Home Sweet Home

Made our way into Melbourne after rush hour found our way to Ikea for a look, did'nt buy much. Then to the Exhibition Centre to the Craft Fair for Diane, I filled in two hours in the Museum. Then called in to see my niece Rosina and baby Ruby before heading to the boat.
Boat trip was good and never woke till in Devonport. Getting home felt strange after nearly six months away but pleased to find everything in good order.
Had a busy fortnight getting things back to normal and catching up with family and friends, even the dogs were happy to be home.I headed off to Flinders Island the weekend after we got home for my sisters 70th birthday for four days.
We had six terrific days at Ansons at the long weekend,everything good. Then started my new job after that, a bit of a shock. I crushed my finger the third day and had to have seven stitches, ouch!
After a month at home our holiday just seems like a dream, but a very pleasent one.

The last leg

Diane finally got to checkout the big craft depot at Pennant Hills and had to put more air in the tyres. We made our way to Simon's through the mad traffic to get to know our cute granddaughter, Rylee. She's 14 months but not walking yet but knows how to get her own way. Visited the Parklea markets and Warrengamba dam in three wet days.
Headed to Leeton through the Burley Griffin Way and the countryside looked magnificent, beautiful grain crops and acres of bright yellow canola and the purple weed Patersons Curse. Spent a beautiful day sight seeing with a great couple we met earlier on our trip. With all the rain the rice growers are gearing up for a great season, first crops for three years.
Heading south called into a dairy farmer (Richard Carter's mate) at Numerka, he reckoned it would be the best season for years, grass everywhere.
Staying in a cabin in Seymour, ready to tackle Melbourne tomorrow and on the boat tomorrow night. Whoo hoo!!!!!!!

Heading Home

Next day I had an unsuccessful fishing trip with Nathan but still tried out his new boat.We dropped down to Rockhampton listening to an exiting AFL grand final and stayed in a cabin due to threatening rain. We headed inland through Mt Morgan and Biloela, beautiful country all green and mixed crops, even diary country. Camped the night at Gayndah and seen a cloud of fruit bats on the move on dark,(millions)
On the way to Maroochydor we drove into Noosa and got a shock,not used to crowded civilization.We stayed the night with Rick and Helan Bransden in their absolutely beautiful new home at Twin Waters, good to catch up.
Headed inland again through the Blackall Ranges, looking down over the coast. We called into the Black Forrest Cookoo Clock shop which was amazing.Drove through Towoomba in pooring rain and camped in Texas for the night.
Onto Newcastle via Inverell,Uralla and Tamworth all beatiful green rolling hills and had a coffee with Ella Cunningham,Phils great niece at Willow Tree. Camped at Burning Mountain and checked out a burning coalseam underground.Called into Hunter Valley Gardens,very nice and stayed the night with Diane's sister Sandra and caught up with her family.
Heading for Simons today.

Wedding Day

The big day started with threatening rain but the day turned out ok. The setting was at the Palmetum in Townsville at a beautiful sheltered rain forest section. There were about 65 guests in attendance with the groom happily waiting for the traditionally late bride.(All good) The vows were exchanged without further ado and the happy couple were congratulated in a cloud of bubbles,then the photos began of the radiant bride and relieved and relaxed groom.
The RSL was the venue for the reception which was carried out very professionally. The nervous but entertaining speeches were given during the superb smorgasbord meal.
The dance floor got a good workout and a good time was enjoyed by all.
Celebrations continued on sunday as interstate guests headed home. We left the happy couple to go on their honeymoon on Thursday and we were only too pleased to be finally heading for home.
We stayed with old friends Helen and David Watts who are managing a caravan park in Bowen.We missed out on a fishing trip at Bowen with Nathan Oakley due to the wind.The weather is very unsettled but still hot and sticky.

