Hello Everyone,
Well, have we had the best time over the past week. On leaving Mareeba we headed North to a place called Palmer River. This is where the Queensland gold rush started in the late 1800's, but now it is just a roadhouse. As it is about 160km north of Mareeba, we decided this would be a good place to stay for a couple of days.
While we were setting up, 2 ladies were getting into their car and mentioned that "you need to try the hamburgers- they're enormous!". OK, we thought- that's our 'lunner' (lunch and dinner) meal for today (as the kitchen is open all day, with it being a roadhouse).
But before we had 'lunner', I cranked out 4 loads of washing as the weather was lovely (not being on the coast any more, the weather had dried out and there was no rain or humidity) and Anthony set up the both satellite dishes as we needed internet and TV. Well, that always gets people to come over and take a look and one person to do that was our next door neighbor, Rick. Rick is living in a huge bus at the moment as he is trying to organize gold mining licences, but has not been able to get his satellite to work since Christmas. Along comes Anthony and in about 10 minutes he has Foxtel and TV coverage. As a thank you, he gave us 2 bottles of wine (a chardonnay and a pinot noir). When he gave them to me he did say "enjoy, but pack them well as they're worth a few dollars". I googled the label, Banjo's Run, and we are talking about a pretty expensive thank you!! We thought the price shown (about $300) was for a dozen, but it is actually each!!! On chatting to Rick later over a beer (!), we found out he is a very experienced business man and it was a pleasure to meet him. Lovely person number 1.
We stayed at Palmer River Roadhouse for 2 days and we did have the hamburger and it was de-lic-ious!! We also needed to do some repairs on our bed!! When I lifted our bed up to get a clean set of sheets out of the storage area, the whole bed moved. The bed frame hadn't been screwed into the wooden base where the studs were, so Anthony needed to fix it up. We had the mattress and the frame out of the van on the table and I was telling people we were sleeping outside tonight! It was all fixed in about 15 minutes though and I was able to remake the bed again. Not that happy with JB Caravans again though.
On Saturday 30th May we left Palmer River and headed to Cooktown. Now Anthony and I really liked Cooktown. It is a small tropical country town but it is beautifully kept. The streets are wide and the amenities basic, but it is a lovely place. There's 2 pubs, 3 bottle-o's, a pizza place, 3 caravan parks, a hospital and a brilliant IGA. We walked to wharf area on the second day and picked up a fresh 1 kg bag of tiger prawns for $25 and had them for 'lunner' that afternoon. We also visited Captain Cook's house which was very well restored (Cook ran aground here and stayed for 7 months fixing the 'Endeavour'). The house itself was a nunnery back in it's day, but it now has information, artifacts and stories about the Nuns, Captain Cook and the local aboriginal people.
We stayed in Cooktown for 3 days and on the third day, we got new neighbors at the caravan park. First, Joe and Karen arrived and they live on the Sunshine Coast. Next to them was Bill and Catherine from West Beach. Both couples were lovely and we had beer o'clock together in the camp kitchen area that night. It was fantastic. Lovely people number 2.
On Tuesday 2nd June we headed 31 km's south of Cooktown to Lions Den. Now, a lot of people had told us about this place and we were so lucky to get a spot when we rocked up. As it was only 31 km from Cooktown, we arrived at about 9.30 am, and we got the last spot in the park. Everyone else has pre-booked or were staying there already so we were very lucky. The pub here does all day pizza's so of course we had one for 'lunner'. They're so big we only needed to order one and it was fantastic. I'm so glad I bought heaps of groceries at Coles in Cairns 'cause we certainly aren't eating at home a lot! We don't even eat out this much when we're at home!!
Yesterday we left Lion's Den (we only stayed 1 night) and drove to Laura- a whole 120 km away!! We dropped into the Quinkan Cultural and Arts Centre on our way here and the man suggested staying at the campgrounds behind the pub in Laura. He also told us about the tours they do and we booked in to do a morning tour of some rock art for this morning. Late yesterday afternoon we met Wayne and Margie who were parked next to us and were preparing their car for a 'quick' trip to the top (up and back in 4 weeks). They were leaving their camper at the pub and needed to put everything for the trip in the back of their vehicle. Such a great couple. We had drinks with them at the pub before we had dinner - lamb shanks were on the menu so I couldn't say no! Yet another meal out though!
Lovely couple number 3.
Today we went on the rock art tour and it was spectacular. The rock art was done by the Quinkan people and they are probably some of the best and most well preserved aboriginal rock artworks in Australia. The tour took us onto private property on a dusty scrub track that no one would know about except the owners and the guides. The art work was very well preserved and is situated in recessed rock that has protected it from the sun and rain. We went on the tour with a lady from France so it was just the 3 of us and Steve, the guide, let us stay as long as we needed to get photos and ask questions (of which I had tons!) Lovely man number 4.
And just this afternoon, while I have been doing this blog, a couple from Renmark have pulled up next to us (at the back of the pub). Kevin and Ruth are just fantastic- ex truckie and ex quarantine worker (road side quarantine station near Renmark). We just keep meeting these lovely people. (I truly think this is karma from us meeting that awful lady at Mareeba). Lovely couple number 5.
That's all for the moment folks. Tomorrow we will be heading further north so I'll be in touch soon!!
Well, have we had the best time over the past week. On leaving Mareeba we headed North to a place called Palmer River. This is where the Queensland gold rush started in the late 1800's, but now it is just a roadhouse. As it is about 160km north of Mareeba, we decided this would be a good place to stay for a couple of days.
