Ravenswood cont.

One of the many chimney stacks scattered around the area.   The brickwork is amazingly intact   There were heaps of these chimneys still standing.

Old Miners Cottage.  The owner raised 21 children in this cottage.   Can you imagine what life must have been like in that hot and dusty environment.    You got to give a medal to the brave mum.

We came across a creek  bed in town where there were more than 30 resident wild peacocks. We were amazed to see them.  We were commenting on how much they stank, similar to bats, when lo and behold we looked up from them into the trees to see 100s of smelly and noisy bats.   We simply hadnt noticed them and had driven over this creek crossing a number of times.   

A drive down to the Burdekin River Dam (Lake Dalrymple) and the Gorge that you can explore.   The dam isnt very deep, around 8M, and the water wasnt anywhere near the top of the spillway so you could drive across the base of the dam and explore the gorge and waterfalls

Driving across the dam base

Abandoned mine in Ravenswood.   The colors of the rock and the water were great

Next stop will be Townsville.    Hot Rod Show in Town this weekend.   Rick is a happy man.

Ravenswood

This tiny  town was once a bustling gold mining town like so many others.   Today there is still a working gold mine operating here, employing about 300 people.   Most of them are driven in each day from Charters Towers and Townsville.     The local population is around 100.    We were going to stay a day and ended up staying 3.   Lots to see, even though in theory, there are two pubs operating, a post office/general store, a museum and an antique/arts/crafts shop.   Really enjoyed exploring the old mines, the equipment and brick chimneys dotting the landscape.  Had a  drink at the two pubs, the Imperial Hotel below is a beauty.   Pretty much original right down to the iron beds,timber wardrobes and dressers in the upstairs bedrooms, the furniture in the dining room is more than 100y.o. and the timberwork in the bar was all hand made on site also more than 100 years ago.  Leadlight panels came from France.   Way too much money being made from gold way back then.  Couldnt find that elusive gold nugget for ourselves, but did see a couple of gem cars that would bring some good dollars if they were back home.    

Charters Towers

This is a rather large town, built around the discovery of Gold.    There are some stunning buildings to look at and look thru but they are mostly on the main drag and almost impossible to take photos of without people and cars in the picture.   We arrived on the Sunday, intent on doing some grocery shopping and then heading out to our camp spot.  Well it was Sunday and NOTHING is open.   Not even Woollies.    The Burdekin River was our campspot.   This river has a usual depth of around 13M, way back some years ago it rose to 22M an unbeleivable volume of water.   As you can see its pretty much dry now until the next wet season.   We have seen the destruction this flooded river can cause when we travelled up to Qld in early 2013.   Had a good look around, took a CD Tour of the touristy stuff and then decided to head off to a tiny town called Ravenswood.   Another old gold mining town, heritage listed.

Richmond to Hughenden

Got our tyres late in the day and decided we just couldnt stay another day here, there is simply nothing here.    Boring.    As it turns out, I couldnt even buy the lucky Powerball ticket, even though I tried.    The young guys at the mechanics were terrific.  Took them more than two hours to fit up our tyres, charged us $80, didnt charge for getting rid of the old ones, which is what every other tyre service we have dealt with has done.     Off to Highenden.    The countryside is bleak.   Flat desolate and crying out for rain.   Almost no stock in any of the paddocks and not even the slightest bit of growth, even weeds.   Arrived in Hughenden to a magnificent sunset,  camped up and finally relaxed.  The new tyres working a treat.   Ended up spending 3 nights here, even though there is very little to do & see.   Its all about dinosaurs here once again.   Checked out all the dinosaur bones & fossils, toured the town, visited a small market, chatted with the locals and went out to see Porcupine Gorge.    The Gorge is 27 kms. long and you can take it in from viewing platforms high above or take a 2.5km walk down and into the Gorge.   Its amazing to find greenery out here when you have driven thru dry and dusty paddocks for miles. Very litle water at the moment and it wasnt interesting enough to bother getting excited about.

Barn Find. 

