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Post by Daggsey on Aug 19, 2009 9:59:29 GMT 10
G'day all, About time I did a bit of an update............left Cairns on Monday (17th Aug) after a two week sojourn in that fair city........ Prior to that,we left Mt Carbine and headed down the mountain from Mt Molloy to Mossman and then north 20k's to Wonga Beach......very popular spot for southerners to spend winter, so can be difficult to get into a caravan park if you don't book first.......    a bluebottle on Wonga Beach ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D  Met a very interesting chap in the caravan park at Wonga.........Bert Bolton. Bert (in his 80's) ran bus tours in the 60's and 70's into the outback ("Bert Bolton's Outback Tours")....one of the first to take buses into remote places like Kakadu, Arnhem Land etc......he is a good mate of Rolf Harris and Ted Egan. From the back cover of one of Bert's books (he was going to Cairns to sign his books), the following............. "Bert Bolton is an outback man. He has spent 50 years working, touring and crossing the tracks of our great explorers and pioneers, admiring their dedication, determination, adventurous spirit and devotion in advancing Australia. Walking on their tracks inspired him to a life of adventure." How awesome it was to meet an Australian icon and in particular, someone interested in what we (and others) are doing in a vintage van and car  ...... Bert discussing his thoughts on "watering" Qld........  Bert signing his books for me..............  Bert was born and spent is youth at Noggerup, a small farming community approximately 70kms from Bridgetown, south west WA .........I have promised Bert that when I return home, I will try and locate his parents property and take photos for him......... This journey of ours never ceases to amaze me in what we might experience every day Daggsey |
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Post by Daggsey on Aug 25, 2009 23:01:47 GMT 10
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Post by Daggsey on Aug 25, 2009 23:59:01 GMT 10
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Post by Daggsey on Sept 5, 2009 7:41:58 GMT 10
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Post by harko on Sept 5, 2009 8:29:10 GMT 10
Love following your thread Daggsey , I hope to be following in your footsteps one day and no doubt I will be reverting back to your thread for research  |
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Post by DC3Td on Sept 5, 2009 8:54:51 GMT 10
G`day Daggsey.What a life! Great pics & stories.Couple of pics of mates house & view from his verandah on the Goondi Bend.   Another mate Ivan (better known as ponti pete) currently enjoying a stay at Cairns although not doing too well with the midgies or fish! Parronella Park is a treat. Yep,good ol Jose toiled his heart out (mostly alone) dragging buckets of water & sand to add to the mix of concrete. Sadly he didn`t realise that the steel & concrete wouldn`t last & consequently a greater percentage of the structure would rust & crumble.Also a major fire destroyed most of the Ballroom although it could`ve been repaired by now? The little building on the r/h/s of the waterfall is the pump house - did you happen to walk up & down its stairs? Pretty dodgy as they`re no more than 4" deep. Very precarious.Must`ve had small feet ,those Spaniards! He must have had the patience of a saint as all the balustrades on the railings were made one at a time. Very tiresome job only having (making) one mould. The Park has survived at least 2 major floods. There are markings on the steps noting the water levels. Didn`t happen to whet your thirst at the 1888 Garradunga Hotel did you? The original Canecutters watering hole. Anyways, enjoy your adventures.Safe driving. cheers gordon |
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Post by cobber on Sept 6, 2009 18:13:31 GMT 10
G'day Daggsey,
By now I expect you have been to Karumba (the only good thing about that place was the pub... top place to watch a sunset).... when you leave there I hope you are heading toward "Lawn Hill" NP, can't wait to see the photos you show us of that top spot.
