This Adventurous Age

Adventures travelling and working around Australia.

Monthly Archives: December 2016


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1998 Travels September 25

FRIDAY 25 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

I rode the 2km circuit to the shop for the morning paper, while John slept in.

After breakfast, we drove to Cairns centre and checked at the PO for mail. There was none. I thought the other children might have sent cards.

At the fish co-op bought fish for John’s tea – snapper.

We drove up the range to Kuranda, for something to do, where we walked and looked around, again. It is so geared to tourism, in a not-very-pleasant way. Seems a bit tacky. We drove around the outskirts, looking at the types of houses tucked into the green and lush bush.

The Kuranda road up the range is not too bad – it winds around and has only one lane each way, but Truck will tow the van up with no problems, when the time comes.

I cooked home done chips and the fish for John. I had dim sims, as I did not like the fish last week.


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1998 Travels September 24

THURSDAY 24 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

We have now been here for two weeks and it really is quite tedious. Somehow, relaxing around and not doing much was more interesting at Wonga than here! But I do enjoy having the pool here – that is the redeeming feature. Our camp fees went up to $110 a week, due to school holidays! I reluctantly extended our booking for yet another week, at John’s behest.

I rode to the local shop for the paper, in the morning, before John was up. 2kms.

Today is John’s 58th birthday. I gave him a card and a meal “out” – though that is a present for me too! But it is a change from my cooking and, since we normally do not go out at night, some sense of occasion. I hope!

John spent much of the day on the computer, though we did drive up to Smithfield to stock up on beer and wine. While we were out – without the phone – R tried to phone. Then John tried to phone her, but missed her. She would be very busy with electioneering activities for her beloved ALP. But at least she tried to contact him.

We went out to “Charlie’s” for tea – this is an eatery in a hotel, on the Esplanade. We had vouchers from the Cairns local paper for their Thursday night buffet dinner, at $14 a head. The food was quite good, with much variety,  and we ate well, without stuffing ourselves. We had to queue for a while to get in, though – they do not take bookings. And we queued again for the food. It is a popular place.

As one is not encouraged to linger at Charlie’s, we were home again by 9.30pm. It felt quite strange, to be out in Truck at night.

After we got back to the van, drank a celebratory bottle of champagne.

09-24-1998 John 58 birthday.jpg

Toasting John’s 58th birthday


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1998 Travels September 23

WEDNESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

I rode to the local shop for a paper. 2kms more added to the cycle tally.

We bowled in the afternoon, at Stratford. A large flock of metallic starlings swooping around the place was something different and quite dramatic. I am really curious as to how each individual bird knows how to avoid colliding with any others in the rapid direction changes of the flock.

I bowled inconsistently – didn’t enjoy it much. There were sandflies around and I was bitten again.

Tea was pasta with bottled sauce.


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1998 Travels September 22

TUESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

Drove into central Cairns and went to the PO to collect a bag of mail. Got diesel – 65cpl.

We went to the office of Cape York Air and collected information about mail run flights up the Cape. There are two interesting options: one is a straight mail run, as far north as Heathlands, which stops briefly at about 15 stations, including Silver Plains. That is $390 a person. The other is the Top of the Cape tour, which follows the coast north to the Top, lands at Horn Island for lunch, then returns down the centre of the Cape. That one is $550 a person. Unfortunately, both of these seem too expensive for us, even for just one person, when our total weekly budget is $400! It is a pity, but I sense that John was not all that keen to do a flight anyway.

So, I will have to think of a different birthday present for him.

The mail bag contained a birthday card for John, from V. It would have taken her some effort and forethought to arrange that, stuck out in the wilds as she is.

Tea was brains in batter, for something different. Not bad, even though many people would  not find it a pleasant meal!


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1998 Travels September 21

MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

John watched some TV and played his computer game.

There was a letter for us at the Office – from the accountant. We are not going to get much tax return back for the last financial year. The lump sum termination payments we both got have affected the tax situation. I don’t think there was any way around that.

Usual sort of day for me – read, sewed, had a swim.

Tea was cold roast pork and salads.


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1998 Travels September 19

SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

In the morning, drove to the Smithfield Centre. Bought paper, wine, groceries, and a special loaf of bread for lunch. Spent $125 all up.

After lunch, John watched Games. I read the paper and then had a long swim.

I made pizzas for tea, using bought bases and adding my own toppings. Had to light the van oven to cook those, which rather heated up the van.


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1998 Travels September 18

FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

The weather continues uniformly hot, although the humidity levels vary a bit, from day to day.

I walked to the shop for a paper.

John watched Games and went to bowls again.

I read, did some embroidery, and had a swim.

John went and bought chips and potato cakes and I cooked the tropical fish fillets. Thought this might be a better and more healthy alternative to the bought fish, but they were not very nice. Freezing since Monday had not improved them. Buying the tropical fillets – species unnamed – was a cheap option, but in this case not the best one. In future, we will pay more and buy by name. I don’t, as yet, know all that many types of fish, but trial and error should show what is worth buying again.


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1998 Travels September 17

THURSDAY 17 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

We have been in Cairns for a week now and it has been a pretty boring time for me.

John watched Games, then went to bowls.

I cleaned the van and did a load of washing.

After lunch, I cycled to the Smithfield Shopping Centre, for something to do. Browsed the shops. Being in the air conditioned shopping complex was pleasantly cool. Bought a caravan magazine that had articles on some interesting destinations, some postcards, and a few groceries. Spent $19 in all. Cycled almost 12kms.

Tea was bacon, eggs and fries.


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1998 Travels September 16

WEDNESDAY 16 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

Another hot day.

John watched Games on TV in the morning, then after lunch we went to bowls at Stratford. I won a meat tray of steaks- not by the quality of my bowling but because all the scorecards were put in a draw, and the card of the team I was in, was the lucky winner. As the bowls cost $9 to enter, plus $2 for raffle tickets, which one is expected to buy, and $6 for a round of post-bowls drinks, we probably broke about even on the value of the meat! Still, John enjoys it and it makes a change from TV!

Tea was pork chops with apple sauce and vegies.