Airlie Adventure

After pulling nearly everything down yesterday, we arose early and had a fast brekky to be on the road by 7am, which was funny because we tried to explain to the boys after 90 minutes of driving that the Toms’s would just be surfacing now....they didn’t get it...

500klms today and we really got lucky with the roadworks to be honest. Not many delays which was great and the prediction of being set up by 3:30 was spot on. It gave us time to have a look around and see what was on offer, and of course for Zander & Mav to do their social thing again. This time there were kids lining the streets so it wasn’t hard to find for them.

This really is a good park for kids, everything they need. The list is too long but if you get the chance, bring your children here. We decided to stay another night based on the fact it is good to let the boys go bananas so we can relax a little, and after Mission we feel like we have started to do so. The boys found the jumping pillow. I just have to suck up the fact we are with a thousand other families all weeing in the same pool and making shit loads of noise.....but that's' what you get.

2 National Parks await after this so I can have my quiet time then...

Jase & Nat.

P.S - Nat loves it here because we had cheese and wine afternoon when we arrived and there are hair dryers in the toilets!  She also mentioned this morning they even have a laundry basket and trolley in the laundry to hang out your clothes!  Luxury.....

3 days at Mission Beach....beautiful....

The drive from Flying Fish Point to Mission was all of about an hour, so it was nice to have an easy journey for a change. We stopped to pick up some presents from Kmart for Zander’s B’Day and had a nice coffee and some really fattening cakes before we moved on.

When we arrived, the boys eyeballed a waterslide and playground before we’d even hit the driveway, so we knew we might get some down time by letting them off the chain and just watching them.

After checking in we got a site right beside the dunnies which was not ideal but what do you do in school holidays with an oversize camper trailer. As it turned out it was a great spot and relatively quiet and dark at night. A lot of van parks light the amenities up like a Xmas tree but not here.

Zander again infiltrated some families to find new friends within minutes and clung on to this 6 yr old kid called Zane, who tried to (and did) convince Z Mann his name was Zander so he thought that was pretty cool. As it turned out this little kid was a real pain in the ass and his parents need to pull their heads in and start parenting.

More on that later.

We managed to get some beach time and pool time in the first day, sus out around the local area (which was South Mission Beach) and a few drinks and nibbles later we all found ourselves playing UNO and laughing uncontrollably at how the boys have figured out how to cheat at such a young age. They had Friday movie night after this and they were out like a light...

Day 2 we went into the main township for a look and whilst there is not much there, it really is a nice spot. We could easily have a holiday home here for the winter if we had the coin....The sand is grainy and a yellowy colour, which isn’t ideal but still nice all the same. You can still see scars from Cyclone Yasi also which must have been a massive storm, but to their credit they are very resilient and bounce back like true Queenslanders.

We arrived back to find out from some quality friends of Zander’s that the so called other Zander was just coming into our campsite and pinching the boys bikes to ride. Pretty cheeky if you ask me. I told him when I saw him it wasn’t on and he knew what I meant. During the stay he also became very pushy with the boys and started coming over to bludge food also. On the beach he pushed one of the kids into a hole we had dug (I gave him a serve after that) and was hogging the football from all of the other kids. By this time we were over him and all the while, we didn’t see his parents once over the 3 days. He was in the pool on his own, down at the beach on his own, in the playground on his own, and generally annoying all the travellers......on his own. It was good to see the back of him....Pool time again and some swims on the beach rounded the day off. The good thing about having them so busy all day is that they go to sleep fast, which enables us to have some us time.

Day 3 we just lazed by the pool and beach. Some quality sunshine whilst our friends and family froze in single figure rain affected conditions in Brisbane. Bugger.

We built a massive boat on the beach with the long handled shovel and then played footy with a number of kids. It was really cool and we are enjoying this time with the boys travelling on our own again. Up early tomorrow for a long drive to Airlie where the word is  the park is super for kids.

Mission – if you haven’t been here it is somewhere you must come for a look at this time of year, safe swimming beaches and friendly people. Great stay.

Jase & Nat.

 

How to get kicked out of a caravan park.....

Today we had all the sheets and clothes in the washing machine by 8.30am.  Well Daddy did anyway because Mummy didn't want to....
The good thing is that it will dry quickly in this weather so we will be all good by this afternoon.

