Week 441 - Mt Morgan, Queensland

After our epic trip from Bowen to Rockhampton we found time to relax with Jo's family. Uncle Brian was preparing for a couple of days in hospital and we were happy to spend some time maintaining our bus.

Rusti the dog 

Customs House, Rockhampton - 
Burnt down in 1862 and rebuilt in 1901 

Dotty - The reunion with Dot and George at Bowen 

The waiting room - Jo's family gather to visit Uncle Brian 

We ran with Rockhampton hash, who were down to nine runners, including us which is sad to see a hash club struggle after being so successful in the past years. Rockhampton is now run by the old guard and encouraging new members all the time. We have run with them many many times now.

The hospital crew - Chrissy, Jo, Vicki and Tracey 

Tuesday, was a short hop to Mount Morgan, just 48 kms, which I did in my sleep, as it were. Vicki is another cancer patient but is responding well to treatment and many of our motorhoming friends will know her. She is a strong lady and has a healthy outlook on life and of course, we wish her well.

From Vicki's at Mount Morgan we travelled to our other local town of Monto where we are camped at Reg and Di Kerle's place near Abercorn.

So this week has been a people week and not much to report on adventuring, scenery and expeditions.

Week 440 - Bowen, Queensland

At the beginning of the week we spent a couple of days with Rob and Chris Koch on their property in Ingham. Lush green lawn surrounded by encroaching rainforest. The Kangaroos came out as dusk and the Curlews squawked at night. A very peaceful, comfortable spot.

The bus washed down and ready for its trip, we rendezvoused with Judy, Rowan and Sharon for a 6 hour long Mount Isa Fest. I was the driver, Jo, Sharon and Judy drunk copious amounts of wine, got the giggles and continued to talking about Mount Isa for the remaining 2 hours. Me being totally sober, was totally bored. However, a great catch up.

Horseshoe Bay - A trio of beaches on a peninsula at Bowen 

Working boats - The fishing fleet waiting for the outgoing tide. 

We hashed in Townsville on Monday night then headed to Bowen on Tuesday. We stayed at a low cost caravan park. No amenities, no electricity and no water, but just a stone throw from the tourist spots of Bowen. In the past we have always avoided Bowen as they are anti-RV'ers. The cost in the caravan parks in town are astronomical. Bowen has its highlights, magnificent beaches and spectacular scenery but the council is struggling to attract the tourist dollar by scaring the RV'ers and backpackers away. A few of the tourist attractions have become derelict, run down and vandalised, which is such a shame for this part of the region.

Flappers island - The local birds take refuge at Muller's Lagoon. 
Most species are very common. 

Bowen North Head Lighthouse - This lighthouse 
has only recently been restored and looks magnificent
 in the setting sun. 

Off to work - We watched the fishing fleet 
get ready for the night whilst we sat eating their wares.

We waiting in Bowen to catch up with Dotty and George in Strathalbyn. A nice catch up but it put us a day behind schedule so we decided to travel to Rockhampton in one day - all 520 kms. So with piss stops, dog stops, lunch breaks and a coffee, we arrived in Rockhampton 7 hours after leaving Bowen. However, the motorhome performed perfectly, the water temperature, the oil pressure and engine did not waiver. So we arrived in Uncle Brian's at Rockhampton in one piece.

Week 439 - Ingham, Queensland

Cape Tribulation was our destination for the weekend. Just a short hop from our MSO (Member Stop Over) at Mossman. Our companions for the day were Bill and Lesley Brady. As soon as we crossed the river at Daintree we were under the canopy of the tropical rain forest. With eyes peeled we witnessed many exotic birds, pristine creeks and a glimpse through the trees at the blue ocean lapping the sandy beaches, almost heaven.

All the creeks run - In the tropics, the clouds are 
always hanging over the ranges, depositing rain for 
the creeks to run. 

Passionfruit - These passionfruit vines flourish 
in the damp moist tropical weather. 

We visited Wendy and Ash who are care taking a bush camp in the middle of this Eden. They have been there 18 months and they are a wealth of knowledge of the local plant life, animals and bird life. Lunch at PK's and a pint of Alehouse to help us on our way back to Mossman.

Forest Kingfisher 

Saturday afternoon, we reluctantly visited the commercial hub of Port Douglas. A money making machine for the rich and famous by the rich and famous. Boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops and hotels in stark contrast to the Daintree Rain forest just 50 kms north.

Man walks on waters - This beautiful creek at 
Babinda is a refreshing swimming hole. 

Our stay ended in this neck of the woods and we departed south on the picturesque ocean road towards Cairns. Cairns is another place we hate with a vengeance, so we took the western by pass and ignored the commercial hub of the north.

The full moon competes with the low clouds 

Hinchinbrook Island - As pretty as a picture, 
blue skies, puffy clouds and sandy beaches. 

Our destination, pretty Babinda, a place where we could unwind and take it easy and settle back into our roles as professional travellers.

Week 437-438 - Mossman, Queensland

So much can happen in just a couple of weeks and we are victims of just that. In fact we were too busy to have time to sit down to write last week's blog, hence this bi-weekly version.

No need for a title

Another Happy Hour Happy hour at Xmas In July, Mareeba 

We arrived at Mareeba Bush Camp to ready us for the Xmas in July event in Mareeba. The Highway Wanderers were beginning to gather in numbers. Sadly one of ours, Britt, lost her fight with cancer down in Sydney, so Jo, the President of Highway Wanderers and also a great friend of Britt and Oke's decided to fly down to Sydney for the Celebration of Britt's life. This left me to fend for myself and hold the fort.

Horror and Rusti - Rusti wins her first official award 
for best trick - all she did was sing happy birthday

My arrival at Xmas in July was a lonely affair, just me and the dog, travelling down from the Bush Camp to the township of Mareeba. The Highway Wanderers set up camp in the overflow outside of the main arena. We had plenty of room to flex our wings and spread out.

Jo jetted back to hold the last happy hour of the event on Sunday. However, all was not normal. Jo had contracted bronchial asthma and became very ill herself.

Rainbow Bee-eater - 
Three of these birds graced us every day 

Brown Cuckoo-Dove - A rare sighting in 
the Daintree rainforest 

From Mareeba we headed up to Birds on Barron, just 10 kms North of Mareeba to rest and recuperate, which was definitely needed. For some foul reason, I went down with flu symptoms and a severe cough. We were both laid up for a couple of days. This is the first time either of us have been this ill during our travels of eight years on the road.

Bush Camp - Peace and quiet after the
hustle and bustle of Xmas in July.

Luckily we have been travelling with Bill and Lesley who are familiar with this part of the world and who knew of a MSO (Members Stop Over) at Mossman, which is at the edge of the Daintree Rainforest and Port Douglas

.

We spent a day at Cape Tribulation, deep in the rainforest with constant drizzle and a continuous dripping from the rainforest. The scenery and the wildlife was awesome. And as we are feeling a lot better now, we intend to do some more excusions in this top end of the country.