18th to 25th August 2010

18th August 2010

Awoke to see huge Air Balloons landing in paddocks nearby. Created a lot of interest with the campers. Quick hot shower and wash hair before leaving the Rodeo Grounds at 10 am. We headed for Mount Molloy Rest Area again and kids to go into town for few supplies and meet us for quick cuppa at the rest area before leaving for good. Collect fire wood on the way - Lisa & Ross caught up with us and loaded top of small trailer with huge logs, ready to cut up when get to camp. Kids decided to stay for the night while Ross did one more job - put the solar panel from the small trailer onto the pod on their 4x4. Looks like  rain, so we all put up awnings in case. Tried to rain all day, but failed. I made another (successfully, this time) boiled fruit cake and a banana cake in the camp oven - both beautiful - better wood, obviously. Lisa worked for few hours on the computer before we cooked Chilli Con Carne for tea, then watch a movie before bed. Still not raining yet.

19th August 2010

Rained a bit last night, but only slight sprinkle during morning - lucky we had erected our awnings. By morning tea it was raining quite constantly, although not hard. Lisa worked till about 11.30am, then allowed me to up-date my 'blog'. When we look around, we are the only ones in most camping areas that have only a tent to sleep in - some of the elaborate, huge rigs that come in are incredible.

The computer which they had had repaired in Cairns, stopped working again, so will have to stick around till it gets fixed, SO - they are not leaving yet! We don't mind as it is nice to have their company. I did some hand sewing for Lisa while she worked and Ross worked on his vehicle in between showers.Read or talk to neighbours then lunch before walk up town to shops to p/u bread etc. Kids rode their bikes up and all went to view the ruins of the old Saw Mill & nearby old boiler chimneys.

Cold showers all round and Lisa got her 'E-Reader' (her early birthday present) out to start reading her books.Quiet till  time to cook our spuds in the coals and bbq our meat for tea, and cards befpre bed. Lovely day really. Kids still waiting around till they hear what is going to happen with their computer.

20th August 2010

Lisa working again - Ross found that when he turned his computer on, it actually worked! Can't work out what is going on, but happy now as they can get going. Hand sewing and washing and Don cleaning the camp oven etc., ready to pack it away. We will all be leaving tomorrow. Cuppa. Now the kids inverter has packed it in!  What next? We loaned them our inverter till they can get a new replacement one (again under w'tee) so Lisa can keep working. They will have to send ours back to us when theirs arrive. I up-date my blog and insert a photo for you to admire our 'lodgings'. All will leave here tomorrow - kids heading west and we to our flash new lodgings for a week.

Kids packed up their annex ready for a quicker departure tomorrow. Lisa made a fabulous savoury damper after lunch and we shared it with our Melbourne neighbouring campers at a very, very long 'happy hour' - resulting in baked bean jaffles for tea. Quick few games of cards before bed - generated going most of afternoon, as our battery was almost dead.

21st August 2010

Lisa working away as rest of us pack up tents etc. ready to depart - eventually leaving at 10 am. Very sad to part with our travelling companions. Must admit, I cried for many miles after finally saying goodbye - will miss the three of them, especially Lisa, especially as we don't know when we will see them again! Could be up to a year even!!! Visit to Port Douglas en route to our week at Trinity Beach. Great views along beaches from the lookout in Port Douglas, walk around the harbours, streets etc. before having lunch in one of the local hotels.

Beautiful drive right on edge of the beaches and cliffs from Port Douglas to Trinity Breach - really enjoyed it. Quick stop at Rex Lookout to watch a guy Paragliding and finally arriving at 'Amaroo At Trinity' apartments at Trinity Beach at 2pm. Our room is on the 3rd floor, overlooking the beaches etc. and very nice indeed.
We were very touched that the management had left us a free bottle of wine for us to help celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary. We enjoyed watching our beloved 'Swans' defeat the 'Bulldogs' in AFL that night. A fitting farewell to Brett Kirk and coach Paul Roos. First t.v. we have seen since leaving Brisbane 20th July.

22nd August 2010

Early swim and spa before brekky. Trip to visit nearby Smithfield Shopping Centre, but Telstra not open, so had cuppa, bought Don sandals and a shirt and home for lunch. A bit of a rest, reading etc., before walking along the beach and home for a bbq tea with salad for tea.

