Home

Like Dorothy, we put on our red shoes,  tapped our feet together 3 times, saying "there's no place like home, there's no place like home........." then here we are back in Goolwa.
Oops thats not quite true.
From Lawn Hill we drove down to the Barkley Highway then across to the Stuart Highway near Tenent Creek.
We spent a few nights at the "Devils Marbles". I loved camping here. The colours in the rocks are a beautiful red, the landscape is vast and undulating and dingo's roam around.
The Devil had a lot more Marbles than I thought too. The area feels very Australian. Dry,orange dirt low gums, native scrub and the big red rocks that you can wander around on and through.
Next camp was at Ellery Big Hole, in the West MacDonnell Ranges, near Alice Springs. The weather was still lovely and warm but one of the driest periods on record. Previously we loved this area. This trip we found it very dusty and quite barren. The Rangers had been burning off alot, contributing to the dusty,  smokey feel of the region. On our last day there after putting up with them burning all around our camp for the previous 2 days, a ranger informed us that the next day was to be a " fire ban so we were not to have a camp fire". Funny! we had no intention of having a fire and the hills around us were a blaze still and the wind was whipping ash and embers around the van.
Next camp was roadside at the NT/SA border and then onto Mambray Creek for about 5 days.
Mount Remarkable National Park was lovely and lush. It is a favourite of ours, with the massive Red Gums, birds, walks and great amenities.
Mum and Dad's place was next stop, followed by Karlies then Goolwa. It is so lovely to see my family again after 8 months. I had started to really miss every one. Phone calls are not the same as a hug and long chat over a meal. We made it back in time to see Ashley sky dive from 14000 ft, from a perfectly safe aircraft on her birthday.
Awesome Ash!
After 16000 km and 8 months, Garry, Tweety and I, are back home from our fantastic trip. We didn't even need to stay in any caravan parks.
So know we spend time with family and friends until the end of the grain harvest.
Now it's time to plan for the next stage of our adventure.

Lawn Hill

Wow! This is for me the most beautiful place yet. After lots of arid dusty K's you arrive at the most beautiful oasis. The camp ground is dry native vegetation but the creek is where it blows you away. The national park amenities are good too. Flushing loos and cold showers, rubbish area and plenty of taps. It even has a phone signal and the whole area is well maintained.
Down at the river the water is emerald green with massive old paperbarks, pandanas, palms and gums. They have four swimming platforms with ladders along the creek.
From the swimming hole you can see the high red cliffs of the gorge.
We have really loved kayaking between these cliffs up the creek.
There are smalls pretty waterfalls about half way along. You can swim here and get the kayak out to bypass the falls and continue on for the rest of the gorge.
On this second stage we saw a fresh water croc that was about 2.5 meters long and a good size turtle.
At the end there are several small waterfalls and a little beach.
Words and photos don't do this place justice. I'm glad we managed to get 6 days here. The temperature each day has been in the mid 30's, the water is a pleasant temperature too.
Lots of walking trails to explore also.
On the way here we spent the night at Gregory Downs.( Named after my wonderful brother.) We camped down by the fast flowing creek with heaps of other nomads.
It was a lovely spot to cool off. Lots of big shady old trees and very clear water. It was fun getting washed down the creek with the flow. This is another place I would love to return to.
Bye for now.

Savannah Way.

