September in Tropical Queensland.

It was not quiet as eventful as life sometimes is, sometimes just waiting around sometimes on the move, but some events helped to make the decision on the way we go across to WA again.

We hear from WA and the turtle tagging team, they have got as far as Rio Tinto saying yes to using Delambra island for research for 4 weeks. They don,t own it but have the mining leases there and waters around. This is 50km off the coast so about 70km out to sea north east of Karratha.

So all paper work has been submitted to WA govt for approval, the majority of the money is outside money but some is DBCA of WA and some funding has been cut to parks and wildlife.

So we are told all things are moving ahead and to start heading that way.

First things first after our cruise we stayed for another 5 days at Mareeba country van park to recuperate and catch up on washing . The van and car needed to be washed too. We decided because we were heading back to Karratha some 4300 km away then down and across into Vic for Xmas another over 4000km we had better put new tyres on the caravan . We had been putting new tyres on the car and car ones onto the van but thats a lot of travel to be down so new ones it was. The tyres on it when it was new had lasted quite well but we could not get. The people now sold this other brand so we found them in Townsville and they had the light truck ones we need so a deposit to hold them was paid, until we got there which could be 2 weeks away, it was just over.

While at Mareeba we went to Cairns and replaced our 3 deep cycle batteries this was over a $1,000 and we got $24 back from recycling. But we are not complaining our 3 had lasted 4 years of working most of the time ,thats not bad, as we are mostly on solar power to run the caravan.

Ok so while at Mareeba we went to Davies Creek falls which is is on the way to Cairns in the mountain range. Its a very steep road up and I,m glad we could drive most of it into the National park. You can camp up there too. We were surprised to find even in September there was a fair bit of water flowing over the falls, but the swimming area was only knee deep so no swimming. Would have been good . We did not find much wildlife but stunning views from up there. We found the up hill walking around the falls a bit hard as we were both still suffering the colds caught on the cruise.

We left Mareeba on the 8 sept and went to Lake Tinaroo for a few days. We stayed at 2 different camps in the national park like we had done before only this time there was no swimming as the lake was below 50% full. We still had some good walks though. The temperature around there in mountains was dropping to 16 overnight and only getting to 25-27 during the day.

On our way in we stopped the night at Rocky creek memorial park again so we could leave the van and go to the Bat hospital at Tolga.

They have rescued fruit bats and some local microbats. The fruit bats or flying foxes have good night vision and find their food by sight whereas microbats use echolocation to find their insect food. The couple that started the hospital were having a well erned holiday before the breeding season started as this means more injured to look after. They have a good lot of volunteers to help each year and some where running the place when we were there. Some of the injured , like all rescue places, will never be able to be released as they are incapable of looking after themselves back in the wild.

On our way into Lake Tinaroo we also stopped at one of my favourite shops the “Humpy' selling organic and local fruit and vegetables as well as gluten free food , nuts and my favourite vegetable chips. Dried not cooked in a big convection oven, like the ones I used to dry in my drying machine. I bought some last time here for a couple of the grandkids that I new would like them so this time I bought more for all. I did not think it out properly though as I bought 1.5kl . The biggest bag the lady had that could stay sealed and fresh until we got to Victoria. Clever not , we either have to post them to Victoria or take them on our 8,000km trek and they would be bouncing around getting all broken up.

Anyhow while at Lake Tinaroo we stayed at Kauri creek campground first , no generators allowed and it was overcast of course. We walked to the day rest area and then the 3 hour walk to the Downfall creek campground. We would be staying here next. The walk is along in a strip beside the lake in forest that is slowly rejuvenating after yeas of logging. We find juvenile bush stone curlews at Kauri creek and adults at Downfall creek. The noise these birds make at night would scare anybody how did not know what it was screaming in the night. Then they stay unseen by most during the day staying so still trying to look like bits of wood blending in in the bush.