23rd August 2010

Early swim and spa before brekky. Decided not to go out today - I wanted to do some editing of photoes on my computer while I had electricity. Don didn't complain, as he was looking forward to a day of catching up on his reading and sleeping.

Fruit for lunch and I actually had about an hours sleep (a rarety for me) before a very long walk along beach and around the town before having a really lovely meal at the 'Bankock Rose' Thai Restaurant. Walk home and watch t.v. before bed.

24th August 2010

Early swim and spa before brekky. Room service changed towels etc., then left for Smithfield Shopping Centre again to try and get myself onto internet. One and a half hours later, I walked out with Telstra Turbo Pre-Paid Mobile Broadband. I had asked the salesman to install the internet to my computer, which he did, but baulked at setting my email address up for me. Subway for lunch.

We drove around Trinity Park harbour/canals etc. before going home. Relaxing afternoon rest of day and light tea.

Wednesday 25th August 2010

Started day same as all the others with swim, spa and shower before brekky. Enjoying this part of day very much. I spend about one & half hour trying to set up an email address, but, showing my ignorance, didn't stand a chance! Never mind - will try again when I have more patience!

3pm left for a drive to Palm Cove...What a beautiful beach!!! Palm lined road, which wound itself beside the  beach on one side and fabulous holiday apartments with colourful bushes, flowers and palm trees on the other. Such a delight  to just walk down the boulevarde and take in all the splendor of the colours, blue water lapping onto lovely white sand, dotted with holiday makers - wonderful. Walked to and down to end of jetty where we talked to some of the holiday makers, who suggested we try Yorkeys Knob Boat Club for tea one night, as it was famous for it's great meals. Will certainly do just that!

Walk back along the path and decided to buy barra and chips for tea, so sat overlooking the beach and ate our meal. Very nice. Home and t.v. before reasonably early night.

26th August 2010

Day started again with our swim, spa & shower before brekky. I updated my blog and diary while Don sat reading with his feet up on the glass topped coffee table when BANG!!! The whole coffee table collapsed with the glass falling out of the wood support onto the tiled floor! Scared the life out of both of us!! Luckily the glass didn't break, so Don put it back together and no one will be the wiser!

4pm we drive to Yorkeys Knob to look around. Nothing there except dirty beach with very few rented apartments, but lots for sale. To harbour where lots of money in tons of boats tied up to the jetties. Sat and read in the 4x4 for awhile as now started to sprinkle. 5.30pm we went into the club for a drink and loose $5 on the pokies before having the most beautiful meal! I had lamb shank with mash and vegies, while Don had grilled fish with chips and salad, which he enjoyed very much. Really worth the drive for a meal like this.

Home 7.30pm for another update of my blog - getting so clever!

10th to 17th August 2010

Rained quite a lot during the night, which made us pleased we were taking the 'easy' track out of this camp. Pack away wet awnings, down for last refreshing swim (quite muggy now) and left the Jeannie River Falls at 10.10am. Although easier driving to get out to the main road it was completely different terrain of very slow driving through and over trees, stumps few creek beds etc to the first 'main' track. That took 30 mins to travel 4 kms, another 30 mins to cover the next 3 kms before coming to grass the height of the bonnet which was not rough, but had to weave our way (guessing most of the time) over hidden logs etc to find our way to the next 'main' track. It was 11.30am by now and we had covered a full 10kms. Slow going, VERY tight through some of the trees for the caravan, but quite enjoyable as was dotted with beautiful ghost gums,  palms and black boys everywhere.

Stopped for a cupper at a huge abandoned shed with windmill, yards, Telstra dish, rusted vehicles and machinery before arriving back at our previous camp spot on the Starcke River for quick lunch. We were tempted to stay the night, but with threatening rain coming, decided to continue on before we ran the risk of being stuck on the forthcoming dirt roads.

The next 3 hours were spent slipping and sliding over muddy spots, deep ruts, creek crossings. Rained most of the way and had to go into low range few times to get through some very tricky, slippery areas, but eventually arrived back at the Isabellla Falls at 6pm. Kids parked van and car in middle of river crossing and quickly washed all the mud off their vehicles before making camp (almost dark now) on edge of river for the night. Tons of other caravans, campers etc. on other side of crossing - very popular and pretty spot indeed.

