I know it has been a while but it is just the same old story...Internet - What Internet?
Monday 17th September
Tuesday 18th September
We attempted to leave this morning but Indie had other
ideas……he would not start at all! After
15 minutes of turning ignition keys and getting nothing but a clicking sound in
response, he finally condescended to start up. We drove to two mechanics, two
auto electricians and a battery seller who ruled out fried battery and assured
us all of our batteries (including the house batteries were in fine working
order). The earliest anyone could see us would be the 25th
September. Ron finally got on to a
mechanic who could see us on Thursday.
Wednesday 19th September
I went into town with Ben so he could get some New Guinea
money for his trip which has by the way now been further postponed till 28th
September. I bought myself another frock. This one is dyed in shades of dark blue
and rust with a few other colours thrown in for good measure.
Thursday 20th September
We took Indie to the mechanic. They finally rang us back
late in the afternoon to tell us we need a new starter motor. It is so
annoying; we were sooooooooo spoilt with Arlo. Every time we turn around Indie
needs something and if that’s not bad enough, everything takes several weeks to
do!!!!! We have to take Indie in on Monday now to get the work done.
Friday 21st September
Today Ron and I went to the movies and saw ‘The Watch’.
It was quite good. I enjoyed it. It wasn’t uproariously funny; it had a few
good one – liners and an average story line; one for a Sunday afternoon on
video.
Saturday 22nd September
We spent the day at home. Ron and I took Dollar for a
walk and wore him out.
Sunday 23rd September
Mainly, we stayed home. Ron and I went to Willows Shopping
Centre and bought a thermos flask. Ben, Ron and I took Dollar for a walk.
Monday 24th September
I finished knitting my little rabbit (that I started
yesterday) for my new grandson.
We started packing to leave tomorrow and said good bye to
Anita.
Tuesday 25th September
Dollar ate my shoe!!!!!!!! I could not believe it…..the
first time I have left anything in the lounge room. He also demolished a roll
of toilet paper…..bad dog!!!
Anita had witnessed the scene of the crime and gone to
work. By the time we had found the evidence, too much time had elapsed to
punish him. I think he picked up on the vibe of our displeasure though because
he adopted that ‘sad puppy dog eyes’ look and skulked about looking quite
remorseful.
Ron and Ben and I went off to Maccas for breakfast and
then we bought a Jerry Can for Indie and filled it up with diesel and new shoes
for me.
We were headed back to Ben’s so we could leave when I
suddenly realised that the mechanic had not returned our warranty book. I
walked into the office and he handed it to me straight away without my having
to ask and said ‘yeah, I realised as soon as you left yesterday that I forgot
to give it back.’ I said that it was just as well I remembered or we could have
been half way to Darwin and he just laughed……like, would it have killed him to
ring me yesterday and tell me?!@#$% Why is it when everyone is so plugged in
and wired up to face book, twitter and all this social media rubbish that no
one can make a simple phone call or display any kind of good manners? OK, soap
box finished for today!!!!!
We did finally leave Ben’s at around elevenish and headed
north.
Rollingstone to Ravenshoe
Tuesday 25th September
Luckily for us, the only Crocs in the water were our shoes!!!!
Wednesday 26th September
Just think, three months from now, Christmas will be
over!!!!
After a really hot night, we woke to a really hot
morning. Summer is a-coming! We left Rollingstone early and drove through to
Innisfail where we stopped for provisions and lunch in the park. Then we headed
up through the Atherton Tablelands again and turned west to Ravenshoe –
Queensland’s highest town (according to the sign).
We arrived at (236) Archer Creek Rest Area at about 3.30pm and set up
camp. It was still unbelievably hot so we went for a walk to the creek and
decided to take the plunge – literally – our first swim
Thursday 27th September
We filled the bucket with creek water to do our load of
washing and waved adieu to Archer Creek and sallied forth on our next
adventure.
Not more than a few minutes down the road we arrived at
Innott Hot Springs. There was a van park that contained several hot and cold
swimming pools but we opted to swim in the creek that fed them.
