Happy New Year from Cairns

We are having a lovely 2 weeks in Cairns with Craig, Sara and Ayla. Enjoying being here, it is very green and lush, and we are getting lots of much needed short bursts of summer rain/storms.

A most recent addition to Cairns is a 2 level Aquarium.  It is Ayla’s favourite outing and she goes about once a week to see “the fishies”. There are excellent tanks including rainforest reptiles and insects as well as a great coral reef tank and 2 level tank, and the type where you walk through with the tank surrounding you on both sides and overhead with all manner of sharks, stingrays, large barra, and tropical and unusual fish.  Even found Nemo!

So happy new year from Derek and I, we wish you a joyous, healthy, and awesome filled 2020.

Merry Christmas

We are enjoying a lovely 2 weeks with Craig, Sara and Ayla in Cairns for Christmas. 

Although we have seen some splendid scenery, and met some very interesting people on our travels this year, it is the special time we have with family and friends here and keeping in touch with those far away, that has made the year most enjoyable. 

We are off to Western Australia in the new year!

Oscar the Pug

We are having a relaxing 2 weeks on the Sunshine Coast to have complete check ups for Derek, myself, the car, and the bikes. So far all have been given an excellent bill of health. Skin checks clear, and only Derek’s surgeon to see in 10 days time for a 2 yearly checkup.

We are housesitting for the 2 weeks not far from where we use to live at Little Mountain. Little Oscar is so cute, but it soon became obvious the first night he only sleeps on the bed. Just as well we are obliging, and good housesitters who love puppy dogs, not that we ever had our own TicTac sleeping with us every night.

Toogoolawah Rail Trail

After a couple of lovely weeks catch up in Finley with Jessima and family, a sort through our few remainder belongings in readiness for moving it to Qld as part of Jessima’s relocation in 4 weeks time, we made our way to Qld dodging bush fires and storms.

Many sections of highways were closed, due to the fires, so when we got over the Great Dividing Range we felt close enough to Brisbane so stayed for a few days in Toogoolawah. 

Fires burning at nearby Ravensbourne/Crows Nest NP very close by, view from our camp.

We explored the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail in both directions on both our morning walks. The BVRT is 161 km long, from Ipswich to Yarraman. 

Thanks to Toogoolawah for a great freedom camp in the heart of town.

Awesome foot bridge

Woomera Blast Off!

Although Woomera is still an Air Force Base, it no longer tests missiles and sends satellites into space.  Base sector South, the village centre, has been opened to the public (tourists).

It is a manicured oasis in the middle of a flat dry treeless region that stretches for hours in every direction, the restricted access area is actually larger than England. It was a fascinating visit.

We had a great vantage point over Lake Hart where the missiles were launched

Missile Park in the village centre, including debris collected from Simpson Desert

The obvious choice for a  letter box

Only about a quarter of the original town is inhabited, with sections of suburban streets turned back to wasteland, but also have a bowling alley and cinema

Kangaroos feel at home too

Fun Fact #7 Bob the Railway Dog

Bob

What a great morning walk.......

Peterborough in SA is a town that loves its railway history and the home base for Bob the railway dog. He hitched daily rides on trains on the South Australian Railway, sometimes as far as Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.  He had no one master, and went home with the Engine Driver of the day. Bob was born  c1878 and died July 1895.

We came across this true story as we walked along Peterborough’s main street. Monument and story board.

He had his own Postcards


His collar was engraved

Welcome to Coober Pedy

We have left the Red Centre, crossed the border into South Australia, and spent a couple of days in the middle of nowhere, in Coober Pedy

Well, up front I can say that even though there is public fossicking (noodling) the area of three street blocks in the middle of town, we  (I) didn’t find any opals. It is the remnants of the original mine, from 1915, it is called Jewellery Shop Street.

Coober Pedy is the most unusual, bordering on bizarre, town in Australia in our opinion. It is in the middle of the Woomera Missile Testing Area, a restricted access zone.

The landscape for 50km each direction is dotted with digging mounds as anyone can lease a small plot, over 1,500,000 holes

50% of population live underground, and can dig up their front and back yard, homes, motels, churches...all underground

Dust storms roll in like a scene from “The Mummy”, worse when coupled with a thunder storm first, car and van ended up covered in red mud

Talking about movies, several were made nearby at the Breakaways, Mad Max 3, Pitchblack Sci Fi and others

The Breakaways... beautiful colours

Scene of Barter Town from Mad Max 3

Two Dogs...plus Derek

We meet the Dog Proof fence again, it runs around the Breakaways

Underground working mine tour

Monument to the 14yr old Will Hutchison who found the first opal, whilst prospecting for gold with his dad. He never got anything from it, never pursued opal, and died aged 19, drowning in north Qld, whilst droving cattle.  He is known as the founder of Coober Pedy.

 

The many sides of Ayers Rock-Uluru

We have just finished 4 incredible days visiting Ayers Rock (Uluru) and the Olgas (Kata Tjuta). The town of Yulara is about 17km from the Rock and is outside the National Park. It has an international resort vibe, and buzzing at the moment. Temperatures were comfortable low 30’s by mid afternoon, so early mornings and sunset were the best walking, climbing and viewing times.

The exciting close up on day one

We had the must do sunset view

Final burst of sunlight

Night 4 was clear sky

We saw the Rock from the base...a 10 km bike ride

The climb

One of many rests on steep climb


Top of chain section

Across the top


View from the top

The Olgas in background


The top


Then back down, easier 

Done! Very respectfully, and appreciated this final opportunity to interact with Ayers Rock as it closes to climbers in 4 days for good.