The boys wanted to play mini gold, go to the beach and spend some time in the pool, so given we are alone now it is a good opportunity to have some time with them, so the plan was in place.  Washing hung out and mini gold done - check....
We needed to get some spades and buckets, and some gear to service the Prado, so we went into Innisfail to get it afterward.  A great deli made us a nice coffee and a short drive around the town made us think what a nice area this would be to live in winter... Flying Fish Point is beautiful too with some very nice and expensive houses beachside.  The area was recommended to me by a couple of old work mates to visit while we were up here and they were right....nothing here but that is just how we like it!!!!

On our return I walked across to the beach to see how the tide was.  On my way out a gold Magna came hooting around the corner into the park via the exit and passed the no entry sign, almost hitting me.  As they went past, an overweight woman (thing) in the passenger seat said to me "gee your lucky mate".
Obviously this aroused any irritations I might have about what happened so I went over to their cabin (they are permanent residents) and asked them to come outside.  A bloke that looked about 20 and like a women came to the door and I asked if they just came in the park in that Magna.  He said yes so I asked him if he could slow down as I have 2 kids that are riding their bikes around.
He said he didn't come in effing fast and I didn't know what I was talking about.  So I looked at the waste of a human in the eye and said idiot, you did, you nearly knocked me over, and you came in the exit a hundred miles an hour.  Then his fat Mrs stood over him and started whining about something to me which pissed me off even more and then told me to mind my own business and then shut the curtain.  I then said just make sure you don't do it again or we will be talking again.
They told me to F off.
I then mentioned it to Nat in the scaled down non aggressive version and said I had concerns about the welfare of our belongings given grubs like this will do anything to get back at people.  So we just put everything in the car if we were away from the camper.  Another couple from Narangba in Brisbane arrived in a camper and reversed in right beside them, which made me smile given the quality of neighbours they now had.  I wandered the boys up for a swim with the intent to tell the park owners when I was finished and I saw Nat talking to them as I went.
Shortly after Nat came to the pool and said the shit had hit the van and the grubs were getting evicted!  Apparently the guys from Narangba overheard them fighting and swearing etc (I might have riled them up a bit) and he went over to ask them to stop.  This bloke isn't big but he doesn't look like he will take crap and then they gave it to him too.  He didn't back down either and gave it straight back.  The owner drove past in the golf buggy and was waved down and told by the new arrivals to move them or they are getting out and telling everyone about the scum that live her (much the same as I was going to tell them) and he on the spot told them to piss off!!!!
Good on him.
The idiots then kept going and then whinged about having 2 kids and homeless because of the "travellers" carrying on about nothing!!!
Bloody funny in the end.  They packed up, pissed off and took their friends from a couple of cabins up with them.  Great story for us to laugh about over a few beers before the footy tonight.

Down to the beach we went and did volcanoes, monster trucks and sand castles.  Believe it or not we have our children back and they are once again starting to listen and do as they are told.  Lets see how long it lasts.

There is a free sausage sizzle and nibbles for the origin tonight on the big screen in the BBQ area of the park.  Streamers up everywhere and quite colourful to be honest which is great.  We will head up and watch the maroons square the series hopefully!

Go the maroons - Jase

Flying Fish Point

We decided last night that we would press on tomorrow and stay at Flying Fish Point for 3 nights instead of 2.  We needed to wash all our clothes and high pressure water blast the dust off the boys... and the trailer/car.

The drive was about 500km and around 180 of the last we will see of unsealed road on this trip.  There might be a little beach work and a couple of national parks, but we can wash the dust off now and feel a little cleaner.

Once we made it through Laura and pressed on to Mareeba and the peanut country of Tolga and Atherton, we were amazed at the landscape changes once we turned east and headed for the coast via Malanda, Milla Milla and the Palmers region.  The ranges through that sector were simply beautiful and we didn't know they existed.  Had we known we probably would have planned to stay a night or two up there.

It was around 4.30pm when we arrived at the van park after getting supplies at Innisfail, so we had enough time to devour a BBQ chicken and get organised after setting up.  The boys were pretty tired to be honest and given they had nothing but their socks to play with on the 6 - 7 hour journey today, we were happy with the way they behaved.  This was confirmed by the no fuss bed time when we asked at 7.15am.
Needless to say they had made 4 new friends by the time tea and no doubt will be trying to stalk them tomorrow.