Hi again. After leaving Lake Tinaroo we have been travelling along the Savannah Way. We stopped in and stretched our legs at the lovely and wide Millstream Falls. This area was a historic military base too.
As we continued along the Way the landscape gradually changed. It became less hills and dryer the further we travelled. Most of the road was a good single lane bitumen surface with heaps of annoying road works. The landscape was undulating red soil and rocks with heaps of termite mounds. The vegetation mainly, short to medium height gums and acacias with long dry grass. Cattle,roos, tourists and roadtrains were all frequently seen. The roadtrains come towards you flat out and don't move over at all. They stay on the skinny strip of bitumen while the cars have to get off onto the dirt. All other vehicles coming head on, each drop a tyre off the black.
The area is remote, hot and strangely beautiful in it's ruggedness. The dryness takes a bit of getting use to again, after being in the rainforest.
We set up camp at Gilbert River, spending the next day taking advantage of water and sunshine by doing our washing. We enjoyed a splash and cool off in the shallows under the bridge. The temperature was in the high 30's.
The next day we drove through flater but similar terrain via Normanton and then out toward Kurumba. We found a good free camp out on this road, on the Walker River. Lovely large ghost gums and a deep creek. Looked like croc country, so we kept out of the water.
Next day went to Kurumba. The area is flat, hot and dry, with hardly any trees apart from mangroves. There were heaps of Brolga's and some Royal Spoonbills. I liked Karumba, the ocean was very calm and a really beautiful aqua colour. We dropped a line in at the boat ramp pontoon but apparently no one has been catching much apart from catfish and grunters lately. It was lovely just being there enjoying the sunshine, breeze and pretty coloured water.
Tweety flew out the window at lunchtime, to see some large green parrots in a nearby tree. They weren't as friendly as Tweety wished. We could see a brown hawk over head too. Tweet was calling from a tree about 30 feet up, then flew down and landed on Garrys arm.
The public toilets had free hot showers that we enjoyed. That night we camped further along the Savannah Way at Little Bynoe River. A beautiful spot with river views and lots of roos and bird life. It is close to Burke and Wills last camp.
The road from here became red dirt corrigation. The air vent in the van roof lifted and filled all of our worldly goods with dark red dust. It was worth having the poo shaken out of everything though. Leichhardt River Falls is a beautiful area. Rocky sandstone riverbed with numerous beautiful pools of water. The landscape dropped away to form several waterfalls. The geography shows clearly the power of the water in the wet. I wandered around, loving
the colours, heat and tranquility of this place. The only draw backs were crocs and a dead pongy bullock in the scrub. It was even warm enough in the evening to shower under the stars, with a bucket of warm water and cup.
On the road to Burketown, then Gregory River tonight. On our way to Lawn Hill.
Hope all is ok at home. Heading south from here via Tennant Creek Alice Spring.

Waterfalls, Lakes and Gorges.

Hi all. We have spent the last couple of weeks in the most beautiful places.
From Innisfail we headed inland and saw heaps of lovely waterfalls and rainforest. We camped at Henrietta campground in Wooroonooran National Park. The forest was fantastic. Undamaged by Yasi for a change.
We have lost count of how many waterfalls we saw but they were all beautiful.
From here we went to Lake Tinaroo in Danbulla National Park. This area was so peaceful. We camped in Kauri Creek, an area ideal for kayaking. Glassy water surrounded by forest. We managed to get some more Redclaw and enjoyed exploring this beautiful dam.
Had a couple of great day trips from here too. We enjoyed the Cathederal Fig tree and the Crater lakes. On another trip we explored Barron Falls and Karanda. Then onto Port Douglas and Mossman via Cairns.
Mossman Gorge was beautiful but we had to enter on a short bus trip.
The gorge was spectacular with rainforest, fast flowing crystal clear water that looked luminous as it caught the sunlight. The water flowed over large boulders. There were several deep swimming holes but we forgot our togs and the water was icy cold. Had a fantastic time though.
We have loved this area but from here we are heading towards home via Lawn Hill and The Alice.
Cape York will have to wait until we have more time next trip. There are a few chores that need to be done in Goolwa before grain carting starts.
Well bye for now. Looking forward to seeing everyone in a couple of thousand k's. Xxxxx.

Murray Falls, Tully Gorge and Mission Beach.

