20th to 31st Dec, 2019 Mum & Dad's place, Cairns, Qld

Settled in. So glad to be able to help Mum and Dad with the cooking, cleaning etc. Nice to be back in cooler weather too with the rain showers. It is humid but not that sticky stinking build up to storms.

Washed my hair and got Steve to take a photo as I will get it cut shorter in the New Year. 

I will go back to casual work at the Tuckshop – where I worked before we left. Steve will be busy with the truck and van build.

Jon got Steve to work straight away, helping in install an air conditioner in Mum and Dad’s bedroom so they can sleep in the day more comfortably and cool the room at night when the hot days come. Dad has bad prickly heat so it will help with that too. I even had prickly heat after those hot nights on the way home.

Joined Wendy, David, Kaylene, Rick, Andrea and Alan at Cocos at the Pullman International for our Christmas get together. It was a lovely lunch and we had a great time chatting. Took some photos by the huge tree. The chefs have made a ginger-bread house and it looks like the kids have been eating bits off it already.

Christmas breakfast here with Dan, Fran, Jon and Jess and Greg, Tracy, Timothy and Katie. Brian also joined us which was lovely. 

Dan made us and Mum and Dad lovely twirly things – he is so smart. 

Jon bought me a lovely verse for the van and some other lovely things. 

Mum and Dad gave me a lovely battery-operated candle with the Tree of Life one side and a beautiful verse on the other. I had given Mum a lovely Mother verse on a butterfly.

I got Steve a bottle of Fiji Ratu that we tried at 9 Mile Beach with Guy. Steve got me a bottle of Penfolds Grandfather Port because I never got to have any of the bottle David bought Terry when he became a grandfather when I had Daniel. They scoffed the lot. Now I have a bottle to myself!!

Rang Erica in Woodgate. She was there with Terry, David, Amanda, Bradley, Benjamin and Ella so we passed the phone around for everyone to have a chat. I said we are planning to be in Woodgate next year with the boys etc so hopefully we can get all the Gecks together again.

Everyone left so we cleaned up and headed up the Gillies Range to Julie and Peter’s place near Ravenshoe. It was hot (36 degrees) but we managed to keep in the shade and there was a light breeze at times. We had a lovely lunch and yummy desserts. So lovely to see my nieces, Rebecca, with husband Jeremy, and Veronica and their little ones.

Brian sent a photo of his lunch with his daughters, Jodie and Stephanie and Jodie’s fiancé, Bryan.

David then sent a photo of the Woodgate gang having lunch. This phone/photo technology certainly is a good thing.

Boxing Day started with thunder rumbling in the early hours and a bit of rain. I think Santa ate too much plum pudding as his belly is constantly rumbling. More thunder and then the lightning started flashing right overhead. We got a good dumping of rain 20ml then the storm moved on.

Steve busy on the tablet trying to find our new vehicle. Rang up about a couple but they have sold very quickly.

Nice afternoon with Kaylene and Rick at Andrea and Alan’s place to view Andrea’s wonderful display of Christmas decorations and trees before the big pack up starts. Forgot to take photos but there is a video of them all on my Facebook page.

Joining Kaylene, Rick, Steve and Sandra on the Esplanade to watch the fireworks – 9pm version to start. Will see if we can last out to see the New Year in there or at home to watch the fireworks in Sydney etc as they will be having them an hour early than us.

See you next year.

Thurs, 19th Dec, 2019 Mum and Dad’s place, Cairns, Qld (End of our travels for a while)

That’s the end of my travel blog for a while but I will do a monthly update instead. Hope you have enjoyed travelling with us and look forward to hitting the road again soon.

Thanks for sharing our journey.

Sharon & Stephen – ‘the Two Geckos Travelling’.

Wed, 18th Dec, 2019 Gilbert River Rest Area, east of Croydon to Mum & Dad’s place, Cairns, Qld

5am 29.6 degrees, the birds are starting their pre-dawn song. The cicadas started up again too.

Across the one lane bridge over the wide sandy Gilbert River though there is a stream running just as we started onto the bridge.

The sun is just rising.

A farmer is pumping water from below the creek bed – we could hear an engine running during the night.

A pig was dead and smelly by the road as we left the bridge. The farmer is using the water to grow mango trees. Steve said we came out here nearly 40 years ago with Julie and Lindsay to go pig shooting – I didn’t enjoy that. We camped at a lagoon near here that had a heap of mango trees around it.

Continued east with the sun ahead.

Back to the single lane bitumen strips again. As we near Georgetown you can smell smoke. Through Georgetown and across a wide sandy Ethridge River. No fires visible but there is a heavy smoke haze – might be coming up from the NSW fires.

Across the wide sandy Einasleigh River which is full of trees leaning over.

Through Mt Surprise and stopped at a park. I spotted an emu and two chicks wandering along the other side of the park, then realised that there was a wire fence between dad and chicks. Obviously the little ones had ducked through and were now running back and forth trying to work out how to get out. Dad was pacing back and forth too. We can’t do much about it so hopefully they will work it out.

Clouds are coming over and the smoke haze has lessened.

Stopped at the turn off near 40 Mile Scrub – there are cattle roaming everywhere. Had an early cuppa at 9am after our early start. Lovely to get out of the truck and actually feel a coolish breeze. Only 28 degrees in the van – what a change.

The sky has cleared. Further along we passed smouldering trees and a smoke hazard sign.

Near Mt Garnet all the station gates are decorated with Christmas tinsel – lovely. Mt Garnet township and houses were decorated too.

Poor Pat doing the climb up to Ravenshoe – windy with clouds building.

Another long climb to the wind farm area, 1100m elevation – nearly there Pat. Down through the green pastures.

Through the curvy Herberton Range – Nova is following Pat dutifully.

