The Sunlander

The Sunlander at Brisbane station

Peter in the lounge car

Peter and I travelled Queenslander Class on the Sunlander from Brisbane to Cairns. It's a slow trip but very genteel and reminiscent of yesteryear. We enjoyed delightful company, delicious meals and entertainment by singer and keyboard player, Paul.

Delicious lunch served on the second day

Death of a wine cask

Lyn's cask of red wine died a horrible death in the cooler box. Here we dispose of the evidence at Merluna Station near Weipa.

Our camp at Merluna Station

Day 9 Chili Beach

It was a rough journey into Chili Beach, but a leisurely walk along the white sands made up for the discomfort. What a lovely way to end a beautiful day.

When we returned to camp Rob was attempting to relieve a coconut palm of its fruit. He wasn't successful, however someone gave him a coconut they had acquired earlier. The fresh coconut was delicious.

Our fellow travellers enjoying a rest at Chili Beach

After a very windy night we explored the beach before setting off for Portland Roads.

Credits:
Papers and elements from By the Sea kit by Phuong Ton
Tab element from Serenity kit by Phuong Ton
Template from SO minimal by Sine
Title is Rage Italic
Text is dear Joe

Day 11 Hann Crossing

Arriving at our riverside bush camp in the late afternoon I noticed a small crocodile swimming across the river. No worries, at least he was going the other way.
After setting up camp we discovered a goanna while on the long cross country trek to the toilets.
Later, Rhonda and I enjoyed photographing a beautiful sunset.

Credits:
Papers and elements by [ksharonkdesigns] Rebecca's Art 1 and bonus add on
Eucalyptus leaves and pods from [ksharonkdesigns] Down Under mini kit
Stitching from [ksharonkdesigns] Journal Tags 1
Template freebie 14 from Sya's Blueprints by Aisyah Roslan
Title is Viner Hand ITC
Text is Verdana

Days 5 - 7 Loyalty Beach

We camped at Loyalty Beach near Siesia for three nights and enjoyed a magnificent sunset each evening.

Credits:
Papers and elements from Serenity kit by Phuong Ton
Template 78 by Timounette
Title is Edwardian Script
Text is Tempus Sans

Day 13 Daintree

Leaving Cooktown we travelled south via the Bloomfield Track through the world heritage listed Daintree rainforest, before ending our tour at our Cairns accommodation.

Back from "The Tip"

Just returned from a wonderful holiday to "The Tip" of Australia. Thirteen days of camping, 4WD on the old telegraph track, corrugations and dust, crocodiles and glorious sunsets. Thanks to Wilderness Challenge and our driver, guide, cook and all round good mate, Colin Henry, for such a fantastic adventure.

Peter and I at "The Tip"

Feeling better ...

Glad to report that I'm feeling a lot better today and took a short walk to school where I stayed for an hour or so before walking into Eltham for a bite of lunch. It was lovely to be out of the house for a while.

Cape York

The main reason I decided to have the gall bladder surgery now was so I would not be incapacitated with severe pain during our holiday to Cape York (the northern most tip of Australia) in July.

Peter and I are flying to Brisbane, catching the Sunlander train from Brisbane to Cairns and then taking a 13 day small group camping tour from Cairns/Cape York/Cairns with Wilderness Challenge. We will then enjoy a few days in Cairns visiting reef and rainforest before returning to wintry Melbourne.

I remember a fellow traveller telling me after he did a similar trip with Wilderness Challenge - "Don't just think about it - just do it!" Thank you Kees for your advice.

Such a little thing ..

Following several extremely painful gall stone attacks in the last couple of months (one of which I ended up in the hospital emergency department), I took the plunge last week and had my gall bladder (and gall stones) removed via keyhole surgery. Just a few small cuts and a couple of nights in hospital. I had four gall stones with the largest measuring approx 16mm across. Yeouch!!

So here I am at home for a week and feeling quite sorry for myself. At least I have time to update my blog. Who knows, I might even do some digi scrap!

So much devastation and loss of life

We have all been affected so deeply by the devastation of the Victorian bushfires. We are fortunate in Eltham to be just far enough away to feel relatively safe, although it could so easily have been our town that was razed. Everyone knows someone who has lost their home and possessions and sadly some who have lost their lives or lives of loved ones. It's heartbreaking!

The holiday - first instalment

Day 1
We finally did manage to organise ourselves out of the house (not particularly early though) for our road trip to Coffs Harbour. We chose to travel up through Shepparton and Tocumwal to the Newell Highway and then cut across through Cowra to Orange where we stayed the night.

Day 2
After breakfast we drove to the Western Plains Zoo near Dubbo. It was lovely but soooo HOT! Full of whining screaming little children who were also soooo HOT! We saw as much as we could but most of the animals were being very sensible and were sleeping in the shade. We did manage to glimpse a huge tiger in the shadows and were lucky enough to see the baby cheetahs on their daily outing. They played with the keeper, chasing a rope around just like little pussy cats would chase a piece of string. So cute but I bet their claws are sharp. We then drove on to Coonabarabran via the Warrambungles scenic drive where we stayed overnight.

Day 3
The next morning we had a leisurely breakfast and then drove back into the Warrambungles and walked to the White Gum lookout and then drove up to the Siding Springs Observatory and were able to visit the Anglo Australian Telescope. Lots of people in hard hats were actually changing the telescope head which looked quite an involved process. The head was hanging from a gantry on the roof and they moved the roof to position the head downstairs.

We then headed off from Coonabarabran through Gunnedah and Armidale on to the Waterfall Way through Dorrigo and Bellingen to Coffs Harbour, with a quick stop and a walk at Ebor Falls on the way. It really is a very pretty route through gorgeous rainforest, although the road is very windy and with a couple of one vehicle only corners. Anyway, we arrived at Coffs Harbour about 6 pm and settled in to Sandcastles Apartments almost opposite the Park Beach Bowls Club on Ocean Parade for the next ten nights. Great 2 bdr apartment on top floor so we caught the sea breeze and with with a lovely little balcony to relax on.

photos to follow

more instalments to follow

Procrastination (it's my second name) ...

Peter and I will be off on our road trip to Coffs Harbour this weekend but neither of us has started thinking about packing. He's playing with his new toy - a SatNav and I just can't get motivated. Ah well, there's always tomorrow. Jo and Matthew have gone up to Bright for a few days of bush camping (SO not Joey!) with Matthew's parents. We'll leave before they come home but Katie and Andy will house and dog sit for the weekend. Jasper knows something is happening and looks very glum!