WHITSUNDAY MONDAY

Yesterday’s blog was to be the last but we found out, thanks to Greg Turner that today was Steve’s birthday. Unfortunately we couldn’t find any matches to light the one and only candle on the vessel so we had to improvise.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE.

WHITSUNDAY SUNDAY

WHAT A SPECTACULAR START TO THE DAY

No yachts to chase today so we did some walking instead.

Having spent the night at Nara, we went ashore to check out the cave paintings. The access track and viewing platform is very well set up.

We then headed for Cid Harbour where we are spending the night before heading for Hamilton Island in the morning for the flight home.

We went ashore again and did the walk from Sawmill Bay to Dugong Beach. At the Dugong Beach campground, we saw how the other half live. We prefer our accommodation.

We entertained a Kiwi couple from Bribie island last night who enjoyed watching the Kiwis win the Rugby. They had some navigational difficulties finding their way back to their boat but they made it.

This will be the last blog. It will now resume hibernation until the next adventure.

Thanks to Steve for allowing us to share the comfort of Southern Star for the last few days. It has been a fabulous experience.

WHITSUNDAY SATURDAY

 

What a fabulous day. As the pictures show, the weather is brilliant, so brilliant in fact that the yacht race was delayed to give the wind the opportunity to strengthen a little.

Both Steve and Trevor spent a lot of time on the phone yesterday. Trevor was hard at work when this photo was taken.

We spent the night on a mooring at happy bay on Long Island and went ashore to check out the resort after a leisurely breakfast.

We then headed over to the southern end of Whitsunday Island to watch the start of the yacht race and found ourselves in the thick of it.

Chaos reigned supreme but we only saw one collision.

The little guys don’t stand much chance when the big boys are coming through.

We anchored at the southern end of Whitehaven Beach for lunch and, after a pleasant snooze, we are now heading for Nara Inlet for the night. The sailing finishes today so tomorrow, we will need to find something else to entertain us. I wonder what that will be. It’s a tough life.

STILL WHITSUNDAY FRIDAY

A very sedate afternoon. When we eventually got going, we found the racing fleet and watched them in action. We hope to see them start tomorrow’s race in the morning.

We weren’t the only people observing and photographing.

Perhaps he was trying to get into the race.

We have some fishing gear so might drop a line in but we aren’t counting on catching anything. Dinner will be the fresh barramundi we bought at the fish shop this morning.

It continues to be a rough life.

WHITSUNDAY FRIDAY

The blog is back. Trevor Park kindly invited me to share a few days on his mate Steve’s 60 foot Monte Fino boat - Southern Star. I could hardly refuse.

We flew in to Hamilton Island yesterday, spent last night at Airlie Beach, did the shopping this morning and are now anchored for lunch at a spectacular anchorage west of Henning Island.

Hamilton island Race Week is on which means we have to stay away from Hamilton Island but we do expect to see the yachts this afternoon as they finish today’s race.

We are the very safe hands of a diligent crew.

As the photos show, the weather is spectacular. The fridges and pantry are well stocked and we have just enjoyed lemon peppered prawns and some grape juice for lunch. What a tough life?

THE GRAND FINALE

Yesterday and today were spent driving with no excitement to report. Last night was spent at the Belyando Crossing Roadhouse between Charters Towers and Emerald, another place that Telstra has not yet found. 

This morning we woke to the sound of rain for the first time in the entire period we have been away. We drove in it for several hours but the car and van don’t look any better for the experience.

What was different about today was that we spent the entire day driving on bitumen for the first time since we passed through Borroloola.

Tonight we are at Eidsvold where it is somewhat colder than we are used to, en route to Hervey Bay from where we are going to Lady Elliot to spend the last two days of our spectacular holiday.

We expect Lady Elliot to be the usual mix of snorkelling and diving with turtles, manta rays etc. so I am not proposing to do any further blogs. This is the last one.

I hope that you have enjoyed reading the blog as much as I have enjoyed preparing it. It is a fantastic summary of our holiday which I will get printed to remind us of the great adventures we have had. 

The photos are of the very cleverly constructed three level pool at Cobbold Gorge. For a venue which can only operate between April and October each year, it is very well set up.

DAYS MINUS 7 AND 6 – HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Yesterday, we had another adventurous day on the Savannah Way to Cobbold Gorge where we now are. Guess what happened to us just after I took this photo.

