Send an e-mail to Ron.
Back to Rons home page.
Mareeba to start of the Gulf Development Road.
I note our last part of our travels as relayed to the group ended at Mareeba .. although we have previously ended
another of these "updates" at Mareeba. So, departing Mareeba again, we did our usual round of shopping etc., then went
to Bruno's Batteries in order to replace our six year old engine starting batteries. The guy there is deaf and dumb, which
means you are writing notes to each other in order to do business. I mentioned that I had sold batteries in a previous
business (in Vanuatu, for those who are not aware), so, after a few more notes, the good quality $125 batteries were
discounted to $100 each. That battery business, which also has solar panels and other interesting gear, seems well known
and respected in the district and with other travellers.
We travelled back to Rocky Creek War Memorial where we spent three nights. This site was previously written up
in the Ravenshoe to Mareeba section. From there we went to try out the signed 24 hours maximum camp spot opposite the hotel
at Kairi. This is on the road to the popular Lake Tinaroo, which supplies a lot of the water for that area including Cairns.
Next stop was at Malanda where we looked up, and stayed with Graham and Beverley Daniel's (ex Vanuatu daze). This
meant parking on the foot path under quite low and non-insulated power lines. Thus, I could only extend the HF radio antenna
about a metre or so. A feature of the stay was that they lit the fire in their living room .. I couldn't remember how long it
was since I had sat in front of a fire in a house. Also, looked up Terry, VK4ATY, who has the computer shop in Malanda.
We had met Terry before and he is Richie, VK8RR's, brother in law.
From Malanda it was back to our favourite spot, Ravenshoe, where we took up occupancy of our old camp spot
immediately south of the old railway station. This spot is nicely shaded and is close to the water tap and 240 volt power.
We were aware of the large Cycle Queensland event coming up and that the thousand odd cyclists were to overnight at our
camp spot. Also, a number of Wireless Institute Civil Emergency Network (WICEN) members were coming up from Brisbane to
organise the radio communications for the event. I have been involved with that WICEN Group for twenty odd years, thus it was
organised that we would do the necessary radio communications from Ravenshoe.
So we were moved out to a position close to the main road and where the entry point is to the railway complex .. the
overnight camp spot for the cyclists plus all the necessary infrastructure. One job we had was to count the number of
cyclists as they entered the grounds. Unfortunately, it rained all that day and most of the night. So conditions must have
been somewhat uncomfortable for the bulk of the group which were camped in small hikers type tents. Actually, the whole area
seemed covered with tents and gave the overall appearance, from a distance, of anthills. We, and the one other motorhome,
which belonging to one of the Brisbane WICEN people must have been the most comfortable in the whole area. Though, it was
noted that a number of cyclists headed off to accommodation in the town hotels and motels.
It took till around mid morning for the last of the cyclists to leave and once that was reported via radio, we were
free of our duties. Later in the day, we moved back to our old spot beside the station. We decided to organise our mail to
be sent to Ravenshoe, so that kept us there another week or so. Ray, the caretaker, took me down to the town dump where I
scored a push bike in good working order. A "crash hat" is a legal requirement, and after investigating various alternatives,
I was forced to go and buy one for $25. Hopefully, I'll use the bike a reasonable amount!
Departed Ravenshoe in typical Ravenshoe weather .. misty rain .. checked out the rest area at Archer Creek, where we
had stayed on a previous occasion. Reluctantly noted, a 24 hour time limit now applies. Continued on through Innot Hot
Springs and Mount Garnet. Large road trains carrying mine products run from there south through The Lynd to Townsville. We
remembered, from previous expeience, that these trucks expect other traffic to leave them the single lane sealed road
sections .. of which there is a lot in these parts. However, in most spots we encountered them, the road was narrow and we
both had to put our left hand wheels "in the dirt". I feel a lot of these truck drivers have a caviller attitude to other
road users and have heard them say "I have 70 wheels and they will kick up a lot more stones than your vehicle .. if you
don't get off the road". Really, in our opinion, if the mining companies want to put lots of heavy vehicles on roads, they
should be forced to pay to bring roads up to decent standards. A better idea is for them to build a railway line!
On through 40 Mile Scrub to the junction of the Gulf Development Road. We had noticed potential overnight parking
spots near this junction on a previous occasion. This time we investigated further and identified a suitable gravel pit where
we stayed the night. There is some noise from the mine trucks which obviously run 24 hours a day. This is contrary to what
someone at Ravenshoe had indicated which was they only ran 7am to 7pm or similar.
Send an e-mail to Ron.
Back to Rons home page.