It looks like a really nice place here and we think we will enjoy our little stay.

Jase and Nat

Lakefield National Park and a big dick.....

After a nice hot shower this morning and a coffee from the local grocer, we caught up with the oldies and headed south once more bound for Lakefield.

The trip was only a couple of hundred k's at best so not too bad a day.

Zander and Mav made sure they said their good byes to the Mackay family as soon as first light was even a possibility!!!!! We just can't stop them.....

We stopped at Musgrave Sation again for a break and then only had about 80klm to go to the reserved campsite.

Along the way we were approaching quite a steep decline into a dip and I said to Nat tell the guys quickly on the UHF. She quickly grabbed it and said "guys there is a big dick coming your way" This was the funniest bloody thing I have heard or seen since Zac had his panic attack. She looked mortified and we just lauged for 10 minutes solid. Se couldn't even hold the microphone. I was still having spurts of laughter hours after just thinking about it. Geez it was funny.

When we arrived it seemed a little like déjà vu and we thought back to El Questro Station in the Kimberley. Extremely private sites by the river and nobody in sight. This is what I love and long for on our trips.

We set up and the boys went bananas in the dirt playing monster trucks and riding their well used bikes around an area that would house plenty of campers.

I found 45 minutes to read my book and have a bit of a power nap, but unfortunately if it is daytime in any fashion, my energised kids just keep coming in wanting my attention.

I have to admit, my patience has been a bit thin with them over the last couple of weeks because they have been an absolute handful. One thing we learnt last year was that when we are alone in more remote areas they are so much better  than in van parks or travelling with other people. Whilst it has been excellent doing this trip with the Toms's - and we say that sincerely - the boys are so attracted to Zac & Emily and as a result they just become so disobedient because they think they are 10 years older than they really are. Zander in particular who is sharp as a tack knows at a young age how to manipulate us and press our buttons. I am sure that is the same with all kids but Mav is so different and knows when he has crossed the line. Z Mann just keeps pushing......and pushing, where as Mav will just be quiet and listen.....

Anyway, Rob & Darren went down and tried their luck fishing while I was trying to have a sleep with no luck. In fact the word was that they are going to keep moving tomorrow and go to Cooktown because there is nothing to do here. I think Mum & Dad are thinking the same, as are Rob & Caroll.

We are not sure, I think we might stay another night as per the booking because it will be nice to be on our own again - how we like it to be honest - and probably how everyone else feels after 2000klm in the dirt. Much harder for the others given they are in a tent too, they really have done well.

Tomsy has the fire going, how much wood is left will have a huge bearing on our decision as to whether we stay tomorrow night or not. By the look of it there won't be any left!!!!

A great 2 weeks all had with Mum & Dad & the Toms. Brilliant to have the company along the way and we wish them all well on their journeys around Oz. We wish we were going with them, or a least travelling again. We have been blessed to have this opportunity for another 6 weeks after 6 months less than a year ago. The next 2 weeks with the boys will be great. We aim to give them as much of our attention as we can, because it will be all systems go when we get back.

Jase & Nat.

 

Sexchange Hotel

Today we all really felt like we would have liked to stay another night. Hindsight as I have said, is a great thing. We would have stayed 2 nights at Elim Beach, 2 nights at Vrilya, and chopped one night off Weipa and Punsand Bay had we known where we were going.

Anyway, packed up again and southward to the Coen pub, called the Sexchange Hotel. After lunch at Bramwell Roadhouse, and then an ice cream at Archer, we arrived there at about 3pm. The campers all go out the back and for $5 per head, we thought it was good value. The oldies found a free camp out by the river but we wanted to stay at the pub because a few coldies and a counter meal sounded like the go.

After setting up, we had a couple of beers and got chatting to a family from Mackay. I have to thank Zander because we meet so many people through his social skills. He is like clock work, he will stalk them slowly until the kids see him, then he moves little quicker and before we know it has infiltrated their camper or van, and like tonight.....sitting some random adults camp chair talking to an adult while he was chopping wood.

Funny stuff.

Just as funny was the Brahman bulls just wondering the streets and in the middle of the football field chowing down on the cricket pitch....

There was also 2 beautiful staffies running around the campground which belonged to the owners. They are such great dogs and I think we might be the boys one in the near future.

