YORKEYS KNOB

BUZZ AROMA CAFE

SUNDAY 28.8.2011: Commenced the day at the laundromat then having brunch at Buzz Aroma Cafe. The cafe has a great menu and live music on Sundays. Made the decision to handwash the motorhome. Having never been great advocates of car washing this chore took on a whole new dimension. Roles for the afternoon were determined by fitness and balance. Carole was sent up the ladder whilst Sybil did the bulk of the physical work. L-O-N-G afternoon!

TRINITY BEACH

SATURDAY 27.8.2011: Had lunch with Rhonda and Sheila at the Trinity Beach local pub. We then went and visited Sheila and Geoff's lovely home.

 

RHONDA, SHEILA & SYBIL

YORKEYS KNOB

FRIDAY 26.8.2011: Spent most of the day on domestics. Part of our duties included the usual trip to the "dump point" in Cairns. This is for all the fellow travellers who would appreciate today's highlight! The Porta Potti had been emptied, water and chemical added and whilst screwing the cap back on the emptying spout, lost control of the cap and it fell into the dump point. In slow motion it rolled around and dutifully disappeared down "the hole". After great angst we decided to try BCF and fortunately were able to pick up a new cap free of charge. We are now seriously considering a review of our "Dumping Protocols".

YORKEY'S KNOB

CAROLE AND RHONDA

Enjoyed tea at Yorkeys Knob Boating Club with Rhonda and Sheila.


STILL PRACTICING THE SELF TIMER!

CAIRNS

THURSDAY 25.8.2011: Thought we would again try our luck on a half day Fishing and Crabbing Tour in the Cairns Estuary. Somewhat disapppointing - our Captain Henry spent a considerable amount of time catching live bait, cooking our sausage sandwich lunch, dropping crab pots and trying to locate an appropriate fishing hole. We spent two of the four hour trip fishing and only caught 6 fish between us and of course, none large enough to keep! 

CAIRNS ESTUARY



CAIRNS CITY - POPULATION: 1,511

TUESDAY 23.8.2011: Walked the famous Esplanade in downtown Cairns. Muddy's Playground situated along the boardwalk is a superb environment for children. The Council has certainly made every effort to make the city inviting and functional.

 

MUDDY'S PLAYGROUND

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finished the day dining out with Sheila and Geoff before thoroughly enjoying "The Ten Tenors" at the Cairns Civic Theatre.

YORKEYS KNOB - POPULATION: 2,648

RHONDA, CAROLE
& THE PUDDLES

SUNDAY 21.8 - MONDAY 22.8.2011: Drove through Cairns and on to Yorkeys Knob to stay outside Rhonda Gorton's (nee Selem) home. We have known Rhonda for m-a-n-y years through our involvement with softball. Went for walks on the beach at Yorkeys Knob and visited the Boating Club. Fabulous spot!

BEACH AT YORKEYS KNOB

YORKEYS KNOB
BOATING CLUB

YORKEYS KNOB
BOATING CLUB





YORKEYS KNOB MARINA



 

We also caught up with Sheila and Geoff Turner - softball acquaintances now living at Trinity Beach.  

BABINDA

FRIDAY 19.8 - SATURDAY 20.8.2011: Stayed at the Babinda Creek Rotary Park Freedom Camp. Next stop the hustle and bustle of Cairns!

MENA CREEK FALLS - POPULATION: 528



PARONELLA PARK
CARAVAN PARK

THURSDAY 18.8.2011: Flametree Tourist Village suggested we venture to Paronella Park at Mena Creek Falls. The adjoining caravan park had 16 sites and 3 cabins, but due to demand you can only stay one night. Tour Paronella Park and you are not charged for the site. We took the day and night tours and the puddles again survived the ordeal by remaining in their palace.
Everyone has a dream.......Jose Paronella's dream was to build a castle. He created Paronella Park on 13 acres beside Mena Falls. He built his castle, picnic areas at the lakeside, tennis courts, tunnels and bridges with 7,000 tropical plants and trees.
Jose arrived in Innisfail in 1913, having sailed from Catalonia in northern Spain to plan a splendid life for himself and his fiancee Matilda. He worked for 11 years creating his wealth by buying, improving and selling cane farms. Upon returning to Spain Jose discovered that Matilda had married so he proposed to Margarita, Matilda's younger sister. One year later they moved to Australia and in 1929 the land at Mena Creek Falls was purchased.

GRAND
STAIRCASE

A grand 47 step staircase was built to shift building materials between the upper and lower levels. The Paronella's cottage was hand built of stone and they moved in on Christmas Eve. A movie theatre transformed on weekends into a huge ballroom with live bands and a massive ball of mirrors which spun from the ceiling. The Paronellas invited everyone to movies on Saturday nights, built tennis courts from crushed termite mounds, and a pavilion with turret-topped balconies, refreshment rooms and changing cubicles for swimmers.


PARONELLA PARK CASTLE




GRAND BALLROOM




SWIMMING
CHANGE ROOMS
























North Queensland's first hydro-electric plant was built in 1933 to power the park, and the castle grounds welcomed the public in 1935.
1946: A mass of logs from a clearing upstream descended on the park destroying the refreshment rooms - they were repaired and re-opened.

1979: Fire swept through the castle - only the walls of the Turret remained.

1986: Cyclone Winifred.

2006: Cyclone Larry.

2009: Refurbishment of the original hydro turbine which provides power for the entire park.
2011: Cyclone Yasi. 

