Where did that month go?  Yep, it's August, Xmas is just around the corner. I'm ducking for cover as we speak for saying that. Hang on, this is the July update so best we do a U Turn to the beginning of July (G'day Rocky)

Now July started with slightly cooler weather but mostly at night, a few nights even got down to a cooler 13c, mmmm, that was cooler alright, I even had to get up on a couple of mornings and put the summer doona on the bed instead of a light blanket, bugga, hey. Even the days have dropped to highs of around mid 20's. Humidity? Yep, that's dropped too, to low 40% during the day and 40-80% during the night. Still very hot in the sun during the day though. Light breezes and still little to no rain. That all said, the middle of the month was even cooler, 12c low with 19c max for a couple of days, we even got some nice soaking rain for a couple of days. I'm not complaining but Townsville really do need some good rain that will help stock their dam. Now as you read this the temps have crept up a little both day and night. Maybe, just maybe the long 4 week winter has finished?

The V8 Supercars were in town 8-10 July and as the organisers have always done provided the locals with a parade of the big trucks that transport the V8 beasts around, so on the Wednesday before the race the parade got underway. I had a good close up look at these trucks 2 years ago so decided to get a spot on the side of the road at one of the many vantage points. These trucks are huge and the $$$$$$$ are not spared. The drivers of the trucks take great pride in them as well as they are all polished to perfection.

The V8?s went just as quick as they arrived and were held with record crowds and just perfect weather. The end of the race on the last day was very exciting indeed with a race for second as first was really decided early in the race. Well done Townsville.

Now one thing I noticed when I first started to drive from way down south to Townsville is the amount of sugar cane farms around, everywhere you go, sugar cane, you would think banana trees but nope, sugar cane. Something I didn't know was that sugar cane flowers, yep, a lovely white feather like flower forms on top of the plant and indicates its time, time to harvest. This is the time the motorist has to be extra careful as little trains, well little long trains carrying the cut cane cross the busy highways and byways and can be quite dangerous if you don't keep an eye on things. The other thing I noticed is the amount of sugar mills around with white smoke billowing from tall chimney snacks and a very sweet smell in the air, quite sickening smell really. As you read this though there has been so much rain around those areas the farmers haven't been able to harvest due to the ground being so muddy and are about 20 days overdue to harvest. Never ends for these poor buggers.

Due to being in the tropics and the tropics being croc country I decided to go on the hunt for a croc so this crocodile hunter, daughter and two grandchildren went on the hunt for the 'Strand croc'. This croc terrorised locals and visitors for months last year and early this year. We found the beast too. There was 'Jupiter' this 4.7mt croc right in front of us. What a beast, BIG and no way was I going to shake his hand, no way known. The kids were kept back as well, you never know what can happen with these beasts, no not the kids, the croc. That said, the croc probably would have begged us to take the kids back if he got them : ))

Oh! Did I mention the croc was in protective custody? Yep, in the local 'Billabong Sanctuary'. Well do you think I was stupid enough to go in the bush looking for a monster like that!

I heard that down the back!

Jupiter is named such because he was finally caught by the local sheriff and deputies (rangers) on the 3rd March this year near Jupiter Casino. He weighs approx. 500kg and is estimated to be 50-70 years old. This was my second meeting with Jupiter as I first met him last year while he was swimming around off shore at the strand. If you follow my updates you will remember a pic I put in an update at the time.

You might remember back in my May update I think it was, I mentioned I was hoping to go to Port Douglas then work my way back through Cairns to Townsville about this time but due to a big unexpected expense this won't take place this year, next year now. Instead, on the 12^th of July I took myself off on another 'big day out' and headed north to Cardwell, about a 2 hour drive north from Townsville. I had heard of a lovely drive out of Cardwell, 'Forrest Drive'.

I started the day by leaving Townsville around 8.00am and after a busy time driving with heaps of caravans and trucks etc, I approached Cardwell. The first port of call was '5 Mile Creek Water Hole' that is easily signposted and 6km south of Cardwell on the Bruce highway as you approach from the south but even better noticeable from the north. After a short drive along a narrow but good gravel road you reach a lovely creek and family safe water hole for all to enjoy without worrying about those big beasties called crocs. There is a toilet block and picnic area with a parking area across the road, very nice indeed.

