Nth Queensland Run

[Deleted]

Hi LIsa

Yahoo!!! another Val fanatic. Boy am I excited!!!!!!!!! ;D ;D

That S series, is nearly as good as my "76VK.

Yeah, you all can just dream about having a Val, and I've got one.

I know what you are going to say ATOG.....you thought I was dead.....na!, just watching, watching, watching???

A lot of water under the bridge since I last posted. Currently just finishing off another relief motel management gig....March 31st in Goondiwindi, then we are off to Undara for the 2010 tourist season.


This time I will be able to get to annoye ya ATOG, as we will be regualrly visiting our kidz & grandies in Cairns on our RDO's. :-
*

Hey KiwiJim couldn't hang around the south coast of NSW any longer waiting for you.....seems you will never get out of Tassie

Hey Lisa if you want to see our Val, just follow our travel blog theretroroamers.blogspot.com There is a million posts so you can come on our adventure with us, and see the mighty Val.........yaaaaaa!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D

Cheers & beers

vkgreenie

[atouchofglass]

Hi Guys and Gals

Well Lisa glad to hear things have turned out well for you and your son.
Pity you won't make it to Cairns.... mind you the weather is nothing to rave about at the moment.
All wet weather gear currently
Maybe you'll get up here when the weather is better and you have the time.

Mar 28, 2010 13:14:43 GMT 10 @vkgreenie said:

I know what you are going to say ATOG.....you thought I was dead.....na!, just watching, watching, watching???

March 31st in Goondiwindi, then we are off to Undara for the 2010 tourist season.


This time I will be able to get to annoye ya ATOG, as we will be regualrly visiting our kidz & grandies in Cairns on our RDO's.

Cheers & beers

vkgreenie

Hey VKG
Wheres ya bin?
I thought ya waz deed!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D

There you go......
Just so I don't disappoint you. ;D ;D ;D ;D

So you are up this way toward mid year?
Hope our paths cross
May be a bit touch and go
If I can't find permanent work in Cairns I will be back in Bowen for the tomato season ....
June onward then the mango season November until January.

The better half will stay here
But the Olympic will be my home away from home.

PM me and we'll exchange ph numbers ;D ;D

Cheers
Atog

[Deleted]

Hey ATOG.

Your Sunday arvo must be like mine.

You can't do much because it is peeeeeeing down in Cairns. Just got off the phone to our son in Smithfield, I couldn't hear him due to rain on the roof.

Me.....well the motel industry is at at deadeast point on a Sunday arvo........but still gotta be here

Thank heavens this is our last tour of duty, just over it. Looking forward to our next gig as a couple of workers.

We arrive in Undara on the 7th of April, and work 10 on and four off. We won't be in Cairns every break, as there is a lot to see out there as well. However will let you know when we have a spare couple of hours.

Just send us an email [e-mail] and I will send ya the bat phone number.

Break out the galloshers, she's wet and wollie out there We might'n even get there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers & beers

vkgreenie

[atouchofglass]

Hi Guys and Gals
Well it is still WET in Cairns
But
In Tinaroo it is ...... less wet


An interesting sign along the way to Kauri bay showing a previous use for the area.



Visited some of our friends who are camping at Kauri Bay on Tinaroo dam

They are well set up and having a great time
Even made a slippery slide for the kids and the young at heart ;D ;D ;D


There has been plenty of food, laughter and fun.
So much so one of the locals had to drop in to see what all the commotion was about



Wish you were here

Tough life but someone has to do it ;D ;D ;D ;D

Cheers
Atog

[lisa]

I'm baaaaack!!!!
;D ;D ;D

had a few dramas ie: exploding caravan windows as trucks overtook me, but nothing too serious that A abit of temporary plywood couldn't fix!

Uploading photos now - and yes, ATOG we actually did make it up tp cairns and to my favourite hiding spot at Palm Cove - but it was only a one day trip and we had to be back home by Wednesday so it was all too brief.
Anway for the blog with photos and the full story go to:
mydreamhomeisportable.blogspot.com

The van is now going back to repairers for a couple of new windows....

Attachments:

[bobandjacqui]

G'day Atog, Great to see you out and about flying the Olympic flag. That slip and slide looks a lot of fun.

Cheers Bob and Jacqui

[atouchofglass]

Hi Everyone

Hey Lisa
Glad to hear you got up this far.
Sorry we missed you.
Perhaps next time?

Yes Bob it was a great weekend getaway
The van was nice and cosy while the other campers toughed it out in the Tent City they made
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

One of the campers came up with this idea and it worked well to keep them dry.

It certainly attracted a few people over the long weekend. ;D ;D

By the end of the weekend the slide was..... wellll.... slippery ;D ;D


Met some lovely people and enjoyed every minute of it.


