It's rare and endangered but

nothing will save this pesky cassowary LOL. Ellis Beach has been interesting. Since the Lyns arrived the weather has really and I mean REALLY taken a turn for the worst and I dont think they are very impressed. Sunday was overcast and drizzled a little, Monday was ok, not hot hot but 29 and good for a swim, yesterday was AWFUL windy, wet and cold. Last night was just stormy all night with the trees throwing branches at Miss G and this morning looks like more of the same. We have decided to head for the hills and try to find somewhere nice for a slow relaxed lunch, update you tomorrow.

There's a Rain forest here somewhere

The Lyns have arrived and brought SA weather with them LOL

The Lyns arrived in fine style on Saturday night and a few drinks were had by all, not excessive but enough LOL. On Sunday we decided that a trip over the rain forest to Kuranda for lunch was called for, but we didn't take into account the weather which had decided that it should just be cold and clouded. Oh well the sun is shining this morning so a great day promises.

Our new Condo

We have to do some work on the garden but apart from that, one of us at a time will be out of the elements - sort of LOL.

Heaven on Earth.

We might not have like "Flying Fish Point" but we found this little spot about 40klms away. It is paradise and called Etty Bay. There is a small caravan park right on the shore in amonst the trees and definately will be a stop of the future.

The Topaz Hunter at work

As the economic situation continues to bounce along the "Topaz Hunter" is hard at work making this weeks petrol money LOL. So far 4 cutable stones of a couple of carats plus with a combined value of about a loaf of bread LOL.

Thank God for Larry

Back in 2005 Cyclone Larry devastated Innisfail and destroyed most of the city centre, but the upshot is that it gave the city council the opportunity to rebuild some of its most important deco buildings, including this amazing Town Hall. As luck would have it the hall is in the final stage of the rebuilding and is due to be officially opened in the next month, so we got a guided tour through the main hall and they have done a great job, modernising everything, a new state of the art sound system which you cant see unless its pointed out and a cyclone proof roof LOL. Well done Innisfail.

We arrived at "Flying Fish Point" yesterday and Mission Beach it isn't. LOL. None of those pesky cafes and restaurants, manicured lawns and swaying palms, just a beach that is around the corner from a croc infested river so its all off limits LOL. Oh well, Cairns on Thursday and Ellis Beach on Sat.

My what BIG feet you have

Our first cassowary and he/she was a big one. Mission Beach is proving to be a "Mexican Paradise" (people south of the Qld border). Almost all the park is Victorians, NSW or SA number plates and are here for the winter. You have to be a bit careful because if you upset one then you could upset the lot. LOL. Speaking of that we are off the christmas card list from our new neighbours as I yelled about there outside speakers - you would think I had done something terrible - oh well such is life.

We're a happy team at Hawthorn and yes I get bragging rights for the next twelve months - bliss

Map update

We are back on the coast and it is wonderful after a month in the dirt LOL. We arrived at Mission Beach on Monday and were immediately adopted by the neighbours (from Melbourne). Last night was drinks with about 5 couples and tonight is a big dinner party with the Mackerel caught yesterday as the guest of honour. We have decided to chill here for a couple of days and then head up to Cairns/Ellis Beach to catch up with the Lyns. Stand by liver.

Undarra Lava Tube

350 klm west of Cairns and you come across the Undarra lava Tubes and kalkani Volcano crater. Today we are off to find our fortune yet again on another fossicking trip. If you dont hear from us then we have found the big one and have taken it to Amsterdam for cutting LOL.

DA'SF

An abstract of wildflowers and storms

Porcupine Gorge

What a great place for a walk LOL. There is no clue that this amazing place is here, you just walk up to it and the cliffs drop away and there it is. We spent 4 hours exploring the bottom of the gorge which is 642 steps and 1.2 klm down. Lots of fun, but the Nat Park camping ground was pretty rugged for most people. It is advertised as having two lots of toilets - WRONG, one drop toilet which was full when we arrived (thank god we drag ours along with us) and overflowing when we left. All those poor people that were in camper trailers and tents (which was the vast majority of people) had to find a shovel real quick LOL.

I feel right at home here

Hughenden is famous as the start of the Dinosaur run which covers an area bigger than Victoria.

You can see I have already made friends with Darby who is showing me around town. Tomorrow we are off to Porcupine gorge for three nights and we are reliably informed that there is absolutely no phone/internet coverage out there so see you all in a couple of days.

Our Alarm Clock

It would be nice to think this was a big ol' Magnola tree in full flower, but it isn't. We arrived at Hughenden yesterday afternoon to be greeted by many hundreds of cockies just sitting there discussing what time would be appropiate to wake us. Obviously 4.15am was the agreed time LOL.

21 meters above the riverbed

Welcome to Charters Towers, just don't come in the wet LOL. Today we headed off to Ravenswood home of the first Qld gold fields, they are still mining here but the town which once had a population of 40,000 is now 140 and 130 of them are miners LOL. Two fab old pubs and the counter lunch was to die for LOL.

It takes a queen to give a town real class

Yep it's the "Queens Hotel" in Townsville, unfortunately it has been closed for sometime. Apparently when it was built in 1900 it was listed as the only "Grand" hotel in Queensland and kept that mantle for the next 60 years. Unfortunately it looks like the geeks in the 70's and 80's converted parts of it to office space and destroyed most of the ground floor interior but I am sure with a lot of love and bucket loads of money it could be restored to its former glory.

Now for some good news: we received our house and contents renewal the other day (which wasn't good news) off we went to the Bendigo Bank to have a chat about this, end result: exactly the same policy with an increase in house allowance and saved us a third of the original fee. While we were on a roll we got them to check our car insurance and saved another $70 there, that makes two so now for the third. Leaving town we stopped at the marine suppliers for our led lights and Ron received a phone call to tell him he had won a $2000 petrol card in a raffle he entered at Cania Gorge back at Easter - that makes three. Oh we didn't win the 106 million but maybe next time.