Cape Tribulation & the Bloomfield track

A nice night although 2 large bangs went off that we have no idea what they were. Off again today’s mission the Bloomfield track. A quick stop at Cape Tribulation beach where there are stinger & crocodile signs not like at the camp we stayed 2 km down the road, where we were told it is safe to swim. (What about snakes on the walkway down to the beach)

There are massive alcohol restrictions here with fines up to $37,500 and forfeit of your vehicle. Most of the information is a vague but we are getting used to this. We are only driving through so we thought it would be OK and the sign when you enter Wujal Wujal says its OK if you are a traveller passing through. It doesn’t take long before there are a few water crossings which are all very tame this time of year along with lots more dry ones. We make it through and it certainly isn’t very scary these days.

Cairns and beyond By Tina

Up early and straight into the final items that need to be squeezed into the TOJO, ahhh but how we have come along, we have heaps of room, I hope we have everything! Out of Innisfail then through a number of small towns, sugar cane field & Banana plantations to a place called Babinda which rivals every year with Tully for the highest rainfall. We are going to stop in there on the way back & have a look around. We went through Cairns witch we noted have much larger roads than Adelaide! Not much to say about Cairns this time round maybe on the way back we might have more to add.

Not long after Cairns we were driving along the coast road, this is one of the memories I have from a kid when we came here, it was sooooo beautiful. The road was not quite as high as I remember though.

We stopped at Mossman for a beer and lunch, then onto the Daintree river $11.00 to cross did not see any snapping lizards! After a beautiful drive through the Daintree which is all now bitumen we stopped at Noah’s Beach to camp but soon found out you have book before you camp and guess what all booked out! well what now? So we drove up to Cape Tribulation hoping for some sort of free camp by a river or something but all that we could find was fancy smancy units or resorts and lucky for us a private camping area, and my it was nice bit pricey but we were expecting this. The camp was only about 50mtrs to the beach through a nice rainforest walk, rainforest meets the beach. Again another childhood memory relived.

Innisfail

Up early and down the beach for a fish again but no luck here. We pack up, it’s a long drive today to Innisfail. The country is so spectacular with huge mountain ranges to the left and the ocean to the right with sugar cane everywhere. It is hot but there is a great breeze coming off the ocean so it is quite nice. Finally we have to cross the mountains just after Ingham but it is not to serious.

Just south of Tully the town with the highest rainfall in Aus we head down to the ocean for lunch and more fishing at the heads. We must of used up all our good luck the other day. We arrive in Innisfail and head down to the RSL for a beer. $ 3.30 Coopers Pale Ale stubbies is a great deal. We are staying at James & Helen’s place who are good friends of Brian’s. We have a room to stay in under their house and we can leave the van here.

Today we saw our first Cassowaries, a young male and a yearling, we were down in Etty Bay such a lovely place really pretty. We were there to have lunch and when we got out of our car they were quite interested, then some guy came over with 2 oranges in his hands and they got really excited. A local told us that after Cyclone Larry the bids had no food so all of the locals were feeding them so they had a chance to survive. Before lunch we went for a drive around to Flying fish point and Ella Bay you once upon a time used to be able to camp right there on the beach, they are now in the process of turning it into a resort, some the camps spots are CLOSED “for re vegetation” or forever? We shopped at the local butcher for some supplies while up the Cape, and for diner, we were having a BBQ with Jamie, unfortunately Helen had to work. Andy and I have made good friends with their pets Flossey the “pretend dog” and Fonzy the blue dog, who was quite ball crazy! They also had 2 cats, Minnie the Black cat with white patch on her paws & faces she was very curious with us & all the stuff we kept bring out while packing up the car for the Cape trip, then there was Ginger, well we didn’t see much of her, she was a bit of a nervous cat. We have really enjoyed all the pets we have had around lately.

Well today was the reconnaissance mission to obtain all for the last things on our list, and much to my delight everything was found and purchased. It was quite warm when we got back to J&H’s so we turned the fan on had a cold beer & watched Essendon beat Hawthorn for 8th place. Once the afternoon cooled off we packed up our clothes and whatever else was ready.

