, dump site, no toilet it shower. There is a Camp Host that collects the $5 per person for unpowered or $10 pp for powered site. Evenings there is a campfire happy hour that allows folk to join in.
Saturday morning we went to day 2 of the Show, free entry to encourage attendance. So different to the thousands in the big cities. A lovely display of produce, flowers, baking, art, craft, and naturally a big fun fair. We saw the horses in arena and went through the birds and chooks. Beautiful leather goods for sale as appropriate for country shows.
The afternoon and ALL evening were dedicated to Harry’s wedding. I just loved it all. Brian had to watch his football on the iPad because the TV was mine on this occasion. Between the two things we went and revisited some of the sites that were familiar and went to see the site of a huge explosion that happened in 2014 where a truck carrying 53 tonnes of ammonium nitrate caught fire and crashed then exploded at 9:50pm on 5th September 2014. The blast radius was more than 1k & the effect was felt for 30 k. No one was killed but the fire engine and truck were completely demolished & a police car badly damaged. There were 9 people awarded for bravery etc after that. Angellala Bridge and also rail bridge were demolished. It made a 600 detour to the Mitchell Hwy and it was a couple of years before all was restored. All most interesting & the full story in on the Internet.
Today has been very quiet, needed a rest, enjoy reading the paper & internets reviews of The Wedding. Also Planning the next weeks travel and just enjoying life.
Sorry but I don’t know how to include photos......check Facebook for pics.

17 May 2018 Bourke

A great trip, 474k to Griffith on the 16th, the temperature kept rising slowly and the sun greeted up. Booked into a drive through site for the night then off this morning for Bourke 538k to spend another night here at Kidman Camp. We got the last drive through site. We roads are all good, naturally some roadworks but not many. The countryside is becoming drier and we are noticing more ‘roadkill’s’ which is not surprising due to heave night trucking and the kangaroos coming closer to the roads looking for food. We are engrossed in a talking book, more to Brian’s liking than mine ‘Against All Enemies’ by Tom Clancy, as Brian is driving I do not mind, he needs to be kept attentive. This is a very good park, I think it’s our 4th time here!

16 May Donvale

Woke before 6 and couldn’t get back to sleep.....a bit like excited kids on Christmas morning! We are off on our trip north in search of warm weather. It’s dark, cold and overcast.....OK let us get up, we are fully packed, just have breakfast and do a final check to leave our unit ready for Chris to use at weekends. We are grateful to have our home kept so beautifully.
We left at 8am, too early to have the Retirement Village wave us off😪😪.
We know we will see changes, new faces, and sadly we expect to not see some we leave behind.  It’s the cycle of life.

Winter Escape 2018

Winter escape 2018

11th May 2018 Donvale, Melbourne.
Weather forecast is for rain, hail, and wild weather.
Plans are made for our Winter escape next week, heading north for warmer climates.