Another dry river bed

 Large search going on out here for a missing local man.  Been missing from his property for 8 days now.  Helicopters, police cars, horses and quad bikes out looking for him.   Its very hot during the day here, but cool at night.   Still its inhospitable country, and no-one knows what he was wearing or had with him and where he headed off to.  The local police we spoke to, said that if he has gone missing in the Gorge, it will be almost impossible for him to be spotted, even from overhead. Sad for his family and I hope he is found one way or the other soon.    We had a sunset happy hour at one of the lookouts with a local cattle station owner.   He hasnt had rain for two years and even though he can pump up water from a bore (23 hours per day) he simply cannot feed his bulls.   He had just sent off the very last of his 3000 cattle.  Left with a handful of cows and one goat, which couldnt fit on the last of the trucks.    Again a very sad situation to be in.   He was very chatty and seemed to be a happy man regardless.    After driving thru this country, we can sympathise

Mt Isa

We left Karumba and headed down south to Cloncurry and then west to Mt. Isa.    We were on a mission to get tyres.    Four tyre services later and not a tyre our size to be found.   What the !!!!!!!!   Of course they could get them in for us in a couple of days at an exorbitant price.     By the time we had done the rounds of all the tyre services, topped up the shopping it was getting late in the day.   We were frustrated and cheesed off and couldnt be bothered staying and looking around the next day.   Probably a stupid move in hindsight, we were there, but we were just "over it".   Called Townsville, got a price for tyres, on the shelf, in stock, and decided to just head east and hope to god we didnt do another tyre.   Stopped off at Cloncurry for a look around, then lunch at Julia Creek which has a great free camp by the water.   By this time we were feeling OK, but then disaster struck and we blew an outside tyre.   No spare.  We had 100km to go to the next town.    We limped along at 40kmph for the next 50.   Praying that the pressure on the remaining single back tyre wouldnt be too much and leave us well and truly stranded.   Managed to get to a rest area 50k down the road, our back tyre was very hot and very low in pressure so we decided to stay the night and let the tyre and us cool off.   Rick put some air in the tyre  and we phoned ahead to the town of Richmond to see if they could get us tyres in from Townsville.  Phone service was hit and miss where we were so we had to keep wandering to get a signal and wait for a phone call.     Thankfully the garage arranged for the tyres to be freighted out to them.   So we now had to limp a further 50km the next day to Richmond.   Every finger and toe was crossed, prayers were prayed that we would make it. Arrived Wednesday morning.   We are now here, the tyres were supposed to arrive at 9.30 this morning, Thursday, but they havent turned up.   Looks like they will be here later today which means we will prob. stay on another night.   We are getting 4 new tyres right across the back.   Once we have these we will head off again, going East back towards the Coast.   Hopefully, this is the last of our dramas.   One more and we will be heading home, broke.  !!!!!!!!!!!

Karumba

In the market for a penthouse/boat?

We knew that the only reason anyone went to Karumba was to fish.   Its all about fishing here.   In the caravan park we met three couples, all of whom, come for three months at a time to sit out the cold winters down south and to fish.    There is nothing else to do here.   Nothing touristy to see and nowhere you can drive to to escape.   How people do it is beyond us.   We spent a day and night and it was enough for us.  So we vsited the Info Centre - closed, the Barramundi Research Centre - closed.   The only two things you can do except for fishing, drinking at the pub or relaxing at the park.   We were so bored, we even visited the tip.   Well it was by accident as we had seen heaps of big Kites circling and we were just watching them in awe when we realised we were at the tip.  If you love the smell of rotting fish guts in plastic bags, then it was the place to be.   Any wonder the birds were so big.    Caught up at the pub with a couple who we had met previously in Mareeba, had a drink, they were there for a week!!!!!!!   Waiting to do a fishing charter.   She wouldnt go out in their own foldaboat as she was afraid of crocs.   Blow me down, we clearly saw two in the shallow water whilst at the pub.    There really are crocs at the beach.   We thought it was a myth to stop us all going for a nice dip on a hot day.    Their is no actual beach at Karumba, unless you want to drive a fair distance.   Its all rocky and mud flat.   Nothing attractive except for the color of the water.  Sunday morning saw us at the Market.   Ladies who make cards, teacosies, dolls, jewellery whilst bored out of their brains at the caravan park trying to flog their stuff.    The only good thing at Karumba were the fish n chips.   The freshest barra you could get.

Tawny frogmouths next to our bus

At the pub

Kite at the pub  

Info Centre

 Drove into Normanton and it was pretty much a hole.   Called into the Info Centre to find out where we could get fuel.   The only what you would call "service station " was closed.  Why?   Cos it was Saturday and they had all gone shooting.   Of course, why not. Who cares about business.   Anyway we fuelled up at the General Store, cheaper anyway.    Fuel has been at its most expensive at $1.70/Lt. for diesel but we didnt think it was too bad actually as it had been $1.67 at Cairns.  Took a quick look around at the touristy stuff, which isnt much and then left town.   The croc below is a replica of one shot in the 50s.   He measured 8.6 Metres long.   Sad to think he may have been over 100 years old to have reached that size.    What an outrage it would be today if something like that were to happen.   Back then they were heroes.    No hope of getting a spare tyre here so we hope we dont blow another tyre.   We will be truly stuffed.

