My Adventures – Into the East.

Alice to Mt Isa – a long haul. Particularly after hitting the border of NT and Queensland where the speed limit changes from 130kmh to 110kmh. Took about 11 and a half hours. Lovely countryside around the Barkley Tablelands – flat, with a clear view away to the horizon. Checked into the Discovery Parks Argylla Caravan Park – very nice, large sites and excellent amenities. It is very close to the main highway and trucks tend to use their air breaks quite freely coming into the city, just as well I remembered my ear plugs. Must admit I crashed hard and slept like a baby (no, not awake every 4 hours hoping for a suck on a breast, but sleeping right through!!).

Mount Isa came into existence because of the vast mineral deposits found in the area. Mount Isa Mines (MIM) is one of the most productive single mines in world history, based on combined production of lead, silver, copper and zinc. Due to the lead production in the city, Mount Isa has one of the most intensive air quality monitoring systems in Australia. Concerns have been raised over childhood lead contamination and air pollution within the city, with a 2008 study indicating 10 % of children in Mt Isa had blood lead levels above the WHO recommended levels. The Mount Isa Mines (MIM) in particular are a source of significant lead pollution.

Next day saw BDOB head to Hughenden. About a six hour drive, due to some road damage caused by recent heavy rains in the area. Booked into the Hughenden Allen Terry Caravan Park – great find. Awesome big sites, sensational amenities and really cheap! ($15 for a powered tent site!). Had a look at he the Flinders Discovery Centre. This is a cool place with a great collection of prehistoric fossils – with many of the “local” Australian dinosaurs represented. It also has displays showcasing the flora and fauna of the area as well as the rise and fall of the sheep industry in the area. Well worth a visit.

A short 45 minute drive took me to Porcupine Gorge (on the recommendation of a local). So glad I went! Amazing spot – the gorge lookout was the perfect place for a magnificent view of the gorge. An easy walk found the Pyramid which was really interesting! Not sure how this curious landmark was formed, it looks man made from the naked eye.

From Hughenden I was going to take the back roads (through Lyndhurst and the Atherton Tablelands), but was informed by a fellow traveller I had a couple of wines with at the CP that the road was closed due to flood damage. Thankfully his information was correct and he saved me some serious unnecessary travel – would have got about four hours in and then had to turn back. So my journey to Cairns now took me through Townsville and up the coast (going from a 6 hour to an 8 1/2 hour trip). I could see why some of the roads in the area had been damaged. The water on the side of the road was everywhere and had caused significant damage to even the “open” road I travelled on. Did stop at a winery – no surprise say most of the readers, but a winery between Townsville and Cairns? Yep – Murdering Point Exotic Fruit Winery. Spent a seriously pleasant hour tasting their wares and chatting to the owner. Their range of wine, port and creams is so very yummy. Bought some mango wine, vanilla port and some mint chocolate cream. Might need to arrange a get together with some friends when I get back to share the delectable loot that I have collected in my travels. Anyway, got to Cairns – checked into the Cherry Tree Inn. The hotel was awesome, good room, great service, centrally located. Had a nice seafood dinner at Fishpoint, only a block from The Esplanade. Yummy fresh seafood with a delicious selection of salads.

Next day saw me head into the Cairns CBD for my weekly barber visit. Spence St Barbers did an awesome job – not a wet shave but a very close one. Had a massage – a Thai one, which I haven’t had for ages. Having someone walk all over my back, although a bit weird, certainly helped to work on those aching muscles from the long haul driving. Ninety minutes just flew by.

Now I hadn’t intended going any further North (although at one stage I was contemplating going to Cape York – but that was just in the too hard basket). However, my Work Wife (long time Assistant Principal at two schools) was in Port Douglas and we decided we couldn’t be this close to each other, so far from home, and not catch up (plus she needed a lift into Cairns to catch her plane – the real reason I reckon for catching up, BDOB Uber service). So, after some lunch went to Port Douglas – what a spectacular drive, simply stunning.

Had a quick wine catch up with Work Wife (sorry – Natalee). We caught each other up with what’s happened in the past 5 months – tried not to talk work, but failed epically!

Cocktails at The Tin Shed watching the sun go down and all the tour boats return. Really nice selection of cocktails, lovely views ….. oh, and ok company, NV! Then off to Jimmy Rum’s Mixing Bar for a few more drinks, before dinner at Zinc Port Douglas – wow, the food was amazing.