 

Whilst there were m-a-n-y paths and uneven stairs (Jose could have at least ensured all the stones for the stairs were of equal size), we had a great time. You have to admire a person with such vision.
ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS:


PARONELLA HOME

TENNIS COURTS




PARONELLA FAMILY

TULLY HEADS - POPULATION: 438

MONDAY 15.8 - WEDNESDAY 17.8.2011: Enjoyed Tully Heads so much that we extended the stay. Went fishing each day at Hull Head, but still no keepers! Went for a quick drive through Mission Beach - nice area but the caravan parks were very busy. Madison (we now have a waist and you can almost feel her ribs), continues to enjoy her beach runs and Shayden his ball games.

After reading the sign considered sending Shayden to play on the beach! Naaa, just sorta jokin'!

ACROSS THE ROAD
FROM THE FISHING

When you drive through the area there is still evidence of the cyclone. There are abandoned houses, windows boarded up, rebuilding of homes and roof tarps everywhere. You look in one direction and there is a perfect vista, then turn round and you see the devastation.

FISHING AT HULL HEAD

Imagine miles and miles of sugar cane and bananas and the only shops to be seen are at the caravan park. Then you come across what is the oasis of the Tully Heads Tavern. Great lunch, but we did not have to eat again for another two days - big meal!

TULLY HEADS TAVERN

Saw our first native cassowary strolling along the side of the road on the way to Mission Beach.

GUTHALUNGRA/TOWNSVILLE/INGHAM/CARDWELL/TULLY HEADS

SUNDAY 14.8.2011: Fish and chips lunch at Cardwell - still obvious signs of the Yasi damage. It is amazing how nature can be so random in the damage caused. Travelled to Tully Heads and staying for three nights at Googarra Beach Caravan Park. Hope to do some fishing at Hull Heads.

SATURDAY 13.8.2011: Stayed the night at Frances Creek Freedom Camp 11 klms south of Ingham. Bad news is that yesterday the windscreen wore its' first stone chip. The good news is that Sybil who always purchases everything "just in case" (usually the items are not utilised), had insisted on buying a Do-It-Yourself Windscreen Repair Kit. We spent the morning on the repair and yes it works!

FRIDAY 12.8.2011: Tried our first truck stop at the rear of the Townsville BP Service station. Surprisingly quiet, but as you would imagine - not a great vista!

THURSDAY 11.8.2011: Freedom Camp stay at Guthalungra Rest Area.

AIRLIE BEACH

"FANTASEA REEFWORLD"

WEDNESDAY 10.8.2011: Ventured out to the Great Barrier Reef on the "Fantasea Reefworld". We left from Shute Harbour and took 2 hours travelling via Hamilton Island to reach the reef. Perfect conditions for reef viewing and a day on the water. On arrival at the reef pontoon the day's program was:

Viewing the underwater observatory/semi submarine tour.

Lunch by the reef.

Viewing fish from platforms.

Snorkelling the reef.            Snorkelling Highlights: We were offered all the equipment, stinger suit, wet suit, goggles, snorkel, flippers and flotation jacket - we took the lot! In hindsight, due to Sybil's natural buoyancy she could have foregone the flotation jacket - the continual water rolls from side to side like a beached whale did not present a professional image! 

FETCHING!

The "stinger suits" - what fine figures we cut!




We treated ourselves to a guided snorkelling tour by a marine biologist. Well worth it given the comprehensive information received.

DAY'S HIIGHLIGHTS: 1. Surviving! 2. Feeling as though you were swimming in a giant fish tank. 3. Sighting some 15 whales when travelling to and from the reef. PERFECT DAY!

AIRLIE BEACH

PICTURES OF CONCENTRATION!

TUESDAY 9.8.2011: Airlie Beach offered us the chance to start working on our "bucket list". We went on a half day outing on "The Reel Deal" Fishing Charter. Fortunately there were only 8 participants, unfortunately the fish took the afternoon off - only undersize fish caught!



AIRLIE BEACH - POPULATION: 909

MONDAY 8.8.2011: Stayed at Flametree Tourist Village. What a different experience - beautiful surrounds, plenty of room and the managers not only allowed Madison and Shayden to remain in the motorhome when we were out, they also offered the service of walking and toileting them.

FLAMETREE TOURIST VILLAGE

MACKAY - POPULATION: 3,813

SATURDAY/SUNDAY 6-7.8.2011: Visited sprawling Mackay - certainly has become a little  metropolis! Stayed at Mackay Marine Tourist Park and as the sites were rather c-l-o-s-e we spent a considerable amount of time indoors. The current ethical debate involves the lost income of the parks to the Freedom Camps. When comparing the Clairview Freedom Camp to the experience in this park it is difficult to justify the caravan park's argument.

Saw the sights of Mackay and visited the Orchid House at Queens Park - beautiful!

ST LAWRENCE/CLAIRVIEW

VIEW FROM THE BEDROOM WINDOW

FRIDAY 5.8.2011: We left in the morning discussing the Wall Street dive and Sybil returning to work following the trip. Finished the day at Clairview Freedom Camp:
Enjoying the beautiful vista and a walk on the beach. 

Watching Madison have her first ever off lead run on the beach - wind through her ears!
Receiving a gift of two large trevally from fellow travallers.

Sipping brut and dining on the sweetest tasting local mud crabs.

Cooking toast over the camp fire. Could live at Clairview, one road in and out and even smaller than LTP!

                              

Photo 1 - tide in, photo 2 tide out - very tidal water! The dark line on the horizon is the water line.

TUES 2.8 - THURS 4.8.2011: Three day stay at St Lawrence freedom camp. Whilst the town of St Lawrence is small they are making every effort to entice the caravanning fraternity by beautifying the site and providing water, showers and the all important "dump point".