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I note our last part of our travels as relayed to this group ended at the Mareeba Rodeo Grounds, where at that stage,
we had stayed 5 days. The annual rodeo was on the following weekend .. the grounds really filled up with more motorhomes,
caravans, campers in one corner, plus the sideshows and various odds and ends. this event is supposed to be the largest in
the district.
We watched some of the rodeo, lots of the woodchopping, had a good Chinese meal from one of the stalls. The weather
wasn't the best with fairly solid rain on the Sunday afternoon. We were fortunate having the motorhome nearby and just came
back when rain threatened.
Other travellers told us of an annual music festival in Chilligoe on the following weekend. After some shopping in
Mareeba we headed off as far as Dimbulah where we enquired at the info centre re suitable camping spots. We were directed
north from town to the Walsh River. However, the spots beside the bridge were only suitable for 4 wheel drive vehicles. So,
it was back into town and we headed westwards. We had only gone about 9 kms and we noted a couple of vehicles camped on a
nice grassy area beside a creek .. this turned out to be Eureka Creek. There is an old sign " no camping, use facilities
(the van park !) provided at Dimbulah". The others turned out to be a nice group, so we stayed 2 nights. We then continued
on through Petford Almaden to Chilligoe where we went onto the old mine site. Not having found the Rodeo Ground or another
suitable camp spot, we went back to "The Hub" (the info centre) in town. Here, we were initially directed to various
commercial establishments. However, as we had heard the Rodeo Ground was available, we asked for that. One pays $10 pvpn at
"The Hub" and directions are then given.
Chilligoe, in our opinion, needs to lift it game re suitable accomodation for travellers .. particularly so, if it
wants to attract people to "events" in their town. The rodeo ground, we thought, wasn't worth the money. Its a fair way out
of town, which is where the events are held. Apparently, in times past, camping was allowed at the rear of the hotel(s).
There is a lot of vacant land in and close to the town, which we thought could be made available for travellers. So, after
two nights, we left and headed back east.
At Almaden, we noted the rail motor at the station where it had stopped for the passengers lunch break. So we went
to have a look, took some photos and spoke to a couple of passenger couples, who, believe it or not, were both motorhomers.
This train trip is quite unique in that it travels over a lot of old, little used track. Starting from Cairns it travels via
Karanda, Mareeba, Dimbulah, Almaden, then a long way south through Mount Surprise, Einsleigh, then west to Forsayth.
Apparently, the crew stop the rail motor at their pleasure, at points of interest fossicking sites etc.
While we were at Almaden a vehicle drove right up to us .. must be someone being very cheeky, we thought. It turned
out be Tom who we had met at Port Gibbon (in S.A.). We spent Christmas 2005 with Tom and Merryl .. plus Adrian and Anna ..
plus others. We followed Tom back to the small caravan park which they were currently caretaking. After having a yarn beside
their large, old, but nicely fitted out, bus we took our leave. It was so nice to met up with them again.
Headed back to Eureka Creek again .. a number of others parked there as it was after the weekend event in Chillagoe.
People were getting organised, logs of fire wood dragged in by vehicle, a couple of logs dragged out of the river, and so on.
The second night we there, a dozen or so vehicles spent the night. The local farmer, Fred, was coming down for happy hour
bringing samples of his home brew liquor. He also brought us limes, lemons and paw paw. The friendly local council lady who
emptied the rubbish bins lived just up the road and visited us one late afternoon. They all said not to worry about the "no
camping" sign. The council lady said "I am in charge here, you can stay". I asked if the mayor would agree and she said the
the Mareeba based mayor rarely comes this far, so don't worry about him". So, after five nights, we reluctantly departed from
that lovely spot and headed back to the Rodeo Grounds at Mareeba.
The next weekend was Christmas in July .. a motorhome event in another (Davis) Park. So it appears all the motorhomes
from here (Rodeo Ground where we are again and typing this chapter of our "update") go shopping in town, the move into
Davies park on the Thursday. We took our time and arrived about lunch time. The park was almost full then and we got one of
the last remaining spaces to suit a rig of our size. The Leagues Club adjoins the park and has popular lunches at $6 each ..
so we patronised these on a couple of days.