Cairns

Rained all night at Wonga Beach.Then had a couple of enjoyable days with Graham & Michelle Anthony at their unit at Trinity Beach and made good use of the pool,very sticky weather.
Checked out super yacht "Kocomo" in the marina at Cairns. (magnificent).Then headed for Townsville checking out the 'Boulders' at Babinda,Innisfail,Mourilyan Bay,Etty Beach and camped the night at beautiful Kurrimine Beach.
Finally arriving at Tim & Lynda's for a couple of days, catching up on the wedding preparations and chasing mud crabs.
We moved into Rowes Bay Caravan Park for a week.Had the Buck and Hens party on Saturday night,say no more.
Had a boys day fishing on the Reef catching some coral trout and spanish mackeral and had a fish Barbie with wedding guests on the foreshore.
Diane has finally found a dress for the wedding(phew)ready for the big day tommorow.

Tablelands

The wind blew us out of Karumba so we found a nice quiet spot in Croydon ( an old mining town), then headed through Georgetown (more old mines) then onto Gobbold Gorge. We done the three hour gorge tour, well worth the look and a great camp spot and shared a campfire with fellow tourists.
Next stop was Mt Surprise and done the Undarra Lava tubes tour which was excellant. Then moved onto an old mining town called Herberton and booked a hotel room because of rain, our first for 4 months.
Spent the day checking out the historic past of the town and then spent the next 2 nights in Atherton (still drizzling) checking out the highlights of the Tablelands. Beautiful tropical countryside.
On the way to Mareeba we stocked up with lots of tropical fruits and vegies, (yummy and cheap). Then headed down the mountain to Mossman and the Daintree and camping tonight at a beautiful park on Wonga Beach and wet again.

Plenty Highway

Headed south on Thursday the 19th to Daly Waters to check out the historic pub which was filled with stuff! Had lunch at the Elliott roadhouse with a flock of peacocks.Stayed the night at Tennant Creek, still hot 34 degrees, 20 overnight.
Checked out the Devil's Marbles before heading to Gemtree on the Plenty Highway through a plague of locusts.
On the road we passed a huge termite mound, flocks of green budgies and quail, a couple on pushbikes riding from Alice to Longreach, nutters!In places the grass was 2 feet high from all the rain, the cattle was laying around too full to move.But passing into Queensland it was dry open plains.
Camped the night on the Georgina River and caught up with some pig hunters with a ute load of live wild porkers.
Fuelled up at Boulia and onto Mt Isa for a couple of days. Phil done the tour at the Extrata silver, lead, zinc and copper mine.
Drove onto Cloncurry and headed north for Karumba, where we have spent the last 2 days. Had a nice feed of prawns ($15 a kilo) and Phil done a fishing charter, but only brought home 1 blue salmon.
Heading east on Friday.

Darwin

We shared a kilo of crocodile meat on the barbie with the Shepherds on our last night in Kununurra, beautiful favour but a bit tough.
We finally vacated Western Australia after about 3 months, passing into Northern Territory and losing 1 1/2 hours in the process.
We are now covering old ground that we did 5 years ago, only going the opposite direction. We jumped in the hot springs upon arriving in Katherine (very refreshing). We voted at the polling booth at Woollies and had the ute serviced for the second time (20,000 klms). Not good to be in Katherine on Thursday, pay day for local unemployed
We had a night with earlier acquaintances at Edith Falls before heading to Darwin.
We had a nice cool off in Berri Springs before camping the night at Mandorah, across the harbour from Darwin.
We checked out the WW2 Liberator plane crash at Wagait Beach before heading to Darwin to hit the shops, Mindle market, Casaurina shopping centre and the mall, not forgetting a quilt shop too., ute chockers.
Temperature in Darwin too hot for us, 32 plus.
Spent a night on Dundee Beach before heading south to Katherine for another dip in the springs. Camped tonight at Mataranka, more springs.

