This Adventurous Age

Adventures travelling and working around Australia.

Category Archives: 1998 Travels


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1998 Travels October 2

FRIDAY 2 OCTOBER     CAIRNS

We were both a little tender after yesterday’s efforts – out of practice. But I was encouraged enough to plan for us to tackle some walks around Gordonvale, to the south, later on today.

We did a big round of the shops, in preparation for travel to less well equipped parts.

Went to Rusty’s markets and spent nearly $40 on fruit and vegetables. At the fish co-op bought some for the freezer – $24. Then we stocked up at Woolworths – $103. $44 for wine casks.

John had been having issues with a broken piece on the frame of his everyday glasses, so had that repaired at an optometrist – $49. I bought a new watch battery as my watch had stopped working – $10. John spent $9 on some new undies.

By the time we had done all that, it was too late to go walking, as planned. Still, the shopping provided some exercise, especially lugging all the market stuff back to Truck which had to be parked some distance away.

Tea was dim sims, sausages and bread. John’s requests, as a change from fish.  What happened to low fat?


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1998 Travels October 1

THURSDAY 1 OCTOBER     CAIRNS

We had showers and occasional heavier rain, through the night.

This is the start of our fourth week here. It has been better since the TV sport is over and we get out and about, some days, doing things.

John stayed up last night playing his computer game until 5am, so he slept in this morning.

I walked to the shop for the paper, then around the local streets, looking at the houses.

When John did get up, he phoned a doctor, as he wants to get some lumpy bits on his skin checked. He couldn’t get an appointment until Monday, so I will have to extend our stay here yet again. I went to the office and did that. They made a mistake with the $17 they charged me for the last extension – it is actually $15.70 a night. I am not sure I am following their calculations any more!

We decided to tackle the Mt Whitfield Environment Park walks, so I packed lunch to take.

We drove to the Botanic Gardens and left Truck in the parking area there.

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John’s walking stick may be useful in more ways than the obvious!

Walked the red track, then onto the blue circuit and back via the red. It was almost 7kms of rather tough up and down hill walking. It took us four and a half hours. A sign near the walk start warned that we might encounter cassowaries, but no such luck. There were some good views over parts of Cairns as we climbed.

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Cairns city seen from the Mt Whitfield track – and low tide

We had lunch at a lookout on the track that overlooked the airport, and watched the occasional plane coming and going as we ate. Some of the rainforest that we walked through was brilliant, but it is all drying out somewhat now. It would be a superb walk with the little creeks and rivulets flowing.

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Just departed Cairns airport

We chatted for a while with a walker met on the way. She is a GP and does contract work as a way of seeing the country. She lived for a while in Tasmania and knows all the great walks there.

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In the rainforest

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A cluster fig in the rainforest – good example of buttress roots too

By the time we’d finished today’s exercise, my legs were screaming “enough”. John did really well – he has sore legs too, but his hips are ok. The walking stick he manufactured at Silver Plains is working well.

Tea was beef and black bean stir fry.


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1998 Travels September 30

WEDNESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

There was rain overnight, which upped the humidity again.

Mail came to the Office, from the accountant with more tax related things to be signed. This really has been a drawn out saga. We completed the signing, drove to Smithfield  and mailed the paperwork off. John bought a computer games  magazine – $5.

In the afternoon, went to bowls. I played fairly well – seem to have fixed up my jack delivery. I won another meat tray – or my team did. More rump steak and sausages. Given how much money is spent on bowls, I don’t think we are coming out ahead.

Today was really windy, and through the afternoon there were storm clouds building up. I love the dramatic skies, but hate the accompanying humidity.

I made salads for tea.


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1998 Travels September 29

TUESDAY 29 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

I walked to the local shop for the paper – some more exercise. John slept in.

After lunch we went to Stratford and practiced bowls for a while. I concentrated on improving my rolling of the jack, which is very unreliable, rarely straight or of the distance required. And too often out of bounds. It looks easy but………

Back at camp, we rode to the Smithfield shopping centre, for exercise. Almost 12kms.

Discussed and firmed up our ideas for the jaunt to the west: Undara to see the lava tubes; Mt Surprise to fossick for topaz; Karumba; Normanton. If it is not too hot may continue as far as Mt Isa. We will leave on Sunday, after we watch the TV coverage of the election count, on Saturday. John has had his sport on TV, I want my politics!

I went to the Office and extended our stay until Sunday morning. Cost keeps going up – now $17 a night, because we are not on a weekly rate.

Tea was a tofu and ginger soup followed by a stir fry of vegies and tofu, to use up the rest of the packet. John was not impressed! He is the one who wants healthy, so bad luck!


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1998 Travels September 28

MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

Drove into central Cairns, to the PO. Checked for mail – none. I was still hoping for birthday cards for John.

John went to Trinity Motors to check when the Truck’s warranty expires – it is November 29. He wants to do another 3000kms, from here, between now and then, and bring it back here for its final warranty service. We have discussed going west from here, maybe as far as Karumba or Lawn Hill, then bringing the van back to Atherton – up on the Tablelands – and bringing Truck by itself down to Cairns for the service. Atherton itself will be somewhat cooler than Cairns, by then, we think.

We are also thinking that we will be looking to stay away from the coast for the Xmas holiday period, so it makes sense not to bring the van down the range again.

We went to the RACQ and bought new accommodation books that are a bit more up to date than our Victorian ones. They cost $6.

Found the place where we can lodge our absentee votes in advance of the coming election, and did so. This election looks like it could be a close one, with the big issue being the introduction of a goods and services tax, if the government gets back in.

Went for a walk in the Botanic Gardens and did the Rainforest Walk – both were excellent. It is good to get some walking exercise again.

Tea was curried tuna and rice.

I phoned K to find out how they are coping with the gas crisis in Melbourne, that we have heard about on the TV news. Apparently an explosion and fire at the Longford gas plant has caused the gas to be shut off for much of Victoria and they don’t know when it will be on again. K said they are ok – using the outside BBQ to cook, in place of the gas cooktop; the oven is electric, at least; going over to P’s parents place to shower – they have electric hot water. It was 29 degrees in Melbourne today, so heating was not an issue!

John thinks he has put on weight with all the sitting around, so we are to go back onto a low fat diet and mostly alcohol free days. He can’t stick to such a regimen unless I am being deprived too! Because I have been swimming and cycling, since we have been here, I have not had the weight gain, though, but it will not hurt me to have a rather more healthy intake for a while.


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1998 Travels September 26

SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER     CAIRNS

It was hot and humid, as days mostly are now.

I rode to the local shop for the paper – 2kms.

In the late morning, drove to Smithfield and did a grocery shop – $58.

John watched the AFL football grand final on TV. Adelaide defeated North Melbourne – rather a surprise result, I gather.

I read the paper, then went for a long swim.

There’s lots of bird life in the big trees around the park – very interesting to watch, especially as some are ones we don’t get down south. We are parked near some large mango trees, which the birds seem to like. They have some little green mangoes on – not going to be ripe while we are here.

Tea was steak and kidney with suet dumplings – all done in the electric frypan.


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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.

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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.