Cobber
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Post by humpyboy on Sept 6, 2009 19:27:43 GMT 10
Well guys, what is there to say but jealous,jelous,jelous have bookmarked thread after having spent the day reading it from it's first post so won't miss out on further updates. |
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Post by Daggsey on Sept 10, 2009 9:49:58 GMT 10
Cheers DC3TD..........not too sure where Goondi Bend is, but I'm sure your mate enjoys living there........anywhere in FNQ would be good to live I reckon (seasonally, of course ;D ;D ;D). The Jose Paronella story is certainly interesting, especially considering he was a pastrycook from Spain  Cobber...I can sense the excitement of anticipation in your post ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D!! Humpyboy.......glad you're enjoying the travelogue................the story continues..................... Sat. 22nd August................ Continued on the Savannah Way from Georgetown, heading towards Croydon....................    This Kennedy/Sunliner greets you as you enter Croydon.......(boblor, who is also on the road, spoke to the owners of this van and has details, as well as approval to photograph)..................  This little graveyard of potential towcars ............    A lot of spares for Shultzy.....................  Black Bull Siding...............note the watertank from steam train days............   Overnight stop at Leichhardt Lagoon, 20kms from Normanton.......$7 per head, toilets, showers, campfire but no power.........quite a few southerners come up here, stay for the winter and fish for barra in the Norman River................          Daggsey |
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kiwi
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Post by kiwi on Sept 10, 2009 18:43:14 GMT 10
daggsey  goondi bend is on the outskirts of innisfail bout a km from the free camp where ewes guys stayed between banannas and sugarcane suprise suprise ;D ;D ;D |
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bobt
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Post by bobt on Sept 10, 2009 20:31:55 GMT 10
Hey Daggsey Great Photos mate, thanks. Love the sun sets. It would be even better if I was there taking similar pictures By the windows open to the extreme I assume it is a tad on the warm side.  Keep em coming |
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Post by Daggsey on Sept 11, 2009 19:30:25 GMT 10
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Post by willyn on Sept 11, 2009 20:02:02 GMT 10
Hey Daggsey and Carrots hoping all is well with you both on the long long trip hows the holden doing no probs ? top photos you are putting up whats the next stage of the long trek Regards Will and Lyn
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Post by Daggsey on Sept 11, 2009 20:37:05 GMT 10
Howdy Willyn, No probs with the Holden mate................built for Australian conditions ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Thinkin' 'bout you when I just posted the issue of walking into open caravan windows............no problem if ya vertically challenged ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Once again, I'm a bit behind with this thread...........doesn't help when you get to spots where the internet is non-existant or unreliable..............so, an update............ 23rd August 2009 Left Leichhardt Lagoon and headed into Normanton...........couple of things you can't miss there, like............. Krys, the cast of a giant crocodile caught in the Norman River in 1957................   or the "Big Barra"......................  or the "Gulflander"......................   or the brolgas that happily meander about the place..............  or the Purple Pub...................  or pre Bunnings days........an original Burns Philp building in all it's glory..............  Daggsey |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2009 22:01:27 GMT 10
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bobt
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Post by bobt on Sept 11, 2009 22:01:34 GMT 10
Hi Daggsey
What are you using for your internet access?
Glad to hear the Holden is doing her job well. You must have done something right before you headed off. The trip you doing would have a toll on any sort of car.
Mate you have to go easy on those window hinges, they are not easy to come by. ;D
The photos are great thanks.. Think I need to start planning next years trip...
Bobt
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Post by Daggsey on Sept 12, 2009 8:24:51 GMT 10
Reddo.............purple is certainly not a colour that I would have chosen to paint an old pub in the Gulf region of Queensland  , but I guess that is the owner's perogative........if it gets patrons in, that's probably his objective......I would imagine that it's not easy to turn a dollar out in these remote areas........ bobt............we're using Telstra Bigpond wireless broadband..............pretty much the only telco that can guarantee reasonable coverage out in the sticks, Australia wide........having said that, there have been spots where you have a full signal, but can't open any web pages  (like Edmonton, a southern suburb of Cairns and only 14kms from the city centre ). Basically the theory is, if you have (Telstra) mobile coverage, you should be able to access the internet. Kingy for example, has Telstra mobile, but is using another service provider for the internet and quite often can't get access. I'm not promoting any particular provider....just telling it how it is out here ........as a matter of fact, another provider told us before we left home that they wouldn't be able to give us coverage and suggested that we go to Telstra. Where the signal has been weak, the aluminium cladding of "Madonna" has been a disadvantage, in as much as it must "shield" the signal..................consequently I have fitted this (1968 ) antenna..............  It certainly boosts the signal, but is not necessarily a good look on a vintage van Daggsey |
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Post by DC3Td on Sept 12, 2009 8:56:14 GMT 10