Barry, VK4ALK was parked diagonally opposite, we had visits from Dale, VK4DMC and Alan, VK4HBN and Lionel, VK5ACW
who was visiting a local ham.
Then it was back to the Rodeo Grounds for 3 more nights before starting north towards Cooktown. First stop was at
Mount Malloy and the popular Rifle Creek rest area where we stayed 2 nights. To us, it is obvious what a lot of "travellers"
want, when one notes the number of people using some of these popular free (or minimal cost) rest stops. Apparently, a number
of caravan parks have closed around Cairns. A number of others, we note, are too small for our size rigs.
From Mount Malloy up the Cape Development Road to Mount Carbine where we stayed with the owners permission beside
the pub. The owner, who we have since learned has sold out, is very sympathetic towards the Vietnam Vets .. from whom we had
an introduction. Lots of these Vets travelling north for their annual reunion at Kalpowar Station/Pandanus Park, which is
north east of Laura.
An interesting drive north through some fairly rugged country (in places) to Lakeland where the Cooktown Development
Road continues ahead or one turns west on the Cape Development Road. We were a bit cheeky and parked overnight at the
entrance to the Lakeland airstrip. When we arrived here we noticed we had lost a front wheel trim .. we remembered back to
hearing an "odd" noise south of Lakeland .. so we went back searching along that section of the highway .. nothing found
though!
On towards Cooktown and the recently completed section of sealed road .. cost 91 million and much better than the
gravel section which we travelled on when we visited Cooktown last time by car. Investigated the Lions Den Hotel on the
northern road to the Daintree .. didn't appeal as an overnight spot, so back to the main road and north to Annan River where
we stayed near the boat ramp. There had been a strong wind warning and it was rather obvious with the amount of dust being
blown around. Rain that night settled the dust and filled the pot holes with water. We would have stayed longer, but radio
noise (interference) from near by power lines was about the worst we have ever encountered.
So on 8km to Cooktown where we picked up our mail, had a good walk (for us) along the main street and bought pies for
lunch. Mainly angle parking in Cooktown, but we did find a spot signed "long vehicles" in the side road opposite the Post
Office. Cooktown council apparently (according to other travellers) has a $1500 fine for what they consider illegal overnight
parking in their town .. although there are numerous vacant sections of land in the town plus apparently only a few sites in
the caravan parks that will fit larger vehicles.
So, after driving around a little, we left town. I would have like to have stayed longer, particualarly as some of the
Atherton Tableland hams were coming up the next weekend to activate the local lighthouse. This is annual event now, when hams
around Australia set up ham radio station at selected lighthouses.
On the way back south, we stayed just north of the Little Annan River opposite a spot another traveller had told us
about. Made a fire to grill some lamb chops .. as the afternoon developed half hourly rain scuds made things difficult.
Never the less, we did succeed and they went down well. The rain continued during the night and I expected some difficulty
in getting back onto the highway .. dug a shallow trench to drain some of the water away. All went well though when we drove
out.
Continued south, had another look for our wheel trim south of Lakeland (no go), looked in at Palmer River Roadhouse
where we had lunch. Continued south to Mount Carbine where we stayed at the caravan park/original housing for old mine. The
owner, Robert, wanted a few jobs done so the mobile workshop got a bit of a workout. Robert gives daily (if people are
interested) walks and talks of the area. We found his knowledge of local mining, both past and present, very interesting.
We would have continued our free stay longer but no CDMA coverage, water supply not good, plus starting to run out
of food made us decide to move on. He was that appreciative of what we had done, I suggested that we keep a few more free
days in credit for when we visit again .. he agreed. Not sure if we will ever take him up on the offer, but all in all, it
is an interesting area.
Back to Mareeba, did some shopping etc., and you won't believe it .. we are now back in the Rodeo Grounds again.
Might have to "tear" ourselves away one day!
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