Tuesday, July 26, 2016

SILKWOOD AND INNISFAIL

We head from Wallaman Falls further north, towards the coast and came across this lake...



So we pass through the town of Cardwell and had to bunker down for a couple of days as this being one of the wettest areas in Australia we copped 160 mm of rain in about 30 hours.  We found a couple of leaks in the van that we didn't know about previously so it was time for a little maintenance on the run!

Still managed to grab a photo or two in between down pours haha!


After camping in mud for pretty much the whole two days (sorry we forgot to take photos) we headed for a really nice camp at a place called Silkwood



The only thing was it was next to....


Seems we tend to have a bit of a theme going camping next to these guys!


Pretty fun to watch though


Improvised ear plugs... A couple of tap washers haha



Anyways with the maintenance completed, for now at least, we headed down to Mission Beach which is one of the many lovely beaches in the region.  The thick forest reaches right down to the beach throughout this region.



Mission beach looks out over to the famous Dunk Island.  The beaches are lovely but with Crocs and various sharks in the region you sort of take a bit of a risk if you venture out too far.  Consequently most people stay pretty close to the shore.


Dunk Island


Karen about to dunk


Hmm maybe not with crocodiles and bull sharks maybe next time...


We rocked up on the beach to see these guys parachuting from a plane back to Earth!



Looks like sooo much fun.  Something my Mum and her 89 year old partner Mick did earlier in the year breaking an age record for the company!  On ya Mum and Mick


These little sand balls are made by tiny little sand crabs


I like to call them crab artists


More crab fine works of art


In fact the beach is full of fine art work!


The beaches are massively wide



and hard enough that you can ride push bikes on them


No you see me.....


Now you don't! Hmm clever eh!


As the rain washes into the rivers and the rivers make their way to the ocean, in certain areas the water running onto the beach here makes these beautiful patterns



So we then headed  back to camp


and found a fella called Julius with his wife Reggie parked next to us and what a set up they had!  They had a Ford F250 with a 7.2 litre turbo charged diesel engine.  I reckon his truck could pull his van and mine put together!

He also had this tow hitch which I have not seen before, I was so impressed I had to take a picture.





Anyways we bedded down for the night and tomorrow we head for Josephine falls which is north of Innisfail.

On the way to Josephine Falls we stopped at a beautiful park in Paranella Park.

José Paronella arrived in Australia from Catalonia in Spain, in 1913. For the next 11 years he worked, cutting sugar cane initially, then purchasing, improving, and reselling cane farms. In 1924 he returned to Spain and married Margarita in 1925. The trip back to Australia was their honeymoon.
José first saw this 13 acres of virgin scrub along Mena Creek in 1914. He eventually purchased it in 1929 for £120 and started to build his pleasure gardens and reception centre for the enjoyment of the public.

More information on the man and his park can be found at;

http://www.paronellapark.com.au/about/brief-history


View from the suspension bridge


Over to part of the park


again


here's Karen


View across the water


As we get back on the road we came across this sugar refinery.  The smell reminded me distinctly of 'home brew'!  Mmmmm home brew!


Where the cane trains share the roads in Queensland


Coming closer to Josephine Falls we head near Mount Bartle Frere Queenslands tallest mountain.





We arrive at Josephine falls


A beautiful place to visit





Further down stream is a pretty fun place.  There is a rock fall you can slide down of which I attempt this massively daring feat! ..... Yeehaa!


And here we find the rock slide that has been smoothed off over hundreds of years


So this fine specimen in peak physical condition moves into position


you got to be quick to see the next video and it's a bit shaky but in any case it's proof I did it!


With that one under my belt and before heading back to camp we took a look at the Golden Hole

Really nice picnic area


and next to this river


Just a beautiful spot



Heading home it's a CANE TRAIN!


Everything is big up here in Queensland!


With the exception of the smallest bank branch in Australia!


Aww a plastic horse!



We head off down to Kurrimine Beach.  


Here tropical vegetation meets the Pacific Ocean


I've never seen plant life like this grow in the ocean before.



Stranded


Interesting seat Karen


Sand bar sensation


Hello little weed


Field of green


This is called log surfing, good job Karen you've learn't very quickly!


Now time for a rest.....


Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
A tale of a fateful trip
That started from this tropic port
Aboard this tiny ship.

The mate was a mighty sailing man,
The skipper brave and sure.
Five passengers set sail that day
For a three hour tour, a three hour tour.

The weather started getting rough,
The tiny ship was tossed,
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
The minnow would be lost, the minnow would be lost.

The ship set ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle
With Gilligan
The Skipper too,
The millionaire and his wife,
The movie star
The professor and Mary Ann,
Here on Gilligan's Isle.



Now whoever said chivalry is dead?  Push sweetheart push harder, put your back into it!  And when you get home you can clean all the fish whilst Jacko and I have a nice cold beer!  Is that a crocodile I can see just out of the picture?  Hopefully not cause who'll clean the fish?



So we headed home for the night and tomorrow head off to the Atherton Tablelands.

Yep time to hit the road



To be continued...