192 - New Blog

Hi Boyz and Girlz

To avoid all this drama associated with the up loading photos, and because I am very hesitant to put a cc over the net......easy solution is to create another blog.

So hope this works............simply go to http://theretroroamers2013.blogspot.com

Cheers & beers!

191 - Photos

Na........haven't gone to the big motel in the sky, Google is just not letting me up load photos.

Till I can work it out, might be a bit silent for a while.

Stay toooooooned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

190 - Townsville

The bride on the Townsville Esplanade over looking Magnetic Island

 

While we at st TNC we decided to have a look around Townsville.

Although we have been through Townsville a million times, and did two "tours of duty" there, we felt it time to at least visit Castle Hill, and go for another walk along the "Esplanade.

In Townsvilles defence, Cairns has tried a similiar venture, however Townsvilles esplanade wins hands down.

The bride on Castle Hill

 

Townsvilles east from Castle Hill

 

Looking north from Castle Hill over Rowes Bay

 

We moved on from Townsville and TNC after a couple of days, and headed to Bivouac Bush Camp at Charters Towers. Stay tooooooooned!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

189 - TNC

All camped up @ TNC

 

While we were at "Bushy Parker", we met quite a few fellow campers, and had a great time socialising and of course the odd cleansing ale. We also met a few couples that were either moving onto camps further north, and others that were going to Blue Waters and TNC. Hey I said to the bride, "this is one camp we haven't visited (TNC) in our trvels up and down the east coast so lets have a couple of nights there before moving further south."

So off we toddled to TNC.....and only a hop skip and a jump from "Bushy Parker". Now TNC is run by members on grounds which are a little primitive, however for $10 a night we had water, toilets, showers, but no power. Hey that's cool we just produced our own power, but the Blue Waters Creek was the jewel in the crown, and the bride and I enjoyed the odd splash in the milky blue waters of Blue Waters Creek, and of course the stunning creek beach.

Uuuuuu Hoooooo is there someone hiding behind that tree

 

Is this the way to the beach lady

 

Save the whale

 

Hey Mr. Did you forget something?

 

We really enjoyed TNC and will re-visit the next time, we are heading north along the coast road.

 

Stay tooooooned for Townsville

 

 

 

 

 

  

188 - Moving south

Hi Boyz and Girlz.

As before, I am weeks behind with my blogging so until I can catch up will be fairly brief  with the story line, however for the time being these blogs will be mainly pictorial.

Briefly left the Boulders and spent a few days at Brampston Beach, then onto "Bushy Parker" free camp

Brampston Beach

Looking north @ Brampston Beach

 

Looking south @Brampston Beach

 

Wine Time

All parked up @ Brampston Beach

 

Bushy Parker Free Camp

 

We covered a lot of kms and lots of things to write about, however time is dictating this blog, so a pictorial of Bushy Parker free camp just north of Rollenston will have to do.

 

The shower tent off the back of the RetroLiner

 

How rude!!!!!!!!!

 

Bushy Parker is a great place. Water available, showers and toilets clean and serviced daily, and just near by is a fantastic river / creek for swimming. No power but the genny worked over time. We met some fantastic travellers there, and spent four days just enjoying the atmosphere. 

 

Next post TNC so stay toooooooned. 

  

 

 

188 - I'm Back

Just a quick one boys and girls.........I'm back.

Also thanks to those who have contacted us just to make sure we are all okay.

My lap top finally died, and we have also been out in the mulga as well.

Have a new lap top, and will be back into the blogs as soon as possible.

So stay tooooooned!!!!!

Cheers & beers

186 - The Boulders

The Boulders

* I am having enermous communication problems and up oading photos at our current camp site at Charters Towers, so I will be doing what I can in short bursts.

We left Cairns and headed south, with the intentions of initially camping the first night at the Boulders, which is only an hour down the track. Yes we did stop at the Boulders, and there was room at the camp site, however there must have been two million March Flies, and the pricks of things bite big time, hence we quickly decided to nick off out of there and head down the road to Brampston Beach.

The bride swatting March Flies

So we headed out of the Boulders and went straight to Brampston Beach which as the Crow flies over the hill....so it didn't take us long to reach this destination. Stay tooned for more on Brampston Beach.

185 - A Mixed bag

Quicksilver just coming into PD

This blog is coming to you from Bushy Parker "free camp" just north of Townsville.

Before I get into this one, just a thank you to all of the followers of our travels, and of recent times several new followers that have come on board. Thanks every body.

We left Cairns Wednesday last week and moussed down to our present position. However before we left Cairns, the last weekend we shot of to Port Douglas for the Saturday night as our son and his family had a wedding at PD, Haylee's sister, so we went along for the ride, and looked after the grand kidz on the Saturday night. Now that was a mission.

