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Travelling around Australia

a travel blog by michelle62


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Great Place

Prairie, Australia

We left Winton for Hughendon, this was a long drive with many unfenced paddocks which meant we had stock, kangoaroos, emus, wild pigs and dingos running across the road at various times, I tried to be vigilant to help Glenn. It was cautious driving but so spectacular to be seeing all this happening in front of this is the bush setting. At Hughendon we refuelled and then headed towards Charters Towers with the intention of Camping for the night, we generally try to set up camp before 4.00pm as this will avoid the dusk and the dangerous Kangaroos crossing. We pulled into Prarie and I saw a great pub which I thought we may be able to camp at. I walked into the pub and then walked right through it and found no one. I came out to Glenn and said that I couldnt find anyone but as a minimum we should have a drink as this was a great pub. A couple of seconds later the Publican arrived, he was pulling out stumps a couple of doors down to burn in the slow combustion stove. We could stay for the night in his backyard with hot showers for only $11.00 best value yet. We set up camp and then moved into the pub of course. It was fantastic, circa 1894, and the couple who run it have tried to maintain this throughout. The dinner is served in the dining room with fantastic old furniture, side boards etc. The bar proper is covered with photos, old hats, farming implements, snakes in formaldahide(spelling??), the bar chairs were dentist chairs, barber chairs, tractor chairs - you get the picture. Riley and Glenn had another game of pool and we all decided that Prarie was terrific.

permalink written by  michelle62 on June 9, 2007 from Prairie, Australia
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Alas we must leave Prarie

Charters Towers, Australia

We reluctantly left Prarie and headed towards the coast, stopping at Charters Towers for the Sunday lunch. The original sunday lunch idea was mine and I had thought this was a great opportunity to get a 'meat and three veg' meal which we werent having while camping. Somehow the concept has been bastardised and it now has become a choice, taking in turns for each of us, I didnt think life was meant to be fair but the kids thought it was. Anyway, unfortunately, it was Caitlin's choice in Charters Towers and the choice was obvious, McDonalds. We happened upon McDonalds at the same time as forty grade six students on their school camp - fun. They all lined up with zip lock bags or envelopes with their cash and ordered their respective meals, and then asked friends for extra 20c etc. I think you get the picture. Glenn can never eat anything there so he only had a coffee, so the Sunday lunch, although Caitlin had fun, was most unsatisfactory. Off towards Townsville but we stopped just short of there at Reidy River Road side stop about 3.0pm and I cooked Glenn up some belated lunch.

permalink written by  michelle62 on June 10, 2007 from Charters Towers, Australia
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Travelling North

Townsville, Australia

Up early, you are getting an idea of the pattern now, and off to Townsville. We found out that Public Holidays mean that even the supermarkets are not open, so we could not replenish our supplies. We did find a bike shop open and we eventually convinced Glenn that he would not find a garage sale with a 6' 4'' guy selling a fantastic bike for a song and he bought a bike for himself. We now all have our bikes which means we can ride as a family. So we put the bikes to good use and rode around Townsville which was very pretty. We loved it and rode along the river past the mangrove swamps and back to the truck. It was lovely to ride as a family. We left Townsville late in the afternoon and headed North looking for a good place to stop, just 15km north of Caldwell we found a road stop and camped there for the night.

permalink written by  michelle62 on June 11, 2007 from Townsville, Australia
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The Great Barrier Reef

Cairns, Australia

We spent a lovely three days in Cairns, we camped at a camping ground walking distance to the city. We walked all over the town and also rode our bikes, it is really a bike friendly city with plenty of bike paths. We went on a cruise to the a reef on the coast, part of the Great Barrier Reef where they have a pontoon permanently parked. We stayed at the pontoon for five hours after travelling 1 1/2 hours on a Catamaran to get there. I got sea sick as I usually do but everyone else was fine. Glenn, Caitlin and Riley snorkeled all day out on the reef. They were the last people to come back and I think they would have stayed longer if given the chance. I rested and settled my stomach and watched them. I enrolled Caitlin in a class which she went to by herself and learnt how to snorkle and then there was no stopping her. We all decided it was a fantastic day and well worth the experience and the sea sickness. I went out on a semi submersible and viewed the reef from a safe distance. It was a fantastic experience and we finished it off with a Basken and Robins icecream on the way home.

permalink written by  michelle62 on June 14, 2007 from Cairns, Australia
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Daintree Rain Forest

Port Douglas, Australia

After spending some time in Port Douglas which was a very nice place to have lunch. We travelled to Daintree Village which was at the end of the dense Daintree Rain Forest which was spectacular. The road is similar to the Great Ocean Road in that you follow the coast with rugged beaches and dense forests on the other side. We seem to be the 'Rain Gods' bringing unseasonal rain where ever we go but in times of drought this is a good thing. We travelled back from Daintree to move inland again.