Ayr and beyond

This is Burdekin Bridge it is 1200m long.

The river may not look mighty here but in the wet it will bee awesome. I have seen the photo's.

How's this for a mud crab.

On the move again we must keep pushing on to Cape York, it is getting hotter there everyday. We move on up the coast past Townsville and upward to Toomulla beach and another free campsite by the beach. We are on the fishing again but no luck. It is hot and lucky we found this place because the other one was full. The guy next to us asked if it was OK to run his Gene for a while but after 5 hours someone finally came over and had a go at him. We had Oven cooked Long Tom for tea and it was delicious. We got great TV coverage and watched some TV tonight.

The fish bite at Funny Dunny Park Wunjunga Beach

As usual we are packing up and getting ready to move on to Bowen. We have a walk along the bay at Dingo Beach before we head off. It is a little sad to move on from here as we have really fallen in love with Dingo Beach. We travel to Bowen not a very long drive and stay at the local caravan Park. We have a beer and the Grandview Hotel a Pub Tina’s Poppy & Nana Beeston.
I must be just about as sick of writing this as you are hearing about it but “we pack up” and
move on to Wunjunga beach south of Ayr.

We set up at Funny Dunny Park and head down the beach for a fish. We fished for over 2 hours and finally our luck had changed first I pulled in a Flathead and then Tina got an even bigger one.

Then we caught a 75cm+ Long Tom it jumped out the water heaps while Tina was pulling it in. It is about time our luck changed must have been because the yellow snake nearly bit her earlier.
So a great day all round and exactly what we have been waiting for. What’s even better every one else has been whinging about how they can’t catch any fish here. Shame about all the bloody Sand Flies.

As there anywhere nicer

I don’t think you could ever get sick of the views in this part of Queensland and I think we could easily live here.

With all the resorts, pubs and shops I think we could get work here. We have a wood fired pizza for lunch, do some shopping and then head back looking at Hydeaway Bay and the resort where Tracey works. Another quiet afternoon sitting around talking. Tomorrow we are on the move again and it is a shame we couldn’t stay here longer.

Airlie Beach is a nice place but it has been spoilt by building hundreds of units on the side of the mountain. It looks like a tourist town which I suppose is what it is.

Dingo Beach

On the road again today this time to Dingo Beach where Tina’s cousin Tracey and Peter live. It is the beginning of the Whitsundays and the coast is just paradise. We stop in at the Dingo Beach hotel for a couple of beers and then off to their house. They are travellers as well but have been at Dingo Beach for 3 years now and are soon to move again. We have great night talking and Peter cooks the best Silverside in his pressure cooker.

We are up early and off to Sunset Beach, Tina is helping Tracey clean units out there and I’m off with Peter fishing in the tinny. We put in some Crab pots and then off fishing. Peter uses a cast net to catch fish and showed me how it is done and how to spot fish in the water. We cruise around to a couple of different spots and then back up the estuary but no luck today, must because I’m there.

Once back at the units we wait for the girls to finish and then head back to Dingo Beach. The 4 units are old but nice and fully self contained. They are only $500 per week and that is for up to 5 people. The only strange thing is the gate is locked at the end of the track so once you are in there you can only get out at the end of the week unless you ring up Tracey and she has to come down and let you out and then back in. We sit around chatting again in the arvo and Peter cooked us another beautiful tea of steak and smoked sausages. The Aussies are going really crap in the cricket.

Mackay

We are on the move again today so our normal pack up routine and then off to Mackay. The mountains are really close to the coast here and it is quite spectacular. It is sugar cane harvesting time and we are a little disappointed that they don’t seem to burn the cane anymore.

I'm not sure why but this has been one place that has always interested me, I suppose it is because they always claim to have lots of jobs and not enough people but it is to much like a city for my liking now I have seen it.

Mackay is a big town and we head just out of town for a caravan park. It is always cheaper in big towns to head just out of town. There is a massive breakwater you can drive onto and from there you can see the islands as well as the massive line of Coal ships out in the ocean. A quite evening watching the Aussies in the 5th test.