Who knows ... perhaps another trip up there again next year.....
But not when it is quite so wet.. ;D ;D ;D

Cheers
Atog

[kiwijim]

Howdy Atog,

It sure looks like every-one had a ball at that camp,

How is the temp and the humidity up your way at the moment ?

We leave Tassie on the 22nd of May and will start to head your way, that is if the weather is cool enough and you have bottled up all the humidity !!!

Can't wait to see a straight stretch of flat road

Cheers kiwijim

[atouchofglass]

Hi Jim
The Temp and humidity are fine.....
Just too d@mn wet !!!!
The ground is real spongy currently.

The weather outlook is for fine weather over the weekend.
Typical Easter weekend in Cairns
WET, WET, WET

Cheers
Atog

[kiwijim]

Thanks Atog,

Good to hear you have that humidity under control,

We don,t mind the rain.....bucketing down here as well,

See Ya in a couple of months, all going well. ;D

kiwijim

[atouchofglass]

Greetings All
Well anywhere in the Nth is worth visiting at the moment.
These past couple of weeks have been picture postcard perfect.

The cooler months (notice I didn't say Winter) are always worth the wait.

Anyone wanting to visit the Tropics ..... now is the time to do it.

Hey Jim where the ..... hell are you?

Arrrrhhh there are a few good weeks left .... plenty of time...


Cheers
Atog

[atouchofglass]

Hey Gents and Laddies ;D ;D

Well we decided not to go vanning this Easter but have a day trip away along with the odd day at home.

So early today we took a leisurely drive up the Gillie's Range to Lake Barrine for a very nice breakfast on the lake.
MMMMM nice bacon ,sausages, eggs, mushrooms and baked beans...
Finished with scones and jam.
No photos ... too busy eating. ;D ;D ;D

Yungaburra markets was on today but we bypassed them.
Bought my lady these at the rose farm just past Yungaburra.



Got to keep the other half happy.
Two bunches of flowers.....
That should do it.




Then onto Mareeba to have a look at the Mt Uncle Distillery.
Yes that was my idea.
Drive through the front gates around the back of the distillery to the very nice looking tavern.
Walk inside... very nice indeed.
Mate can we have a tour through the distillery?
Don't do tours
Oh.... looking around .... noone about..... just us....
eeerrrr thanks
And out the door we go..
Not really a friendly spot,
A distillery that doesn't let you see the stills.... not for me.

On to Granite Gorge camping spot and caravan park
Just West of Mareeba.
Off in the middle of nowhere...
Won't find many peopl............ you got to be kidding
People everywhere... Hmmm popular spot.
Wall to wall campers.
Note to self ... don't go to Granite gorge during the holiday seasons.

OK how about somewhere else we haven't been
Mareeba Wetlands a few ks Nth of Mareeba.
Lots of bull dust on the road .... had just been reopened.
But at the end of a 7km dirt road a lovely cafe and right outside it ..... These


A very open plan building that sits out over the one of the seven lagoons on the property.


Lovely spot.
They have Gouldian Finches beside the visitors centre that are breeding.
There is also a Lodge that you can stay at if you want a longer experience.
Would like to stay there sometime.
Well worth the trip over the less than wonderful road.

So that was about it for the day.

Back to Mareeba and onto the highway heading back to Cairns via Kuranda.

Just outside Mareeba....... sign on the side of the road..... FRESH FIGS.
Hmmm .....
Guess what we got for $20


;D ;D ;D ;D

A good day had by all.
Can't beat the North at this time of year.
_{About time we had some decent weather}

Cheers
Atog

[atouchofglass]

Hey Gang

Well had the opportunity to go out and have a look around Chilligoe on Friday.

Only lived in Nth Qld since 1980 and never been there

It's a nice little place about 3 hours from Cairns.
Easy enough drive and only about 10ks if dirt.

As you enter the town you're greeted by ..... this

These roamed the area as it was part of the great inland sea..... just a few million years ago .... last Tuesday.

Decided to look through the cemetery, as it usually tells some of the towns history.
They were a frugal lot ... notice the last resting place of these gents ....
Is their beds.


There were several headstones erected by friends rather than family of the deceased. Not something you would see these days.


And I have no idea why all the old pots and kettles?


ON A LIGHTER NOTE

Went on a tour of the Royal Arch Cave.

Took about an hour and a half and well worth a look.
No flash

With Flash


Back in the 30's people use to come into the cave and picnic in the cool.
There are three areas where the roof has collapsed making for a nice picnic area on a hot day.


Then took a trip over to the copper smelter or what remains of it.
The smelter was dismantled in the 1950's but there is still a bit to see.






And of course a trip to Chilligoe wouldn't be complete without a look at the balancing rock.

