Week 12– Rain

Day 78 – Atherton Tablelands to Ravenshoe to Atherton

The rain keeps on coming but nothing stops us!     We are lucky that it really is only drizzling on and off. 

Due to the weather conditions, we hit the road and headed towards Ravenshoe via Mount Hypipamee National Park where we stopped and took a short bush walk into the National Park to view a volcanic pipe.    This “hole in the ground” is 73m deep crater lake.  The crater is now filled with water and has been undisturbed for tens of thousands of years.   The green colour is from a native duck weed which covers the surface of the lake and is home to shrimp and birdlife.

From here we ventured into Ravenshoe via Tumoulin.      The town of Ravenshoe’s claim to fame is that it is the highest town in Queensland at 920 metres.   They have a great information centre with a museum at the back and we were guided to have a look at the Millstream Falls.      

On arrival to the falls, it was a fairly steep ascent to the falls but was well worth the trek.   Not going to tell you how the ascent back to car was but needless to say one male in our party wasn’t overly happy.

After calming his farm, we headed back into Atherton via and the most amazing windfarm.    I love windfarms and am absolutely fascinated by the wind turbines.     It was a real hoot for me to get so close to them and considering the weather that it had cleared up enough to see them.

Day 79 – Atherton to Kuranda to Atherton

Again, due to the drizzle we hopped in the car and headed to Kuranda in the rainforest above Cairns.     We have both been here before but thought as the markets were on seven days a week it would to nice just to wander through the markets.   Well thanks to covid we got there a of course the markets are now closed on Mondays Tuesdays and Wednesdays due to the lack of tourists.     We had a lovely coffee and wandered through what was open and then headed back to Atherton.

Day 80 – Atherton

Rain again so today was spent washing, doing paperwork and catching up on bits and pieces around the van and car that needed attention.

Day 81 and 82 – Atherton to Undara Lava Tubes – 297klms

Rain rain go away and so it did.       We left early from Atherton and travelled through drizzle, mist and fog before arriving around lunchtime at the Undara National Park.        

Well what a place.    This is another must do!!     The actual camp area itself is unique let alone the lava tubes.

The owners have purchased old railway carriages and restored them to create accommodation as well as its main dining area.     Its roof line in the main dining area has also been designed to recreate the roof of the lava tubes.

We were treated to a bush brekky the next day and a guided tour of the lava tubes.    Undara is aboriginal for “long way”.  The park is home to the longest lava tube cave systems in the world created by a volcanic eruption over 190 thousand years ago.   It was amazing.

Took so many more photos!!

Day 83 – Atherton to Greenvale – 149klms

Well not sure what to say about Greenvale other than it is in the middle of nowhere and home to the Three Rivers Hotel made famous by a poem written by one of the patrons and by Slim Dusty created a song from the poem.   Believe me that is all!

Day 84 – Greenvale  to Dotswood – 228klms

Bivouac Junction exactly.        On the banks of the very low nearly empty Burdekin River.

No rain!!

So, we are heading south again from here and will base ourselves in Bowen for a week when we get there.

Life on the road is still good.      George reckons if I take my meds and have copious amounts of coffee in the morning the day will be fine.   Humph he can talk.

George remains the socialite which is good as we have met some lovely people on our travels, and it is always great to here about what other people are doing or not doing as the case may be.       

Some of the long stints in the car have been without radio reception so we have overloaded ourselves with podcasts from the ABC Conversations program.       These have proved a welcome relief from my snoring in the car!!

I want to give a big shout out to Ty this week as he turns 29 on Tuesday.     I promise (god willing) I will be there for your 30^th.     Can’t believe its been 29 years since this tall dark handsome man came into our lives.     Love you heaps mate and are so proud of the man you are and the man you have yet to be.

Love to everyone at home.   It is obviously safer travelling this great country of ours as far as covid is concerned than remaining in Milton Ulladulla.    Who would have thought!!

We have also adapted a new acronym whilst travelling.  SKIDRO – Spending Kids Inheritance Driving Around Oz.    Just love it!!