Darwin

Cockburn Ranges

We left Derby with good memories and headed east through tribes of boabs. They are like families, standing there with grandparents, parents and children, amazing to see! Halls Creek had cleaned up it's act after our last visit 5 years ago, which was pleasing to see. We spent the next 5 days in he Cockburn Ranges area which was fantastic. Murlga Billabong we took some video of 2 snakes in some mating ritual, check the video, Amazing! ElQuestro has some great gorges with palms, ferns, warm rock pools and waterfalls. Great for cooling off. Home Valley had some great accommodation and entertainment. Tried for a Barra no luck. At Kununurra we are camping with my old work mate, Doug Shepherd and family, who are travelling in the opposite direction. Good to see a familiar face. Weather is perfect, swimming in the pool, sightseeing, we are nearly professional tourists. We done the Ord River cruise yesterday and witnessed a beautiful sunset. Heading to Katherine on Wednesday.

Beautiful Boabs

Camping at Djoodoon was interesting especially with an alcoholic camp host, but learnt heaps from Toby and Gaye from Paynesville. Caught more fish and found a 15" cone shell. Perfect spot except for mozzies and midgies.

Checked out the church at Beagle Bay with an alter made out of pearl and other shells.

Stayed a night at Quondong Point, very hot, bathed in rock pools and watched whales.

Back to Broome for another swim and supplies then set off for Derby.

Had 3 days at Derby, checking out the 11 meter tides, Boab prison tree and many indigenous people.

We had a 2 hour flight over the horizontal falls, cockatoo Island and The King Sound, paid for by owning the winning crab at the very popular Derby Mud Crab racers.

We are now frequently running into tourists that we have met earlier down the track and also have many names and addresses.

Beautiful Broom

In Broome when we heard the passing of Richard Carter. A very sad affair and assures us that our travels are well founded.
On the way to Broome we passed through Roebuck Plains with grass 1 1/2 foot high as far as you could see with mobs of cattle fattening up, an impressive sight.
Broome is very busy, but lucky Phil managed to find a spot in a caravan park for three nights. Cable Beach lived up to it's expectations plus we found the nudey section by mistake. (not a pretty sight).
Diane wore a $30,000 pearl necklace and held a $100,000 pearl in her hand during the Pearl Luggers tour, but we only parted with a fraction of that money for a nice pearl necklace.
We headed north to Cape Leveque for a different cultural experience in some dry aborigine communities. What a life they have! Beautiful warm spots, isolated, wild flowers, big tides, mangroves, big shells, fish and swimming. BUT crocs, mozzies and Midge's. Caught a queen fish and seen a big turtle at Hunters Creek (bogged again).

PortHedland

Work in Port Hedland didn't eventuate, not interested in short term but we stayed for a week anyway. Phil had a trip to the reef fishing , 50 kms out with Pat and his father and had great success bagging spankled and red emporer, cod and chinaman, 27 in total. Perfect weather warm and flat.
We checked out all the sights of P H, done the iron ore tour, salt piles and generally relaxed, getting the hang of this touring.
Caught up with Graham and Christine Lamprey staying in the same park and had a very noisey get together at Pat's for a fish feast.
Port Hedland is very expensive, housing rent up to $2500 a week plus paying around a million for a three bedroom home.
Moved onto a beauiful spot at 80 mile beach which is still recovering after last years cyclone.Great spot for shells and fishing. Fishermen lined up for kilometers after threadfin salmon and mulloway( around 10 kilograms). Now coming into beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
We are currantly at Barn Hill station camped on another beaut beach, swimming and fishing, hard to decide when to leave. Phil's even got a suntan happening. Sunday night we had a 3 course roast and entertaining aborigine family band, shared under the stars with 220 other campers.
Next stop Broome.

