Miriam Vale BA

Miriam Vale is about 375km north of Maroochydore. New BA camp opened and needed volunteers so for just a couple of days I went north.

Large farms and small 'blockers' been hit by a fast moving hot fire. Nothing new here more blackened paddocks some somewhat inaccessible and a dozer needed to clean access first.

Walking the track first is always a good idea. Down the gully, up the other side, then stop before a sharp 3-point left turn at the top of the next incline or it's abandoning the car and trailer in the bush and walking home.

Camera shot never looks as steep ;(

Cotton Tree to Adelong

 After 3 weeks at Lismore returned to Cotton Tree to catch up with things. Two weeks later and I'm good to go again. A quick trip back to Lismore. This time 3 days in the paddock doing some fence repairs rather than doing the tool guy thing. Then on to Adelong.

Adelong involved mowing the lawns around the house, slashing areas of paddocks near fences and general cleaning up fallen timber along the fence line. A broken drive belt had me packing up and heading back north.

The orchid that's travelled with me since 2018, in the MH and VW, is now calling Cotton Tree permanent home. It started life as tube stock and has been planted out in larger pots several times. Finally it flowered, now that its in the garden. Must be a home body and not a traveller. The display: worth the wait.

Things at Cotton Tree are always changing. Yet another crane going up. A BIGGER mobile crane lifts this BIG crane into position and three blokes climb about like its on the ground and bolt it together. More inconvenience for the locals with road closures and construction noise for the next few years. The price of progress. From the balcony I can see 6 cranes. That's just the skyline out front. When will it stop?

Cotton Tree another crane

Lismore BlazeAid

September 2023

February-March 2022 flooding Lismore. 

This link leads to a good explanation of the flood.

VISUAL STORY - Anatomy of the Lismore disaster

https://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2022/lismore-flooding/

On the 20th of September BlazeAid set up a camp at the Lismore Greyhound Racing Track to assist farmers yet to re-establish their fences. The Lismore Council arranged for the camp at the track and is supporting BlazeAid. 

Initially just a small group of us got the camp up and running before 2 teams of 4 started fencing the next week. Since then a good deal of fence line has been either repaired or replaced.

Volunteers are needed and the camp is expected to go for many months. Backpackers seeking 462 visa extension can qualify volunteering and working at this camp. Contact BlazeAid via their website. 

Driving around the district and especially the town it is a real eye opener to see the highwater marks on the building that have not been cleaned and are abandoned. Truly incredible!

The building at the Greyhound track is a fair indicator. The track will not operate again and the future the the 3 story building has not been determined. The water reached the top of the second floor trashing everything. But in the meantime its a good location as any for a BA camp.

Was once the betting ring at the track.

The track and buildings
 note the lights in the foreground

Assembling accommodation pods for backpackers

Funny Dunny

 Late in June I had to return home for boring but necessary stuff. All done. All good.

Being free to go again, I did. 

The last weeks of July and first few of August I was back up north pretty much covering the same ground as the May/June trip. 

The highlight was stumbling across the Funny Dunny Campground. I'd heard of this place several times over the years but never actually knew where it was. So there I was enjoying the view of the impending sunrise from my mountain top perch and wondered what was actual over there on the coast... Wunjunga and the Funny Dunny Campground.

Now I'm back in Cotton Tree yet again and celebrating the second full moon of August. A supermoon, some say, as the moon is in perigee. Means the closest to earth in it's elliptical orbit around our planet earth. So a super blue moon.

Wunjunga over there somewhere.

Wunjunga
Some houses right on the beach!

Expecting to see at least a tinge of blue?
But alas a blue moon in name only.

https://spaceweather.com/

Yaamba, Rockhampton and Bajool

Bajool

Stopped several times then a nap at Yaamba. On to Rockhampton. Staying the night south at Bajool. Open grass area off the highway a short distance. Pub across the street. General store and public toilet a short stroll away. Quiet enough with little highway noise. The trains were louder but a more rhythmic sound, nice.

Awoke to fog. Waited for sunrise and the fog to clear.

Back on the highway to discover its school holidays. Every man and his dog, up at sparrows, driving north on the A1. Lucky, I'm going the other way.