A ford under wraps

Leichart Lagoon & Normanton

Camped at Leichart Lagoon, part of a cattle station.    The lagoon was full of beautiful waterlillies, though the water was getting low, and there were heaps of birdlife, geese, ducks, brolgas, ibis and a pelican.    Also turtles.   The turtles wander thru the campground, two nests under construction and one turtle starting her nest next to the wheels of a 4WD camped up.     The sign below states the facts, but we wanted to see evidence of crocs so we jumped in the car and drove thru the gates of the station down to the river that runs nr. the camp.   Well we were rewarded with a heap of crocs both in and out of the water.   The river is getting low plus they are pumping out heaps for a local weir.    The crocs are congregating in what is left of their water.    It was a little creepy, driving down to the river bank and then walking thru the mangroves.  Fortunately all the crocs were hopefully sunning themselves on the opposite banks to us, but we were still apprehensive because we couldnt actually see the bank we were standing above.    At one stage we  4wd thru sandbanks on the rivers edge when we spotted one on our side.    That was it, we decided not to push our luck.   We had come to see them in their natural environment and were rewarded.   If we wanted to, we could have souvinered a tooth from a dead croc at the weir.   Trouble was it was ripe and needed to prob. sunbake for a few more months.   The caretakers at the camp had a beaut skull they had taken from another dead croc some months earlier.

This croc was on the opp bank, Rick decided to tempt it over to us by throwing in a big rock.   The croc immediately headed towards our side of the bank and we watched him glide thru the water, almost like a floating log.   We didnt hang around though.

Mt.Garnet/Mt Surprise/Georgetown/Croydon

We drove thru some small blips on the Map.   Nothing too exciting but its starting to feel very Outback.   The scenery has changed dramatically.   Dry & dusty.   Our three fav. things in abundance - doe eyed bulls emus and huge wedge tail eagles.   A lot of the roads were narrow strips of bitumen, single lane, making for lots of dust, especially when a road train approached.   Its" get right off the road" for them.   We had a bit of an itinerary planned but then 22kms from the town of Croydon we blew an inside tyre on the bus.  Managed to get off the road and took stock of our situation.   Rick tried to change the tyre but it was physically too hard.   We had hoped someone would stop and ask if we were OK but no-one did.    Utes, a bus, caravans and a motorhome all passed us without a blink.    So we made the decision to slowly drive into the town.  At   15kmh for the next 22kms.    We watched the scenery slowly pass us by.   Lots of bulls stared at us, either mesmerised by the bus or more likely by the noise the wrecked tyre was making.    We had our hazards on, and only 1 of 7 vehicles that passed us on the road called on the CB to ask what was wrong.   I couldnt beleive it.   We always stop or slow down if we see someone who may be in trouble, but no one did for us. Got into town 2 hrs later and headed straight to the roadhouse.   At first they wanted us to wait TWO days but after hearing Ricks plea, the owners son, who had just knocked off work for the day,  relented and helped Rick do the changeover.    Wouldnt take anything for it but we gave him $30 to buy a beer.    So we ended up in a caravan park at 6.30 cos I could see Rick was stuffed.   A hot shower, cold drink and a meal and Rick was in bed by 7.45.     The next morning we got up early and headed into the Info Centre, got a walking map of the town and spent 4 hours there.     This town is tiny but has a history as a huge gold mining area.   The street is probably only a couple of kilometres long but once the main street was 18 kilometres long   There is only one pub now but there were 36.   Interesting old buildings, all open, lots of old mining equipment kept us entertained.

Dry river beds

Camp near Georgetown

Old Mine

Old house still lived in till 1986

Oldest general store in Aust.

