With another day in the car, we left Charters Towers around 8.30 and headed for Townsville. There were several delays due to roadworks and there is a lot of damage to the road after the floods. We fuelled up in Townsville and looked for a spot for smoko. We found a nice park but the toilets were closed. What to do?? We wandered around the grounds of the nearby nursing home and made use of their public facilities. It was a really lovely place, with spectacular tropical gardens, pretty flowers and lovely birds. Dad commented on how nice it looked and I warned him to be careful what he wished for!
We continued heading north and saw the devastation and damage in towns like Ingham, Tully and Innisfail. The trees that were stripped of their foliage are starting to grow back, but there are still lots of houses with tarps on the roof and it must be cool for them now with winter here. We have moved from Lee Kernaghan songs to Jimmy Barnes as we drive through the canefields. The cane is starting to be harvested and we saw cane trains along the tracks. It's a wonder we didn't stop and try to get a ride on one!
We arrived in Cairns and settled into a caravan park - we are staying for 3 nights to prepare for our trip to the tip of Cape York. We decided to put up the camper as the weather forecast is for fine weather and no rain, and it is a bit warmer here - about 22 degrees during the day and 15 overnight. Dad decided to opt for a cabin rather than putting up his tent. We had a BBQ for tea in the camp kitchen, and enjoyed a few beers and conversation with our new friends.
It was fantastic to chat with Carol, Meg and Alice on skype and Poppy was very impressed to be able to see your faces and hear your voices - it was very special.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Day 5 : Charters Towers
It was at first light that we headed off ... well not quite - it was about 8.30, but it seemed very early probably because it was so cold and dark. Yesterday was the coldest day in Longreach in 60 years! How is it that we have travelled over 2500 kilometres and it is still only 15 degrees during the day and freezing at night. We still haven't had a night in the camper because it is way too cold, and tonight in Charters Towers it is freezing cold and raining.
We had another long day in the car today - from Longreach to Winton, Hughenden, and on to Charters Towers - about 630 km. It is a pretty drive through Channel Country and this area is apparently the inspiration for many of Lee Kernaghan's songs. Or so I have heard for the past 6 hours. It is amazing to think that this is the catchment for Lake Eyre. There is a lot of water damage along the roadside and it is obvious that there has been a lot of water through here. Winton and Hughenden are apparently known as 'dinosaur country' but we didn't see any today, just the normal kangaroos and emus.
We are in a cabin at a lovely caravan park and Dad cooked tea tonight -his famous chicken pasta dish and it was excellent. I have left the boys to drink beer and watch the footy and I am enjoying the serenity while the rain patters gently on the roof!
Off to Cairns tomorrow - hopefully we will be able to take off the jumpers and see the sunshine.
We had another long day in the car today - from Longreach to Winton, Hughenden, and on to Charters Towers - about 630 km. It is a pretty drive through Channel Country and this area is apparently the inspiration for many of Lee Kernaghan's songs. Or so I have heard for the past 6 hours. It is amazing to think that this is the catchment for Lake Eyre. There is a lot of water damage along the roadside and it is obvious that there has been a lot of water through here. Winton and Hughenden are apparently known as 'dinosaur country' but we didn't see any today, just the normal kangaroos and emus.
We are in a cabin at a lovely caravan park and Dad cooked tea tonight -his famous chicken pasta dish and it was excellent. I have left the boys to drink beer and watch the footy and I am enjoying the serenity while the rain patters gently on the roof!
Off to Cairns tomorrow - hopefully we will be able to take off the jumpers and see the sunshine.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Day 4: Longreach
We stayed in Longreach today and it was nice to not have to drive too far in the car. Jim and Rick booked in for a few of the tours at the Qantas museum and Helen booked in to explore the shops. Jim and Rick had an amazing experience exploring a restored 707 and de-commissioned 747, and walking out on the wing was a highlight. After lunch we visited the Stockman's Hall of Fame, and Jim and Rick drove to the nearby town of Ifracombe, which has a mile of rusty machinery. Not Helen's idea of a perfect afternoon, but it kept the boys entertained.
Back in the car tomorrow!
Day 3: Longreach
Day 3 started early for Rick, who misread the time and got up at 5.30am. Today is the longest day in the car and we have got a day of no driving tomorrow, which is good because I am just about sick of the car. We filled up with fuel in Cunnamulla and paid $1.58 c/l, then headed north again. The countryside is really beautiful with wide open plains and grassland, and red red sand. Today is t-shirt weather and it is strange to see the news of freezing conditions at home. We stopped in Charleville for smoko and there is a little drizzling rain, but it's still a comfortable 15 degrees. We found a cache in Charleville and continue heading north along the Warrego River - saw a patch of boab trees.
Drove through Augathella, stopped for lunch in Tambo, by the lagoon. Continued our drive north through Blackall (Barcoo River), Barcaldine and on to Longreach. We stopped along the way to inspect a cotton plant and saw many different kinds of wildlife, including bush turkey and Brolgas.