Howdy. Garry and I are now camped at Murray  Falls. It is a good camp at a really lovely large waterfall. The swimming hole is pretty, with fast flowing, clear, cold water. There are alot of granite boulders along the river.
Yesterday Garry changed the oil in the Navara. We hid down a side track near a cane train track, amongst the sugar cane. We then had our fingers crossed that the old hot oil wouldn' t melt the plastic milk bottles. It worked out well.
We went for a drive to Mission Beach today. It was as lovely as I remembered it. White sand, palm trees and Dunk Island off shore.
Then we went up Tully Gorge. It was really beautiful. Fast flowing white water of Tully River between rainforest covered hills. Tully has banana and sugar cane plantations every where. Such a beautiful area with clear skys at last. Nice and warm.
Bye for now. Xx

Broadwater National Park.

G'day. We are now at a lovely large park, at the bottom of the mountains, inland from Ingham. On the way in were shocked by the damage from cyclone Yasi. The forest had been ripped to pieces. Thousands of trees just snapped off.
The camp is a really pretty, peaceful spot that has a nice deep swimming spot, in the rocky creek. The rainforest is lovely. We are starting to see a lot of palm trees and unusual plants that are not familiar to me. Heaps of ferns and plants with very large leaves. The birdlife is also fantastic but unusual.
We have seen quite a few Ulysses butterflies now. They are awesome. They have the most amazing irridecent electric blue coloured wings. Garry found a Cassowary this morning.
The weather has been lovely recently. A balmy 20 ~25 degrees most days with cold nights.
This camp is not near any shops so I have been baking bread in the fire, using the camp oven Greg gave me.
Garry is happy with his new Genny.
It works well, is fuel efficent and fairly quiet. We new if he got one the sun would shine for the solar panel.
The next place we are camping is Murray Falls. I'm looking forward to checking out the coast between here and Cairns too.
Lots of love to all. I'm a bit home sick. Xxxx

Big Crystal.

Hi. Have been at Alligator Creek and now at Big Crystal Creek in the Paluma Range. Loved Townsville. A really beautiful park with pools and waterfall along the beach front.
2 km from camp there is a rock slide area down waterfall /creek. Fantastic fun and not too cold. The weather is warming up at last.
Parks are good too. Paradise waterhole is 100 meters from camp. It is very pretty but the water is deep and cold.
Brian has been at the same camps, so it's been good to share a few meals and good company.
Garry has got us a 20i Honda generator. It will be very handy for when we have cloudy weather.
Garry fell off a picnic table a few days ago but didn't injure himself thank goodness. He also had a good birthday thanks for his birthday wishes.
Well must go. we are heading back too the rock slides this afternoon.
Love too family and friends.xxxx

Carmila Beach / Eungella Dam / Smalleys Beach.

Hi all. It's been ages since my last blog. From Boynedale we went to St. Lawrence. When we arrived at St. Lawrence the area was a cleared dusty rodeo paddock, at the edge of a struggling little town. There was a wetland nearby and muddy mangrove boat ramp about 5 km away. The rain started on our second day. It bucketed down and turned the area into a mud bath. We decided to remain there while the weather was so bad, as it was wide spread. There were good loo's, hot showers & it was another freebee.
From here we went to Carmilla Beach.
The weather had improved and it was a lovely beach camp, on the edge of native scrub.
The beach had 5 meter tides. So we had about a kilometer of beach at low tide. It was quite beautiful though and there were little hermit crabs running around every where. I really enjoyed taking Tweety, with Garry and I, on a couple of beach walks. I have a great photo of one of these walks.
We had to help pull a Kombie, a large Caravan and a large Winabago motorhome out of boggy sand. Garry is getting good at rescuing people with the Navara and snatchstrap.
Eungella Dam was our next camp. It was up in the mountains above Mackay. We really enjoyed driving through the cane fields, then up into the rainforest. The views from the top were amazing. We spoiled ourselves with a meal and beer from Eungella Challet. It was lovely sitting in the sunshine, enjoying the most awesome view and meal.
From here we explored Sky Window and Broken River.
The Dam where we set up camp was very beautiful. A large spaceous grassed area, on the edge of the lake, with lots of mountains and  gum trees.
Tweety was on Garry's shoulder outside on the second day here, when a couple of birds swooped Tweet and chased it out over the dam. After flying about 100 meters offshore Tweety headed back towards land but the other birds chased her another couple of hundred meters through the trees. Garry then went and picked her up. She still has a peck mark on the top of her head. She was lucky to survive it.
We went out in the kayaks and got a few Redclaw also in the first 2 days. After that we started getting really strong winds. Garry and I became quite worried about the wind. It had already ripped the awning vinyl completely off. The winds were about 70 km/h.
We have been happy but have found the weather frustrating. We have spent quite a few days reading, playing cards and scrabble because it was too wet, windy and muddy outdoors. The temperature is at least alot warmer than Goolwa has been this winter.
Yesterday we drove via Mackay to Smalleys Beach. We spent today fixing the awning and catching up with Brian again.
It is a really beautiful area. I'm looking forward to exploring the walking trails.
The camp sites are nestled in the rainforest, on the edge of a pretty beach. Mountains surround the area and seem to be like rocky spires. There is an estuary nearby for fishing too. We are booked in here until the 13th.
I have been missing our family. I'm a bit homesick but am loving exploring too. Lots of love to all at home.xxx

