1/7/14 - 31/7/14

 

Mmmm, yet another month done and dusted and yes I survived the crowds visiting the area for the Townsville Show, V8 Supercars, Speed Boat Races, Monster trucks, huge Motorhome Convention and School Holidays. People and traffic everywhere.

 

I spent most of the last month running up a few KM's on the Colorado so I could get the 3000km free check done before I left Townsville, easily done too. No problems found and I can now tow as well. Done and dusted.

 

The spotlights and Roof Racks found their way onto the tug also and all looks and performs well. I had a slight problem fitting the lights as the Holden bull bar didn't allow enough room for the lights I had but the spotlights you can get fitted by Holden for heaps more $$$$ fit like a glove, funny that, so had to make up a bracket for each light then had a problem with two bolts cross threading. GST, Greg came to the rescue with his angle grinder and cut them off.  Next day  I got new bolts, put everything together and all sorted.

 

I also spent time visiting Yeoeleven,John,    My Van, Paul   and   Bowlerbear, Chris who are travelling in convoy a couple of times and  GST, Greg and Ruth, also  Grevo, Gary and Cassy who I met late last month.  Good to see them all again.  Should see John at least, again later in the year back in Central Victoria.  I also got to meet GN members Wanderers, Don and Diane just last week and very nice people, it was great to spend some time with them chatting away over a morning coffee/tea and then again a few days later for a lovely Roast dinner where they were camped, thankyou Don and Diane. GN's definitely eat well out here in the playground. 

 

Now I am ready to leave here in the tropics and will be on the road 4th August as it is time to start the journey south for a medical appointment and get the next stage of my big lifestyle plan in action, so will be heading down the coast and catching up with a few GN members along the way so looking forward to that. I have been offered driveways or front lawns so I can prop a  night or two so will take up the very kind offers as I go. I also need to get back to base camp to get the next stage of my big plan in action. I will arrive back during the last week in August/first week September but will prop in Wodonga or maybe even Howlong so I can get the rego of the Colorado changed from Q'land to Victorian as Vic Roads wanted me to do that ASAP. Well that's ASAP as I wasn't going to go down the Victoria a month ago then come back up to Townsville just for that. At least by doing it as I cross the boarder it looks like I have made an effort instead of waiting till I got home down the bottom of Victoria :))  Now I hear my good friends Brian, Cheryl, Brandt and Lorraine asking, how long will I be in Howlong,  well guys,  not toolong I don't think, maybe long enough to make a stew/casserole though.  Sorry guys, couldn't resist that (inside joke). 

 

The Colorado has been performing as I would hope and really think the right decision has been made with my choice of  tug. I will also be interested to see how much and if the great economy will be effected by the Den being hooked up.

 

Saturday the 19/7   I decided to go to Jourama Falls, in the Paluma National Park, about 70km north of Townsville to give the camera a run. I had been to the camping area last year but not the falls for some reason.

 

Now the sign at the beginning of the walking path said "Moderate" 3km walk to the falls viewing platform, mmmmm, moderate to some maybe but this little black duck? Nope, I found it, well, a little hard BUT did get to the falls and back to the tug so I was very pleased with myself and I tell you that for free.

 

Jourama Falls is more like a series of a few small falls in very close proximity, at the time I was there anyway but very very nice indeedy. Well worth the very rocky in places and steep climb up well maintained paths and steps. These falls would be truly spectacular in the wet season but unfortunately due to part of the walk having to cross through a very rocky  creek area that would transform into a raging deep river and well under water you would never get through so would not get to see the spectacular view that would be there. Bugga. In fact the park it self is closed off many times in the wet season due to two flooded creeks you would have to cross to enter the park. As I was coming back down it was good to see much younger people finding the going tuff too, stopping for breathers.

 

Speaking of water, I had a problem with the neighbour on the side of my daughter's house where the Avan was.  Every time she uses her sprinkler system that she set up on top of the fence it flooded down the side of the Avan and if washing was on the line it all got wet. 

 

I spoke to the lady and she didn't realise so we discussed it and she agreed not to water on weekends as that is when washing is on the line and she didn't use it from the Saturday just gone to give a chance to dry out as I said I will move the van around to the driveway and leave there. I am leaving next Monday so no problem and she can water again until the weekend. Just shows a bit of give and take and things work out. Thanks to Grevo, Garry who came around to help push the Avan out as it had to be pulled in not backed in, the big move took place on Tuesday, thanks heaps Garry, as you found out there was no way I could have done it by myself.

 

Weather, well it has been very difficult to deal with here in the tropics as we have had to put up with temps ranging from 10-16c over night, brrrrr, to not much better during the day with temps in the mid 20's, very little wind and as for rain, it just wouldn't let up from not happening. Really hard to take. 

 

So there you have it, my 2014 northern migration is now at an end and I will do a U turn and start heading south again.  I more than likely will return in 2015 and probably with a new DEN to escape the Arctic like winds and cold in South West Gippsland, although by then I hope to be a full time grey nomad and not calling that area base camp.

 

You haven't got rid of me yet though as I still have at least one more update to go or might go back to weekly updates for a while.  Bugga, I here someone down the back say,  sooooorry. 

 

I have included a few pics below. 

 

Until next time keep safe everyone and if you are already in the playground, enjoy, if not, get out here.

 

DOUG