14 - 27th Sept 2020
It's been 12 days since my last blog update, and I can tell you I’ve covered some ground.
I am now in Mareeba in the Atherton Tablelands Queensland. I’ve travelled over 2,000 k’s, so if your looking for me on the map near where I was last, you’ve got to get another map.
I drove south From Mataranka in NT and fueled up at the Three ways roadhouse at the start of the Berkley Hwy. I was a bit low and you need to have a full tank when crossing the Berkly. It took 113 lts and the price was $1.75, yes that’s $198. But the worst was driving across into a headwind, and after paying that much a headwind is not what you want. But the old girl did pretty good.
It’s a long trip across the Berkly (447 k’s), very straight and flat with only a road house at the start and the Berkly Roadhouse in the middle and Camooweal at the end with bugger all there. But at least the fuel was cheeper at Camooweal, $1.65. I camped in bush camps twice as I really enjoy doing that.
From Camooweal I headed North for Boobjmulla National Park (NP) or more commly known as Lawn Hill NP. I know I promised I wouldn’t do dirt again but I lied. Actually It was a hell lot worse than I was told. 230 k’s of very rough dirt road.
Half way along a caravan was coming towards me and I noticed his van was tilting a lot and swaying about a bit. I slowed right down and watched as he got closer. At one stage I was sure it was going to tip.
I wasn’t sure if it was the van or the road but as he got close I could see that he either had a flat tyre or maybe a broken spring. He was travelling way too fast with what was happening, so he obviously didn’t think anything wrong. I waved him down to indicate something was wrong and he gave me a great big smile and waved back as he sped on by??? I stopped and waited for the crash that didn’t happen, at least not near me. I couldn’t see anything from behind as there was just too much dust. I hope he made it to Camooweal.
It always amazes me this country, it is so dry and useless and you see creeks and rivers everywhere with no water in sight. Then suddenly you come to a river crossing with beautiful rain forest like vegetation and rushing water that is so crystal clear. I struck two on this particular section. One I had just passed a large cattle station and I was wondering where they would get their water, maybe bores or something when I came across the river and noticed it would run right past the homestead. I guess I don’t have to feel sorry for them as I bet they have the best swimming hole right at their back door.
I camped at Adels Grove, a caravan park just outside the NP. It’s a pretty nifty park with two sections. The Grove is situated amongst trees on the banks of Lawn River, and you guessed it, a great swimming hole. It was too shaded for me as I needed sun on my solar, but it wasn’t far away. I stayed for three nights.
The next day I headed for the NP 10 k’s up the road. There isn’t much option as to what to do, walk the trails or canoe up the gorge. There are two gorges with that beautiful water between towering red cliffs. I decided to do just a couple of smaller walks the first day and canoe the second.
So much for the smaller walks, I finished up walking them all. They were great walks under and on top of the cliffs as well as around some bluffs and the final decent just about vertical down a cliff face. I don’t know haw many k’s I walked but I had a lot of trouble getting out of the car back at camp. And I must have looked like I crapped myself walking to the swimming hole.
Next morning I was still a bit sore but I decided to give the canoe a miss. I had seen enough of the gorge and swam in all the places to swim anyway.
There was a small waterfall between the gorges that was perfect to sit on a natural rock with foot holds that held you perfectly in position under the cascading water. I spent a lot of time enjoying the spar.
After Adels Grove I drove across to Burke And Wills Roadhouse. A lot of people stop here and I noticed fuel was $1.80 but luckily I didn’t need any so I headed on up to Normington and Karumba on the Gulf camping overnight in a bush camp beside the Flinders River. Lot of crocks in the river but it was only a big water hole as the river was not running.
Had a look around Normington and took a photo of the big crock as everyone else does. The placard (see photo, it's interesting) says that it is a replica of the biggest crock ever shot. But to me it looked too big around the middle, but It’s big. I checked out the pubs and looked around town, other then that there’s not much else to see around Normington. Although, I did get excited when I spotted the sign to the golf course, only to find that no one has played here since maybe the 60's. So much for the GULF country, they can't even spell it up here. So I headed out to Karumba on the coast (90 k’s) .
Kurumba is on the banks of a huge river and I quite liked the little town. There is a barramundi and information center that was interesting to see. I went out to the headland where there are about three or four caravan parks and some shops etc. I wasn’t too fussed with it there but I stood on the beach and decided it wasn’t much to see, just dirty water.
I was going to stay at a van park but I seen that they were pretty packed and people were cued up waiting to get in. And they wanted $40 for the experience. After spending some great nights camped alone in the bush I decided to go back to Norminton and head out towards Croyden.
I came to a camp called Leichlhardt Lagoon and there is a caretaker there that charged $8/ nt. I was camped beside wetlands out on my own in a really great setting. That was a hell of a lot better than cooped up in that van park.
Next day I came to Croyden and checked out the information center and museum. Croyden has a rich gold history and it was interesting to read that in the early 1800’s the town swelled to around 7000. and there were 36 hotels in the town. On Saturday nights the shops stayed open until 10pm and bands played in the streets as well as all the pubs, a real carnival atmosphere. Very interesting!
I arrived at Georgetown the next day and drove around town and stopped at the sports oval for lunch under the shady trees. I needed water and wiki camps says I can get council supplied water there.
Well, I was parked right next to a lovely green oval under really shady trees (two things I haven’s seen for a long time, especially green grass). I washed the car and the next morning I washed the van, even on top. Looks soooo much better.
I even got out a golf club and hit some balls, gee did that feel great. The council came around the next morning and we had a great talk, he was happy for me to stay there. Nice toilets and even an electric bbq.
I drove around town and noticed the caravan park where people were camped on dusty bare ground and I bet they would be envious of me if they had known. Fueled up at $1.17/ltr, now that’s better'.
Driving along the next day I came to a sign introducing Undara Volcanic NP. (15 k's sealed road. I'll do that)
There was a nice resort there and campground for $17.
The popular thing to see are the Lava Tubes. That looked really interesting, but you can only see it by tour to which they were booked out for the week, so I did some of the bush walks instead. You could see lots of volcano's dotted around the landscape. They sold fuel there for $1.95... No doubt I passed on that.
The next day I headed for Atherton and the country started to change pretty quick. The first thing I noticed was green grass along the edge of the road, That was so good to see as it has been awhile.
But coming up some very windy roads the vegetation was all grass and lovely hills, so excited.
I found a RV camp out the other side of Atherton and stayed there for two nights, as I just had to check out the golf course. I played the 18 holes and had the time of my life, even playing exceptionally well. A lot of people were interested in my golf scooter, even taking photos.
The nights are so cool here, I even had to get out a blanket and a jumper, so nice.
I'm now at the next town of Mareeba where I played golf of course.
I am now at the drive-in movies! (bit of blast of the past) It's a bit unique, for $14 you get two movies and camp for the night. How goods that. The lady who runs the show was just telling me that she get's a lot complaining asking why so dear. So here I am sitting under the awning in my chair, bourbon in hand at the drive in. Hard work, but somebody's got to do it. The movies are Tenet and The Lodge if your wondering.
(Next morning) Watched Tenet and I've got no idea what that was about, but I was too tied to watch the second movie and went to bed, so no idea what that was either. But all fun anyway.
So friends that just about wraps up another session.
My next trip will be up the Cape. I've teamed up with a couple to travel with me. We will head up to Mt Carbine where we will stay a couple of nights in a caravan park and they will store the vans at no extra cost.
See you in about a week...
Your friend (I hope) Doug
