We have to leave Moree and its hot mineral water, but we do not go far. Collarenebri on the Barron river is our night stop as we are to cross into Queensland through Lightning ridge. In Collarenebri we are next to the football grounds and there is a walk down to the river, were we find some birds and wallabies.
Onward to Walgett with its walks with signs for the local plants with descriptions on their use by the local Aboriginals. Walgett has an artesian pool beside the swimming
pool which we did not get to visit as it was closed when we were there and had no signs indicating opening times. Both these towns of Collarenebri and Walgett are very dry and struggling to survive so they are doing things to try and bring in the tourists. They are RV friendly with set night camping areas with toilets, both had fishing completions and activities over Easter which filled them full of tourist money.

So its on to Lightening ridge no free camps or low cost here so we stay at the caravan park opposite the artesian pool which is open 24/7. We park the van at the pool while we jump in before going to the van park. This pool carries a lot of notices on how to use as it is hotter than others reaching over 42deg c all the time.So I jump in first and swam across and back a
couple of times very slowly and as Larry got in I got out and had a cold shower . This is what the notice said to do then get back in for a few minutes then shower and so on. So around the outside you can stand but it gets deeper in the middle. Larry stays around the side and I do the swim slowly across and around, without putting my head under the water which they say not to do. Ok after the 3^rdshower I do not get back in Larry stays 5 minutes more then gets
out for a shower after staying in for 20mins. 
 
 
After getting set up in the van park,
Larry goes walking looking for birds and I go to the fossicking area just in case I can find opal.
 
  It is a hot day and the fossicking area is open with no shade so its change clothes and jump In the colder 23deg small park swimming pool for awhile.
We both return to this pool latter in late afternoon but do not return to the very hot artesian pool.

We move the next day as we are returning to this area latter on in the year.

We cross into Queensland and our first stop in this state is the Dirranbandi t their free park just out of town on the Balonne minor river. The winner of the 1910 Stawell gift foot race was from here, he was aboriginal and a bronze statue is in town. All this area is cotton growing area and you see fluffy pieces of cotton along the side of the roads after harvest.
We stop at ST George for fuel and the usual top up of milk and bread. The river here is the Balonne river and is a good size even at this time of the year. 
 
 It is used for irrigation of the cotton and other crops. The cotton plant is related to Hibiscus. Seeds are planted in October and they grow into bushy shrubs about a mitre high with cream then pink flowers. When pollinated the flower part drops off leaving the fruit , inside which
is the fluffy white lint and the seeds. The plants need irrigation every 2-3 weeks . The cotton for Australian Cotton Dri -Glow towels is from this area. St. George was named on 23.4. 1846 by
the explorer Sir Major Thomas Mitchell , this day is still celebrated as St. Georges day .
We stop at Surat to look around Photos of some artistic work along river walk.

We head for Roma and the big rig caravan park which we do to boost our battery power and water levels so we can go into Carnarvon gorge National park.

This park we did not like but it served its purpose. On the way out we went looking for a water lilly pond ,followed the signs as far as caravan could go then walked a couple of
kilometres. Did not find lilies just the pond.
 
Its a long day for us to get into Carnarvon gorge a lot further than we usually drive. This national
park is only open for camping over Easter and school holidays so wecould only get in for one night.


There only 30 sites and big vans we
find out should not be in here, its too tight but we manage to get to the site the lady on the phone at Qld national parks gave us.
So as we have only the rest of the day and night to see things we set out on a gorge walk along to The Moss Garden.


  After a 3.5km walk in the gorge you have to take another 40 odd stepp stepps to the Moss garden, I waited at the bottom again as I still had to get back to the caravan. Larry took the photos.We did not go any further along the gorge to all the different side tracks.
In late afternoon we waked the Nature trail track and back looking for the platypus that lives in part of the creek.We did not see them just some turtles.
In the morning after a good nights sleep we walk the Nature trail again at 6.30 am and do see a
platypus, just a quick glimpse.
 
 
After breakfast we leave the camping area and drive towards the end of the park. We find a park for us with the caravan not too far from the walk into Carnarvon creek and
the rock pool. This pool was carved by the turbulent creek when it floods and is the only place in Carnarvon gorge NP you can swim, so we do.
 