Anyway a few pikkies

A proud dad giving away his last daughter

Shaylah (grand daughter) just had to get dolled up for the wedding

Where else would you find a grandson at a wedding......up a tree of course

We returned to Cairns early on Sunday morning, to check on the animals, and had the house to ourselves. Our son and family stayed in PD till the Monday afternoon, so took advantage of the peace and quiet, and even got to watch the big TV without any dramas.

Now which of the five controls do I need to work this out

See told  ya.....................and that's The Unbelievable Truth

Stay toooooned, hopefully very soon for the start of our journey south bound

184 - I Think We Are Passed Our "Used By Date"

First of all no photies this blog boyz and girlz.

Secondly, I have been trying to change the photo above, however for what ever reason, the system will not accept any new photos. I have had this trouble for a while, and only occasionally will the system accept a change of photos......a'h well keep on trying.

For the last week here in Cairns the weather had been absolutely the pits. I knew the run of great weather wasn't going to last for ever, and when it did change.....it changed big time. So our beach activities were curtailed, and some of the spots we were going to visit didn't eventuate, so it has been a long, long week, for all sorts of reasons.

So Tuesday 9th or Wednesday 10th of October we will pack up from our sons front lawn,  and hit the road again. We have had a month here, with the last two weeks being schoolholidays........mmmmmmmmmm....of which we are glad that all in sundry will be returning to school this week, to create their mayhem on others, rather than a couple of ageing delinquents. I really think we are passed our used by date.

So where to from here. Depending on our departure time, we will head straight to Brampston Beach, which is only just down the road, and will start free camping at a few of the designated freedom camping sites between here and Townsville. From Townsville we head inland to Charters Towers, and after spending time in CT we will travel the inland road from CT to Emerald via Clermont. As much as possible we will freedom camp. Where we will end up...who knows...who cares.

So stay toooooned! 

183 - Palm Cove and Trinity Beach

Double Island or better know as Dolly Parton Island

 

Wednesday 26th September, weather still perfect, so I took the grand son down to the jetty at Palm Cove to do some fishing off the wharf. Being another glorious day it was just perfect for some happy snaps.

The pikkie above is seen on our previous posts taken from Ellis beach, which is basically around the corner from Palm Cove. There is an exclusive resort on the island, and various movie stars book out the resort for their own use, like......Kenau Reeves, Donald Sutherland, The Retro Roamers.  About $25 grand a night.

The jetty @ Palm Cove

 

Palm Cove taken from the Jetty

 

Further down heading towards Kewarra

 

Right around to the Trinity headland

 

Palm Cove is a huge beach, and is divided into three parts. Palm Cove proper, Kewarra and Clifton Beaches. Palm Cove is the trendy tourist beach area with resorts, restaurants, cafes and the famous Palm Cove caravan park. Kewarra and Clifton beaches are all about residential, and even though the beach is just as good as Palm Cove, doesn't attract the tourist numbers for obvious reasons.

 

Scout Hat Island

 

This island is just to the right of Dolly Parton Island....and the reason it is called Scout hat Island, if you look close enough, it looks like a scout hat.

 

All the mad fishermen

 

Now to set the record straight, the only reason I am hanging out at fishing areas, is because the grand son is fanatical. Me personally, I hate fishing. I don't have the patience, hate the smell of bait, hate getting all that gunk on my hands, detest hooks, sinkers, jiggers cause they always end up in my bloody hand. So all in all, I am the worlds biggest sook when it comes to fishing. But in saying that, I love eating fish and Calamari, but because I am allergic to shell fish....I can't have crustaceans. Anyway enough of that.

 

Now Thursday 27th of September, the weather is finally starting to turn. There is a south easterly trade wind now bring moisture onto the coast, so we anticipate a few cloudy showery days to be with us. The grand kids have gone into Cairns to the lagoon with Haylee, their Mum, so the bride and I decided to re visit Trinity Beach and have lunch at the pub.

 

Trinity Beach is a second cousin to Palm Cove. Yes it has resort / apartments and a few restaurants, but is only a quarter of the size of Palm Cove. The pub (Trinity Beach Hotel) has been redeveloped from the original "fountain on the mountain" which was blown down in 2000, by Cyclone Steve. The redeveloped hotel / apartment, does not have that same feeling as the old original.

 

The famous original Trinity Beach Hotel was a typical north Queensland bare arse, rough as guts pub, but the atmosphere was tremendous. We managed a property two doors up from the pub '99 - '03. You can go back on our blogs around the middle of winter 2010, and tells you a lot more about Trinity Beach and our "tour of duty" at Amaroo Beach Resort.

