Home Hill 18/4/15

Nice set of jugs in junk shop in Charters

 Headed further south inland through Atherton,Ravenshoe ,Undarra and on to Charters Towers where we spent 2 days until a very friendly Ranger moved us on.
About half way to Townesville we headed south to Ravenswood,and old gold mining town (there is still a mine operating )
The town was a bustling city in its heyday
and an unspoilt piece of our our heritage still supporting 2 lovely old hotels.
We stayed in the grounds of the Imperial thanks to John and his wife who put on a great woodfired pizza meal

The Grand Imperial

Stairway to Browns Hotel

Former Browns Hotel note staircase with Imperial in background
Originally there were 30 hotels and thousands of people

Old miners cottage

Mining equipment is scattered everywhere

Bar of the Imperial

2 old Ford trucks ready for restoration

Herberton 12/4/15

 Headed back down from Cooktown via Lions Den Hotel stayed behind pub.Tried the famous camel burgers.Good stop with hot showers.
Headed back to Mt Molloy via Lakeland then on to Mareeba which is a big coffee growing area.
Went to Saturday market and stosked up with local produce including some exotic fruit.
Stayed just out of Atherton next to a large group of French backpackers,a friendly lot who partied on til very late.
Went back to Spy and camera museum in Herberton for another tour,such an interesting guy with an amazing collection.

Masterchef Gonz whipping up a fresh batch of food poisoning

Cooktown Wharf

Old coffee machine in Mareeba coffee museum

Beck at Lions Den Pub

Made it to Cooktown 9/4/15

The Boulders near Babinda we rode our bikes herecaption

 After an interesting drive via Cardwell, Babinda, E llis Beach (great free camp on the beach) Cairns ( a swim in lagoon is a must) We headed north to Port Douglas.What a change since last visit ,it has grown from a small country town to a Noosa !
Still Mockas pies are still legendary !
We stayed a night in Mossman and visited the Gorge truly worth a visit.
Continued up to Daintree and decided not to do Cape Tribulation because return trin on ferry was nearly $30.
Spent night in Mt Molloy and then on to Cooktown,what a great road,very little traffic
Spent night in R V site in town (free)
Gonz is getting new tyres fitted and then off to Lions Den Hotel for a look (and possible night stop)

Ellis beach was a great freecamp on the water with a pub over the road !

Cooktown Lighthouse (no longer in use )
Great views over town and inlet where Cook landed in 1770 and ran the Endeaver in to shore for repairs and climbed  Grassy Hill to view safe passage back through reef

Parranella Park revisited

further north

Kingaroy where peanuts grow on bushes

Golden Orb spider

Mission Beach   Ah paradise