Bing Bong its Borroloola NT

30 June 2012

Arrived Borroloola NT near Gulf of Carpentaria and staying for two nights.

The boys are going to do some fishing.
Nights are cold but the days are 30C.

Ma & Poppa

1 July 2012, Bing Bong, Gulf of Carpentaria

The border and coffee at Barkley

29 June 2012
At Barkley Roadhouse for coffee.

Brunette Downs rest area for free camp overnight

Ma & Poppa

The border crossing from Qld to NT

Eagle with dead snake - Tablelands Highway between Barkley Homestead and Cape Crawford

Camooweal

27 June 2012
Leaving Mount Isa.
Not sure of coverage past here but we expect to be in Katherine 3 July.

In Camooweal tonight.

Going to the caves this afternoon.

Ma & Poppa

27 June 2012 Sink hole at Camooweal Caves

Mount Isa

20 June 2012
Mount Isa for a week. Looks much the same as last time we were there many many years ago.

Time to catch up on the many chores - restocking cupboards, fridge, washing ...

Ma & Poppa

24 June 2012
We are in Mount Isa and it is cold and very windy.
We went to church here this morning and were very cold.
Hope you are well and being good girls.

Poppa has just gone to do a "Hard Mine Tour" which is 2 1/2hrs.

Love you
Ma & Poppa

 23 June, Miner outside Information Centre at Mount Isa

23 June, Inside the Information Centre at Mount Isa - A display 'Riversleigh'

23 June, Lake Moondarra about 16 km out of Mount Isa

Mount Isa by day

Mount Isa by night

Fountain Springs

19 June 2012
Fountain Springs Rest area for the night after going through Cloncurry.

Ma & Poppa

Terry Smith Lookout

17 June 2012
Poppa and Unc H caught three fish each.
Both kept one each and the rest were too little so went back in with a big fishy kiss!

Leave Karumba tomorrow heading to Mount Isa.

Staying overnight at Terry Smith Lookout.

Will be in Mount Isa on Tuesday.

Ma & Poppa

My Karumba..,

16 June 2012

Arrived Karumba for 2 nights.
30 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. The boys are going fishing!

Ma & Poppa

Gulf of Carpentaria, Karumba

Brolga

16 June, This was at the Caravan Park at Karumba

17 June, Karumba Sunset

Normanton

14 June 2012

Arrived Normanton for two nights

Ma & Poppa

15 June 2012
Today we did a 2 hour train trip on the Gulflander from Normanton to Critters Camp and return.
Another one ticked on the bucket list.

Ma & Poppa

15 June, The Purple Pub, Normanton

18 June, Crocodile, Normanton

Croydon

13 June 2012

Arrived Croydon for one night

Ma & Poppa

Gorgeous Gorge

12 June 2012

Had a day trip to Cobbald Gorge.

See these links to give you an idea of what it was like......

Cobbald Gorge - You Tube

http://www.pleasetakemeto.com/australia/cobbold-gorge/videos

Had a lovely day, especially the pumpkin scones.
Poppa

Georgetown

11 June 2012

Arrived Georgetown for two nights with POWER!

GOing on the Cobbald Gorge tour tomorrow.

Free camps not as good in 5C temperatures.

I am coping.

Ma & Poppa


Email Update:

Hi All

We left Kurrimine Beach Sunday 2nd and enjoyed our stay very much. Travelled only a short distance to Innisfail where we stayed
for 4 nights. Did food shopping, washing,  and travelling to The Boulders and Josephine Falls at Babinda, Mamu Canopy Walk up the
Millaa Millaa road . Passed Mt Barlte Frere.

Then we changed our plans and went up onto the Atherton Tabeland for 3 nights. We stayed just outside Atherton at a free camp
Rocky Creek Memorial Park. At least 50 vans camped there. Rocky Creek is where the Military set up Tent Hospital Wards during WW2. Very interesting place. Lots to see and do on the tableland like chocolate making and sampling, cheese making and sampling, markets, distillery, waterfalls. Lots of fruit stalls so we are enjoying pawpaws, bananas, passionfuit and avocados.

Left Rocky Creek Sunday 9th and stayed Ravenshoe last night and now tonight we are at Georgetown for 2 nights. Tomorrow we are booked on Cobbald Gorge Tour which leaves from here and is a day trip.

The rain left us at Kurrimine Beach and the days have been very summery but oh the nights its a different story - anything from 5 to 12 degrees.

Travelling well so far and getting into the swing of life on the road.

H has set up a blog site for those who wish to view Www.poppandma.blogspot.com.au

Love Ma and Poppa

Ravenshoe....what size shoe does a Raven have?