Swim at Gympie. Most expensive entry fee so far. Over capitalized on the new building now they have to charge the community, twice. Once to build the facility, council rates. Then to use what they already paid for, to swim.

Bored waiting for sunrise.

Alva, Ayr, Home Hill, Inkerman Lookout and Proserpine.

Time to leave Townsville.

Down to Ayr and a short detour to check out Alva on the coast. At Home Hill went swimming in the council pool. I was the only swimmer that afternoon. 50m pool not so cold but the showers were. Nice facility for a small town. Stopped for the night at the rest stop near the railway station. Watched the NRL State of Origin on the Internet.

Next morning away early before the rabble to relocated to Inkerman Lookout about 20km south, breakfast and photos. Burdekin snow everywhere. Must have been several burns last night, more this morning.

Drove into Airlie Beach. Nearly 40 years since last there. WOW busy! Not a place for me. On to Proserpine for a swim in their council pool. Lovely facility. 50m pool just a touch warmer than cold, perfect in fact. Hot shower, nice. Then on to Bloomsbury BP, back of the servo for the night.

The view from Inkerman Lookout.

Cape Upstart Nat Park
in the distance

Cane fires (making snow)

Townsville, Mt Stuart and Magnetic Island.

Townsville

Another 5 nights in Townsville. Love this place. It has everything. Ocean, port, river, mountains, rail and airport.

Wikipedia: The largest settlement in North Queensland it is unofficially considered its capital.

My must dos for Townsville:

Around town: Drive up to Mt Stuart. Hike to the lookout atop Castle Hill. Hike the WWII trails at Pallarenda and veg-out at the beach side parks at Pallarenda.

The region: Walk the tropical trails at Paluma. Tour the coastal spots of Rollingstone and Balgal Beach.

Magnetic Island: Take the ferry and ride a pushbike around the island. Walk the WWII "The Forts'' trails and swim in one of the protected bays.

The View Mt Stuart

East, CBD and Magnetic Island.

Looking NE.

Drive slow! Lots of these guys.

Greenvale and the Burdekin River

Running south from the Gulf Dev Rd onto the Kennedy and then the Gregory Dev Rd from Conjuboy. 

Stopped at Greenvale for the night. Been here before, interesting. Looks to be a dormitory town for the mining industry. A local industry that may be in decline, at the moment, if you go by the vacant units and flats. But hey I'm just passing through what would I know.

Stayed in back of the the pub, its about the only option. It appears the caravan park, that I did stop in many years ago, has fallen into complete decline and is now all but closed.

The Three River Hotel is making the most of the situation and doing a pretty good job of it. Busy tonight lots of vans and lots of meals to serve.

Three River Hotel

Mount Surprise

Pleased to see the price of fuel in Mt Surprise was reasonable. Interesting place walked about for a bit but did not stop long.

The scenery and towns along the Gulf Dev Rd are far more interesting than those of The Flinders Hwy, in my opinion anyway.

The Telegraph station (1872) has an interesting history. It provided Brisbane with a link with the Kokoda Track and the Flying Boat base at Kurumba during WWII.

Pub for sale

Telegraph Station history

Yep, lots of old stuff around town

Georgetown - Cumberland Historic Mine Site - Croydon.

Georgetown, what a lovely place. Not the commercial centre of anywhere but just nice and quiet with good public facilities. Booked into the caravan park to use the laundry mostly. Had a quiet night under some shady trees.

The town has a pool open to the public but you need to get a free token. I got mine from the caravan park but the tourist info centre has them too. The pool water I suspect is artesian bore, crystal clear, and a little bit warm. Perfect in fact.

Next two nights camped at Cumberland Historic Mine Site. About 20km west of town on a small lake teaming with bird life. Again a quiet site just far enough off the highway for a good bit of P&Q.

Did a day trip to Croydon returning to do laps in the Georgetown pool.

Etheridge River - Georgetown

Street Art - Georgetown

Sunrise - Cumberland 

Cumberland Chimney

Atherton and Ravenshoe.