Ah the Tablelands – nearly home.

Past the Christmas Tree farm as we near Atherton.

Through Atherton – lots of traffic, most cars we have seen in a while. Rang Mum to say we will be home about 12.30. Lovely Poincianas in bloom.

Turned off before Mareeba. The farmer has his Christmas decoration done.

Down the Kuranda Range – quick photo as we pass the Lookout.

Made it through the traffic at the roundabout at Smithfield then across the Barron River and into Cairns. Turned off and up to Mum and Dad’s place. Steve backed the van up to the flat area beside the house where Nova can rest for the next 12 months. This is where we started nearly 6 years ago when we sold our home and came to stay with Mum and Dad before our planned departure in August. Amazing how things work out. At that stage it was good to be here with them as Mum had her hip replaced and Dad was just starting to deteriorate with Dementia. Now we are back to replace the truck and van and Mum and Dad are in need of more care so we are here to help.

Lots of hugs and kisses then joined Mum, Dad and Julie for lunch as a shower of rain fell.

Set up the van on concrete blocks and opened her up. Only 29 degrees in the van – ah says the fridge.

I checked Pat’s odometer – 301,163km. When we left it was 165,420 so Pat has covered 135,743km in the last 5 years and 4 months.

We have had a wonderful time so far exploring Australia and there is still so much to do. Pat needs an upgrade and Steve wants to build the camper on the back rather than tow the van so we are here for a year at least to get this done and it will be wonderful to be on hand to help Mum and Dad.

Tues, 17th Dec, 2019 Avon Downs Rest Area, west of NT-Qld border to Gilbert River Rest Area, east of Croydon, Qld

5.30am 31.3 degrees with a nice breeze. A cloud is blocking the sunrise.

Campsite photo.

I found this plaque explaining the police presence and the story of this station. It is also famous as being the destination of Australia’s longest sheep droving trip in the 1880s.

Headed off towards the sun which the cloud is still covering, thank goodness. Getting close to Queensland the road is getting rougher!

Lost another half hour as the clock changed on my phone to Qld time. Thankfully the clouds are rising with the sun keeping it covered and out of our eyes.

More open grass plains as we near the border.

Welcome to Queensland. The sun is out now and shining brightly. Last time we crossed back into Qld at Birdsville it was raining.

Across the dry Georgina River into Camooweal.

Continued on towards Mt Isa with clear blue sky. Spotted a couple of wedgies here too.

Back into hills as we near Mt Isa. Pat not happy with all the climbing up and down the hills.

Into Mt Isa to top up with fuel. We feel like we are back in Kalgoorlie with all the mining equipment – just no gold. Stopped for a cuppa.

Imaginary wave to Sam who started working here recently – I wonder how he is enjoying the heat.

The Leichardt River was dry too.

‘Pat’ hit 300,000 km in very hilly country so I had a hard time trying to take a photo as the odometer clicked over.

Rolling hills continued as we near Cloncurry.

Turned left before Cloncurry onto the Burke Developmental Road to Normanton. Back into flatter grazing country.

Stopped for lunch at the old Quamby Hotel known as The Pub in the Scrub – derelict now. 40 degrees in the van.

Lots of dead roos and wallabies on this stretch so more crows, hawks and wedgies to contend with.

Passed the Burke and Wills Roadhouse.

Funny to see a ‘Welcome to Tropical North Queensland’ sign as it isn’t very tropical here.

Onto a single lane bitumen road – lucky the traffic is light. Maybe that is why it is called a developmental road – still being developed. Obviously there has been some rain here recently too.

Grey sharp pointed ant hills and the t-shirt brigade have been here too. Santa’s elves have been here too as half a dozen ant hills have new Santa hats.

Stopped for a cuppa at Bang Bang Rest Area as the air conditioner has frozen up due to the heat. Like the cooling fins in the fridge – just not happy Jan! 43.5 degrees in the van. I open the windows and vents and put on the extractor fan every time we stop to try and help the cause but it is just plain hot. Poor ‘Pat’ and ‘Nova’ – one more day and they can have a big rest.

Clouds are gathering in the north. A storm is forecast for Normanton this afternoon.

There is water in the Flinders River waterhole at Walkers Bend.

Into Normanton for fuel. Got a photo of the Big Barra at the Gulfland Motel.

Retraced our steps back to the turn off for the Gulf Developmental Road which is part of the Savannah Way. 702km to Cairns.

Next town is Croydon. Across the Glenore Crossing over the Norman River – saw water and lots of trees.

Travelling parallel with tracks of the Gulflander Railway.

Found where all the roos and wallabies are – eating the grass by the road.

Through Croydon – lovely old building. One day we will do all these towns in detail when we explore Queensland.

The sun is getting low behind us as we continued on to a rest area by the Gilbert River. I think we found all the new joeys too as there seems to be hundreds jumping around here.

Crossed over a narrow bridge over a dry Pleasant Creek then we turned into the grey dirt clearing on the western side of the Gilbert River.

Parked under some trees well back from the road. Opened up the van as it is really hot. The cicadas are louder than the engine and haven’t stopped when we pulled up. Hope they don’t go all night.

Poured a drink and wandered down to check out the river. Spotted some plaques on rocks at the entrance to the camping area. Getting a bit dark so had to use my flash.

Just enough light to show the one lane bridge over the dry river bed.

Had dinner then heard some thunder and watched the lightning flash around us. It started at 9pm, thermometer had cooled to 37.3 degrees. 9.15 a few drops of rain fell then the wind increased which cooled things down then came the rain. A big clap of thunder overhead and windy rain blew onto us that I didn’t bother closing the windows so we could cool down. 10 minutes later it was all over and the rumbling disappeared into the distance. Unfortunately the coolness didn’t last!