Redclaw at Boynedale Bush Camp.

Hi, for the last 9 days Garry, Tweety and I, have been at Boynedale Bush Camp. It is a large, popular, free site, on the banks of Awoonga Dam. 26 km SW of Calliope on the Monte road. Provided and well maintained by the Gladstone water board. It is a quiet, beautiful lakeside park with boat ramps and a real community atmosphere. We have had heaps of good company and fun with the yaks chasing Redclaw.
We have got the hang of it now and have had some good catches. Yum.
Tweety was very curious about the first one we caught (about a foot long). Tweety was watching it in the bucket and giving it strips of paper, that it had been tearing. Next minute the bird was splashing around in the water with it's new friend. Garry rescued Tweety unharmed. The next night Tweet would bite me on the ear lobe, every time I dropped a redclaw tail into the sizzling frying pan. When they were cooked and being dished up it started trying to eat them despite the heat. It seems everyone enjoys a feed of the big yabbies.

Yesterday while pottering outside Garry heard someone say " You could have at least help me set up camp Crouchy". Garry turned around to find Brian, from Colman Rd Goolwa, had just finished setting up camp. The guys have known each other for nearly 30 years and I have worked with Brian also and known him for at least 10 years. You don't expect to bump into friends 2000 km from home like that. The funny part is that Brian was one of the few people at our last camp the same time as we were there. He was at site 13 & we were in 6, yet didn't spot each other, despite having the area to ourselves.
We had Brian over for dinner tonight and enjoyed redclaw and a few beers.
It has been fantastic weather for the last couple of days. Really lovely out on the Dam in the kayaks. Calm and a sunny 25 degrees. We have enjoyed the bird life, a large waterdragon up a drowned tree and even saw 9 feral piglets, while touring the lake by yak.
Today went into Calliope to see if the number plate was at the post office yet and get some supplies.
I embarresed myself in the pharmacy. I showered before going into town. While in the pharmacy I asked to try on some orthotic thongs. The girl was crawling around my feet fitting me with the right size, when we both noticed I still had lumps of mud on my toes. I said "Sorry i've just been catching yabbies at the Dam." But the pretty little assistant looked a bit horrorfied. Oops. The thongs are great though.
See ya. Xxxx.

1770.

Hi all, since Fraser Island we have had 3 different camps. The first was Wongi. A state forest with a series of water holes near Lenthall Dam. The first photo's are of this area. It was a very peaceful spot with lots of birds.
Next was a roadside 48 hour parking bay. It had big trees and was not too far from Lake Monduran.  Went fishing from the kayaks, hoping to get some Red Claw (big tropical yabby) and a Barramundi. It was lovely out on the lake but only caught a big cat fish each. They put up a good fight.
I got a nasty deep barb in the calf muscle from mine. The venom made it very painful.
When we got back to the van I used hot flannels on the leg, as heat destroys the venom and reduces pain. I then decided to increase the pain again by flushing the hole with peroxide. This stirred me up beautifully. I fainted. Poor Garry, my nurse, was busy prepairing hot flannels for the leg and a cold flannel for my face.
We are at Eurimbula National Park near 1770. This is the spot Cook discovered Australia. I don't believe he noticed that it had already been discovered.
Our current camp is near an estuary, that we have been kayaking in.
Unfortunately the weather is windy and wet still. At least it's not cold but the sky is grey and the ocean rough.
Today we explored Joseph Banks Conservation Park and Deepwater National park. A lovely bit of coast but not a good day for the beach.
See ya.