Atherton. Awoke to find I'd been sleeping in the clouds. Fine mist and then drizzle most of the morning. What Da! I didn't sign up for this. Thinking Chillagoe but it's a there-and-back situation or many miles of gravel. I'm not doing big bits of gravel! So the Kennedy. I will decide west to Normanton or south towards Hughenden at Forty Mile Scrub. 

Atherton local IGA had all the stuff I needed for the next few days then headed off. The weather cleared and improved directly proportionally to the westerly distance from Ravenshoe, now that's better.

Stopping for the night at a gravel pit at Forty Mile Scrub. The upside is good Internet: I'll be able to watch Kayo and see the Storm play the Sharks.

Several hundred meters off the main road, walking a 4x4 track to a potential camp spot with a good view, I came across this bit of 'street art'. It was off the 2-track by another 100m and would unlikely be seen from a vehicle driving past, go figure.

Innisfail, Atherton and the Nth Johnstone River.

On to Innisfail, uneventful. Drove around town and did some shopping before settling at a Wangen parking bay on the creek off the Sth Johnstone River. Local traffic only should be quiet and mostly was.

Next morning coast or inland? The weather is turning foul with heavy rain clouds building so maybe inland toward Chillagoe things will be more stable. 

Stopped off at Wooroonooran National Park, Crawfords lookout, and walked the 4km return to the Nth Johnstone lookout. A real trek. Should have reconsidered when going down hill continually all the way. It's a very steep muddy tropical rainforest track descending about 300m in 2km. Hey bud you have to get back up again. But I got the pick and made it back to the road.

Overnight in Atherton as the weather did turn and driving was not looking like fun. Parked up near the RSL that is now closed permanently.

Crawfords Lookout.
The View from the road.

The Track.

Nth Johnstone River.
(No not a panorama photo)

Cardwell and Hinchinbrook Island.

On to Cardwell for the night. Stopped at my fav caravan park just a bit out of town on the north side. Its quiet and never very busy. You get what you pay for here, lush grass, shade and hot showers. No jumping pillow, swimming pool or kids playground. Only one rule "Don't swim in the creek". Crocs.

In a corner of the park are two graves of children who died at 2 years and one at 5 weeks. Sad but not uncommon back then in 1871.

Up behind Cardwell less than 10km is a really good lookout. A great view of the town and the islands. Well worth the drive and the 800m hike.

Elizabeth 2 years
Robert 5 weeks.

View looking SE to
Hinchinbrook.

View looking NE to
Hinchinbrook..

Townsville and Paluma Range National Park

Townsville. Stopped a couple of days and tripped around. Been here before and not many new places to see around town. Washed the car, swam in the pool, did a few walks at Pallarenda and The Strand and up to Castle Hill for a bit of a diversion.

Took a trip out of town to Rollingstone and Paluma Range Nation Park. Paluma is a small town up a very windy road. No facilities here, sticky buns or coffee. The average speed up the range would be below 40km/h as there are lots of blind corners and steep gradients. No place for a caravan! About half way up is Little Crystal Creek and a car park and walking tracks and stairs to the water falls. Well worth a stop over to clammer about the rock pools.

Approaching Paluma, McClelland's lookout is short hike on a good trail that affords a great view of the coast, on a clear day, not my day! But another trail about 1km long, again a good surface, called Witts is much better. And as my luck would have it the clouds lifted for me. 

Castle Hill - down town Townsville.

Little Crystal Creek falls.

McClelland Lookout. No view :(

Witts Lookout, excellent :)

Julia Creek, Richmond, Hughenden, Charters Towers and Townsville.

Back to Four Ways stopping for smoko. On to Cloncurry for provisions and fuel. Ducked under the water spouts in the water park for a wash. On to Julia Creek quick stop then looked for rest stop. Maxwelton, not much here but it will do.

Smoko and walk about at Richmond and then a cold shower at Hughenden and lunch.

Quiet in town? It's show day in Hughenden and it was show day the last time I was here. On to Homestead rest stop for the night. Good reviews but just OK, I think.

Cloncurry to Hughenden the shire councils do not encourage camping road side, it would seem. I respect that and what the locals think about who stops where etc. But can't help wondering if they are missing out on commerce, tourist spend?

