Reef to rainforest

We're amazed by where we are and how far we've come! Sitting at Top Pub in Cooktown typing this after a day on the Bloomfield Track from Cape Tribulation. Not to mention Port Douglas before that with a trip out to the reef for a snorkel and dive! WOW, we do realise how lucky we are.

Some may have known there was a potential chef job for Matt in Cape York but everything happens for a reason and by the time we got to talk to the guy at the camp in Cape Tribulation, it was taken. We are still on track then for heading west and we're happy about that.

The reef from Port Douglas was magical - so much coral and fish! It's been awhile since my last dive so I had one just as a refresher but the snorkels were where the real viewing was with pristine conditions! The reef tipped out of the water at low tide - I didn't realise it could exist in pure sun but only for the tide changes.

The boat crew were passionate about the reef and helpful on the dive - totally recommend.  I researched a couple different boats before we decided on Calypso and it was brilliant!

Cape Tribulation was a pretty special place with our camp just at the location where the reef meets the rainforest. From the beach we even

accidentally walked on the reef until we realised that's what I it was and had to do a major soft back peddle. Saw our first cassowary and croc here!

The journey truly has begun!

Call me "Tarazan"

Some tracks are more fun (ie scary) than others but so far, I've enjoyed them all!

The Herberton Range Ridge Track involved some more input from me than just gasps and photo taking. With hiking boots and

workers gloves in place, I pulled trees aside and moved giant logs from the path! All while avoiding the stinging trees that are pleasantly displayed with heart shaped leaves.

The track went from just past Herberton and ends up near Atherton. We stayed one night on Lake Tinaroo then did the Edith Road Track through more beautiful rainforest before moving on to Kuranda

where we went to the Butterfly Sanctuary - a MUST SEE stop!

Bull dust, waterfalls & rainforest, oh my

A lucky couple days of 4wd tracks and beautiful sights. We finally got to Blencoe Falls in Girrungun National Park but not how we wanted from the coast. We traveled

around to Mt Garner and went in/out the same track since the overland track was closed.

It was well worth the travel and the convincing the ranger to let us through the last 6km, of a 2 hour journey, after he posted closed signs due to aerial shooting. For what? Not sure, some locals said brumbies, others thought wild boars.

The falls were outstandingly impressive! My frights of attack bulls and major water crossings quickly faded away to ahhhhh! We had lunch (new fav lunch spot - last one was Pipeline Road between Rubyvale and Finch Hatton), then on back to escape the firing squad.

The day didn't end there, we traversed Mt Misery from Mt Garnet to Irvinebank on a beautiful track for sunset to make dinner at the pub and a camp in the valley out front.

Today ended at Lake Tinahoo in the Atherton Tablelands after another track through Herberton NP. This one was a ridge track through the rainforest with a few fallen trees to be moved off the track and climbs in both directions.

I reckon I'm getting pretty good at the passenger travel of these tracks! Only a few comments - one at the major flowing river crossing (John Cantrell, I hear you laughing), but all I asked for was a moment to take it in. I also had a gasp as a motorbike took a curve on a winding steep & muddy track that surprised us. Other than that, Matt can count on me to pull bushes aside and even find the unknown tracks.

Don't worry Mum, we do chat with the locals to find out the track conditions first, then also heed well given advice on pumping up and down the tires as required (thanks on one to Lynn & Lance who we met in Treachery Beach Camp).

Some tracks are too good to be true

And when you find yourself on the same patch of banana plantation that you were on an hour earlier, that is certainly the case. When the track turns into a marshy cane field, it's time to question your gps.

All good though and we found ourselves a lovely patch of a crowded rest area to plant us down for the night. We'll retry that track in the morning. Wish us luck! We should end up around Atherton Tablelands via Girramay National Park to Mt Garnet.

Time in Townsville

Townsville may not be top of everyone's travel list but when you

have lovely friends like Megsy, Adam and lil Finn to visit, then life in this army town is pretty good.

We arrived on Friday with barramundi from the fishos for dinner. It's Monday now and all is pretty cruisey - Megs (& thus I as well) was spoiled with a french

toast and berry breakfast on Mother's Day then had we both went to yoga class in the afternoon before Matt whipped up a paella with treasures from the Sunday markets.

Since my Mum had an address to mail, lucky for me, she took

advantage of the opportunity to send a couple care packages! So

I milled through my treasures and Matt took his treasure off to Land Rover for the truck's 10k service. 

We did have to take it for a wash over the weekend so the

mechanics could see what they were servicing. To me, it kind of felt like when people clean their house before the maid arrives as they don't want them to see the mess. Also, I thought a Defender was meant to be dirty - what do I know, I'm still learning but it did scrub up pretty nicely.

We are still waiting for another package from Sydney of the solar digital voltage display to replace our current one that only shows half screen. Then we will head north for Cairns before turning westward for Darwin - this is when the real adventure begins.

In the meantime, I baked banana bread with Finn as my super consultant and Matt played with Samantha the carpet python

(Adam's 2 metre friend).

Wintermoon bliss

A beautiful festival with beautiful people! That doesn't even touch on the location and music. We LOVED it all! But as my Mum noted when I was telling her about how wonderful it was, she correctly asked if we had been anywhere yet that was NOT beautiful - good point Mum!

Sharing the fest with new friends, Lucy and Adrian, was also pretty special (& helpful for the us two travelers to have others to communicate with). They had been at Platypus Bushcamp in Finch Hatton so we coaxed them along with promises of music and merry times. Noone was led astray as the

fest was all that and more. Thanks truly go to Mattie Barker from the band, The Lamplights, as he gave Matt the heads up. Of course, The Lamplights' sets were the highlights of our fest. Those boys have both heart and talent in their music. Other great finds were Siskin River and Wes Carr.

So after daily swims in the crystal clear river, music fills and a little slack line balancing (thanks Adrian), we were on our way to Cape Hillsborough only just back down the road to the coast. We were all (Adrian & Lucy were heading that way as well) in desperate need of showers and laundry.

This area also didn't disappoint with kangaroos relaxing under the clothes lines and wallabies munching on something on the beach every sunrise. After a couple days including sitting by the pool (still stinger season) and a hike through rainforest, caves and beach side, we farewelled Matt's manpanion, Adrian, and lovely Lucy to head separate directions.