It was then time to check out the main street/road, the Bruce Highway. I was last in Cardwell not long after Cyclone Yasi back in 2011 and was basically destroyed. What's it like now I hear you ask? Well, what a difference 5 years make. The foreshore is very nice indeed with heaps of spaces for picnics and enjoying the now lovely views across to Hinchinbrook Island that you can nearly reach out and touch, just across the road really, well water anyway.   Lovely playground with a rubberised ground all around for when little Johnny or Mary decide to hug the ground, there is also a modern toilet block next door. There are also drinking fountains and taps with drinking water quality. The main thing to remember all along this area is don't go in the water as there are salty crocs around and the weekend before I visited a lady was standing near the water edge as a croc showed up a little too close and if it wasn't for someone yelling at her she might not have gone home for dinner that night, instead, she would have been dinner, for the beasty. This place reminds me of driving through Dromana and Rosebud, on the Mornington peninsula, south of Melbourne, VIC, as the shops and towns are one side of the road and beach on the other side. Minus the crocs though.

After a lovely light lunch in one of the few eateries I headed to the 'Forrest Drive', now this is not really easy to find as no signs on Bruce highway but if you find the BP Servo, turn there, you can only go one way cos if ya go the other way you also might be on the beasties menu. Turn onto Brasenose Street, cross the railway line and Tully street then it changes to Forrest Drive. This is a gravel road suitable for 2x2 vehicles but as usual due to having a 4x4 I like to put in 4x4 on these sort of roads. There are signs at the start of the road warning to drive to weather conditions and check with Info Centre, I had already done that, as after days of rain or heavy rain you will need a 4x4 as could get very iffy in a few spots with a few creek crossings that have rocks under foot, so to speak, and all along the road are big sharp rocks so at least have good tyres on your car.

The first place you do a short detour is to visit 'Cardwell Lookout', nice view to enjoy from the lookout in the very small car park and if you are fit and adventurous you can take the medium graded walk to the top for better views, was I adventurous?  Nope. After leaving here I did a left turn instead of a right and headed up a very rough and definitely 4x4 track, just cos I could :)) and found myself joining Forrest Road again about 15 minutes later.

Next stop was at 'Attie Creek Falls', now you definitely need to be fit for this one as there is a steep rocky path that is 1.6km return to the actual falls. I decided to head on UP the track but after about 300mts decided better of it due to my already over working heart problem and turned back. I spoke to a couple around my age and their daughter who had just returned and said there was no water and would never tackle that grade of walk again so that made me feel a little better. Make sure you have good hiking shoes if you do ever get there as you need them.

Moving right along to the next stop and another lovely place was 'Dead Horse Creek', now as hard as I looked, I couldn't find a dead horse and no way could I work out why it is called such, although the person that found and named this place may have been enjoying a pie with dead horse for lunch. Still, a very nice place and a few people enjoying the pool and little water fall over the edge of a rocky creek. A very small car parking area along side of a narrow road.

The final visit for the day was just a little further down the road at 'The Spa Pool'. This is yet another very nice place to cool off on those hot days. Set in an area with water flowing over a rocky area into what is just like a spa bath then over the edge of that into a lovely blue - turquoise coloured pool. The only negative I could say about this place is on the day I visited there were 4 adults and 3 kids enjoying the place and I felt crowded.

Time to get back to the Bruce Hwy and head back to base camp in Townsville. Another great day in great weather. It was actually quite warm at 27c and 76% humidity. Yep, as I said last update, "this is winter" In the tropics anyway.

Back in my June update I mentioned the NRL State of Origin Comp and how QLD had won the first 2 games of a 3 game series, winning the actual series. Well on the 13^th of this month the 3^rd game was played and I think QLD must have taken pity on, or at least thought they would make the game interesting for next year by letting NSW creep in over the line to just win game 3.

What for the rest of the month, well, I took myself off to the movies a couple of times. I hadn't been to the movies since around August last year so enjoyed both movies. The first one was the new 'Ghostbusters' with one of my favourite female actors, Melissa McCarthy, not a bad movie but Melissa wasn't as good as her previous movies IMO. The second movie was the new 'Star Trek' movie. I must admit that I am a Star Trek fan so enjoyed that one too. "Beam me up Scotty"

So there it is, my July. All being equal, see you all next month.

Jupiter

V8 Supercars Truck Parade

Flowering Sugar Cane

Cardwell Main Street (Bruce Hwy)

Cardwell Main Beach area

Lovely colour at the spa pool

The Spa pool

Edit......Sorry everyone, something went wrong during the cut and paste process. I think I have fixed all the ??????? that appeared instead of  '  and  "