We found musky rat kangaroos- the smallest of all macropods with the male about 500gm and the females less. They hop instead of bounding , have twin joeys and can not digest the cellulose in plants so eat fruit, insects. Larry got a video of one scratching around for insects.

I found 2 types of jezebel butterflies, Cairns birdwing butterfly and some feral pigs appeared one day on the dry bit of the lake infront of us had drink and disappeared back int forest on the other side.

While staying at Downfall creek we spent time sitting under some bottle brush trees getting photos of butterflies and lots of different honey eater birds.

We drove around the Lake on the dirt road to see how bad it was incase we wanted to leave this way. It is narrow , twisty , up and down and used by trucks. We went out to the highway and to Lake Bernine and Lake Eacham. Lake Eacham is set up for swimming at one end, no I did not I forgot by bathers. We walked around both Lakes. About 5km walks up and down through tropical rainforest and beside the lakes. It was very hard to get bird photos even though you could here them , seeing amongst all the leaves is nearly impossible. We heard Bower and Riffle birds doing their display dances but could not get photos just glimpses now and again. I found more Musky Rat Kangaroos and I think a giant white tailed rat- Australia's largest native rat. I also so found 2 eastern water dragons and a Forest dragon and then a skink. Walking both the walks in the morning and driving between both lakes meant it was after 1pm and we were hungry. So we stopped for a snack at a small cafe and got back to the van after 2 pm.

We thought about driving with the van the narrow dirt road but decided to go the longer route into Tinaroo and connecting road to the Gilles hwy. Even on the dirt bit out of the National park we came across a logging truck which made for a tight fit for both of us on the dirt track.I was glad we had not taken the shorter route around on the long dirt track.

We headed over the mountain range on the Giles hwy , this was one of the worst we have been on with the caravan. Once over you come to Gordonvale and the Bruce hwy. We travelled along to Babinda , this has a free camp in town with donation box and coin operate hot showers. We have stayed before it was good then as it was this time too.

We left the van and went for a swim at Babinda boulders. The workers wee there re -making a better swimming area and had this bit blocked off and we had to swim in a little bit further down . They also had most of the nature and lookout walk not in use so we only got to the first small lookout across the start of why its called the Boulders.

We stayed at Babinda waiting for a parcel to arrive at Innisfail 35km away. A big mix up the people in Brisbane who were fixing are new set top box for the satellite had sent it to the wrong place and it had to be re -sent. At least it not a bad place to wait. We had gone down and stayed the night just outside Innisfail on the Thursday but when the parcel was not there on Friday we went back to Babinda- only supposed to have 3 days there but we had to go somewhere and with school holidays it was hard to find a park not full of screaming kids. Cairns council run this place and the man who takes car registrations said it would be Monday before his notes went from council in Babinda to Cairns so we had a few days.

At night the long nose Bandicoots came around the camp to see if they could find any food that people had not put away. They have been doing this for awhile so we did manage a photo , they would run away but came back quickly, not too afraid of people.

On one morning we drove to Josephine falls and walked were you are allowed to. This has its water coming from Queensland’s highest mountain -Bartle Frere . Its all the same NP as the Babinda Boulders. You can walk about half way up it has lots of warnings of people dying getting into the rapid flowing waters and pools. The bottom pool people do swim in but it still has a fast current which goes over and around boulders. The walk goes up 800m with 3 lookout platforms. It would have really been good if the sun was out but it was a morning of cloud. There is a endangered frog up here but no luck seeing it or the musky rat kangaroo just a red damselfly.

After the falls we went to Golden hole picnic area to have a look , it would have been good swimming but had a salt water croc sign so that was not on. Did find some butterflies.

Our parcel arrived and we headed out , we missed the turn to Rollingstone park area so ended up at Blue water park just 29km north of Townsville. We decided the next day to take the van to a caravan park and stay the night in Townsville so we could unhook when we got there and go get shopping at Woolworths, get fuel and beer. I washed sheets and cooked meals to be frozen.