11th August 2010

After pack up gear ready to leave, all went down to below the falls for a swim and shower under the falls. Lots of laughs as the force of the water coming over the falls was almost taking our swimmers from our bodies - not a pretty sight! Quite muggy after all that rain, so that feshened us up enormously! Don decided to wash our 4x4 as well before leaving for Cooktown about 10am. Ross shouted dad a pastie for morning tea as he has been asking for a 'home made pastie' since leaving home! Filled up with water and had lunch waiting for 2pm when we could go to Courthouse to vote. Did any phoning needed, then headed for Steves place where Don started work on spring shackles on the small van we pulled up here. Now convinced it may be a risk trying to pull it over any more rough or corrugated roads, so decided we'd go home via the bitumen - Don will be much happier and less worried that way. The kids will continue on with their trip west over some pretty rough roads as we all decided not to go up to the tip, as all reports are coming back to us that it is still very bad weather and some rain up to the top - and seeing we all have done it before - agreed that what we have done in the last 6 days is quite enough to satisfy our 4x4 driving experiences. Really, thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Watched a movie after tea and bed - can relax a bit more now.

12th August 2010

Lisa started working again and Ross started sorting gear out again - getting gear out of little van and re-packing their caravan ready for their big trip. Sending some gear home with us, amazing what you can really do without! After lunch, Don and I took another trip into town to do more sightseeing and put up couple of posters of 'fridge for sale' for Ross & Lisa - don't need 2 fridges and they will pick up their new one in Cairns in few days time. We sat and watched and talked to few people trying their luck at fishing from the wharfs and then drove up to Grassy Hill Lookout where there is a beautiful old red and while lighthouse and great views over the Endeavour River and bay. Home for tea and another movie before bed. Very uneventful day.

13th August 2010

Now that we know we are parting from the kids, we have to change over boxes from our 4x4 and replace with the back seats from Lisa & Ross 4x4 so they can get more gear in. We can no longer sleep in the back of the 4x4 with the seats in, so have to resort to sleeping in the tent. Will be another experience for us after used to the motorhome or just climb into the back of the 4x4, but I'm sure we'll manage till we get home.
Luckily, it is a sunny, breezy day today, much more comfortable.
Lisa started work early today, so most of today was concentrated on sorting out tinned and packets of food ready for departure. Ross cut away enough wood from his boxes in back of his 4x4 to fit the outboard motor in while Don start to change the seats over etc. I boiled the fruit ready to make a boiled fruit cake for Ross birthday tomorrow, then at 3pm all down to town - kids try their luck at fishing from wharf - no luck. "Need live bait here mate" - that's after the local chap sold them all the frozen bait! Don & I sat under a tree nearby (babysitting Boris) ready like all the oldies do. Home for hot showers, tea & movie before Don & I made our bed up on the floor Steves huge shed - Boris kept us company for the night!

14th August 2010

Happy Birthday Ross. Lisa started work before 7am so we start to pack up ready to depart a fter Lisa finishes work. Luckily for Lisa & Ross, a young couple had seen their ad and came in and bought their old fridge, so it was a tricky job to transfer all the frozen & fredge gear into the smaller fridge we used in the small trailer, but we managed without too much waste.

Don & I drove town & bought pies, sausage rolls and pasties for late morning tea/early lunch at 11.30 just before leaving. Put birthday candles in Ross pastie as his 'cake' - how cute! After fuelling up and filling water tanks again, finally left Cooktown at l.15pm and headed south looking for Mt.Amos Falls (locals told us about). Beautiful, very long drop falls - BUT the trip in turned into quite a huge challenge for our little 'not off-road' trailer. Very slow going - took us 30 mins to do 3 kms, arriving at 2.30pm.

We did enjoy the falls, all having a swim in the rather cold water. Really beautiful falls.We left at 3.30pm and made camp for the night at a rest area just over the causeway at Little Anna River. Got fire going and after bbq tea, I put the fruit cake into camp oven to cook. When Ross cut it at about 8.30pm, it wasn't cooked properly in the middle, so put it back into camp oven (after being out for over an hour) over very low heat of just coals and ash and went to bed.  WRONG!!!!!!!!!

