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Hi Folks
Sorry for the long delay in my travel updates. I have even had a few emails from worried folk wondering if I have not dropped off the planet. My only excuse is that I have been enjoying myself too much, too busy being a tourist or soaking up the atmosphere of where the day finds me and also some time back in Perth.
This last month found me leaving my car and Van with a friend in Toowoomba in Queensland and traveling back to Perth on September 23rd for a couple of weeks for a catch up with family (even though a long term traveller I need a regular dose of family) then flew onto Melbourne and spent time with my sister and her family (great life !!!). Instead of flying straight back to Brisbane I stopped off in Canberra (October 21) for two days and visited our Parliament House (the same day as the Queen) and the National War Memorial. A really worthwhile visit.
My last update to you all was when I crossed the border from Northern Territory to Queensland, I was surprised to see in my diary date that this was August 10. So here is a brief update of my Queensland/ACT/NSW adventuring.
My first taste of outback Queensland was Camerweal where I was anxious to place myself in a caravan park so I could so I could counted in the national census. At the local store, I met some fellow travelers, we had by chance run into each other a few times as we crossed the Barkly Tableland. They had already set up camp near a Billabong on the Georgina River just out of town and invited me to join them there. This site was ideal for camping and one of natures gems. The birdlife equalled anything I saw in Kakadu, I stayed 4 days. The number of campers at the Georgina River warranted a special visit from the census Officer. A further highlight here was delving into our droving history, lots of memorabilia enhanced by two elderly local drovers ready to tell their story and drover yarns over and over. I was fascinated and in awe of their endurance, creative achievements and enthusiasm.
Next stop, traveling towards Mt Isa gave me my first experience of traveling in outback Queensland. By chance again met my friends from the Georgina River camp and accompanied them to the last day of the famous Mt Isa Rodeo. Wow, what an experience, one day was enough for me but I was glad I embraced the opportunity to see the skill and how our outback Aussies of all ages have their serious fun riding the bulls and horses.
After Mt Isa I turned north and headed towards xxxxxx continuing through outback Queensland. I loved passing through the neat little towns, all with loads of unique history. After xxxxx the road to xxxxx became a little challenging for my little Mazda 3 and Avan set up. I had continued to ask re the condition of the road etc and got lots of reassurance that all was good and a sealed road though a bit narrow in parts. The bit narrow in parts turned out to be a one car width which meant ( for me) pulling off to the side of the road to let the oncoming car or road train pass by. The bit I was not told was that where the hard surface of the road finished and the soft shoulder had often washed away leaving a large dip. I took it all slowly and really managed ok with only a drama of a flat tyre on the Van. A nice young man from NZ changed it for me, in chatting afterwards with him and his partner he has a sister who lives in the same town as my daughter in NZ.! Traveling onto xxx I purchased some new tyres for the Van and was looked after by a local who turned out to be a mate of a cousin of mine, having known each other in the army in Swanbourne WA.!
My travels gradually merged from the outback to the beautiful Atherton Tablelands. I made Milla Milla my base and traveled to most of the scenic spots in this beautiful rain forest area. One day I felt the back of the car sway a bit (i did not have the Van hitched) and on further investigation I required a new shock absorber. I was in a town where I was able to get it replaced so all was well. I am sure the damage was done negotiating those narrow roads. The Atherton Tableland was filled with surprises, nature at its best with rain forests, birds, many water falls, dairy industries, even saw a number of platypus. A highlight was a visit to the Nerada tea plantation and processing factory.
I travelled to Cairns where a highlight was a trip to Port Douglas and a day on one of the outer reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. This was a dream come true, included in this day was an hour snorkeling tour with a Marine Biologist, I was in a group of six. It was an awesome experience.
I travelled down the Queensland coast through xxx with their banana and sugar cane plantations. Visited a sugar processing plant to see how the white crystals are extracted. There were many signs of the devastation of last years cyclones and a lot of ongoing road works in place. I then turned inland at xxxxx to get off the busy highway with what seemed like dozens of cattle trucks (the export cattle industry had just reopened). My objective was Toowoomba as I passed xxxx xxx but did not delay too long as I had a flight to Perth to catch on Sept 23.
It is now October 27th and I am traveling through central NSW, tomorrow I have my destination as Dubbo where I plan to visit "The Western Plains Zoo" this is a xxxx Zoo run by Sydney's Tooronga Park Zoo.
I am gradually heading towards the Nullabor to be back in Perth by the end of November to attend a nephew's wedding and then Christmas with family soon after.
I will have been on the road for eight months by then and beginning to miss home a little and now need to staying in one place for awhile. I still have further travel dreams and with my little Avan home always at the ready there are many possibilities.
My travel has been a really enriching experience on many levels and a wonderful addition to treasured memories.
So ..... A big thank you for sharing in my Aussie travels.
Much love
Trish
Not having much luck uploading photos???
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