KTP

So here it is... So today was a lot of driving and organising things but it was worth it.  We had to drive the old camper south of Cairns to a transporter, then arrived at Atherton for lunch (another Karen special sandwich and a McCafe cappacino), then ANZ to do the deal, then to pick up the trailer, then a celebratory drink on the way home. Sugar cane train on the way home. The people we bought the trailer from live in a shed house on a semi-rural property. I loved it. And she showed me through whilst Tim changes plugs and hitches.

So by now I’m ready for some wander time to myself, so after moving our old camper to the unit and unpacking the last of our food and bits and pieces, we went into Port Douglas so I could do some shopping/wandering and Tim would sort of the transport of the old camper back to Adelaide. We hadn’t really planned on upgrading just yet, but the current set up has limitations, with no separate room to sit in if the weather turns cold or wet. And it’s a bit of a “bitsa” arrangement, (which really has done very well for us and Tim has put a lot of effort into it), but I think we have concluded that we don’t mind this sort of travel and will do more of it, so it was worth upgrading for something more comfortable.  Plus these campers hold their value so well, so if we do sell it later we probably won’t lose much. I am so excited to have a floor and somewhere to sit and read. So I got my wander in, some Christmas shopping done, and a 15min massage for my neck to try and help the headaches, a...

Well things have taken a turn...in a good way, but I must have allowed Tim too much googling time 😉.   He’s found an Ultimate camper which is in our price range and up here in Qld, sort-of near Cairns.  We popped in at a little fruit/vege stall that we have been driving past, oh so sweet! I was hoping for some exotic tropical fruit but there wasn’t much ripe just now. So we spent the morning having a chat about it all in Port Douglas, particularly the drama surrounding if we buy it, how do we get two campers home! Made it to the Military and Armoured Vehicle Museum, Tim said my egg and bacon salad sandwich was one of the best lunches he has ever had!! Whoa!! Something about holiday “almost” picnic lunches always taste better than packed work lunches. And then we wound our way up the ranges the Tablelands, oh just beautiful countryside. Didn’t get very good photos. Think I was feeling a bit car sick. Inspected the trailer and Tim gave it his nod of approval and then we had ano...

As we were driving out the caravan park today we saw this Peacock strutting around. And did a drive by the lovely mansions on the side of the mountain range. We went to Mossman Gorge in the morning. It’s a structured tourist venue now, with buses ferrying you the 2km to the Gorge, from a huge reception/cafe/shop area. The gorge is lovely and shady and a nice outing. Didn’t realise but we could have had a dip. Then we went to Shannonvale Winery which I’d spotted on our drive into Mossman from the Cape. Exotic fruit wine. I was excited!  I didn’t get any pictures, but the retired owner spent a couple of hours with us explaining the wines and fruits, and then general discussions about living in Nth Qld and the weather.  We came away with a few bottles of wine and port. On the way out of the winery you had to go through this swimming hole, so we stopped for a dip (no crocs here, too far inland).  Great having clothes and towels in the car handy!

The drive from Musgrave to Laura was pretty bad too. I kept getting excited when I saw bitumen but it often didn’t last long. Laura was a morning tea and fuel stop. I’m still fascinated by the large mango trees that just appear in streets and parks.  I’m always trying to savage a couple that have dropped on the ground. Here are some locals doing the same. One happy brown girl! Then the country changed again. Through rolling ranges into Mossman.  Tim just loved this landscape. I probably chose the worst lunch spot yet, at a viewing spot but no shade so it was hot. Another selfie!  With my new cheap sunnies from Bamaga! I couldn’t find my other cheap pair that I bought with me after the ferry trip to Thursday Is, but I know I had them when we got back to the car.  I’m also missing my straw hat but I’m sure it’s squashed somewhere in the car! The WikiCamps app has been fantastic! It’s an iPhone app that people review caravan and camping sites. So as soon as I have mobil...

Memory is fading already....and I didn’t take enough snaps of our stops to remember the nitty gritty of the day. I think the majority was spent holding onto the car handle, the road was terrible, corrugations and dust. Oh that’s right, we stopped in Coen for lunch, more decisions on what we were planing to do, and then on our way again. It took over 2 hours to do 108km to Musgrave. The road was so bad. I’ve had dust control duties. Usually the air is set to outside air circulation, but when a car or truck approaches I have to quickly switch the air to recycled inside air and full fan speed.  After all the dust settled then I need to switch the buttons back. The responsibility! There are “roadhouses” along the Peninsula road which usually have a small shop, fuel, some takeaway food options and an eatery section as well. But then they have these huge green areas to camp on (plus some accomodation our the back).  Nothing like the roadhouses I have seen previously which are usuall...

We both enjoyed our day out on the ferries yesterday, something different in the trip. We drove North 25km to Punsand Bay, a place Tim had heard of that was worth visiting. The bay was nice, but I was in love with the resort there. That is all that is there, no town or anything. You go through the resort to get to the beach, and can camp or stay in cabins or lodges. More expensive, but a great spot if you were happy to hang about and do nothing for a bit. I guess that’s what most resorts are about. Apparently they host a Melb Cup day there when all the station owners from down the Cape come up with their horses and they have a race on the beach. A big to-do for the Cape. Then we started our trip down the Cape. Tim was still keen to try going to Eliot Falls so I grinned through gritted teeth and agreed 😉.  We left the trailer on the side of the road all locked up, put the car bra on and easily made it through the water. What was I worried about!!! The depth was up to Tim’s waist th...