Burketown was a delightfully quiet and very tidy fishing village. Virtually all of the caravan park tenants were fisherman who had travelled significant distances with their boats to catch their quota of five barramundi but they were good sized fish.

The only disturbance to the peace and quiet was the largest flock of corellas we have ever seen. The photo only shows one of the six trees they occupied. Fortunately they left town at dusk.

This is Cobbold. If you look closely, you can see the cord connecting us to electricity at the ensuite facility which comes with our bush camp site. En suite camping in the bush! It’s a tough life.

This morning we went on the Cobbold Gorge tour. We have seen plenty of gorges in recent weeks but this was impressively different. It is so tall, narrow and full of water that the only means of getting access is by specially built narrow boats which can fit between the towering rock walls.

One of the residents was there to welcome us.

Any suggestions as to what this might be a photo of?

Tomorrow we head south. We’re not sure yet how we will occupy the last few days of our fantastic trip but watch this space.

DAY MINUS 10, 9 AND 8 – SAVANNAH WAY

Sorry to go AWOL again but we have found some more places that Telstra hasn’t yet infiltrated. On Wednesday night we camped at the Heartbreak Hotel, (yes the Heartbreak Hotel), at Cape Crawford 300 kms east of the Darwin Adelaide Highway. While the Savannah Way goes from Broome to Cairns, the real Savannah Way and the interesting part as far as we are concerned is the part from Daly Waters to Normanton, the exciting bit near the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Cape Crawford’s claim to fame (apart from being the second cheapest camp ground we have stayed in so far) is that it is close to the Lost City, accessible only by helicopter flown by the very personable Rachel. It is a series of rock formations not unlike the Bungle Bungles but nowhere near as well known and promoted. The pictures tell the story.

About 100kms south of Katherine is Mataranka. Like Katherine, it has thermal springs. Given that we tried Katherine’s thermal springs last visit, we had a dip at Mataranka this trip – crystal clear warm water.

I had to record this very significant milestone in the life of the car.

 Last night we stayed at the Hells Gate Roadhouse, 300 kms east of where the bitumen ends at Borroloola. It is the cheapest camp ground we have stayed in but justifiably so. No power, on site water or shower curtains but very isolated and peaceful.

Yesterday was a very dusty day and dust got into everything in the van but the good news is we have fixed the fridge with the judicious application of some velcro. We should have thought of that years ago. Check the labels on the bottles. One was in the box under the bed. The other was on a shelf in the fridge. It must be pretty rough in there.

Today is a rest day at Burketown. It is one of those must visit places but we have suffered two disappointments. The iconic pub is no more. It burnt down and is being replaced by a new one under construction. And the self proclaimed barramundi capital doesn’t have anybody doing fishing charters so I can’t get to catch one.

Fortunately there is a fish processor here who sells them so we have a supply of fillets to keep us fed for the next few days.

Tomorrow we head for Cobbold Gorge for yet another gorgeous experience.

Here are some photos of two of the many rivers/creeks we forded on the road west of here. No crocodiles sighted.

And to finish, more of the Lost City

DAY MINUS 13, 12 AND 11 – EL QUESTRO

This is the waterhole beside our camp site at El Questro. While a croc has been sighted in a nearby river, we were assured that it is safe to swim here and none appeared while I was in the water!

Sorry you haven’t heard from us for several days but we finally found somewhere where Telstra hasn’t yet installed mobile phone reception. El Questro and Lady Elliot Island must be two of very few places which Telstra hasn’t yet infiltrated. No wonder Telstra shares are doing so well.

There was supposedly wi fi available at the Station bar but it wasn’t working so this is being posted from Katherine where we now are. I’m told that it’s Tuesday.

We celebrated our anniversary by going out to dinner for the first time since we left home and by shouting ourselves a helicopter flight.

We were proposing to go north to Jim Jim Falls in Kakadu tomorrow but we are told that the roads were damaged in an Easter storm event and won’t be reopened for another month so we will have to revert to plan B, yet to be determined.

I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.

Emma Gorge. Our favourite place. Beautiful cool crystal clear water.

This snake wanted to share a rock I was about to step on. Needless to say, I let him have it to himself. 

Crossing the Pentecost River on the road into the camping area. At least the wheels were clean for a short time.

Chamberlain Gorge where the fish have a great trick. They spit water at your hand to dislodge fish food you hold out for them.