We settled in to our cabin at Longreach - it is still a bit cold overnight for camping, and has been wet all day today. Helen went to the local supermarket for some veggies and we had BBQ pork porterhouse steak and steamed veggies for tea - cooked in the camp kitchen and it was delicious. The IGA supermarket was well stocked and just like the one at home. Driving in Longreach is a new and exciting challenge. There don't seem to be any stop signs or give way signs at the intersections, and whoever gets there first seems to have right of way - makes driving to the shops a new adventure!
Drove through Augathella, stopped for lunch in Tambo, by the lagoon. Continued our drive north through Blackall (Barcoo River), Barcaldine and on to Longreach. We stopped along the way to inspect a cotton plant and saw many different kinds of wildlife, including bush turkey and Brolgas.
We settled in to our cabin at Longreach - it is still a bit cold overnight for camping, and has been wet all day today. Helen went to the local supermarket for some veggies and we had BBQ pork porterhouse steak and steamed veggies for tea - cooked in the camp kitchen and it was delicious. The IGA supermarket was well stocked and just like the one at home. Driving in Longreach is a new and exciting challenge. There don't seem to be any stop signs or give way signs at the intersections, and whoever gets there first seems to have right of way - makes driving to the shops a new adventure!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Day 2: Cunnamulla
We got away from Hillston at around 8.30 am and settled in for a long day in the car. We travelled along the Kidman Way and stopped for smoko at Gulgunnia and experienced the first long drop toilet of the trip. Looked for a cache that was supposed to be hidden nearby, but couldn't find it. Only time for a quick pit stop in Cobar, and Jim had the nearby cache in hand. Cobar looked like a nice place to spend bit more time, but we were off to Bourke. Lunch was in Bourke by the banks of the Darling River, and we explored the old wharf. Luckily, we only had soft drinks for lunch because we got breathalyzed on the way out of town.
The road to Cunnamulla was long and had a few little hills to keep us entertained. There was a lot of wildlife, including wild pigs, goats and the expected emu and kangaroos. We pulled into Cunnamulla at around 5pm, just on dusk, and found a bed in the fourth place we called. I thought we might have to put up the camper, but it is still a bit cold overnight, and it was starting to rain, so we opted for a motel bed. The Corella Motel was an interesting place, and could have done with a thorough spring clean. We found the Cunnamulla fella, but didn't realize how bronzed he was! We got internet range and could skype Ellen at home, and it was great to see the puppies vis skype. I think they were a bit confused about how they could hear me, but not smell me! We travelled 664km on day 2.
The road to Cunnamulla was long and had a few little hills to keep us entertained. There was a lot of wildlife, including wild pigs, goats and the expected emu and kangaroos. We pulled into Cunnamulla at around 5pm, just on dusk, and found a bed in the fourth place we called. I thought we might have to put up the camper, but it is still a bit cold overnight, and it was starting to rain, so we opted for a motel bed. The Corella Motel was an interesting place, and could have done with a thorough spring clean. We found the Cunnamulla fella, but didn't realize how bronzed he was! We got internet range and could skype Ellen at home, and it was great to see the puppies vis skype. I think they were a bit confused about how they could hear me, but not smell me! We travelled 664km on day 2.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Cape York Adventure
Welcome to Helen and Jim's Cape York adventure:
Day 1. We had a slow start after a late night at the Kasey chambers and Shane Nicholson concert. The concert was excellent by the way. We left home at about 11am, excited and a bit sad about leaving our puppies behind. We know that Ellen will take great care of them, and we will miss them.
We had lunch at Maccas in Echuca (last fast food for 2000 kms) and headed north and travelled through Deniliquin - maybe we should come back for the Ute muster in October? We met Dad in Hay, then continued north to Hillston. There is a mouse plague in the district and we could see mice running across the road in front of us. The country side is very flat, with wide open grasslands, and we saw emus, kangaroos and lots of hawks eating the roadkill.
Our first night was as at the Hillston motel, and we had tea at the Club House Hotel. This was the sign on the door of the hotel - great! Toured the township and bounced on the suspension bridge over the Lachlan River. The Lachlan is a green, slow moving river, not at all appealing. Completed 524 km on day 1.
We had lunch at Maccas in Echuca (last fast food for 2000 kms) and headed north and travelled through Deniliquin - maybe we should come back for the Ute muster in October? We met Dad in Hay, then continued north to Hillston. There is a mouse plague in the district and we could see mice running across the road in front of us. The country side is very flat, with wide open grasslands, and we saw emus, kangaroos and lots of hawks eating the roadkill.
Our first night was as at the Hillston motel, and we had tea at the Club House Hotel. This was the sign on the door of the hotel - great! Toured the township and bounced on the suspension bridge over the Lachlan River. The Lachlan is a green, slow moving river, not at all appealing. Completed 524 km on day 1.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The rains are here
Last weekend we had a thunderstorm in Bendigo and we had over 5 inches of rain over the weekend. We have never had this much rain at once and as it was so dry the water soon ran across the paddock. The good news is the house stayed dry, the tank and the dams are full and now, one week later, the green grass is everywhere. It looks so green and fresh. This picture is from my front verandah - this is where my front garden used to be!
This is the back of my house - don't need to water the lawn today!
This is across the back yard to the orchard
This is the water that is flowing out of the dam.
This is looking across the paddock and the neighbours paddock (out the front) - there is water as far as you can see.
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