Hi Daggsey. Goondi Bend - the curved section of the Bruce leading into Innisfail. Blink & you`re in the main street. More great pix. Don`t know `bout purple but getting green with envy on your travels. cheers gordon
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Post by Daggsey on Sept 12, 2009 9:19:07 GMT 10
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2009 11:21:34 GMT 10
I hate you Daggsey.....  ;D......I just wish fa once ya batterys would go flat in the camera so we dont have to be tortured any longer with tales of splendor and... welllll... just having a bloody good time. So many great pubs.... so far away Bro in law gets up around Boraloola ( spell  ) in the gulf every so often with a few mates from down here in Newy. Some of the fish he has caught are unbelievable. Which brings me to ask a question. I know kingy enjoys fishing .....but have you ever wet a line . Its a good way to while away the time and fresh fish on the BBQ caught that morning or arvo not only tastes great... its a good way of cutting back on the tucker bill. Nothing wrong with a bit of underground mutton ( rabbit) either if ya cart a few traps with ya too. Yeah, yeah... i know they are illegal..... but i wont tell if you dont. Reddo |
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Post by Daggsey on Sept 15, 2009 21:53:40 GMT 10
Yeah, good one reddo.............trying to put the hex on my camera .......as a matter of fact, the battery in the new Olympus died on the way to Kuranda .......spent $80 on a back-up battery to make sure that that doesn't happen again, so you'll just have to suffer more photos ........... Now where was I..........that's right.............Karumba............home of mexicans, barumundi, prawns, coppers in shorts and sunsets.......... 26th August.........decamped from the Gulf and headed south.........back past the Purple Pub in Normanton and on to Burke & Wills Roadhouse...................not much here except, funnily enough, a roadhouse...................   passed these anthills........just a short section of the road, but looked like a cemetery................  into the roadhouse.........only sell 91RON and diesel..........both gauranteed to make Effacy's motor ping ......one of the joys of travelling in the outback.............ya can't be too fussy...................note the RM Williams steer-horn sticker on the tailgate and the Caterpillar mudflats on the Falcon ute (they gotta make those Fords look tuff somehow I s'pose (sorry Geoff, didn't mean to get ya blood pressure up again )....I reckon an FC would go anywhere that thing would go ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D)............  next day, on to Cloncurry.....................passed through Quamby.......not much here except a pub...............    finally hit Cloncurry..............     Big decision here..............left or right...........left to Charters Towers, right to Mt Isa, NT and WA.........checked temperatures west.......38 degrees Mt Isa, Katherine, Darwin, Fitzroy Crossing.........east, 31 degrees Hughenden, Charters Towers.......obviously still winter temperatures east, so, decision made (not that I'm a girl of course, but ya gotta think of your travelling buddy ).......(oh yeah, and the photo opportunity at the FJ Holden Cafe in Hughenden)............. More to follow............... Daggsey |
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bobt
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Post by bobt on Sept 15, 2009 22:06:04 GMT 10
Hi Daggsey Once again great photos… tempted to report you to the RSPCA… ;D ;D but do keep em coming.. I thought you might have been using Telstra. I have checked out the coverage maps from all the Telcos. You are using the one with what appears to be the best coverage. I reckon if that 1968 antenna was raised about 5 or 6 feet higher you would get improved coverage. Where did you get such a rare item from? I gotta frantic saving campaign happening in my house hold so we can travel somewhere near where you are next year…………. I show my wife your photos to keep her motivated.. but it does backfire on me occasionally Did you pack a fishing rod?? I keep hearing how good the fishing is near where you are. where you were!! bobt |
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Post by Daggsey on Sept 15, 2009 23:30:06 GMT 10
Hey bobt, I found the old antenna in surplus stock from the PMG Fishing rods? ......reddo asked the same question..........why would ya waste ya time fishing when ya can drive to Karumba and BUY cheap barra & prawns.........all those dudes there with 4wd's and boats.............buys ya a lotta fish ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D oh yeah, speaking of reddo..........why would ya try and trap underground mutton........ya never heard of Harvest braised steak and onions? ..........what do ya think lowly paid bank officers in the '70's lived on Daggsey |
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Post by cobber on Sept 16, 2009 8:25:14 GMT 10
G'day Daggsey, Don't know how I dodit but I did.... missed that last post from Karumba Thanks for the photos from the Sunset Hotel.... but I'll be a bit disappointed if you don't turn right between Mount Isa and Camooweal and go back to the Lawn Hill N P...... still, we can't see it all aye?..... so much. bobt mentioned the RSPCA...... the year we did that loooong drive from Normanton to the Burk & Wills Roadhouse she was a dry one.. and I got a bit distressed at the lines of cattle in BIG paddocks with not a blade of grass or a water hole within sight  .........  Enjoy the drive, and keep the photos coming. Cobber. |
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bobt
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Post by bobt on Sept 16, 2009 23:00:36 GMT 10
Hey cobber... the RSPCA comment was to report Daggsey for being cruel to dumb animals (me)... ;D Hey Daggsey... Yep I am sure them there fisher people would catch tons more then they would need and would be happy to off load some. I would just like to be able to catch something larger then 30 cms.... ;D underground mutton must be a reddo specialty ;D ;D Surplus PMG stuff... now hunting that E thing to try and find one for ME |
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