Next day saw NV not well. Had breakfast at the marina – Lure Restaurant and Bar. Mmmm, yummy! Then headed to Cairns – had a quick leadership meeting of the four principal class of APS via phone in the car during the trip – weird. Before getting into Cairns about lunchtime – co-driver now really not well. Went to Cairns Central for some air conditioning, retail therapy and lunch. Seemed to help a bit – wandered about, strange shopping with a work colleague! Had a table booked for tea at CC’s Bar and Grill – holy s**t the food, wine and service here was stunning – very fancy. Got my offsider on the plane – back to my hotel room, wrecked. Next morning – message from her, COVID!

Four hour drive to Townsville the next day took more like six hours, the roadworks were crazy! Arrived successfully at Big 4 Ingenia Holiday Park. Started to set my tent up when – BANG – thought I was being shot at by a sniper. Nope, just a busted tent. The compressed air valve that holds the tent together have given way. Thankfully BCF were only two minutes down the road. Took the carcass of my old tent down there, explained the situation – they were awesome, being a club member meant the details of the tent’s purchase were on the system, within five minutes I had a brand new tent! No COVID symptoms yet – fingers and toes crossed.

Slept really well. Good tent I reckon! Went into Townsville CBD to the Cotters Market – a mixture of craft, food and eating options. Was really nice to stroll around n the tropical sunshine. Some quite talented people in Townsville, could have bought quite a bit, ended up buying nothing! Walked along The Strand – a really well done walking, beach, water park area – very relaxing!

Visited the Townsville Botanic Gardens – The Palmetum. Has a great collection of rare and endangered tropical plants, as well as some lovely water features, shaded areas and walkways.

Back to CP – still no COVID symptoms.

Monday saw me head to Mackay! Wow – talk about a tedious drive. Supposed to take just over four hours, ended up taking close to six. Endless roadworks, w**ker drivers – like pulling teeth. Thankfully the Blacks Beach Big 4 Caravan Park is a little ripper. Awesome sites, great amenities, walk to the beach front. Very nice. Had a delicious steak at the Blacks Beach Tavern – with maybe a couple of delicious James Squires Ginger Beers. Got my steps up by walking there and back though – surely that’s something? Video chat with a couple of lunatics from work (miss you Fordy and Liz 😘 – well Liz anyway!!). Slept heavy.

Spent Tuesday at the beach – lazing about about. Bit of blogging. Planning the home run. Some reading. May even have succumbed to a Nanna Nap (and yes – remember I do qualify for the old grandparent afternoon snooze). Felt relaxed after my laziest day in a very long time. Reckon I would have moved no more than 200 m from my tent all day – loved it. Good spot Blacks Beach, Mackay!

Wednesday saw me take off for Gladstone – Tannun Sands to be precise. Noticed a couple of my tyre looked a little worse for wear – note to self, get the looked at. Oh, my goodness (stole from you Nicki) – the drive was horrendous. Due to the unseasonal rain here over the past month there was SIGNIFICANT damage to the roads – what should have been a 4 and a bit hour drive took over six. A flat tyre 30 km from Gladstone didn’t help (BDOB under a car next to a railway line getting honked humorously by a train – not good for the heart). Anyway – the lovely people at Bridgestone Gladstone organised some replacement tyres – coming from Brisbane on Friday. Drove slowly and carefully (and spare wheel free) to the Discovery Tannum Sands Caravan Park – right in the beach, good sights, sweet amenities.

Thursday saw me not keen to drive. Did some laundry (woohoo), went for a long, long walk along the Millenium Esplanade. What a great resource for the local community and visitors. An extensive stretch of coast that has been developed into a simply amazing walking, riding experience. Beautifully manicured paths are punctuated by awesome beaches (a patrolled one for families), playgrounds, BBQ areas, shaded picnic spots. Spent a few hours wondering along – taking in the views and lovely surroundings. Very popular as there were heaps of people out and about – BDOB included.

Off to Noosa tomorrow – after getting some new wheels. Really hoping the GWOTN hasn’t been tipped off.

Gonna catch up with some good mates in Brisbane Saturday – Wednesday (one of them may be taking three days leave)! If you don’t hear from me again, my liver clearly gave up on me. If I survive, you’ll hear from me soon. Looks like I dodged the COVID bullet! Phew!!

Til next time – hopefully!!

Now, the music I have been listening to. Well, that’s a good question. My initial navigator and I in Tasmania we’re shocked to see I had over 9000 songs saved to the cloud – the beauty of being on the where I am on my journey is that I am always “in service”. So I went shuffle all songs and am up to about song 620 since being on the East Coast. Not gonna list them – but boy do I have an eclectic palate?