22nd to 26th July

Today is the 8th August and it is the first time we could write this Blog regards Mareeba. We always write some days after we have left a destination and have embarked on a new adventure, but our last night in Mareeba was heralded by the news that our eldest son, Nick, had died in a motor vehicle accident. More on that shortly.
 
The 22nd began with a breakfast at the Resort with Tom, Ais, Kevin & Anne. Then a farewell as they departed for cairns and an early afternoon flight. We returned to our Caravan Park, got out the laptops and settled in for the day. At about 10:30am the manager came over to say that we "seemed to be taking our time to pack up"! What? Why? Our four days were up and the people who were booked on OUR site were sitting waiting.Twenty minutes later we departed, oh well, a day early sort of suited us.
 
The drive up from Cairns to Kuranda is long and steep. Add to that considerable roadworks with "stop/go" people, it becomes a nightmare for trucks, motorhomes, caravans. We stopped into Kuranda once on the Tablelands, but it is so "touristy" that we opted to continue the 60klm to Mareeba.

We had been told the Mareeba Rodeo Grounds were the go for us, and it was. There were about 200 vans, motorhomes, tents and other, but the grounds are about 60 acres and we got a place on the back fence about 150 metres from anyone. Just wanted to chill out.
 
Over the four days we did day trips to Milla Milla where there is a 20klm drive taking in four beautiful waterfalls (water is not short on the Atherton Tablelands). Had coffee at a Cheese & Chocolate manufacturer, and beautiful lunch at another boutique cheesery. Checked out lots of little towns including Herberton where a mate of Roscoe's was the Police Sargent. Walked the Granite Gorge and fed the Rock Wallabies and had a great coffee at the local coffee plantation in their beautiful restaurant/cafe/production facility.
 
Very briefly, after lunch on the Thursday we had just got back into the Patrol and the Mt Isa Police called to say Nick has been in a single vehicle accident, he was unconscious, alive and had people with him. They told us that he would be airlifted by the Royal Flying Doctors Service to either Mt Isa or Townsville depending on his injuries. It would be another 2 hours before Police and Ambulance would reach Nicko due to the remoteness, so we had to wait. We opted to go to the Mareeba Airfield and door knocked till we found a plane & pilot that we could charter once we knew the destination. 

It was a great shock when the Police called back after the two hours saying that Nick did not make it, he passed away about fifteen minutes before medical help arrived. Enough said here, we will resume our journey and our blog as soon as appropriate. Thank you!


 
<b><i>Rest In Peace Nick, a much loved and missed son, brother and friend to many. </i></b>