Mt Surprise to Borroloola via Lawn Hill

Hello All
After leaving the wet weather behind on the Atherton Tablelands it has been blue skies ever since.
I have covered Croydon and Undarra Lave tubes in my last trip through this area 2 years ago, so this time I just skipped through.
Between Croydon and Normanton I spied the Gulflander loping along. It travels from Normanton to Croydon one day and returns the next.

 After a couple of nights at Karumba, doing laundry and catching up with some chores I headed off to spend the night at Leichhart Falls. There is something magical about this place, camped on the rocky cliffs overlooking the falls.

The night was cool watching the sun go down, but then the insects arrived.....................

Leichhart Falls

The Gulflander

sunset at Leichhart Falls

 There were probably 15 other camp there............solitude is becoming difficult to find in the outback.

Sunset at Leichhart Falls

 From Leichhart it was a straight run into Burketown...................and guess what? the best bakery in Australia was closed..................damn.

From there it was to the free camp under the bridge on the Gregory river with about 80 of my closest friends ........................

Before heading out to Adels Grove.........................hmmmm. 
Warning..................I am about to have a whinge.

Adels Grove.............overpriced and underwelming at $18 per night unpowered per person I at least expect to be able to get wet in the showers................if more than 1 person was showering there wasn't enough water to wash the soap off. Not good enough Adels.
Which leads me to another gripe....................Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service your booking system SUCKS.
People don't know what day they are arriving so 'block book @ $5.95 a night'
This means I don't know what day I will be there, so for $25 I will book 5 nights but only intend to stay one or two.
You then go to book and the Lawn Hill Campground is booked out. The Campground is booked solid for the next two weeks but today there were 8 vacant campsites.
QPWS your system is broken and doesn't work.

Lawn Hill

With Lawn Hill being such a beautiful place it is such a shame we only have 2 choices for accommodation. Get ripped off or stuffed around.

Lawn Hill

 After Lawn Hill it was a run up the back road to Doomagee to do some shopping.

With an overnight at Hells Gate Roadhouse. I missed a bit of excitement here by a couple of days.

This is what happens when the brakes on your low loader catch fire.

The story goes, that the truckie jumped from his cab in the panic and broke both his ankles in the process, but still managed up unhook the prime mover.

 He them apparently managed to get back in his rig and drive 17km back to Hells Gate with the rear Bogie still on fire.

This guy must be some sort of Superhero is this is correct. 
I am now at Borroloola and start my journey towards Roper Bar tomorrow.
Bye for now.

Lakeland and Atherton Tablelands to Mount Surprise

Hello all
I repeat my statement from the last post...............AAhhhhh Queensland beautiful one day rain for the next eight days.....................
Since my last post it has rained in some form nearly every day.
After leaving Lakeland I headed down the hill to Cairns to Vote as I have no idea where I will be on Election day.
The upshot from all this is I did find a gem of a place to hang, for a few days while trying to shake off a dose of the Flu.

Granite Gorge

 I have stayed at the Rodeo grounds at Mareeba several times over the years $18/night powered site but have found it not very friendly and pretty barren and windswept.
Granite Gorge is 12km out of town, excellent TV and phone reception, views over the countryside good amenities and friendly all for $16 per night powered site.

rock wallabies at Granite Gorge

 On top of this there were semi tame Rock Wallabies everywhere, Geese, Chooks and Peacocks..........a great place for kids.

Rock Wallaby at Granite Gorge

Granite Gorge

I enjoyed my few days there while recuperating from my Flu.

Granite Gorge

 With the weather being unkind I didn't get a lot of photo opportunities without fog or rain.

Millaa Millaa Falls

 As I descended the Western side of the Atherton Tablelands the skies cleared to beautiful sunshine, the first I had seen in over a week.

I have now started my trek across the Gulf Country away from the maddening crowds of school holidays.
Bye for now.

Cairns, Cooktown, Lakefield to Lakeland

Hello all
After a couple of days in Cairns I headed further North. 
First stop was the lovely Ellis Beach

Ellis Beach

 After here things went a little downhill.........Port Douglas.....a Beer destination on a Champagne budget. A pretty average place, surrounded by mangroves, a pretty average beach and prices that well exceed it's value. I was quoted $42 per night for a unpowered site and $52 for a powered site in a fairly average caravan park in town. A Motel room in Cairns can be had for $55 per night!!
 Congratulations Port Douglas you have been added to my "never to return list" alongside Bowen and Batemans Bay. These places with their "rip you off attitude" will never receive a cent of my dollar. Bypass Bypass Bypass.............

Ellis Beach

 Once past Port Douglas the rain started.............AHHH Queensland beautiful one day rain for the next three!

 there were showers nearly all the way to Cape Tribulation.

 It was a horrible night at Cape Tribulation with the overnight temperature only dropping to 25c accompanied by wind and rain, making for an uncomfortable nights sleep.

crossing on the Daintree Ferry

Cape Tribulation

The trek over The Bloomfield Track was made a lot easier since my first trip 2 years ago. Several new bridges and quite a few kilometres of tar saw to this.

Next stop was Cooktown, wher Captain James Cook beached his ship Endeavour for repairs in 1770 after damaging it on the reef.

Cooktown from Grassy Hill Lookout

 Strong wind and heavy showers followed me to Cooktown and another rough night.

Endeavour River Cooktown

 As I headed along Battlecamp Road towards Old Laura Homestead I witnessed this Months Stupidity Award attempt.
4 Backpackers in a two wheel drive Apollo Hiace Camper (3 seater) 100km along a rough road, having already done 2 river crossings on the Laura River and were approaching the Normanby River Crossing. this crossing 50 metres wide and 45cm deep and no place for a petrol two wheel drive Hiace........I have hired one of these in the past and the Contract states you are not to travel more than 500 metres along a gravel road to access a camp or caravan park...............500 metres.............100 kilometres close enough.
I flagged them down to warn them of the upcoming river crossing but they just shrugged their shoulders and continued......

Old Laura Homestead

From Lakeland I plan on heading to the Atherton Tablelands away from the humidity of the coast and possibly across the Savannah Way to Darwin.

My dirty Ute and Camper at Old Laura

Bye for now

Hervey Bay to Cairns

Hello all
I have been pretty slack since leaving Hervey Bay with the blog, so sorry
I have just been in transit mode up the coast stopping a few days here and there and also neglecting my camera.

 A few days were spent at Yeppoon and Airlie Beach on the way up the coast. I also managed to avoid that massive East Coast low which hammered from The Sunshine Coast down to Tasmania.
All I had was 5mm overnight at Home Hill, with most days about 30c and glorious sunshine.
From Cairns my plan is to take the beautiful drive along past Ellis Beach to Port Douglas  and on to The Daintree. 
From there over The Bloomfield Track to Cooktown and spend a bit of time around Lakefield National Park.
Stay tuned.......
Bye for now