Bit of a cheat really.

Here it is from another angle.

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

There was also at least one nice pub... the Post Office Pub..
So named as it is across the road from .........the Post Office.
Friendly enough publican and plenty of nice cold beer.
Which of course we had to sample.

Time was running short so didn't get to go to the Ford museum...
Maybe next time... or not.

Cheers
Atog

[bobt]

hey atog

Great photos, thanks for sharing..

Bit cruel though... we are so close but so far. Never mind next trip

bobt

[kiwijim]

Howdy Atog,

Mighty fine pictures there "Sunshine"

I had to Goggle Chilligoe, to find where it was,

"Man" that place is really out in the sticks,

It appears that no matter where you go, the Vandals will do damage in the Cemeteries,

it looks like that head-stone of the young lady, erected by her Friends, has been hit by a rock at some time, a real shame.

We have found that some of these small towns are really fascinating, it's amazing what is hidden away in some of these places at the end of the road,

Some Country Towns, can be like entering a time warp of a hundred years ago.

Keep the Pic's coming Mate, really interesting.

Cheers, Kiwijim

[atouchofglass]

Behanna Creek Gorge
Well on Monday the other half and myself went for a walk to Behanna gorge, just south of the Pyramid near Gordonvale.
About a ten minute drive and then a leisurely 35minute walk to get there.
I think it is the walk that puts many off.
Trust me the creek is well worth the walk.

There is a wide concrete path all the way. And I mean wide it's about 2 metres wide

The Pyramid mountain




Wife and I had a dip in this lovely rock pool right beside a raging waterfall/dropoff.
Boy was it nice after the walk!!



Had never used this camera before and ended up taking a couple of real short videos
click on the image to get the video




Odd bit of fungus growing beside the walkway.


Even more odd things you might see.


Cheers
Atog

[bobt]

nice spot.

nice photos

thanks for sharing.

bobt

[atouchofglass]

Hey Gang
I thought I had posted my trip last month (or was it May) to Ravenshoe and Koombaloomba dam.......
But I hadn't...... big oops.

So here are a few photos for those that may be in the Cairns area and want to look around the Atherton Tablelands.

Drive through Gordonvale and turn up the Gillies Range.
Top of the range and there will be a sign to the Cathedral Figtree.....
Well worth looking at.
Any Avatar fans may see Hometree ;D ;D







Went out to Lake Eacham




Unusual tree in the park at Eacham





Onto Yungaburra and the Curtain Figtree.




Heading out to Ravenshoe past Windy Hill wind farm

[atouchofglass]

Then onto Koombaloomba Dam

At this point I must say that unless you have a 4wd Koombaloomba is a bit of an ask for a car.
It can be done with caution but check that the road is ok before setting out.
It will be a good 45minute drive to get there from Ravenshoe.



Lunch at the lookout at Koombaloomba





Tully Gorge is on the way out to Koombaloomba





Only flows during the wet as there are two hydroelectric plants draining water away from the falls.

[atouchofglass]

On the way out to Ravenshoe is a crater worth a bit of a look as well





An unusual tree with the fruit on the trunk




Hmm some people will do anything fro the right photo..... I saw nuuuuuthink

;D ;D ;D

[atouchofglass]

At the turn off from Ravenshoe to Koombaloomba there is also Millstream falls







On the way back to Cairns we stopped off at a nice little lookout,
Might be close to Windy Hill ...... what do you think








And yes that was all in one day's travel from Cairns.
Back home that night at about 6pm.
Long day but heaps to see up here in the North.

Cheers
Atog

[millard1399]

G'day Atog,

Sounds like another lovely day in "paradise".
Plenty of greenery and plenty of water (...and plenty of clouds? - where's that warm winter weather people head north for?? )

That's a pretty sturdy tree in that photo. I'm thinking that a cyclone hasn't visited that place yet, otherwise that tree would surely be matchsticks by now, being that it's so exposed.

Is that kiwijim fella heading up your way this trip?

cheers,
Al.

[atouchofglass]

Hey Al
Mate the cloudy weather was in ..... May?
We had beautiful weather most of June, and this month has started with....
More cloudy weather.

That tree still standing.... adversity makes you stronger. ;D ;D

Not sure if Kiwijim is on his way up to the North, you never know with that bloke until he turns up on your doorstep. ;D ;D ;D

Cheers
Atog

[bobt]

Love the water falls.

Maybe we might get back up round your part of the world next year. There is a gathering of the caravan clubs at Rocky in about sept I think, were considering going.

Gotta be warmer in Cairns then it is in Melb at the moment.

[atouchofglass]

Hey Bob

Always welcome in the North

Gotta run lots to do today
Stay tuned mate.... more to come.
;D ;D ;D

Cheers
Atog