10 June 2012
We are moving to Ravenshoe today. All going good. Love to all.

Ma & Poppa

Windy Hill just outside Ravenshoe

2.30pm
Got to Archer Creek Free Camp with limited service. Onto Georgetown tomorrow for two nights.

Ma & Poppa

Rocky Creek

8 June 2012

"At Rocky Creek, it's lovely holidaying but cold"

"Interesting place as they had tent hospital wards here in WW2"

Off to Ravenshoe tomorrow.

Our camp at Rocky Creek Memorial Park

Cassowary at MaMu Canopy Walk

Mount Bartle Frere Highest Peak in Qld

Brrrrrrr!!

7 June 2012

The tablelands are beautiful, but can get a little cold.

22C during the day and in short sleeves...not bad.

Forecasts are down to 3C overnight.....and a forecast of sleet.....nah!

Expecting it will be cold without power....

Milla Milla Falls

Mosaic at Malanda

This was at Gallo Restaurant - Chocolate and Cheese. Yum!

Innisfail

3 June 2012

Innisfail for three nights...ahhh nice and sunny...maybe another night...?

Calamine at Kurrimine?

31 May 2012

Not sure if calamine is required at Kurrimine Beach, but the Noble girls caught up with childhood friend and her husband also in their caravan.

Weather was wet, wet, wet.....

Here for three nights! hmmm but if the rain keeps up? Who knows....

Ma and Poppa



Email Update:

Hi All

We are travelling well and at present enjoying the company of friends at Kurrimine Beach (Just south of Innisfail). It is wet and cool and has been
most of the way.

We spent the first night with Poppa' s brother and family at Hervey Bay and caught up with a new addition to the family, then Calliope River,
and met my sister and her husband in Rocky for a quick catch up and onto the family at Greenhill. The girls were very excited to see us. It was wet and very cold there as most of the state has been. We left them on Tues 29th and meet up with my sister and her husband just north of Mackay and overnighted at Home Hill and Francis Creek (near Ingham) and today arrived at Kurrimine Beach to stay
for three nights. Our childhood friend and her hubby are here for a month so the six of us have spent the afternoon talking.

Tomorrow night we are booked into a seafood dinner and country and western night at the local hotel.

No more news for now. All good. Ma and Poppa.

Frankly Francis...

30 May 2012

Francis Creek one night....still heading north.

Home Home on the Hill...

29 May 2012

So two caravans, the Noble girls and their spouses are on the big road!

First big night is at Home Hill.

Heading north!!!

Hey Ma! We need some pictures...
Love
Lil 'L

Skype me, Skype you....

25 May 2012
Enjoyed catching up with Ma and Poppa on Skype.  I also got to see Billy Tea, Beach Girl, Gizmo and The Artist.

Won't be long before they're on the big road...just a couple days.

Hope Skype works!
Love
Lil 'L

Smell the new tyres...

24 May 2012
A big bonus to the trip is always beloved travelling companions. Ma's sister and her husband are joining them on the BIG TRIP. Meeting up at morning tea and then later again after a few days in Sarina / Mackay.

There are just a few things to do at Sarina to prepare for the long journey. 

Main one is to get plenty of cuddles from Billy Tea and Beach Girl.

The other is to get a new round of rubber for the road. Fresh set of tyres will serve them well.

Hey girls....have some cuddles for me too!

Lil 'L

Time for a quick cuddle?

23 May 2012
Only an overnighter, but enough time to get some quality cuddles in with 4 week old grand-nephew and to catch up with the new grandparents - Poppa's brother and lovely wife are very proud new grammies!

Next morning, onto the road and off to Calliope River.

And they're off...

The week before the big trip Ma and Poppa were getting nervous....for some reason the brakes on one of the caravan wheels was getting really hot.

There was already a minor change to the itinerary to visit a new grand-nephew at Hervey Bay to play babies....but hot brakes and a burning up wheel....that could delay the kick off!

Poppa worked hard all weekend before the scheduled departure date and got it all fixes...so catch up with baby on track and arrival at Sarina too!

22 May 2012
Approx. 8.30am and they're off. Onto the big caravan trip of a lifetime....up north, over the centre to the west, down the coast and back over the long long way and then up the guts.
Make sense? Probably not....so watch and enjoy the ride.

Next stop - Hervey Bay!

Where are Poppa and Ma?

Poppa and Ma are on a big trip! I often don't know where they are or what they're doing. I want to keep an eye on them, so will check back in here to see. Lil 'L