15th August 2010

When we got out of bed (first night in our tent) kids had checked the cake and it was quite severely burnt, but they reckon they can salvage some of it. While we had breadfast, they went for a walk to look at waterfall and gorge of the Little Anna River. Quite spectacular photoes they had to show us. Left camp 9.30 and arrived at Mount Molloy (Rifle Creek) R/Area 12.15pm, just in time to go up to our favourite cafe and buy a HUGE Mexican Burger (one between two people is all you can eat!) then back to camp, Don sleep, I update my blog, Ross remove the solar panel and the snow plough from our little trailer to put onto their van, then Lisa, Ross and I lay down for a rest also. (now 3.45pm)

Decided to use the other pumpkin we found and Lisa and I made a pumpkin pie and small jam tart to use up all the pastry. Both very well received by everyone and tasted fantastic! Bit of a change from my fruit cake, but having said that, once the burnt bits had been cut away, the rest was very nice really and none was wasted. Lisa took a sleeping tablet and they both went to bed early, so Don & I sat out in the dark on our own and watched a movie on my computer till quite late. Hope Lisa feels better by tomorrow.

16th August 2010

Lisa was up bright and early and had started work before Don & I were up. Boys did some running repairs to both their 4x4's and more work on the suspension of the little trailer - now best it has ever been. Not much happened today, except talk to neighbouring motorhomers etc, all have a cold shower before cooking Dons favourite meal - Satay Chicken and Rice for tea. Game of cards before bed.

17th August 2010

Kids were up extra early and left by 7.30 headed for Cairns to p/u their new fridge and computer which was being repaired under warranty. We are to book into the Mareeba Rodeo Grounds, do the washing of sheets, towels etc. and they will meet us there later. At about 1.30 we drove to town and had lunch, before going to Travel Agent to book into a Resort or Island somewhere to spend a week - our gift to each other for our 45th Wedding Anniversary. Islands didn't work out, so booked ourselves into some Apartments ('Amaroo At Trinity') at Trinity beach, just north of Cairns for 7 nights. Got 'stand-by' rates, so quite reasonable really. Looking forward to the change from sleeping in the back of the 4x4 or a tent! Kids back at Rodeo Grounds by about 4.30pm and Ross modified the new fridge to fit into their van. Very happy with it. Over to $2 p/h sausage sizzle for tea, before quick game of cards and bed. The idea now is that we part company -  the kids leave tomorrow for rest of their trip west and we spend few nights at Mount Molloy Rest Area till we can get into our room next Saturday.
   .

3rd August 2010 to 9th August 2010

3rd August 2010

Deb due to have her last three weekly chemo today, so we all hope she copes better this time than last. She will be glad to see the last of these and can see a light at the end of the tunnel. We all are pulling for her and wishing her all the best with her radiation. Go Deb!

On a lighter note - Lisa got word yesterday that a photo with caption she submitted in a Competition last month WON! They get a 50 litre Waeco fridge/freezer for her effort. What luck! They are so excited as they were thinking of changing to a bit smaller one - & here it is! $1250.00 worth!

Pack up camp; leave Mt. Molloy about 9.30 and after quick stop at Black Mountain Lookout, arrived in Cooktown 12.30pm. Ross had address of chap who will allow us to leave our small van on his property while we go up to the tip and back. The chap (Steve) came and said we could spend the night here if we wished as it was getting bit late by the time we were ready to leave - so decided to do just that. Great guy, so friendly. Enough room under the large awning for trailer and all four of us with our chairs and table with electricity to boot! Watched couple of dvds then bed.

4th August 2010

Another beautiful day! Lisa set herself up and started working under the awning while Ross sorted out more gear and Don & I drove to town, sightseeing. Steve came early and after talking to Ross, agreed to help him weld a stand onto back of new caravan to hold bikes, wood etc., something Ross has been wanting to do since buying it. Steve talked us into staying few more days to finish off work to van - all agreed and was touched by his generosity. After h/hour, all drove to town about 6pm for fish and chips for tea. Very nice too.

5th August 2010

Days and nights are noticeably warmer which is quite ok with us. Lisa started work again - Ross, Don and Steve back hard at it on the rack while I did some handwashing and finally sheets all round. Fast drying up here with helps also. Ross's job finished, so decided we'd repack vans and leave here tomorrow for a visit to a local camp spot called Starcke River Goldfield.which after a week up there, back to vote then head north for the tip. Lisa made cheese, sundried tomato & bacon damper rolls for tea - very nice too. Clever girl!