 The creek supplies the drinking water for the area so no swimming. Before we leave the park we have another stop at Mickey creek gorge. The walk starts on a formed path but after 1.5km it
soon is climbing over rocks, boulders as the Gorge narrows until you can go no further. Swamp wallabies are some times here and we do not find any which is a shame as we have yet to see them anywhere.
I stop and talk to a lady and here two teenage daughters who have just returned from teaching posts in South Korea and Malaysia. All the family both parents and the girls and two teenage sons are all vegetarian . We got talking because I stopped to have a drink of water while Larry as far as he could int the gorge, and the girls offered me some sunflower seeds. Big surprise kids
about 13-15 not eating rubbish but snacking on sunflower seeds.
We stop just outside the national park and have lunch before another long drive for us through Rolleston to just outside Springsure. This is a camp next to an escapement overlooking the town. Mount Zamia is part of this with a weathered looking whole and bit of rock that looks to some like the Virgin Mary and Child.


As we are pulling up a large group of horse riders with a mob of cattle are just leaving. Talking to one man who is holding a horse while stopping the traffic I find out its the local Camp Draft group. There have brought the cattle in as there have a meeting this weekend. Lots of young riders with them who have also been helping for the 4 hour ride in. These kids look so natural and a lot better than me, makes me miss our horses a bit.
 
Its a noisy night as we are next to a very busy highway and with lots of trucks and road trains but because of the hectic walking and driving we do sleep.
Springsure was named in 1844 as back then there was permanent springs in the gullies filling the creek.We decide Clermont will be our next stop to top up batteries etc as most of the last few days the van has been in shade getting not much solar input. We fuel in Emerald as we
go through.Leaving the van plugged into 240volts at Clermont we head out to Theresa creek dam. This is a place we we stay at next time as there is cheap camping with toilets playground,
lots of birds and an area to swim in away from the boats. I had turtles swimming with me .
 

Back in town we walk around Hood's lagoon , its not bad area next to show grounds and golf course . We find another Burn's dragon amphibolurus burnsi.
 

Gold brought people to this area in 1861but a big flood in 1916 saw the town relocated to this higher ground. Both coal mining and gold mining are here.

After another long day only stopping for cup of tea and a pee we pull in overnight at Cape river parking area thinking it would be next to river. It is not but Larry still
goes for a walk in the hot sun not me not this time. The next day its through Charters Towers and another 42km to Fletcher creek.
 
This we could have stayed longer if we did not have a appointment for the car in Cairns. The local council look after this area and it is a set camping area on both sides of the road with cold showers and flushing toilets. You are allowed to stay for a month at a time and it is very popular. Of course we walk up and down the creek and take photos. I find green tree frogs in the
loo and a interesting sign which no one seems to do.


Its now onto the Atherton tablelands at last. This is a beautiful part of Australia but a very twisty narrow up and down road with lots of trucks. Narrow road for a main highway, i'm glad i'm not driving; us with caravan meeting big trucks on tight corners while going up or down steep parts, no thank you. 

 We head through Atherton to Mareeba to the rodeo grounds to stay, we have
been here twice before. Power, showers etc large flat area all for $18 a night only 70kms inland from Cairns.We go into town and do the shopping for the trip to the Cape York peninsular and $800 latter we have food in tins and packets plus fresh for about 5 weeks , prescriptions for 2
months , beer wine and fuel. Ok we can get food and fuel up the cape but its expensive. So we stocked up on easy to cook things and tin fruit and vegetables. We will just have to but bread and fuel. The beer and wine are under restrictions further north and well I have my green ginger wine Larry has his beer not too much just a little at night sitting out looking at the stars or crocs in the river.
The car gets fixed in Cairns the next day and while we are waiting we get new runners for me and a few things we need like more octopus straps.

Theres plenty of wallabies and Larry found the sunbirds again but they had moved from there nest they had for years. 
 
 Early morning and a group of balloons were up taking in
the sites and one landed right with us at the rodeo grounds. We might
have to take a ballon ride when we return, we both like them and this
area is so nice.


We visit Rocky creek War memorial park between Atherton and Mareeba for the night camp . Walk into the bush to find some springs and waterfall but track is old and not many go this way anymore. We did find the springs but it has not been flowing enough in last few years to make a waterfall not that we could find. They are still pumping water from here for the local
area.

   While driving back to Mareeba we found a food store called The Humpy Nut world at Tolga they have nuts of course and trail mixes and vegetable chips in lots of flavours plus health and gluten free foods, fresh fruit vegetables. Oh what a shame we have already stocked up , did buy vegetable chips though. These are sliced veg dried like I used to do. Guess where we are going when we get back from Cape York as we have to come through this way.I will post this from here in Mareeba as we are heading to Mount Carbine now and from there on wifi reception is a little hit and miss.