Sep 1- Sept  9

We have crossed another border, we are now in Queensland (Qld), we only stayed one night in Mt Isa, our goal was Cairns about, 1,362km. Our journey was via Cloncurry, then along the Burke Developmental Road, The Matilda way.

An alternative route to Cairns would’ve been along the Flinders Hwy to Townsville, the mileage is about the same and you drive up the coast to Cairns. The Overlanders Way.

Our drive from Mt Isa to Cloncurry was beautiful, however I found it a bit stressful as I was driving. It was, a mountainous, winding narrow road. I missed the first stop Mary Kathleen and made sure I didn’t miss the next one which was the Chinaman Creek Dam – it was a beautiful place, we stopped for a BBQ lunch for Father’s Day, and I managed a swim in the dam – we have certainly hit the warmer weather, it was a beautiful sunny 32 degrees, slightly humid. I was pleased Ian took over the driving, his stint of driving wasn’t as hilly the terrain still as stunning. We stopped at the Burke & Wills Roadhouse for a cold drink, we consider camping the night but thought we would continue a bit further and find a free camp – free camping so far hasn’t been as easy to find, and the rest stops in Qld are different, they are little pullover areas on the side of the road – weird.

We found a free camp about 120km out of Normanton – we were near a telephone tower so had a little service, it was intermittent, just enough for Ian to get a call for Father’s Day. I had defrosted some stew for dinner and we played Quirkle again – a nice evening.

Next morning it was Normanton, we stocked up on bread and milk and then drove to Karumba for a few nights – when we arrived, we loved it so much we stayed an extra night. We also realised Qld kids are on school holidays until the beginning of October – so we extended our stay in Cairns, so we didn’t have trouble finding somewhere to stay.

Karumba was delightful, great seafood, however the big downside for me was that you couldn’t go swimming, we were in croc country – the water was so blue and inviting: we pulled down to the boat ramp, I got out and read the sign, and went and dipped my feet in the water, when Ian tooted his horn – I turned around and he pointed to the sign – I went to the car window and asked what was wrong – he said, ‘did you read the sign?’ me – “yes”, Mr C, “did you read the yellow bit” – “what yellow bit” – and in yellow, clearly signed – don’t enter the water, crocodile area” – I just don’t know why I didn’t see that!! I really don’t like being somewhere, where you can’t swim, and the water so inviting….it was torture.

We decided to go on a sunset cruise to experience the Gulf of Carpentaria, where the river Norman meets the ocean. The cruise was full, informative, they served light refreshments and Mr C had a couple of red wines, me, I stuck to fruit juice.  I have a new appreciation for bird lovers, since we have been on our trip around Australia, we have encountered so many different birds, it’s an art to know them all. We saw flocks of Brolgas, it’s the first time I’ve seen them, exciting.

Unfortunately for me I had developed a UTI in Karumba I was self-treating with Ural sachets, cranberry and drinking heaps of water but unfortunately this did not appease my symptoms, it just got worse.

As we passed through Normanton, I noticed a Primary Health Clinic and decide to call in for a prescription of antibiotics – they were super helpful, professional, very thorough – thanks goodness for country health — it’s an issue when you are on the road going to see a new GP and then remembering to follow-up because that’s how it is.  They must be used to seeing grey nomad’s dropping in for one thing or another. I then recalled you can now go to the pharmacist and get a prescription for a UTI, next time – I
double checked with the pharmacist when I picked up my prescription, and he said, ‘most definitely’ – I wonder how it works for the follow-up urine sample and the pharmacist, do they then advise you to see your GP?

Our drive from Karumba to Cairns, via Normanton, Croydon, Georgetown, Mt Surprise, Mount Garnet, Ravenshoe, Atherton, Mareeba then Cairns – was delightful, each town had its own unique imprint, I
wanted to stay longer in each town, but we were on a schedule – it was a historical and scenic drive we had two free night camp nights, one at the old Cumberland Chimney and the second just outside of Cairns at the Rocky Creek War Memorial Park – both places were great, the War Memorial Park was a $5.00 donation for the up-keep of the park.

I drove from Ravenshoe to Atherton (Rocky Creek) and my God what a drive that was – it was spectacularly pretty but for someone who is not an experienced towing heavy loads like a caravan, I found it hair raising.

Atherton is a rural town in the Tablelands Region of Queensland. It is winding narrow mountainous road, and the clouds were low over the top of some of the mountains, it was like driving through fog and to top it off it also rained. It was a tense drive for me, but I was not going to let it beat me, I think Mr C
was very carefully and quietly trying to find the balance in instructing me, as he knows I don’t like being told – we were less than halfway and on one major steep decline on a sharp bend when we noted a low loader with a tracked earthmover had rolled off the road and down the hill, it looked like the trees had stopped its roll. -this did not inspire confidence in me….. BUT I did it, we were in one piece when we got to the bottom – a bit stressed but safe.

Mr C took the morning drive into Cairns, if I thought my road was bad, his was even worse – it was going up the mountain and down the other side. Some of the most winding roads I’ve ever encountered, 12km of winding roads………even Mr C said, “this is the worst I’ve seen – I was just pleased it was his turn to drive. We made it into Cairns safely and was really looking forward to being in one place for three weeks. We are going to explore Nth Queensland….. the rest of the trip is yet to be decided………however we will start the homeward trip soon.

We have to date enjoyed our travels and I have gained so much experience in handling the vehicle, we are getting better at living in confined quarters and surprisingly we have had very few disagreements – that will be a separate blog. I am looking forward to being in one place for three weeks.

Tomorrow will be a shopping day then followed by trip to Fitzroy Island to see part of the Great Barrier Reef, can’t wait.

See you for the next adventure, exploring North Qld.