Stopped in Charters Towers to make some phone calls. Reid River rest for lunch. Townsville provisioned at Woollies Fairfield Central and the BP servo across the road will be tonight's sleep spot. Tobruk swimming pool, on The Strand, for laps and a hot shower. The Strand and Pallarenda are fav daytime hangouts.

Parked up on the Esplanade and watched a very disappointing game of NRL on Kayo. The Storm went down to the Cowboys, played here in Townsville. I had toyed with the idea of going to the game but last minute plans foiled. Glad I didn't  get there. Looks a really impressive stadium a huge upgrade from 1300smiles. 

Maxwelton sunset.

Richmond.

Silo art - love it!

Gregory Downs, Burketown and Lawn Hill

Gregory Downs is a bit further west. I was thinking of going into Lawn Hill but the talk around was don't bother. It's not going to be a good season for those folks. The floods trashed the place and the roads apparently. 

Not much more than a Pub and council depot at Gregory Downs. Two options from Normanton. The Normanton-Burketown Rd a mix of gravel and bitumen or via Four Ways and good bitumen all the way. Again, I was talked out of going to Burketown.

Gregory Downs has a good free camp down by the river bridge, spectacular in fact. Birds galore and the fishing can be good as well. The camp site, on the banks, is river gravel and small rocks, 4x4 have no problems. But the VW has traction control that cannot be disengaged, well not that I could work out how. So loose rocks makes life very difficult! 

I just camped the one night but many stay much longer with some elaborate setups. 

Gregory River.
Crystal clear water. 

That's me parked back there somewhere.

Sounds like fun.

Gregory Pub

Yep, can't help myself...

Winton, Cloncurry, Normanton, Karumba and Burke and Wills Camp 119.

Stopped overnight in Cloncurry and had a swim in the public pool just before it closes for the season. Unheated 18deg, two quick laps. Bloody cold, pink skinned, hitting the hot shower. Slept in the street near the pool and public toilets.

The Cloncurry to Normanton road was OK some roadworks all but complete. The narrow single lane bitumen flood plain areas still remain but are OK if you don't encounter a 50 meter long road train.

Karumba road open and good.

Slept in the street in front of the Sunset Tavern. Quiet night. Drove around Karumba Point and the township of Karumba a few kms away. Karumba reminds me of Tin Can Bay. Tin Can Bay reminds me of Papua New Guinea. Places where you find misfits and dropouts. Lots of rusty stuff in the yards of the residents as well as the mandatory boat. You're not in town unless you have a boat.

Not sure if I'm early but tourism seems to be down atm. The last time here the place was overflowing with tourist. Now caravan parks with lots of vacancies. Can't be good for a community that is all but closed during the summer wet season.

A short drive down the Normanton - Burketown Dev Rd is Burke and Wills last camp. Camp 119. In 1860 they left Melbourne and were intent on making their way to the gulf and all but made it. There are still blazed trees at the camp site proof they were there.

Normanton IGA - street art.

Interesting.

Harry did it as well in 2018.

Blazed tree @ Camp 119.
The last camp.

Isisford, Longreach, Winton and The Mistake Creek.

 Isisford - Winton 

Stopped at Longreach just for a walk around. Sunday most everything closed. 

Arrived at Winton for a quick walk of the main and noted how much it's changed since my last visit about 13 years ago. Lots of growth and improvements even looking prosperous. Drove south a few kms to Mistake Creek. Nice, no mistake here a good spot for the night. All the roads so far have been sealed and in good condition, even if recently patched.

Some moments I'm wondering what I'm doing, so far from home. Then the next I'm set up, beside a creek, like I am tonight, and think how lucky I am to be able to do this.

Very lush - green everywhere.

Blackall, Isisford and The Barcoo.

 Blackall - Isisford

Good road, easy run for today.

Isisford is a nice spot, very quiet, as it's not on the way to anywhere really. Small  with just one surviving pub and a general store that keeps bank hours. Fuel price about the same as Longreach. The town has a great free camp down by the Barcoo River and it's very popular with caravaners. About 50% have Vic rego plates. 

Second night with no power, morning expected to be 3deg. Brrr.

Some never forgive!

The Barcoo.

Welcome

Nice Pub but closed.