Carmila Beach

Our target is Carmila beach which is only 70km down the road. It is Sugar Cane country again. We drive down to the beach front which has nearly 2km of free sites along the beach with 3 long drops scattered amongst it. It is quite sandy so 4WD is required. We find a nice spot and set up. The tide is out and the photo will show just how far it is. It took us ½ hour to walk out to the water and back. A cool walk along the beach over to an estuary which looks a good place to fish. A cruisy arvo sitting around reading. (Yes I’m still going on the book) I’m rigged up and ready to fish one rod a lure one a no 2 hook and the hand line has a 3 gang for whole pilchard to fish after dark. We hope the tide comes in soon but I think it will be dark before the water reaches shore again. The tide finally came in with a big blow and came right up to the bank.

Up early and down the beach, the tide is coming in. Not much action but no bait loss from little fish either. Tina came down later and I gave her my rod while I had a leak and bang a legal size bream. Not Happy!! Anyway it’s our fish and we are going to eat it.

We went down to the outlet as the tide went out but nothing. Off to the pub for a beer or 2. We chat to the lady publican and anther couple of local ladies who are real country folk but dressed in purple and maybe even wit ha set off purchased tits that apparently only Tina noticed. It was a nice arvo and then back to the van for some lunch and games (Chinese checkers & Chess and some more reading). Its cooling down quite early tonight. We are having BBQ sausages, we are hoping to get another fish on the morning so we have 2.

Rockhampton

We are packed up and ready to go and pull out of the driveway at exactly 10:00am as planned. We drive through Gladstone in search of cheap diesel but 126.9 was the best. We move on and once again after a longer than expected stop over we head north in virgin territory.
We make it to Rockhampton by lunch and finally cross the tropic of Capricorn. Like Gladstone Rocky is a big town and has everything. We have bit of a look at the botanic gardens and the free zoo. Then off to the Irish pub for lunch and a couple of ales.

We decide to press on in a blistering afternoon sun. Along the way Tina is overtaken by some psycho on the left hand side while passing a T junction that wasn’t marked as an overtaking lane and then the other person behind gave her some abuse on the way past us. Neither of us believed it to be an overtaking lane just some extra bitumen they put so you can pass when people are turning right.

We make it to St Lawrence after passing a good free roadside stop it was only 6km further on and off the highway. The Bruce highway doesn’t get quieter at night. It is full of maybe 30+ vans and RV’s, free and only $ 1 for a shower. It’s good to be on the road again.

Tina & Andy make friends at Boyne ISland

We have spent the week working some days even nearly and 8 hour day. We are both bloody sore and we cannot do anymore sanding we are not used to this much hard work for more than 1 day in a row. The weather has been fantastic 26-28 each day and mild 12-14 at night some a bit cooler than others depending on the breeze.

We tried to fish the mouth from the other side but some undersize whiting was all we could pick up. We have cooked on the BBQ nearly every night but are treating ourselves to Pizza tonight.
We have made friends with Sam, John & Sandra’s dog as well as Charlie who lives in the next house across. He is at our caravan door most mornings looking for a bit of food and a pat. It has been cool having 2 well behaved dogs.

No mud crabs around either!

Today is pack up day and we head off to another school fair this on the St Joseph at Tannum Sands. Not much better than the last one but we pick up some cheap books. I have actually found a book to read “Ricky Ponting World Cup 2003 Diary”, and I’m actually going to attempt to read a book. I will keep you all updated. Thanks Tom I’ll try to remember Kevin, please send me your email address!!.
It’s a pretty cruisy day and we watch Melbourne win in the AFL hoe lucky were we, I was kin of hoping the Carlton Power game would be on though. We get everything done and are ready to had off in the morning. Once again I must say we could easily live here, although the real estate is a bit n the expensive side it is a great place Thanks Boyne Island / Tannum Sands. We had a bit of a fish in the evening and although hooking on to 3 great bites couldn’t get them on shore.

Tina & Andy are working again!