Karrajini

We left Exmouth on friday 2Nd and drove into Shothole canyon and Charles Knife gorge which were both excellent,then onto Nanutarra through flat dry country with termite mounds, for lunch. Some tourists in a helicopter also called in for lunch.(way to go) The trip to Paraburdoo got better as we went with spectacular ranges, ever changing as we drove. Paraburdoo is a typical mining town with cockatoos, brown from iron ore dust and and bore water.We had a great camp in a dry riverbed but had trucks and trains rumbling and dingoes howling all night.
We had to wait three hours in Tom Price for a fuel tanker before we could move on to Karrajini to camp in red dust. It appears Rio Tinto are shifting mountains to the coast by the train load.Every employee seems to have a company vehicle with a flashing light and a flag. Camp grounds were full due to school holidays. Karrajini gorges are a Pilbara icon , with breath taking lookouts, rock formations, waterfalls, swimming holes and backpackers.
We drove onto Millstream N/P via the mine permit road and passed 2 kilometer trains loaded with iron ore. We camped 2 nights at Millstream Homestead which is an oasis in the dry outback, with beautiful artesian fed lily ponds and swimming holes with river gums and paperbarks full of bird life. It would have been an interesting station in its heyday.
We headed back to the coast lucky to find a spot at the Dampier caravan park which overlooked the noisy ore loading facility which fills many waiting ships. More company vehicles servicing the wharfes for the gas plant, salt works and iron ore. Karratha is expanding nearly as quick as Perth (work everywhere).
Warming up nicely now but stiff breezes rarely abate. Both our shoulders are peeling due to sunburn at Exmouth. Onto Port Hedland via exclusive Point Samson where a nice sized queen fish escaped Phil's hook,(bugger!). Noodles for tea in another riverbed in the rain. Rain cleared and shared a late night campfire with Mike and Sandra from Perth with whom we had camped the last four nights (good fun).
We are now camped in a beautiful park in Port Hedland hoping for some work for a fortnight and maybe a fishing trip with Phil's old work mate Pat McCullough.

Ningaloo Reef.

Canarvan also a fishing port but more famous for it's fruit and vegetables. We done a banana plantation tour and found out how they irrigate from a dry river. (only sand) Apparently the water is still running on a clay bottom under the sand and moves towards the sea at a meter a month, all very interesting. Took the little train to the end of the mile jetty and had a windy walk back over the rickety planks. Met up with some earlier acquaintances at the very noisy sausage sizzle at the c/ park. We stocked up on fruit and vegies at the growers market and tried our first custard apple (beautiful) and continued onto beautiful Coral Bay.(crowded) Di had a swim and Phil worked on his suntan.

Onto Exmouth passed the RAAF base and Boeing and Naval Communication Centres. Camped near the Cape Range N/park to get a 6 am start to line up to get a camp site in the n/park. Very impressive area with warm turquoise water,Ningallo reef 300 m off the shore and Cape Range about a kilometer behind the beach. All green landscape after the rain and abundant quiet wildlife. We learnt to snorkel and enjoyed checking out the coral and colourful fish. Also done a glass bottom boat cruise.

Phil had great success fishing, with a spangled emperor, trevelly and a long tom, too easy. We had two horror nights in the roof top tent with wind gusts up to 70-80 kms an hour, no sleep so we booked a cabin for the next night.

Heading to Mount Tom Price tomorrow.

Kalbarri

Dongara is a nice little spot although it rained over night. Spent the day in Geraldton, quite a busy place with big cray fishing port and big grain silos, and HMAS Sydney memorial at the lookout. Onto Kalbarri via Northhampton and Port Gregory with it's pink lake, lots of spectacular lookouts on the way.

Visited parrot breeding centre and dined out with caravan park friends at Finlays shed bbq.(rough but good) Done the Kalbarri NP gorge walks, which was fantastic. Phil visited the doc to have his ears syringed,now Di doesn't have to repeat herself. Onto Hamelin Station Stay for the night, perfect, all brand new. Weather warming up all the time.

Denham next, wow,what a beautiful spot with crystal clear calm water, great foreshore and boat ramp full of trailers.

Explored Peron national park, 120 klms of four wheel driving and camped the night at Cape Peron and got eaten by midges, but managed to catch a whiting for tea. Next day booked into Monkey Mia which was equally as impressive except for the back packers. Didn't get to feed a dolphin but it was still quite an experience. Back to Denham in time to watch bins of fresh giant snapper being unloaded at the wharf.

Decided to go to Steep Point, more four wheel driving, to camp on the beach. Took our photo at the most western point of Aussie and admired the crashing waves up against sheer cliffs. Travelled onto Canarvan dodging the goats, sheep and cattle feeding on the green grass on the way.