Okay, so we blew the budget in Cairns so the consequence of that is lots of free camping! I have spoken about free camping before and we did a bit of it on the west Coast, but basically free camping is all about not paying to spend a night in a caravan park, but rather pulling in at a designated area where there are varying facilities available. It is very impressive the way some free camp spots are cared for by the individual councils of different towns – the last two that we have been to have been beautifully clean, lots of space, tidy and newish toilets, water, mobile phone connection and even the occasional cold shower. Showers are the biggest issue (well for me anyway) but Rich, ever the ‘scientific-problem-solver’ has rigged up a ‘shower-like-arrangement’ for us to use – it does involve a tarp around a tree, a large bladder like contraption that delivers a trickle of warm water – that you have to boil on the stove first ….. but heck, it is warm and wet and it is water and it is a shower! Last night was the first time I had used it and it worked okay especially as the spot we were in was quite isolated – not sure how I will go tonight because we are a little more packed into this spot with other campers! (she was fine, but more nervous than before – me, I love it and don’t who can see).
Our free camping spot with lawn, toilets etc.
One thing I love about this round Aussie trip is that you simply never know what the day is going to bring – you can plan, but who really knows what is around the next corner and this was the case today. It pelted with rain last night, which wasn’t a problem as we were tucked up in our cosy van, but it did result in a rather cold and wet morning. Somehow being on holiday and exploring new places is not quite the same when you can’t see the scenery and everything is a bit soggy – so we were getting ready to write off the day somewhat when we came across the Tyto Wetlands in Ingham. Ingham itself is not terribly impressive, especially on a Sunday morning, but we decided as a last resort to visit the Information Centre, that didn’t actually look like much and to our delight it turned out to be a treasure trove of interesting information (not a booking spot in sight!) and led us eventually to a four kilometre walk around the most beautiful wetlands. It seems the culture of the town (mainly the sugar farmers) is one of restoring wetlands wherever possible, and it was lovely to hear the stories of so many of the sugar cane farmers who have devoted time, effort and land in an attempt to bring nature back onto their farms – and then to see how wonderful mother nature (the Lord in heaven) is with a fairly quick response - the one farmer talked about how within a year of digging a dam and planting some trees, he had ducks and other birdlife, as well as a healthy growth around the water. As Rich said, in this area, you just need to add water and things literally leap out the soil! Needless to say, at the wetlands Rich was in heaven with the prolific bird life and I just enjoyed the walk and the scenery.
From there we had lunch at a gorgeous little café called ‘Pepper for Passion’ (named after the chef’s grandfather who would add pepper to everything and when asked why he would wink and say … for passion! From there it was onwards towards Townsville. We were hoping to catch up with Rachel Bridgman (one of our Darwin Team girls) who is doing a DTS in Townsville, but she is currently sailing up the coast we have just driven down towards Cairns.
1 comment:
Sorry we've been so quiet - renos are finally almost done. Just have to pay some people, check on the plumber, vacuum and wash floors tomorrow and we should be done. It's also the last day before we head off for 2 weeks holiday which I will thoroughly and blissfully and without guilt enjoy. I plan to sleep and read long eat naughty food and play with my family. It's been a busy two weeks.
Loved the shower arrangement. We used to have a bag with a black back that we'd leave to heat up in the truck all day and then we could get a warm-ish, quick shower. But no tarpaulin. Usually one of us would just stand there with a towel in front of the other. But I remember one night when we free camped in the middle of nowhere in Namibia and I was desperate for a shower and bed and Steven wasn't ready when I was. So I showered on my own. It was dark and I am sure my stark white body was a beacon for miles around. I always wondered the next day when we saw friendly locals waving on the road whether they were thinking "oh, that's what she looks like with her clothes on!".
The trip continues to sound delightful and don't be sad Cass is gone. Bittersweet and all that - while home beckons now, you will find that an adjustment too! Funny old things we people are.
Congrats to Cass on her excellent results. What a brainy family we have!
Love you madly. I'll be checking the blog when I get internet over the next two weeks.
W
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