While we were setting up, 2 ladies were getting into their car and mentioned that "you need to try the hamburgers- they're enormous!". OK, we thought- that's our 'lunner' (lunch and dinner) meal for today (as the kitchen is open all day, with it being a roadhouse).
But before we had 'lunner', I cranked out 4 loads of washing as the weather was lovely (not being on the coast any more, the weather had dried out and there was no rain or humidity) and Anthony set up the both satellite dishes as we needed internet and TV. Well, that always gets people to come over and take a look and one person to do that was our next door neighbor, Rick. Rick is living in a huge bus at the moment as he is trying to organize gold mining licences, but has not been able to get his satellite to work since Christmas. Along comes Anthony and in about 10 minutes he has Foxtel and TV coverage. As a thank you, he gave us 2 bottles of wine (a chardonnay and a pinot noir). When he gave them to me he did say "enjoy, but pack them well as they're worth a few dollars". I googled the label, Banjo's Run, and we are talking about a pretty expensive thank you!! We thought the price shown (about $300) was for a dozen, but it is actually each!!! On chatting to Rick later over a beer (!), we found out he is a very experienced business man and it was a pleasure to meet him. Lovely person number 1.
THE burger - $12.00
We stayed at Palmer River Roadhouse for 2 days and we did have the hamburger and it was de-lic-ious!! We also needed to do some repairs on our bed!! When I lifted our bed up to get a clean set of sheets out of the storage area, the whole bed moved. The bed frame hadn't been screwed into the wooden base where the studs were, so Anthony needed to fix it up. We had the mattress and the frame out of the van on the table and I was telling people we were sleeping outside tonight! It was all fixed in about 15 minutes though and I was able to remake the bed again. Not that happy with JB Caravans again though.
On Saturday 30th May we left Palmer River and headed to Cooktown. Now Anthony and I really liked Cooktown. It is a small tropical country town but it is beautifully kept. The streets are wide and the amenities basic, but it is a lovely place. There's 2 pubs, 3 bottle-o's, a pizza place, 3 caravan parks, a hospital and a brilliant IGA. We walked to wharf area on the second day and picked up a fresh 1 kg bag of tiger prawns for $25 and had them for 'lunner' that afternoon. We also visited Captain Cook's house which was very well restored (Cook ran aground here and stayed for 7 months fixing the 'Endeavour'). The house itself was a nunnery back in it's day, but it now has information, artifacts and stories about the Nuns, Captain Cook and the local aboriginal people.
Captain Cook's Museum and the 'Endeavour's' anchor
We stayed in Cooktown for 3 days and on the third day, we got new neighbors at the caravan park. First, Joe and Karen arrived and they live on the Sunshine Coast. Next to them was Bill and Catherine from West Beach. Both couples were lovely and we had beer o'clock together in the camp kitchen area that night. It was fantastic. Lovely people number 2.
And guess who found the last 2 bottles of Jansz in Cooktown -
and it was cheaper than Cairns!!
On Tuesday 2nd June we headed 31 km's south of Cooktown to Lions Den. Now, a lot of people had told us about this place and we were so lucky to get a spot when we rocked up. As it was only 31 km from Cooktown, we arrived at about 9.30 am, and we got the last spot in the park. Everyone else has pre-booked or were staying there already so we were very lucky. The pub here does all day pizza's so of course we had one for 'lunner'. They're so big we only needed to order one and it was fantastic. I'm so glad I bought heaps of groceries at Coles in Cairns 'cause we certainly aren't eating at home a lot! We don't even eat out this much when we're at home!!
Welcome to the Lions Den Hotel (and pizzeria!)
Yesterday we left Lion's Den (we only stayed 1 night) and drove to Laura- a whole 120 km away!! We dropped into the Quinkan Cultural and Arts Centre on our way here and the man suggested staying at the campgrounds behind the pub in Laura. He also told us about the tours they do and we booked in to do a morning tour of some rock art for this morning. Late yesterday afternoon we met Wayne and Margie who were parked next to us and were preparing their car for a 'quick' trip to the top (up and back in 4 weeks). They were leaving their camper at the pub and needed to put everything for the trip in the back of their vehicle. Such a great couple. We had drinks with them at the pub before we had dinner - lamb shanks were on the menu so I couldn't say no! Yet another meal out though!
Lovely couple number 3.
Today we went on the rock art tour and it was spectacular. The rock art was done by the Quinkan people and they are probably some of the best and most well preserved aboriginal rock artworks in Australia. The tour took us onto private property on a dusty scrub track that no one would know about except the owners and the guides. The art work was very well preserved and is situated in recessed rock that has protected it from the sun and rain. We went on the tour with a lady from France so it was just the 3 of us and Steve, the guide, let us stay as long as we needed to get photos and ask questions (of which I had tons!) Lovely man number 4.
Quinkan aboriginal rock art
And just this afternoon, while I have been doing this blog, a couple from Renmark have pulled up next to us (at the back of the pub). Kevin and Ruth are just fantastic- ex truckie and ex quarantine worker (road side quarantine station near Renmark). We just keep meeting these lovely people. (I truly think this is karma from us meeting that awful lady at Mareeba). Lovely couple number 5.
That's all for the moment folks. Tomorrow we will be heading further north so I'll be in touch soon!!
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