A Weekend Away.

(Tim looking from Mt Inkerman look out, our first stop.
Never been here before either!)

Our oldest son and his fiance decided that 2009 would be the year of the wedding in our garden and so we decided that we wouldn't have a holiday this year...lots of work to be done and Mr Rudd's 'stimulation' didn't quite cover the costs of titivating and tidying but it did amply cover the expense of a weekend away or two. The idea was that one of us pick a place we've never been before and is only up to 4 or 5 hours drive away. It was my turn first seeing as it was my idea! Last year in Canada I wanted to do the Flying Fox tour at Whistler but due to my lack of determination I missed out. When I got home I Googled 'flying fox' and up came Finch Hatton near Mackay! Blimey...I went all the way to Canada to do something I could do in my own back yard. In the thirty years we have lived up here in the north we have never ventured off the highway. Always in too much of a hurry getting somewhere or going home. I thought he'd guess but he had no clue that what lay hidden behind the trail of the well beaten track was a beautiful mountain getaway. I have to say that all through our life together weather has always featured heavily in our holidays. Every time we packed the esky for a weekend away on the yacht clouds formed , even cyclones! So why should things change now? It wasn't too bad though...bearable ...good snuggling weather!


Our first night was The Chalet at Eungella. You 'can't' see it for the shrouds of fog. Surprises for no one! I find it exciting though. Something we don't see too often in Townsville and an excuse to light that fire.

Being out of touch with lighting a fire my hero came up with the idea of how to get the flames excited. All you need do is have a couple of rums and your breath sorts that! See his cheeks all billowed and the timber ignite! Don't try this at home kids!

I have to say that my well meaning friends and family have a lot to answer for as far as the success of the simple pleasures of a couple of oldies getting away for a 'naughty' weekend! We started our mini holiday with a cold schooner at the bar. We retreated to the cabin for a snort or two of rum and soda (medicinal purpose only , you understand, to warm us up and give us fortitude to brace the freezing weather and get back to the dinning room). At dinner we emptied a nice bottle of Merlot. It was quiet for a Friday so we were told. We didn't mind as we talked and talked and talked! YES TALKED!
All the better books say that talking is a foundation for foreplay. We'll be right tonight then!
First my sister rang for a chat. Then my girl friend Gail rang to see if we were having a good time! We joked about her timing. I then received a text which I answered. Tim had disappeared ...gone for a smoke I thought. 'Gee he's a long time'. Found him...snoring his head off snuggled up in bed! I have a laugh as only a thirty year bride could!

Before heading off we checked out the Ute competition that was part of festivities being held this weekend.

The second night was at The Broken River Retreat . It was modern and fresh looking by comparison to The Chalet. Quieter too and absolutely nothing to do but walk and talk (yes talk!) and view the platypus which neither of us had ever seen in the wild before. I would have swam with them but brrrrr a little too chilly for me. They are very hard to photograph. I did my best...patience ran out as well as the batteries in my camera!

Sharing a coffee break with one of the locals. Funny old turkey. Didn't say much! This was at the kiosk in the National Park. It was very impressive and made me wonder why our Mt Elliot isn't up to scratch like this?

Eungella National Park (pron: Youngella)

Who said you can't take a Monaro off road!

Or through water.....

Entering the black portals of the rain forest...

A fan dancing faerie?

A tree huggers delight.

Babbling Brookness

Tarzan Tim...King of The Rainforest.

Back into the light......


Chatting with the locals at Finch Hatton

Strapped up and ready for the flight!

Through the tops of the forest we go.

This was really worth it 'Finch Hatton Gorge Flying Fox'. If you do go take cotton gloves with you to wear under the leather ones they loan you or plastic throw aways. Other than the creepy smelly hands you are left with it is an awesome experience flapping around at tree top height with all manner of Gods wonderful critters. Donna and David have total dedication to preservation of the reservation! Above is David myself and Clare a fellow tourist. She was one of the short listed applicants for the 'Worlds Best Job'.

An ancient icon?



Bowenwood.... a modern one!

The mighty Burdekin Bridge

Home Sweet Home...

... Just in time to say Happy Mothers Day to Grandma and give her a handmade pressie from a local market in The Pioneer Valley.It's Tim's turn next and he reckons that it will be hard to beat. I was pleased that he enjoyed the adventure and believe it or not we have plans to return it was that good!

Dangers Lurk Round Every Corner!

Dangers lurk round every corner ready to strike at any moment. Fear creeps up gradually as the years encroach and stalk us down. The kitchen, an area that was once a safe and happy place to work has now become a war zone with bombs waiting to go off and annihilate the unaware.
I would never have seen MY kitchen in such a light. The knives or hot water maybe but... bombs?
We had been painting...had a little carpentry work done and to cut costs we did the touching up. There was dust and plaster all over the place as well, old sheets to contain the runaway sploshes and drips. This all took place on Saturday. My painter was seeing to his sport Sunday leaving me to clean up the rest. Like any good wife I offered to cook him a breakfast to last him the day.
“That would be very nice” he said.
“Eggs, sausage, bubble and squeak, toast and coffee to go?”.
“Sounds good!” and off he went to finish his packing.
I lit the gas ring and heated up the pan; in with the butter...sizzle sizzle...
“O oh a splash...paper towel to the rescue...AHHHHHHH” a cockroach as big as my foot came running out.
“It’s gone under the stove”.

