2WD drive around oz

Turning 60 in heaven. 14-7-2010.

We arrived in heaven, AKA, Innot Hot Springs, on Monday evening and decided to stay Tuesday and then thought there could be no better place to spend my 60^th birthday than in the hot mineral pools where no pain exists.

We had shot through this one donkey town once before, (no self respecting horse within miles of here), and not bothered to stop, as the spring seemed to consist of one puddle of steam in the creek about 100 metres from the highway. This time, however, we discovered that the caravan park has captured the hot spring water in six pools of varying temperatures from 32 degrees to 45 degrees. The 38 degree pool is just perfect for me.

This is not exactly your 5 star resort spa. I’d have guessed one star, but a check in the NRMA Guide has it as a non-rated van park. The accompanying photos of the Camp Kitchen will illustrate why that is the case.

Nevertheless, it is run by delightful people and its saving graces, besides the hot pools, are the peaceful position,  the wonderful bird life (see the picture of the parrots I have been unable to identify in my Aust Bird Field Guide) and the Pub across the creek that serves great meals in the evening. Last night we had a $14 lamb roast, a huge helping of tender meat and nine vegetables and enough in the doggie bag for both of us for breakfast.

This morning when I woke up, there was a bottle of Moet and chocolates from Ngaire on the table and a card from the Kenthurst girls with a voucher for the honeymoon re-enactment at Granny’s Cottage. What a fabulous gift! Thank you so very much Claudette, Di, Rosie, Pam, Robyn, Robin Cheryl and Merelyn. I think we will need another holiday after this holiday.

Thank you too Neryl and Alan for your birthday wishes. Port Augusta doesn’t sound very appealing at the moment. Hope the weather has improved by the time you reach Adelaide and all goes well with Zoe and her new bub.

There is no internet here, but I was able to contact Ngaire and James this morning, on the Telstra phone, when I walked up a nearby hill.

We have had quite a few adventures since I wrote the last blog, but the highlight for me was Cooktown. The Botanical Gardens and James Cook Museum were outstanding, but the Guurrbi, Rainbow Serpent Tour we took to the lands of The Hopevale Aboriginal Community, was exceptional. The guide, Willie Gordon had a profound knowledge of the area and its flora and fauna as well as of the significance of the rock art of the area, which decorated the roofs and walls of very difficult to find caves. As we climbed between sheer walls of sandstone, I half expected to hear someone call plaintively, “Miranda, Miranda.”

The most recent art in this area dates from the 1930’s and so has some comments on European contact. A six-year-old boy called Darcy, who was on the tour with his family, was good value. He asked lots of questions, but most of all wanted to try a witchetty grub. At the end of the tour, Willie finally gave in, found a couple of grubs and cooked them for him. He, Willie, said “one two three” and popped one in his own mouth but Darcy prevaricated until egged on by the entire group. I wish I had captured his expression right before he spat it out.

            We returned to the coast via the inland road and Mt Malloy, (a freebee overnight stop with about 100 others) then to Mossman Gorge and Daintree Village,  where we took a one hour river cruise on The Daintree River and saw one fairly large croc, a few birds and some bats. Very enjoyable, but certainly not the abundant wildlife we saw on The Territory cruises.

            We spent Sunday in Port Douglas and I had a great time at the fabulous markets there. Bought a new sundress, beautiful fruit and veg, and just near-by, one kg of prawns for $10. Have just had some for our birthday lunch.

           In Cairns we called in too see Ngaire’s friend Karen, then went to the Cairns night markets. We had intended spending the night on a green patch just opposite Karen’s house, but we missed the turn-off on the way back so pulled off the road a few kilometres north. By then it was dark and we thought we had a nice quite spot off the highway, but not only did it turn out to be a fairly busy road, we were right beside a railway line and directly under the flight path to Cairns airport, so it was planes, trains and automobiles till midnight. When the planes began again at 6.am, we packed up and drove to Trinity Beach where we had our breakfast as the sun came up over the ocean. It was at this point that we turned our backs on our wonderful east coast and all its spectacular beaches and headed inland. First stop was Kuranda, about my fifth visit, but I never tire of it, then on to our present spot.

            We have learnt a lot about the road ahead just by sitting around in the hot pools. All the travellers talk about their adventures and it is good to pick up first hand information on road conditions and what is “not to be missed,” and what is not worth the effort. Cobbold Gorge and Lawn Hill are the two places that are repeatedly praised and of course, Undara Lava Tubes, but we have already been there.

            I chatted to a couple who are “Doin the block” by motorbike. They told me they had met an elderly couple, he 80, she in her 70’s who are going right round Aus on incumbent bikes. They did it 17 years ago and are now repeating the feat. This push-bike couple said they had met a station owner who had invited them for a meal, but when they found it was 100km from the front gate to the homestead, they declined. Even with all the comforts of our motorhome, I can’t see us doing this again in our 80’s. What whimps we are!

Hello Emily, James, Zali, Lachlan and Koby,

This boat with all the children aboard is in a park in Cooktown. It’s a musical boat, full of all different types of xylophones. All you have to do is pick up a stick and play a tune. All of these children are making music.

The little boy at the Mossman Markets is a budding entrepreneur.