Unreal…….soooooooooooo lovely and warm. Now we have
experienced the real deal in hot and cold running water!!!!!!!
We stopped at Mt Surprise for lunch and drove Indie through the roadside
washdown facility to get all the weed seeds off him
We
drove on through Georgetown and finally camped at (249) Cumberland Mine
Historic Site complete with chimney and billabong (but no water or toilet –
just as well we are self contained!!!).
The chimney is apparently all that is left of the gold
crushing plant built by Cornish masons and the billabong is full of all kinds
of birds and water lilies. There were also hundreds of termite mounds. We went
for a bit of a walk around the water’s edge after I hung out the washing and
then again on sunset.
It was incredibly hot and totally still. There was no
respite at all until about 8.45 pm. We were not actually next to the water but
over the hill in a semi-shaded area.
Friday 28th September
Towards mid-morning, Ron and I set off to see if we could
circumnavigate the billabong. Turns out we could…..we saw so many lovely birds,
even two Brolgas and a Jabiru.
We watched Farmer Browns cows watching us from the safety of the other
side of the fence, only to find out when they started running at quite a fast
pace that we were all on the same side of the fence. Fortunately they were
running away from, not towards us!!!!
As we completed our trek, we met David and Val who had
just pulled in and were deciding whether to stay or not. They were from Reedy
Creek and we chatted on for ages. They were camped on the other side of the
hill next to the water.
Well, the best laid plans of mice and men…..the lovely
breeze we were enjoying and the reason we stayed, suddenly stopped dead at
about 3.00pm (which is about the time we arrived yesterday.)
We were very hot again today and spent most of our rest
day doing exactly that. It was so hot Ronnie even found his Sulu (that we
bought on our honeymoon in Fiji) and wore that around for half the day.
We sweltered through and waited for the cool breeze which
did not eventuate and as we sat watching for satellites David and Val popped by
for a chat.
The breeze finally arrived around midnight.
Saturday 29th September
David and Val called round this morning to say good bye
and we headed off to Croydon. It is imperative that we find television
reception for the Footy Grand Final on Sunday. The Bulldogs are playing!!!!
We arrived at Croydon about lunchtime and booked in to
the Caravan Park. It is a Council Park, $30.00 for a powered site and Ron can
get TV. (Woohoo!)
I washed our sheets and a few odds and sods and hung them
out and we ate lunch and then went for a swim in the pool. We are now three for
three (three days, three swims).
Later, I spoke to another camper, Shirley and she invited
Ron and me over for Sun Downers with her and her hubby, Peter.
In the afternoon, I took a walk down to the pub. The AFL
grand final was in full swing and there were about a dozen or so people, locals
and visitors all watching and cheering. It was actually quite a nice atmosphere.
I spoke to a family from our caravan park and the young daughter (about 8 I suppose)
offered me her Hawks scarf when she found out I didn’t barrack for either team.
We had a big downpour at about three o’clock but it
stopped again so we went over for a drink and ended up staying till 8.30. They
are a really lovely couple. They used to own a seafood business in Tully and
after they sold up, travelled quite a
lot and usually work in fruit packing sheds for about three months to get the
money to travel the other nine.
So after a late dinner it was off to bed until the storm
hit in the wee small hours. There was a bit of thunder and lightning and fairly
heavy rain but it was over in a short time.
Sunday 30th September
The day has dawned brightly for Ronnie; he has really
good TV reception and although the big game does not start till 5.15pm the
preamble starts at about 10.00am so he is firmly ensconced in front of the
telly never to move till tea time.
I was walking back from the office when the little girl
with the Hawks scarf from yesterday sang out and gave me three magazines from
her Mum. They were off today – heading to Darwin and down the west and back to
Victoria by the end of January, early February.
I read the Women’s Day and did a couple of crosswords. It
is beaut sitting under our new awning – lovely cool breeze blowing through.
Hunger drove Ronnie out for a moment and we decided on
take aways from the shop across the road – Chico Rolls and Coke – Real footy
food.
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