We had a leisurely departure from Paronella as we had virtually no packing up to do so we had breakfast then headed up the Range on the Palmerston Highway.  We just took it steady especially as the weather was still pretty wet.  We'd decided we'd go to Bonadio RV Park just outside Yungaburra.  It got great reviews on Wikicamps and when we were at Sharon's one of the guys under the Tree also said it was a good spot.  I'd called ahead to make sure they had space and booked us in for two nights.  However on our journey we'd been discussing that Craig still felt the Landcruiser was a bit saggy in the rear end (I know the feeling!!) and we both felt that if we were going to get airbags added to the suspension then we should try and organise it in Cairns before we started heading west.  

So I got busy in my mobile office and after a couple of calls - one to Fulcrum Suspension who were fully booked to the end of May - I found a company who were going to squeeze us in on Tuesday, but then while I was still on the phone found that his supplier was waiting on them coming in.  The upshot is that all going to plan we'll drive down to Cairns on Wednesday and get them fitted then come back up to here and then head west on Thursday.  

We got to Bonadio early afternoon, booked in and got ourselves set up.  Around 5pm a lady went past carrying a chair and said hello and that it was beer o' clock and why didn't we come and join her and her husband at the site camp fire which he was just lighting.  So we headed across and had a great chat to Greg and Tash who are from Cairns and had been on the site for a mini muster the Bush Tracker caravan owners had had.  The majority of them had moved on to Chillagoe but since they both had work on Tuesday (Greg is with Qld Police and Tash a clinical psychologist with Qld Health) they felt it was a long way to go for just 2 nights.  They were going the following night to Pickle and Smoke - a restaurant in Malinda and asked if we'd like to join them.  We'd a look at the menu later on and said yes please to them the next morning. We came back and cooked lamb cutlets for tea and then headed off to bed.

On Saturday morning we went in to town and caught up with Jimmy and Gail (Craig's cousin) for a few hours then we headed off exploring.  We had a quick lunch in Rumours Diner in Milaa Milaa then did the Waterfall drive circuit taking in Milaa Milaa Falls, Zillie Falls and Ellinja Falls.  They were all in full flow so well worth seeing.  We then headed back to the van to get changed for dinner as we were going in Greg and Tash's car.  We had a brilliant night with them and friends of theirs - Paul and Kerrie - also with the police.  All of them had travelled around a lot in either tents, camper trailer or caravan and so we shamelessly picked their brains and both learnt so much.  And then were was the food - OMG - first we shared coconut prawns drizzled with honeyed rum then we had the signature share platter for 2 and there was brisket, pulled pork, quarter chicken, chicken wings, and ribs served with a side of pasta salad and coleslaw.  It was to die for!

We came home with very full tummies and off to bed as we wanted to be up and at it and have a day trip to Chillagoe.  We were on the road just before 8 and had a fantastic two hour drive through some amazing countryside.  Neither of us had had any idea of how far back the tablelands reached. We had coffee when we arrived then headed out to Tom Priors Museum where he has an amazing collection of Ford vehicles.   After a wander round there we made our way out to the site ruins of the former smelters (copper and gold) and from there to the Balancing Rock. The cave tours were all booked out and in any case Craig didn't have his walking shoes with him.  We headed back stopping in Dimbulah at the pub for a quick lunch then came straight through to Herberton.  We visited the Historical Village there which is absolutely outstanding.  I've visited a few of these over the years and this one is way out in front.  After a couple of hours there - not really long enough - we came back to the van to get changed before heading in to Gail and Jimmys as we were invited for dinner.  We'd a great night with them - a delicious dinner and an awful lot of laughing and nonsense.