Aug 21

Turning back

by in People we've met, Places we've been, Things we've seen

We’ve hit the heights now its time to turn around. I don’t read what I write so I’m not sure where I got to with the narrative past.

We left Cooktown on Tuesday, I think the 12th, and headed for Mareeba. Had a blowout on the trailer turning into Lakeland. Don’t know why.

Apart from carrying a little lizard in the aircon duct the rest of the trip was uneventful.

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Jude took the photos, a little nervous I think. It was never gunna eat much. He got cold so had to come out. I’m not sure which passenger jumped highest.

On to Mareeba. Plan was to do some work for Civic Guides but this didn’t work out so we drove out to Chillagoe. Chillagoe sort of completed the dots on the map, our coverage of FNQ (or at least the accessible bits).

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Chillagoe is all about smelters, caves and Fords. The smelters, dating back to the late 1800’s represent one mans dream to focus mine production on one local processing facility. The mines were spread over a huge area and the intent was to rail the diggings to the Chillagoe smelters then the processed ore on to port in Cairns. The project didn’t turn a profit and after vast investment (for the time) it was taken over by the state and ultimately closed down. Most of the gear was transported elsewhere back in the 1920’s.

The caves, of which there are many can be self explored or 3 of the better ones by tour (paid). We took one of the better ones with a guide and about 30 other people. Beautiful, spectacular all of that.

The Tom Prior collection of Fords has something of a reputation…..

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although I find it hard to comprehend how it was acquired and why here. That’s Tom himself – I couldn’t understand a word he said.

Back in Mareeba we had a balloon encounter. We were parked up in the Rodeo Grounds, along with hundreds of others including as it turned out several others we had met on the trip to the Tip. Strange noises over the truck in the morning and lo and behold 4 buckets of Asians descended upon us…

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Each bucket must have had 20 people in it.

Rodeo Ground has apparently held up to 800 vans, motorhomes campers etc but right now only a couple of hundred..

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power, water, some amenities just $17.00 per night makes it very popular with us nomads.

Back to Cairns to finally catch up with Graham & Pauline Hepburn then on to Ayr which is where I’m writing this. Not much else to tell really. Was going to do some work here but ran into some complications so moving on. At least casks are  back to reasonable prices and so is fuel at only $1.66/litre.

Still showing 22litres/100km on the truck despite some hilly territory. Just ticked over 10000km on the Hovel and nearly 7000 in Suzi. 4 1/2 months gone. Wow!

 

2 Responses to “Turning back”

  1. From John Fowler:

    The caves look great, and so too the Fords – especially the trucks! I guess car enthusiasts can be found anywhere!
    Glad you finally caught up with the Hepburns too.
    Is it all downhill from here?
    Cheers
    John

    Posted on 24 August 2014 at 6:56 pm #
  2. From barry payne:

    Yep, all downhill from here.

    Caught up with the Nachtigals today, here in Airlie Beach.

    See you in mid to late October as well.

    B

    Posted on 24 August 2014 at 7:11 pm #

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