Kakadu to Cairns

What you staring at then, want some do ya, do ya?

It has been a while since the last blog and unfortunately some of the best moments since then were not caught on camera. For instance the charging water buffalo on the Kakadu highway that threatened to plough into the car but changed its mind at the last moment, probably just did it for a laugh just to see the reaction on my face which would have been one of horror. Further down the road just a few kms north of Katherine there was a bald and bare footed man carrying two plastic shopping bags walking down the road. Not that unusual but he was only attired in a pair of black speedos which had been hitched at the back up his bottom. Same horror face twice in one day.

Daly Waters Pub, how did I get behind the bar.

Welcome to Queensland, Finn is impressed.

Panning for for gold in Charlies Trousers AKA Charters Towers.

Another tricky foot shot, shoes on because it dipped below 25.

Pie fail on the road

We decided not to stop in Katherine again and travelled down to Mataranka where we had a great time swimming in the springs observing turtles. Bitter Springs just over Mataranka but if you ever do stop in Katherine go to the springs there a well. Also make sure you have beer to take into Mataranka as a six pack of VB will cost $28 at the local. Mataranka was a quick over nighter before we shot down to Daly Waters pub where we had lunch and stuck one of Finn's thongs on the thong tree out in the beer garden seeing as Amanda would not give up her bra for the bar. Then on to Threeways, we heard Tennant Creek was a bit rough so I can only imagine because camping at Threeways was spartan. The bar was good though and I learnt the fishing was particularly bad up in the gulf so Karumba was struck off the list in favour of Townsville.

Crossing over to QLD the next day the roads predictably got worse but the burgers got better. Camooweal Pub is a fine dining experience and massive burgers for $8. The sun was shining and QLD was looking pretty good. We headed down to Isa for an over nighter and stopped at a caravan park over the road from housing commission. Barking dogs and colourful language made it a memorable night for all the wrong reasons. Onward to Charlies Trousers (Charters Towers) the next day for three days. Great place which was built on a mine, gold mine. Once the richest place in world and was subsequently nicknamed The World. It may not been as rich as it once had been but it is still doing very well for itself and we really enjoyed doing its mining museums and learning about its rich past. We also came across cane toads for the first time. I cannot say too much for fear of incriminating myself too much but I can say they travel through the air quite well although a little ungracefully. After several flights my friend just looked at me and bounced away. Respect. I think this might be the reason QLD seem to win State of Origin, even their mascot is a hard bastard.

Townsville was the next stop. Reef headquarters was excellent, watching the Cowboys getting beat by the Roosters at a rain soaked Dairy Farmers stadium was not so great. The Strand was a great place for a stroll and the kids enjoyed the playgrounds that the council had built along it. We had plenty to do in Townsville for a few days but we were looking forward to moving up the coast to Mission Beach. and taking a visit to Dunk Island where Amanda and I spent out honeymoon in 2000.

Mission Beach is a beautiful spot. We stayed down at South Mission but all the way up to Bingal Bay is world heritage tropical forest lined with white sandy beaches dotted with black volcanic boulders. Trouble is jelly fish, mosquitos and cyclones. Walking in the tropical forest was impossible, we abandoned one walk because we were almost picked by vampire mosquitos and taken to a nearby island to have all the blood sucked out of us. They were like a black mist. We could not swim at the beach because of box jelly fish, although there was a netted area. And cyclone Yasi had bashed the resort at Dunk Island into oblivion so we could not go there for a visit. We did however go on a little cruise around the islands and had a snorkel at Badarra island and ate coconuts on the beach. And if you come up to this part of the world expect to see Cassowarys. These are prehistoric punk birds which eat everything. Amusing and scary at the same time and not an animal to be messed with. I was starting to think all animals in QLD were tough, weird and a crazy looking.

"What you staring at?" Your bum you ridiculous looking animal. Ed