Karumba

Hi All, Here we are in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Karumba The major attraction is fishing. We are having four nights here at the Gulf Caravan park. There are three caravan parks here, this one is in town and the other two at the mouth of the river. All very busy with caravanners. There is no beach here as it is all mangrove along the coast. We have met many people who come here for three of four months of the year!!!!!!   for the fishing. The couple next door go fishing at 0600 and back here at 1230... mostly without any fish!!!!!! they have been coming for 13 years to the very same spot. they leave their boat, freezer and washing machine here at the park!!!! I just don't see the attraction except the weather has been very nice. It is very dusty coz of water restrictions so there is no grass about the park. a nice little pool tho. I used the time here to get rid of some of the dust. Cleaned the windows, front door, bathroom , floor and did some washing, much better now but the van is top to toe in red dust. Not a lot going happening here apart from prawning and fishing. We have had some beautiful fresh prawn at $20 a kilo delicious.

We left Paul and Kay a few days ago. It has been really fun travelling with them. We all get along so well. We might catch up again in a few days at Lawn Hill National Park which is south from here. We will then go to Cloncurry then to Hughenden to see Frank and Tenille again at the station. Tenille's Dad Gus Jolly will be visiting from Perth so we are keen to see him too.

Tomorrow we are going on a half day fishing charter. It  will be fun to throw a line in. Hope we catch something.

We had trouble again with the satellite dish and reception for the TV.... hopefully all in working order now as we have had a very nice chap change all the cabling and checked it all over. Now going a treat. We haven't used it much but means we can get much better reception. Reece has just walked in with a bottle of bubbly. They sell wine at the caravan shop for $10 a bottle... seems it is quite drinkable!!!! 

Mum sorry we keep missing ach other. I was looking at the map and Broome is on the same line as Karumba. Hope you are enjoying the warm weather.

Liz I am loving the photos of India. Great holiday.

Anth.. my god you were lucky you didn't do any damage falling into the drink!!!

Madgie. Happy birthday to Stephie

Rozza can't believe Wilson will be 18 in a minute.

Trish... great news another Cocks baby

Shirl.. had fun with your sister

Vivi...hope your golf is great

Keith and Chris . hope the patio at Dunsborough is taking shape

Not a lot of news. the $10 de bortolli sparkling wine gong down a treat .. cant complain about the price.

Dockers playing tonight at 2000hrs. will be great to watch the game as we have missed the last few.

Have seen a lot of Julie Bishop on the TV of late always looking incredibly smart.

love to you all.

love to hear any gossip ....Pen

Croyden, Savanah Way, nr Normanton

Dinner at the pub. Then chatting with the truckies. This is a FOUR trailer road train. We have seen many three trailers but this is amazing. It has 68 tyres. We will be in Karumba tomorrow and looking forward to some fresh prawns.

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Weipa campsite

Sunset at Weipa

Cottesloe

Could be at Cottesloe Beach... Incredible sunset and the lorikeets are screeching in the trees.

Punsand Bay

Pool time for Kay and Paul

Punsand Bay, Cape York

Oh boy, I did a big email the other day on my laptop but seemed to have lost it... Bugger. Anyway as you have seen we made it to the tip of Cape York ... A now I can proudly say I have been to the most northern point Cape York, southern Cockle Cree Tas, eastern Byron Bay, and of course WA west all points of Australia....
Having a good time with Kay and Paul. If we are not travelling or exploring together we have time to ourselves. We cook alternate nights and dine at each others caravan. Works really well.
The drive from Cairns was trouble free for us. The car and caravan coped with the corrugations very well... Mind you we do have the rerun journey to come. Paul had a couple of probs.. Bogged on the way to Cape Flattery, Kay drove under a tree and nearly wiped out the air con unit on top of the van, otherwise OK.
This spot is my favourite on Cape York. It is a bush camp setting but has a lovely bar area, small above ground pool, brilliant pizza, looking at the ocean. Can just get a connection here by the bar. Not many caravans make it here. There are only four here, so we are pretty clever. Mind you the Kedron is multimedia for off road and the Landcruiser pulls it easily. We have one more night here , four altogether, so a walk along the beach early, now by the bar. We are doing dinner tonight, we will do meat patties on the BBQ. We still have plenty of food left. Did a if shop in Cairns before we left. The butcher cryovac the meat then frozen in the Engel. Fruit and veg got at Rusty's market lasting well too.
Before Punsand we had a few nights at Seisia where we went over to Thursday Island and Horn Island. 40 miles be sea on a very quick shark cat boat. Interesting war museum on Horn Island. The Thursday Islanders appear to be very proud of their land, well kept houses, beautiful language, and very friendly. Cemetery has 700 Japanese pearl diver buried there... Terrible. Reece bought me a very little pearl from Roko Island on a bit of string.. Had lunch at the most northern pub in Australia/ Thursday island.
Had an interesting time in Coen on the way. The taipan was in the ladies loo at the Aboriginal Cutlural Centre was pretty exciting!!!! Then we were invited to attend dancing later that day. Celebrations for the end of NaidocWeek. A thrill for us. Beautiful camp on theCoen River.