6th August 2010




Lisa only did small amount of work this morning, as we were all busy packing up ready to leave Cooktown for our long awaited trip north. Steve suggested we go short distance north/east of Cooktown to the Jeannie River to fill in time till we can come back and vote in Cooktown on 11/12th August, then head up to the tip. All agreed. Left Cooktown 11am, over Endeavour River and arrived at beautiful Isabella Falls 11.45am. Only people who have been here before would not stop at such a lovely water crossing/waterfall! Between 6 to 8 4x4’s there at any one time – all wading through water and taking photos. Took our photos and quick cupper before heading off again 12.30pm. Not too bad a road - few deep ruts and muddy patches which Don handled easily. Enjoyed the ride as it kept our interest all the way. Finally, at 3.10pm, arrived at Starcke River, where we crossed and went up other side, parked and decided to camp the night. Late lunch then all went for a walk before going down to river for our daily wash. Fire going for cooking tea, sat and watched the stars (unbelievable our here) before early to bed. No traffic out here. Covered approximately 100 kms today.

Did I mention yesterday that Don has lost his false teeth? We have looked everywhere, even back where we had fish & chips last night for tea, but we can’t find them anywhere. Luckily, covered under insurance, so will just have to go ‘gummy’ till get another set when get back home.

7th August 2010

Left camp 9am and very soon found the going a lot more challenging than yesterday! Ross was ahead of us and we watched him manoeuvre his vehicle and off-road caravan over some pretty ‘hairy’ places (I held my breath a few times before this trip was over today) before coming to a very steep, deeply guttered decline down to a rocky river crossing. No way would Ross be able to drive his van down there, huge rocks to go over, no way! I wanted to turn back there and then, but no, Ross was convinced he could do it without damaging the van or vehicle, so away he went. He did it with very little effort, it seems. Looked hard to me, but then again, I haven’t done any serious 4x4 driving before this and he has done a 4x4 driving course. Don followed him across, us girls walking and videoing their clever efforts. Little did I know that that was one of the easier!!! Some twice as bad were yet to come!

Check out some of the pictures here - http://picasaweb.google.com.au/rosscoe68meister/StarckeRun#

Unsuspecting – we plodded on – now about 10.15am.

Many a crossing from then on, the boys had to get out and work out a strategy with which they would attack each one. Some they had to straddle some extra deep ruts; others creep over huge boulders and one time as Ross was going up an extra difficult incline from a creek crossing, we watched in horror as the passenger wheel was jutting some 2-3 feet in the air and the van balancing the other way. Don ended up standing on the bull-bar while Ross drove it out – quite spectacular, but scary at the time! Dons wheel also went high off the ground, but he wasn’t pulling a van behind him, so got through a bit easier. Few others took some serious thinking about before negotiating them, but finally at noon, we arrived at our destination – the Jeannie River Falls. It had taken us 3 hours to drive the 20kms from our last overnight stay! We were very pleased and proud of our drivers to have brought us safely through a most exciting day.

After setting up camp on rocks above the waterfall we had lunch and kids took off to try their luck at catching some fish. Mainly mullet, but just want to catch anything and they’ll be happy. No such luck today so Lisa decided to make some honey and banana scones (cooked in the camp oven) which we ate and enjoyed. Ross imported all our photos and videos onto his computer and we sat and watched, re-living our whole day before an early night. Again, no other vehicles around, so very, very quiet.

8th August 2010

DAY OF REST!!! Kids were up and gone fishing by the time Don and I staggered out of the back of the 4x4. Lisa keeps telling me that I'm having a good time - so I must be!!?!! Unfortunately they got no bites and got the throw net snagged on a log in the river below the falls where there are crocs, so had to wait for a lower tide before trying to retrieve it.They sat for about an hour trying to mend it....almost as good as new. After lunch kids hopped into their 4x4 and went looking for an easier way out of our camp site - yes - much easier and quicker, luckily.Off fishing again and this time they snagged a good sized mullet, but unfortunately, snagged the net again which thoroughly destroyed it this time! Ross reckoned it was a $100 mullet we ate that night! Watched dvd before early bed. Good strong breeze blowing just about all day today.

9th August 2010

Kids off fishing again and this.time Lisa caught a lovely sized Giant Herring but that was all for the day. Don & I off to the deep pool for a swim in our clothes - easiest way to wash them. Kids cleaned and tried to fillet the fish for tonights meal, but unfortunately, full of little bones and had to discard it. Another quick swim before lunch when it started to sprinkle - just a taste of more to come as by 4.45pm it really started to rain!
After home made pumpkin soup and bbq tea (in between showers) we sat under an awning and played cards till about 9.30pm or so.