We had our tyres to get put on the next day. They put the tyres on while I sat inside crocheting and Larry helped , lock nuts and spares and such . All was finished in an hour and we were on our way out of Townsville.

So it is one of the easiest crossings west over the mountain range we have done , we only go 58km west towards Charters Towers. We get a message from WA and turtle researchers . I don't know why things have to get complicated, they are now saying I have to be paid so I have to send my food handling and other stuff. Its because some of the money for the whole thing is outside money probably mining money, and some from WA national parks govt. money. Now it all has to be govt. approved and WA have cut their spending. They say we are to start heading that way and thinking about it if I get paid its money I have not got now and its casual rate.

So we are heading slowly across Queensland and decide to go to some places we have not stayed at before.

Last time in Charters Towers we said we would stay out at Theresa Dam so we did. The water level is down a bit because its the end of the dry and will rain soon hopefully for them. There is enough water for water sports and swimming and we do some walking.

From Charters Towers we head down through Rubyvale with the intent on staying in Saphire for me to do a little fossicking . My tourist fossicking licence only allows you to go looking in set areas and only use a shovel and sieve. This area mines Rubies and Sapphires, would be good to find some.

Well we looked in Rubyvale then Sapphire and of course thousands of people have been here before me and the whole place is a mess. I decide we are wasting time , I know people do occasionally find gems but that has not happened for a couple of years and its the end of the busy season , so we do not stay.

We go on to Jericho and spend a couple of nights beside the river just on the outskirts of town.

Jericho population 100 has and still operates the smallest drive in theatre but only once a month.

We walked a couple of kilometre walk beside the river Jordan and sorted out where we would go next.

Lara wetlands 20km south of Balcadine was where we went. Here we kayak on the wetlands with free to use kayak . Water only waist deep at best but it was fun trying to get close to birds in the half submerged trees. Right close to us was an area set aside for cool swimming and over a bit was the hot artesian spring pool . I spent a lot of time in both. No power here but all other amenities and we are on private Lara station .  look at bird photos anybody would think its hot here , all these birds getting wet

We are of course in the Artesian basin again where the inland sea was millions of years ago. We are also entering Dinosaur fossil country, and where the rivers start flowing towards Lake Eyre.

We head on to Longreach for the night at Apex park then Winton .

Out of all the dinosaur things to see we have only not been to see the stampede at Lark quarry.

What we do is travel 179km from Longreach to Winton go to Mistake creek , unhook the van and then go the 110k dirt road to Lark Quarry. WE get to Winton about 10am unhook the van and make it safe to leave , make lunch to take with us and head out as we have to make the 12 pm tour. You only get in to see with a guide.

It is the end of the Queensland school holidays so tour times have been cut , they are still running some as some NSW kids are still here. IF we did not make the 12 pm mid-day we would have to wait until 2pm and then drive back 110km dirt road and it would have made for a very long day starting on the road at 8am and maybe not finnishing back at the caravan until after 4.30pm.

Lark quarry Dinosaur stampede shows footprints of 3 different dinosaurs by the waters edge. The smallest chicken size small caelurosaurs named skartopus australias . about 86 of them probably there for a drink they ate both plant and insect.

Next is 70 prints of a small arnithoped of about 70cm tall eating only plants.

Then appears -looking for a meal a about the size of a large horse Thyrannosauropus or tyrant lizard

. Every thing running for their lives trying not to become dinner for the thyrannosauropus.

If the scientists have it right this 95 million year old lot of footprints is a stampede and the only on like it found on earth.

It was all found by a station worker looking for opals and turning over rocks and found the first footprints that he thought where chicken prints way out in the middle of no where. It took some years for the scientists to find all they have and to protect them for all to see.

look at the sign , these all over inland Qld NT and WA even on sealed bitumen roads as they could be under water at any time so sign tells if road open .

Dad and kids walking down road