Innot Hot Springs

We left Babinda, headed down to Innisfail and then across the Atherton Tablelands to catch up with Ros & Tony who were in a small town called Ravenshoe.   Their fridge had died and they were waiting parts to arrive in Cairns.    The morning we arrived, we missed them, as they had hot footed into Cairns, their parts had arrived a day early.  !!!!!!!!!   So we left town, our plans a little in disarray, and went to Innot Hot Springs.  About 40kms further on.   Artesian hot water coming up out of the ground at a very hot temp.   Stayed in the Caravan Park and headed for the naturally heated pools    3 Indoor Pools, 44C, 36C and a cold pool.   Outside two spas at 36C  & 26C.    Plus a cool water swimming pool.    Well we spent almost the whole afternoon alternating in the pools until we were wrinkled and sleepy.    Then we walked down to the river/creek bed, next to the Park, where the water bubbles to the surface.    Steam was coming off the water and the sand was hot.   The water felt almost boiling.    The locals come down here, dig holes in the sand, allow the water to seep thru and sit in their own little pool.   Way too hot for us.    Slept like babies that night I must admit.   Wasnt really keen to do the whole springs bit, but in the end, it was a good day.

Babinda

Today we visited Josephine Falls nr. Babinda and again loved the area, rich rainforest landscape,  driving thru sugarcane and bananas. Great area to stop and stay a few days.  Visited Bramston Beach and then pulled up to watch them cut, load and tip off sugar cane into the waiting train carriages.    We have seen this happen a number of times on the trip but it never ceases to fascinate us.   Its definitely ALL about sugar in Qld.    The area around Babinda is beauitful.   We have loved every minute of our time here.   The local bakery and butcher came highly recommended and they didnt disappoint.    The butcher slaughters all his own meats, smokes meats such as bacons (never seen bacon as big or smell as good as these rashers) and hams and promises us his Chorizo sausages are the best in the land.   They are in the freezer at the moment.   Came back to camp to see friends we first met in 2011 in WA and seem to be bumping into them every few weeks as well now.   

Babinda

Banana Plantation in the forest

Camped at Babinda for a couple of days and we LOVED it so much.   Tiny little town devasted by the closure of their sugar mill which was being demolished.   130 jobs lost and many businesses closed down and empty shops.  But the town is surviving with an extra bit of help from all those that stay at the free camp.   Hot showers,fresh water, toilets.  Flowing river.  Each night a local rocked up and sold cheap fresh fruit & veges out of the back of a truck  and one of the locals bought for free her excess herbs, fruit & vege to share each morning.   Her hubby had a green thumb and they couldnt eat all they produced.   Not only did she provide these goodies but also thanked everyone for coming to her town.   The 6km drive thru town to the Boulders was amazing.  Windy road thru lush green rainforest.    The boulders are huge crops of granite rock, there are a couple of down stream pools where you could swim and there were plenty of people in the water, but further up, it was raging water over massive boulders.   They had torrential rain the day before which was great for us.  Stunning to the eye, not so great in the photo.    This rain forest/boulder strewn/waterways are without doubt the best we have seen so far in Qld.     We saw more brightly colored butterflies, especially the blues, and multi colored birds that we had no idea what they were.  Very muggy weather, cool in the forest walk but airless.   Hoped to see some snakes but didnt spot one.

Cairns

Cairns is all about tourism.   Stop at any traffic light in the CBD and all you see are tourists, especially asian, trawling the streets.   You can do the Atherton Tablelands, Mareeba, Barrier Reef, Kuranda Skyrail & Train, Port Douglas, Mossman Gorge and The Daintree from here and we pretty much did it all.   The Cairns waterfront is virtually mudflat type beach.   Luckily they have invested dollars in a very nice swimming lagoon right on the foreshore, manned by lifesavers.   All along this foreshore there are bbqs, playgrounds, sandy beach volleyball courts,  sculptures and outdoor gym  Makes up for the ugliness of the so called beachfront.   All along the Esplanade are souvenir shops and restaurants.   Stayed 3 days at a great caravan park right in the City and then moved over to the Cairns Showgrounds for three days.     This isnt a designated camping area but there was a Hot Rod Show and Swap Meet on this Sunday so we got in touch with the organisers and asked if we could camp up for a few nights to enable us to stay in Cairns and do the Show.  They didnt mind.  Rick got himself some stuff for the Ute and the Chevy so he was happy.    It rained on and off which was disappointing for the organisers but we had a great day.      Happy to be heading down South now for a little bit and then going out West, I think.   Will decide in the next few days where we actually go, no real plan.

Same as ours

Cooktown

Colored Sands

 We covered a lot of roads in and around Cooktown.  Enjoyed our time here.  Some pics on our travels in the Cooktown Area.

Pure white sand cliffs

Isabella Falls

Traffic Hazards

Endeavour Falls

Cooktown Cemetary

Motorhomes in the Background

From Cooktown Lookout

Bloomfield Falls

Lions Den Pub