We are working today, yes if anyone can believe it. The house is in need of a serious paint job so we are doing all the prep work. So off come all the doors, handles, light fittings, curtain rods etc. This place has the most cupboards I have ever seen not to mention the most amount of holes in walls to match. We work all day and have totally gutted the house.
Up early and into Gladstone to watch Sandra and Brocky play soccer, John is the coach. They have a 2 all draw and are still a chance to win the minor premiership. Next stop Bunning’s to pick up the stuff we need to prep all the walls.
On the way back we cruise through Benaraby which had a school fair on today.
Back to work and today we did all the outside today moving furniture and rubbish under the house fixing some ra ling and removing about 200 old nails and brackets under the house. Sounds easy put pulling out 200 rusty old nails on hardwood was nom easy task.

A new pair of Sunnies, I don't think so.

We tried a bit of fishing today first on the South Trees Inlet which runs in front of the house.

Today once again Tina has decided she needs a new pair of sunnies so into the river they fall again. For those avid readers this is the 3rd time this has happened and I’m sure we did not budget on this many sunnies. Luckily at low tide we can just see them and scope them out of the river no new sunnies this time honey.
Later down to the Boyne river mouth Tina caught a Bream & Moses Perch.

It seems like every week Carlton are playing on Friday nights and the last three weeks they have been bloody Crap!!. But I decided I would stay up again 2.30am finish for Friday night football in QLD, and this time it was bloody worth it. As well as the Aussies kicking Pom arse in the 4th test.

Boyne Island

Today is just a short drive to Boyne Island where Jan grew up and has a house. It is in between tenants so we can stay here for a while. We will stay here for a few days and have a look around. Free accommodation and power are always welcome.


Boyne and Tannum have the most local parks and dedicated walkways we have ever seen especially considering how small these towns are. We walked from the house into Tannum and had a couple of beers at the tavern. The walk goes along the Boyne river.

Today Jan’s brother Jon & Sandra took us out to the dam for lunch. It’s a great spot and well set up. I’m always amazed at how huge the dams are everywhere but Adelaide.

We went to town today (Gladstone) I always have to ask people what they mean when they call somewhere town. It is quite a large place but a coal town. We try to get a laptop battery and try to find somewhere to fix the springs on the caravan. Yes believe it or not but something else we have already had fixed has let us down. It is possible this spring was damaged when the axle mount broke. Anyway they re set them for us for $ 20 so I can’t complain, lets just hope they last more than 6 months.

Heath's Block Captain Creek

We are up and packed up just in time for 10:00am and drive to Agnes Waters before heading out to Heath’s Bush Block. The gate is padlocked but Heath agreed to let us remove the gate bolts. And easy job and we are in at set up just after 11.00am. It’s a great place and very much the type of property we would like to live on.

A walk down to Oyster creek which runs through the block. It’s a great afternoon and great to be somewhere private. As I write this I’m about to fire up the Gene for its first run. I’ll charge the batteries in the caravan & car as well has run the laptop and watch some movies tonight all in the knowledge that we can do it all again tomorrow.

A bit chilly last night but it warms up early. We checked the Yabby pot but no luck. Finally after 10 months we finally add some quick mounts to the Tojo roof rack for the annex which will get a good workout in Cape York. We also rig up the shower/toilet tent so it is quick and light. We do some minor repairs and servicing bleeding the clutch to see if it gives it some more feel. Maybe the clutch fluid is just as crap as all the others we changed. The Geny works good but we may need a 20amp charger so it chargers the batteries quicker. Its quiet enough but like all Geny’s you can hear them humming away. Heath’s bush block is really nice and we would like to stay

longer but we must push on north.

Virgin travels to 1770

A short drive into Bundaberg and off to Farmall to try to buy a Generator. We have decided on the Genquip Si2000 and after a little time trying to convince him he fires it up and we try it on the A/C on both heating and cooling with the lights all on. It works so we buy it. We are set now and can make our own power, this gives us much more freedom and eases some of my dictatorship tendencies about what we can turn on when. Remember what a disaster it would be if we couldn’t chill beer.

Anyway after this we are off and finally in to virgin territory and on our way to 1770. We arrive in the afternoon and check into Captain Cook CP for two nights. It is midweek but there are no powered sites but plenty of good camping spots. After we set up we are off down the beach for a fish. Not a single bite the whole afternoon. Back to the van for a sulk.