permalink written by  michelle62 on June 18, 2007 from Port Douglas, Australia
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Atherton Tablelands

Tolga, Australia

We were going to travel to Cooktown but changed our minds due to the prevailing weather conditions and the standard of the road. Instead we travelled through the Atherton tablelands and stayed at a former military camp in Tolga. This was the site of a 3000 bed hospital and a training facility for Australian Soldiers to accustom themselves to the Tropical environment before being sent overseas during the second world war. There was even a farm where vegetables were grown for the use of the base and to be sent to PNG on Catalinas (note for Granny Sue). It was a beaut spot and Caitlin and I went and read every plaque which was placed there showing the colors, regiment, areas of service etc.

permalink written by  michelle62 on June 18, 2007 from Tolga, Australia
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Carpentaria

Normanton, Australia

We have now arrived in Normanton after a very long drive on narrow, sometimes muddy, dirt roads. They seem especially narrow when you need to pull off the road to give way to Roadtrains. The kids were really patient with the long drive and we were relieved to arrive in Normanton and camp at the caravan park where there is an Artesian Bore. We had a lovely soaking warm spa and the rest of the family dived into the pool and reinforced their snorkeling skills. This morning is the first time I have been able to get to the internet for ages so I have updated the blog and I will try and add some photos. There is still lots of rain happening so we are waiting to find out if we can continue on the Savannah way or whether we should take a different (ie. principally bitumen route.) I will keep you posted on this outcome.

permalink written by  michelle62 on June 18, 2007 from Normanton, Australia
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"Aye Karumba" - Bart Simpson

Karumba, Australia

We camped just out of Normanton last night at Walker Creek and continued on to Karumba for breakfast. This is right on the Gulf of Carpenteria and it was very wet and cold when we were there. Again we have brought the unseasonal weather to the tropics. Karumba is known as the town where the desert meets the sea and this is a very apt name. This is where the catalinas left from with supplies for PNG (note for Granny Sue). There is also a very high presence of salt water crocodiles so we did not hang around long by the waters edge, the warnings are enough to scare you if the statue (refer my photos) hasnt already. We returned to Normanton to our friends the librarians, we seem to make friends with all the librarians as we spend so much time in them. After finishing school work it was off to Burke and Wills Road house but it was too far to go in one day. Particularly as the truck was driving into a head wind and Glenn could not go faster than 65-70km. We camped at a roadstop half way Burke and Wills.

permalink written by  michelle62 on June 20, 2007 from Karumba, Australia
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Nearly leaving Queensland

Mount Isa, Australia

We arrived at Mount Isa yesterday and we spent the evening here. Glenn and Riley went to the pictures last night to see Pirates of the Carribean 3 and Caitlin and I had a girls night in watch 'Wings Power'. It worked out well and we liked Mount Isa, but as our luck would have it we have arrived on Show day again and it was a public holiday so everything except for the pubs and cinema was closed. We didnt mind, we are getting quite used to show day now, and we relaxed and caught up on school work. We are now heading across to Tennant Creek so we will be out of computer and Mobile range for the next couple of days. I hope you all like the photos and Cole was satisfied that Glenn is on the trip.

permalink written by  michelle62 on June 23, 2007 from Mount Isa, Australia
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We are now in the Northern Territory

Tennant Creek, Australia

We travelled over the last couple of days on the Barkly Highway across the Barkly Tablelands towards the Stuart Highway . We camped at two nice spots but there lots of rain . It continues to produce unseasonal rains, we are definitely the drought breakers. Coming towards the Three Ways Roadhouse we were debating whether to stop there or to travel further to Tennant Creek. I said to Glenn I was definitely hungry and in need of coffee so we stopped at three ways roadhouse. You would not believe my surprise when I asked a school girl what trip she was on and what school and she told me Aquinas and was trying to explain to me where Ringwood was situtated. I immediately asked her was Molly there, Molly who?? and I said Molly Morgan off course and she was - can you believe our luck. We spent about fifteen minutes with her and she had to leave, we may be able to catch up again at Darwin. We will be looking out for a bunch of teenagers anyway.

We spent some time at Tennant Creek and we are now heading towards Elliot but the rain does not seem to be ceasing.

permalink written by  michelle62 on June 25, 2007 from Tennant Creek, Australia
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Trip around Australia

4/5's of the James Family have been planning to go on a trip around Australia for a number of years. We now have the vehicle which we are having modified and we hope to leave late April 2007

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