Annoying shit in Paradise.

We have had a couple of good but annoying days. Thats the ambivalance of life. Having to take the good with the bad.
After a couple of days of fishing without catching anything worth eating. Garry and I decided to drive across to Kingfisher Bay.
On the way we stop of at the dump point to empty the portaloo. Oops the rubber ring that seals the unit falls in with the other shit. I should have taken a photo for you. Because we could initally see the ring. So we were using our fishing rods to try and hook it out. Would have looked good to bypassers. Then alas it slid beyond view. So now we have a leaky shit pot until we can get another rubber washer.
Well the drive to Kingfisher was good. Lots of pretty native scrub and rainforest, with sandy tracks. The bay was a lovely resort town. Heaps of fish under the jetty but not many in the buckets. Saw the barge come from Hervey Bay.
Back on the road and on past some of the islands lovely lakes. Very pretty but quite tannin stained, with teatree and banksia scrub surrounding them.
Come across big lakes over sandy tracks. Splash through we go again.... and again. Then back past Dilly Village and back on the beach. Tide is getting high but must stop in for supplies at the shop in Eurong. ( jar of jam $7 diesel $2.10) Got bread and milk came out to find no front number plate. Bugger.
Yesterday went for a lovely walk into Lake Wabby. The track was 5 km return of lovely tall, quiet, native forest with sandy track. Had a lovely but cold swim then back through the scrub and home to the van. Mean while dear little Tweety (my lovebird) has shredded a couple of maps in our previously wonderful 'Camps 6' book. This book gives us maps and info about cheap or free camping in Australia. So much for being nice and letting Tweety fly around the van while we are out walking. Ooops again.

The weather has been cool and windy with scattered showers.
Thinking of moving on tomorrow. Very pretty here but we have seen most of it now and are eager to see whats around the next bend.
Bye for now. X

Another Day in Paradise.

It's like another world here. A parallel universe called Fraser Island.
Every where you look it is beautiful. Nature has also made it quite diverse in scenery and biodiversity of the life.
The casualness suits me too. I love a place where everyone runs around in bare feet or thongs (Not bum floss undies),  looking windswept and smelling of fish guts. There is something very authentic about it.
The island also has a lovely comradery about it. We got bogged to the axles, trying to get up a deep sandy uphill track, the other day. So in seconds we have about 20 people piling out of off road vehicles with snatch straps ( Not undies) and spades to give us a hand. After lots of people scraping sand from under the chassis, pushing and towing we were free. Every one was friendly, practical, enthusiastic. It was fun. Many hands made light work and lots of whoops of joy and grins, when the Nissan was back on solid ground. No such thing as stress and road rage on a holiday island.
Garry helped some young tourists  a few days before with a boiled dry hire vehicle.
Even when swimming in the champagne pools, it was lovely having young people chatting with me excitedly, as the bubbles of salt water foamed around us. On the main land, youth often act like they are a bit too special to talk to old fat ladies. Here in paradise they glow with the joy of life and are enthusiastically friendly.
Yesterday we moved from the camp ground at Dundabara to the beach further south. The new camp is just above the high tide mark, nestled amongst the Casurina's and dune grass. We have a phone signal here, heaps of sun for the solar panel and a clear satalite tv picture.
We plan on exploring the lower part of the island from here and do a bit if beach fishing.
Water, supplies and waste disposal are close by too. The only negative is Dingo's roaming around. They are not causing us any dramas though.
Enough of me raving on. See ya. X