Sapphire and Emu Park

Hi All

The last blog update had us heading for Barcaldine which has the tree of knowledge on the way out of Longreach a very large lizard cross the road it must have been over 2m long because it covered half of the road, did not get picture but had to swerve to miss it.

We had a good look round Barcaldine but could not find a money tree but we did see the tree of knowledge which has been surrounded by a very large wooden cover in which has been built a wooden wind musical instrument. Barcaldine is a clean well laid out lovely little town and were the Union movement was first founded in Australia.

We then made tracks for Sapphire to meet up with Troy, Kasey and the grand kids which Lee is hanging out for (we had a look at the Blue Gem caravan park but it had no shade and it did not have a swimming pool so we headed for Rubyvale to look at the caravan park there but noticed the sign for Sapphire Caravan Park so followed the road up to the caravan park which was on top of a hill and we were blown away with it so we booked us in for a week and the kids in for 4 days.

We all had a great time in this caravan park watching the owner feed the wildlife, the kids watched from the bbq area, which is a excellent area to have a drink and chat.

We did some fossicking at Armfest mine and the kids found some bits of sapphire and other gem stones.

We also did some touring around the general area and dug up some dirt in the creek in Willows gem fields then took them back to the caravan park and washed it but did not find any gems in the dirt.

We were surprised when Noel and Judy came into the Caravan Park for a few days we first met them in Apollo Bay, we caught up with them later for a drink or two and a chin wag, it was good to see them again

We then headed to Emu Park on the coast where we were to meet up with John and Di from Townsville. The grand kids could not believe the size of John & Di Fifth wheeler

The kids left to go to Sydney and we stayed on for a few days more with John and Di.

We then headed to Rockhampton to have a look round the area.

 The Tree of Knowledge 

 Two Trees of Knowledge one whom must be obeyed  

 Having a few drinks with the gang

One of the many statues in the caravan park

       

We are still having a great time 

On the way to Longreach

Hi all

We have left Atheton and decided to head for Longreach to have a look at the Qantas Founders Museum and the Stockman hall of Fame.

We are heading to Hughenden to have a look around to see what is interesting in the town as it is New Years Day! Hughenden was closed we saw the FJ Holden Cafe which is famous for it's hamburgers but it was also closed not to much else to see so heading for Winton and stay over night, and check out the town the next day.

The Caravan Park we picked was a bit of a dive with rubbish bins overflowing and a bit grubby we did not unhitch caravan, we drove around Winton the next morning but again not a lot to see, we whet to the musical fence, checked out where the first Qantas plane landed and filled up the car with fuel.

We headed to Longreach only 175km we checked out a few caravan parks and decided to stay at the family owned and run one which had more trees for shade as it was going to be a hot couple of days in Longreach 41 and 42 but the air con worked OK, so not to bad.

We when to the information centre to pick up maps and info, and were told the Stockman Hall of Fame was closed until February and they were only told that morning (sent email to Stockman Hall of Shame that we were not happy campers)

The Qantas Founders Museum was fantastic, the tour of the 2 Jets was excellent and the lunch was lovely and not to expensive we had a great 5 hours looking around the Museum.

Will be heading to Barcaldine in the morning to check out the Tree of Knowledge (they also might have a Tree of Money here's hoping)

On the Atherton Tables North Queensland

Hi all

We are in Atheton north Queensland and will be here until the 28^th Dec.

There is lots to see around the area and we have already visited Mareeba which is north of Atherton, the information centre at Mareeba has a great museum with lots of local info and history about the area and what was going on in the early years. In the early years there was a Tin mine disaster, where the mine exploded and buried most of the miners.

As you drive back to Atherton you will notice the red earth around the whole area which must be great to grow almost anything.

We did a tour around Lake Tinaroo in the car, The lake was formed to serve the growing agriculture sector in Mareeba and Dimdulah area. There are lots of big Barramundi in the lake but the word is they don't taste very good we had a fish but caught nothing it's best to have a boat and get out in the lake.

We also visited Granite Gorge, Herberton, Yungaburra and Malanda just to name some of the small towns around this area

The caravan park is a Big4 and is a nice park, are not a lot of people in the caravan park at this time of the year which is nice and quite. We have seen most of the water falls around the area, but they could have been much better if the area had some rain.

We have covered a lot of the towns and small villages around the Tablelands which is full of hills, valleys, rivers and creeks and would be great to live here on 5 or 10 acres of land.

 One Loch that feeds the irrigation systems around the tableland

 Between each loch the ground runs down hill to build up a head of water to push up through the next loch

 Lee feeding wallaby's at Granite gorge

 Linesman with no safety belt, only working on Telephone lines (50volt lineman)

 We had to stop at the Peanut shop (the other peanut behind the camera)

 Map of the irrigation system around the Atherton Tablelands

 Lake Tinaroo

 Another view of lake Tinaroo

Toyota built-up to look like a truck very well done

 What are you looking at, I am the boss of this pack

 Old Pub in Yungaburra

 The boss at Zillie Falls

 The highest pub in Queensland in Ravenshoe

Here I am as a to prove I still exist at Ellinjaa Falls

Cooktown Qld

Hi all

Sorry I am late updating our blog, but better late than never.

We have left Palm Cove and and now in Cooktown, the road to Cooktown is a very good road we were surprised

We have been having a good look round Cooktown and the surrounding area, there is a good range of things to see and do.

We have been fishing down on the jetty with locals and there a some Big and I mean a Big Barra under the jetty (it seem they know it's November and they have to be put back) Lee caught a large sucker fish and I have had some good bites and lost my line and today lost the Rod, Reel and line could not get it back, so I know now what I have to get for Christmas other than that we have not caught any fish we could eat but we are getting better at fishing.

On our travels around the area we were told we must got to The Lion Den which is a Pub that has lots of Signature, Hats, Shirts, Money pin on the walls, ceiling doors and any were they can put it, we had lunch here which was ok but nothing to rush back for,

The barmaid is working her way around Australia  and she comes for Liverpool and yes she has a very broad accent which was great to hear out her in the out back.

We are moving down to Atherton on Thursday and staying there for 2 weeks over the Christmas period, we will be doing some fishing in Lake Tinaroo and hopefully we can catch a Barra and keep it this time

We will be thinking of you all over the festive season and we hope you and your family and friends have a great Christmas and a happy New Year

Regards Lee and Jim