We all moved up to the bar where we had fish and chips which was pretty greasy but nice all the same. In talking to Barry Mulley the publican, he said his family used to basically own Carole Park in Brisbane and tat he and his five brothers moved to Cairns as young adults and from their up to Coen. There was a heap of NRL/Cricket memorabilia onto walls in frames and one in particular signed by Norm Provan. I asked who was the Dragon supporter  was and he said all of the family backed them because when Provan retired he bough a caravan park in Yorkeys Knob in Cairns and he used to go to their training sessions and show them how to play when they were young. They now have moved on to firstly the Broncos in 88, then the Cowboys when they joined the comp......but the dragons still hold a small place in the 11 strong family.

Great yarns.

After dinner we basically hit the sack after another tantrum from Zander from being over tired. We just wish he would get some sleep while on the road because he is just non stop all day and doesn't take a breath.

We would recommend this for an overnight stay on the way up. Cold beer, go food, decent amenities, fires allowed and friendly people.

Off to Lakefield tomorrow, then we part ways with our fellow travellers. It will be nice to spend 2 weeks just as the Manns in out home away from home.

Jase & Nat.

 

Vrilya Point for some....

Today we where going early so that we could try to get to Vrilya Point and spend as much time as we could given it was an overnighter only.

The local knowledge was that it was 23klm south of Jardine River ferry and then an hour to 90 mins to get in.

We decided to stop in at Seisha on the way back because we are close and it made sense. We were of the understanding that it was the main town up here and the best serviced because it has Loyalty Beach Caravan Park there also. The van park is also noted as the best on the tip, yet it is 30klm from there.....

Our impression - Bamaga was better in terms of stock in the supermarket and Loyalty Beach was too crowded. We took a punt on Punsand Bay and we got it right. While it wasn't 5 star caravan park, it was OK considering the location and you could have fires there also. In all honesty the are very few caravans up here - if any, it's all camper trailers or tents....just how we like it.

Southward was the direction and we planned to be at the point by 12pm, but getting supplies took a little long and the reality was we wouldn't be there until after 1pm if all went well.

Well, let me tell you, things didn't go to plan....

We crossed the famous log bridge that everyone who goes here talks about - not even a challenge if you pick the right lane. Then we encountered severe corrugations for the next 20k or so which as always, is very boring.

We arrived at a creek crossing with a little challenging bit on the other side and while we were assessing which line to take and how to approach it, we look around and my Mum & Dad, along with Darren's Mum & Dad decided they had had enough and reversed out and took off!!!!

I asked Dad as he was 15 point turning through the bush what he was doing and he said "We've had enough, we are going back to the flat road"

Rob echoed his feelings and off they went. 

I said to them we are 500m from the beaches as I could see it clearly on the GPS topographic map I have, yet they still decided to go back. They said they would meet us at Bramwell Roadhouse and meet up tomorrow.

This seemed strange as the had another hour minimum to get back to the main road, then another 160klm to get the, and it was already after 1pm.

Whilst we understand they are retired and want to look after their cars, the reality is that some of the things we have been doing so far, far outweighs the complexity of what we had in front of us - and we then were where we needed to be!!!!

Anyway, we let them go off in a huff and we drove another couple of minutes to a beautiful beach - the best we have seen so far, and within 30 minutes we were set up 50m from the water having lunch on the beach.

We are disappointed that they didn't persist for a little bit further, but that is OK, they just missed a great spot because I think they didn't like the corrugations. Dads was running 30PSI which would have had them bouncing through the roof.......no wonder he was cranky. We had 23-25 and we found it tough going. 18 PSI on the way out it will be.....

We caught up with a couple from Perth who have 2 lovely daughters and the boys as always were captivated but them. They played with them all afternoon and we made monster truck tracks and volcanoes again. All of the kids managed to find hermit crabs and walk around the rocks looking for anything they could find, Tomsy and I threw in a few lures with no luck.

It really was worth the drive in and in reality it would have been easier to drive down the road and stay at a roadhouse, sometimes the best places are there for a reason - because not many people can get there......

No fire tonight, we a just sitting on the beach in the dark trying to croc spot. We are almost out of beer so we are regulating the intake, which probably will do us some good......

Archer River Roadhouse tomorrow in what will be a big day, pick the oldies up along the way and we will be essentially half way back to Lakefield, then onto Innisfail after that for the homeward journey with just the Manns.

Jase & Nat.