Moree

Back south of the QLD border in NSW, at the town of Moree.  Decided to take the shorter inland route home from QLD today, hence arrival in Moree.

No Pics

Noosa

Tonight I am in Noosa, catching up with some old friends that I have not seen in a while.

Shark at Hervey Bay

Noosa Beach

Nicolette's fluffy cat

Andrew, Me, Nicolette

Hervey Bay

Another easy trip down from Rockhampton to Hervey bay. I got here early enough to check out the fishing spots and get me some bait. I didn't catch anything but I did get some bites. I had to stop because the sun was going down and were was no light on the jetty.

Knitting on a tree 

Proof of me fishing

The jetty at Scarness, Hervey Bay

Yepoon

The drive between Mackay and Rockhampton is very boring, known as the Horror stretch.  But when I was a few K out of Rockhampton, I noticed a coast tourist road that went through Yepoon. Yepoon  is famous in my mind for only one thing. That is, back in the 70's, the Japanese built a flash resort on top of the breeding grounds of Australia's giant barking spider, the size of dinner plates and they eat birds. So I turned off toward Yepoon.

On arrival, I could see the resort and a bit further  the town and shops, but nowhere could I see any reference to giant spiders, maybe they are extinct now. I drove along the clifftops and too some snaps.

All photos at Yepoon.

Note Dolphin in this picture, Fin visible.

nice colours in the rocks

Mackay

Todays driving was an easy day, about 350 km.

 On the way I went through Home Hill, where the French guy stabbed two backpackers. You would never know by the look of the place, just another small town. When I got to Mackay, I wanted to check out the fishing spots. I went to the breakwater but that was a bit severe for climbing on the rocks. Later I went to another place, the Old Hospital Bridge jetty, here I watched a  couple of chinese guys fish for about 30 mins but nothing happened, so I let that place go. Maybe tomorrow.

A view around Ayr

The beach at Mackay

A view from the Breakwater

Another  View

Look closely, ships out at sea lining up to come into port (Coal I assume)

The Old Hospital Rd Jetty (No action today)

Cairns to Ayr

This morning I started the long journey South back to Melbourne, travelling today from Cairns to Ayr and reliving a few memories on the way. One of them is Tully railway station where in 1976, as a young lad hitchhiking I was confronted in the dark by QLD Police (A scary force back then) and coerced to stop hitching (under threat of arrest or worse) and catch the train. My travelling companion and I caught the train.

The train at Tully

The Pier at Cardwell

Crab Sandwiches at Cardwell

Hichenbrook Island

Last night in Cairns

Today I spent with my friends Nigel and Heather and Heathers son Marcel. We went to Palm Cove beach for lunch. Ice Cream was also had. Photos by Heather.

Kuranda

Today, we went to Kuranda, a small town in the hills west of Cairns, then onto the waterfalls of the Barron River and then back towards the coast where we had lunch at Holloways beach.

Kuranda

the Falls

Overview of Cairns from Lookout

Sugar Cane

Holloways Beach

Chris's house

Cairns Monday

Hi,

I have been without reliable internet for the past few days, hence a bit tardy in updating blog.

Today, I have found a cafe in ton with reasonable internet so I can update a bit.


Yesterday, Chris took me to the coast on the south side of Cairns harbour, it took about an hour to get over there. Before that we had breakfast at the Port and had a look at the pool on the esplanade.

Port of Cairns

Pool on esplanade

South of Cairns Harbour

Cairns Saturday

I am without internet for past few days I upgrade my prepaid and Telstra said I used it all so I have none left and the free internet in town is really slow. Stay tuned over next few days.

Port Douglas And Mossman

Today Chris and I went up to Port Douglas and Mossman, both north of Cairns. Chris had some work to do with his business there.

Surprisingly, it did not rain much and was even sunny at times. I did not recognise Port Douglas or Mossman, both have changed so much from my first visits 40 years ago.

Mossman, main street

Look out at Port Dougla

As above

Local Sentiments

Lunch, Mocka's Pies

Paragliding, Port Douglas Beach

Latest Craze, building "Cairns" rock piles, near  Cairns