It’s probably accurate to say that it was at this moment my brain went somewhere else as what I did next was unbelievable.
“I’ll get you ya bastard...come into my clean and sparkly kitchen” I said out aloud to my only listener.
I reached for the spray can...Mortein I believe and lifted the burner from the stove. Remember I had the pan heating on the other...I gave a small shot that would have killed him (if he was there). I give another for ‘just in case’ and another to be really, really sure when, BOOMB! My life flashed before me as the tops of the stove lifted and relocated askew ...dust and bits of plaster blew from where they lay hidden in places my efforts from the night before missed. “Shit”
“What was that?” as man of the house came running.
“I don’t know I think the stove has something wrong with it”
“What are you doing with that?” he asks pointing to the can.
“Oh I was chasing a cocky.”
“Look at this” pointing to the flammable sign on the can.
I guess that would have killed him” I say sheepishly.
“And you”, with a look that says what he is thinking.
I cover it up with a laugh even though my heart is racing. Two frights in one morning and all before my first cup of coffee.
The thing is, the cocky was still alive. Like global warming is going to bother them! There he was the only safe place left, up the centre of the paper towels, laying flat and still so that I could hardly see him. Trained in kitchen warfare and fearless I hit the button on the can again after turning of the gas that is, and POW... I got him. Take no prisoners, that’s what I say....!

I am all calm now and had that cuppa and my Weeties with Muesli sprinkled on the top. Lovely for the taste buds and good for the inside but the smell of burnt hair still lingers. Wonder what I can spray for that?

Went to the movies today.

When there is nothing else to do, go to see a movie. What better way to do nothing! "Slum Dog Millionaire." For weeks I have avoided it, not even reading the what it was about section of the Saturday news and then I relented and read the critics report. Right up my alley I thought and to think I nearly missed it!
From the opening scene where the kids were being chased from the runway, the police getting no respect at all however all that changed when mum cuts them off and deals with them, to the last scene dancing on the platform of train station, and all the bits in the middle that shocked disgusted and made you feel helpless and the funny and moving parts that made us feel the same regardless of culture differences. If you have always wanted to go to India and couldn't afford it this movie will enlighten you. Very well done. I looked away in the not so nice parts. Shocking yet truthful.

Snake Skin

This is what I found this morning. While I lay sleeping like a baby last night totally oblivious to the goings on...I mean comings off, out on my balcony. I wondered why the frogs where quiet. I am thinking there may be a few less with this little beauty around in a fresh new suit. It measured 270cm and if you allow for shrinkage when the skin dries I think we may have a 3 metre carpet python as a resident....probably in Tims shed!

What made me do it?

Probably a midlife crisis! In a panic to reidentify myself as an individual on this planet and not lost in the daily grind and happenstance of life I braved the inky needle! I had been looking for ages for the right image to have tattooed on my shoulder when this arrived via an email. It said everything I wanted it to; mother nature, floral angel,Goddess, She and all things feminine and most importantly I had never seen it before. Also it says, 'I am not what I seem'. What is flowers is really a face...what is a face is really flowers. Nether right, neither wrong just IS.

At first I was looking for something about the size of a matchbox. I ended up with the whole of my shoulder artistically celebrating! So..did it hurt, I hear you ask? Yep! Sure did right on the verge of tears. It was worth it though.

Les from Second Skin in Townsville was the artist.

What I did today.

I was bored today, too much housework to be done but you have to be in the right frame of mind to tackle a mountain so I decided to take myself to Mt Elliot... Bowling Green Bay National Park (my favourite local spot for a dip). As was predicted due to the excessive rain the road was closed. That did not stop me! I walked in.

The sign as you enter the path down to the swimming area leaves the lone explorer feeling nervous.....

Looks harmless enough!

The swimming hole at last. I have seen it higher but this is still flowing fast. I could swim without moving away from the bank.

Up at the next pond is where I'd like to be but there is no one around to save me if I get into trouble.

Below is a Burtons Legless Lizard (I am not the only one to get that way) Isn't he/she beautiful?

You can make what you want from this next shot and you will probably be right!! No one around and I am never one to let a chance go by....

Hello Mr Turtle!

Hello Mrs Snake

The car park is usually full....not today though.

I only had my mobile camera so this is not very clear...Mr kangaroo is between the trees.

This is why they had the road closed! I could have gone through this but I didn't want to break the rules. I rode through deeper and faster running water during my Big Ride...this was for 'pussies'.

Yeah, right!

The road damage across the causeway into the park. Again the shot does not do it justice. No, I did not ride across this bump. Gave it a wide berth.

Home sweet home and now for.....

a beer and a sanga!

A good day was had by me at least!