Gypsy Travellers. Gypsy Travellers. High points for September and October 2008

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1 Gypsy Travellers Gypsy Travellers September / October 2008 Volume 1, Issue 2 High points for September and October 2008 Dad s birthday 2nd Jeff s birthday 4th RICK S birthday 27th Cobbold Gorge Tour Undara Lava Tubes Paronella Park MaMu Forest Canopy Walk Places stayed in September Einasleigh > Cobbold Gorge > Georgetown > Undara Lava Tubes > Innot Hot Springs > Ravenshoe > Henrietta Creek > Innisfail > Fishery Falls > Cairns Cobbold Gorge Places stayed in October Wonga Beach near Mossman > Daintree / Cape Tribulation > Mount Molloy > Cooktown > Bloomfield > Endeavour River > Laura > Lake Tinaroo, Atherton Tablelands Distance travelled 3,200km Progress so far has been really good and we have visited many lovely places. We are not travelling fast, and have on most occasions stayed at least two or three nights in each location. The standout camp spots were Cobbold Gorge, Henrietta Creek National Park and Flying Fish Point just east of Innisfail. The Daintree and Cape Tribulation is a delightful area as was Endeavour River. We have visited so many places in the last two months, and done so many tours that it is really hard to know what to show and tell. I ve selected the real highlights, but there are lots more photos. Rick got a new camera for his birthday, and he s having a ball both taking the photos and then later editing them on the computer. Cobbold Gorge is both camp spot and tourism venture. The gorge itself is located on Robin Hood Station and has been the subject of many Great Outdoors type video articles. The station owners have built a campground, motel style accommodation and a cafe- caters for restaurant-bar complex which just about everyone. Daily tours take visitors around the station and then into

2 the gorge proper. Apparently the gorge is a geological fault line which has filled with water and associated critters. The water level is not high at the moment, but the tin punts still fit through the little canyons giving a really good feel for the peace, beauty and quiet of the place. Undara Lava Tubes Henrietta Creek National Park This is a beautiful little camp spot on the Milla Milla to Innisfail road. There is not a lot of room, but we were lucky in getting a really quiet and secluded camp towards the rear and away from the road. The bird life was spectacular, and we saw many new birds. Everything is so green and lush; it s hard to believe after the dryness of the inland. And it s now getting nice and warm. Whilst not a very good camp ground, Undara National Park provides a really interesting tour of the lava tube area. It was quite an eye opener, because there are tubes all over the place apparently not just one tube. Different sizes, different lengths and different conditions. We went on the half day tour which included climbing an extinct (supposedly) volcano and delving into 4 tunnels. Serious fun, but learnt lots as well. Paronella Park Flying Fish Point, Innisfail This little township is about 7km east of Innisfail, right on the coast and is a lovely green and lush area. It s at the mouth of the North Johnstone River and is a haven for bird-watching and fishing. After a slightly rocky start (just a little customer service issue), the caravan park itself is very good. This is one of the must-do visits when in FNQ. It s a beautiful area, and has a very rich history.

3 MaMu Forest Canopy Walk little area well away from the homestead complete with ablutions and camp kitchen with the capacity for maybe about 20 camps, all well spaced out. It s very dry and dusty at the moment, but when the rains come, it will be transformed. The camp is very near the Endeavour River (5 minutes walk away) where a crab fisherman was taken by a crocodile just a few weeks ago. Needless to say, we stayed well away from the river banks. This local attraction has only recently opened (about 4 weeks before we arrived), so still has a lot of plant growth to restore. BUT, it was one of the most impressive forest walks we have done. This area was damaged quite badly during Cyclone Larry, so the boardwalks, treetop walks and tower have been built around the damaged area. This means that there was very little further damage caused by construction and the attraction is a credit to the local Indigenous owners. Endeavour River Escape Clanger of the month!!!! Never, never, never put coffee grounds in a screw top jar in the freezer!!! As all off-roaders will know, travelling on corrugations can result in screw jars coming unscrewed. Imagine if you will half a large jar of coffee grounds set loose in a freezer which is making like a cocktail shaker. IT WAS NOT A PRETTY SIGHT! There was coffee from the top of the freezer to the bottom of the fridge. It took an hour to clean out (with lots of creative swearing) and three fridge defrosts later, I m still finding grounds in odd places!!! It was a month before I could look coffee grounds in the face and not shudder. A Picture is worth a thousand words!! The next couple of pages are just a sampling of the hundreds of photos that Rick has taken. The most difficult part was in knowing which to pick. This bush camping area is a cattle property and the owners also run a small Clydesdale stud. They have set up a nice

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