 

The dining area of the Trinity Beach Hotel

 

The view from the Trinity Beach Hotel

 

Had some lunch then headed off for walk along the pathway to the southern end of the beach. Being school holidays there were lots of families around.  There are BBQ's, surf patrol and the far southern end is quite protected from the southerly wind. The northern part of the beach is not easily accessible as the road stops just past the pub. If you want to go to the northern and quieter part of Trinity Beach you just have to walk along the sand....pretty easy really....however be prepared for the odd au natural folks.

 

Looking down towards the southern end of Trinity Beach

 

Looking north you can see Double Island  (Dolly Parton Island) and Scout Hat Island

 

The bride posing....don't mind the lady in the back ground (he he!!!!!!!!!)

 

At the current rate of travel we will be out of here (Cairns) in about 10 days. We are off to PD the weekend after next for an over night stay. Also if the weather settles we will do a visit to Buchans Point, which is just around the corner from Palm Cove. Why Buchan's Point.........................................mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

So stay toooooooned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

182 - This fun has to stop

Monday Tuesday 24th and 25th of September and the fun continues.

Were do we go to when the weather is just sensational, back to Ellis Beach of course. Today we took the grandees.

Here are few more photies:

There's a grand child in there I think

 

Our son Micheal.

 

Micheal and his bride Haylee

 

Brodie the mad fisherman

 

Shaylah, Nana and Brodie

 

"Help Nana, a whale has got me!!!!!!!!"

 

"Don't worry Shaylah I will get the sucker"

 

Bugger!!! Missed it by that much!!!!

 

The bride practising for the Sports Illustrated swim suit model of the year

 

Aaaaaaah

 

Hey Brodie watch out for the crocs.

 

Both the bride and I still managed to get our long walk in, although separately for obvious reasons.

By starting at the south end of Ellis we walked all the way to the far north of the beach. As the tide was low I kept on walking past a set of rocks, and came across a lovely young couple, who forget their swim wear.....must be global warming!!!!!!!

 

The bride and I will catch ya tomorrow (he he!!!!!)

 

Stay tooooooned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

181 - Another day in paradise

Part of Cairns proper taken from north of the esplanade

 

The weekend of 22nd and 23rd of September was all about watching the real footy on Friday night, and happy to see the Melbourne Storm, beat the crap out of every body's team they love to hate, Manly of course. A'h very enjoyable sucking on a "Naked Blonde," beer of course, seeing Manly getting hammered in all directions.

Saturday the main event was taking the grand children to a five year old birthday party....now that was different. Our son and his bride were off to separate hens and bucks nights for an up coming wedding, so we bundled the kidz up and off we went. The party was at the far northern end of the Cairns Esplanade, which is about 20kms for where we are at the moment. I will say the the Cairns council have dome a lot of work here, however Townsville water front precinct wins hands down.

So before we left for the party, we took some photies of the grandees and the animals, then some more photies of the birthday. Hey this is pretty tame for me. (he he!!!)

The grand son Brodie

 

The grand daughter Shaylah

 

"Charger" The 13 year old Pit Bull/Ridge Back

 

"Baby" The 13 year old cat

 

"Chewy" The three month old pain in the arse

 

Izzy (birthday girl) and Shaylah

 

Birthday parties don't change much...just lots of cake, lollies and as much junk as can be found

 

On our return from the party, just did the usual thing of getting kidz organised for the evening, but were met with a chorus as in "I'm hungry", "I'm bored," "What's for dinner" "Where's Mum and Dad". I left all that goings on to the bride, and I hid in the RetroLiner, with a half dozen "Naked Blondes" and copious amounts of red wine. Why......because it was the sudden death Grand Final Qualifier between South Sydney "Rabbitoes" and the Canterbury Bankstown "Bulldogs"

 

Now as I was right behind the "Rabbitoes" or the "Bunnys," mainly because I went to South Sydney High School, and played rugby league competitively during those years. Although I didn't raise to any great heights on the footy paddock, cause I was more interested in riding surf boards and chasing the surfers chicks.

 

Any way it is history now, as the "Bulldogs" beat the "Bunnies", unfortunately quite convincingly...but that's footy. Next week the grand final between Melbourne Storm and the Canterbury Bankstown Bull Dogs. Should be a ripper of a game.

 

Sunday 23rd was another glorious day, so with Mum and Dad home with the grandees, the bride and I headed back to the beach to enjoy some more R & R. at Ellis Beach.

 

The mermaid

 

The far northern end of Ellis Beach

 

Where the rain forest meets the sea

 

Yoo Hoo!!!! Any body home???????????

 

We went for a long walk as we both need to lift our fitness levels, as we are both two tonne over weight. We enjoy walking along beaches, beats pounding the cement somewhere.

 

Just a note to Dave & Shell, I popped in and said gidday to Rob at the Ellis Beach CP. They send their regards. They seems to be heading south the same time as us, so we might meet up.

 

Stat tooooooooooooooooned for more on Cairns