Temp is probably about 30.... Perfect with a breeze and a little rain last night.
We leave tomorrow and head for Weipa. Will overnight at Bramwell Station. From Weipa on to Noamanton and Bruketown before we head south and Kay and Paul go on to Darwin where they will fly off to Bali for a few days.
We will be back in Sydney by Nov 8 and stay around there till mid feb then wend our way back to WA.
This has been such a great part of the holiday. Most people travelling up here are with tents, camper trailer or tents on top of their vehicles. A lot do the rough off roads and some do get into all sorts of bother. New engines , water in the engine, cars written off coz of water issues....quite a lot of motor bike adventurers too.

Anyway...time for a dip.....

Liz enjoy India...
Shirl.... Good company with your sister. You and Kay are like twins. Reece and Paul getting on like a house on fire.
Trish .. Love to all the cocks please show Joy some of the pics on the blog.
Mum. Great to talk to you from the tip... Sorry to have woken you.
Anthe... Fab holiday
Rozza...must be great to have Conrad home. When is Fiona Stanley opening. The Kaleeya crew seem to be going to the day surgery as Kaleeya is closing
Madgie.. Lucky you to have a cuddle with the little ones in Sydney.
Keith and Chris go dockers.... Unfortunate loss on the weekend.
Vivi. Happy golfing but don't get too smart with the bridge. Love to the girls.

Byeee for now. Penelope

Made it to The Top

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Made it to The Top

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Cape York.

Well where do I start.it has been a while since my last entry. I am sitting in the café, bar, open area looking out to the ocean at Punsand Bay which is about 10 kms from the tip of Cape York. Absolutely beautiful. The breeze is blowing, music playing, in my bathers after being in the above ground pool. The only dampener is the horrible news about the Malaysian airline being shot down. Tragic. Ghastly. Rozza and Bill very glad it wasn't your flight from Paris!!!

Today is Friday and I must say it is a little tricky to keep up with dates and days as often we have no news or radio or phone on this leg of the journey. it has been fun travelling with Kay and Paul Foster. we take turns in cooking each evening. Kay a superb chef just like her sister Chris Hurley!!!! sometimes we go out as we did last night and had yummy Pizza at the bar here. this is a gorgeous spot… the best on the Cape. the road in very rough but beach has soft sand and beautiful blue ocean. but no swimming as the crocodiles are about. I would like them to build a cage in the water so you could swim, but I guess not practical!!

We had a good drive from Cooktown. We found the road to be pretty good and had no problems with either the car or the van. Paul had a couple of probs … kay drove under a tree and nearly wiped out the air conditioner on the caravan roof, lucky paul had a chain saw to saw off the offending bough. He backed into  tree stump and bent the rear but nothing serous. We will have 4 nights here before we turn around and head off to Weipa. we will then go back to Cooktown to pick up the kayak that we left at Caleb then across to Normanton.

While in Seisia we had a tour over to Hope Island and Thursday Island. A very good War Museum on Hope Island, saw crocodiles basking in the sun as we came into the jetty. Thursday Island everyone very friendly. 50 government agencies there. More than 150 islands make up the group, over 3500 live on Thursday. There are 700 Japanese pearl divers buried on Thursday!!!

Coen was an interesting stop. We had a really nice spot just beside the Coen River. We had called into the Indigenous Art Centre but unfortunately is was closed. a young man was jumping around excitedly and said there was a taipan in the lades loo!!!! Great excitement as the snake catcher got it. The locals were freaking out wanting it killed but the catcher took it out bush. later that afternoon Kay, Paul and I went back into town to see some dancing. they were celebrating the end of NAIDOC week. we were the only whities there except the school teachers. It was a treat to see them. The little kids were all involved too. Unfortunately my pics aren't very good as the light was all wrong.

The road up here is very busy. Not many caravans but heaps of cars with tents on the top. Some yahoos trying to travel at silly speeds. A lot do the "Old Telegraph track" but not for us with the vans etc. we are happy to stay on the road!!!! some get into all sorts of trouble. We have met some waiting for new engine and parts after trying to get across very deep river crossing without the right equipment. it pays to be cautious.

Will send some pics

Mum sorry I keep missing you on the phone.

Anth I see you are into scarves or head things… every day for me a bad hair day…. cap, hat,, scarf, pony tail!!!

Rozza can you send dome pics of ypur holiday. mjst be great to have Conrad home

Madgie great you got y see the little ones in Sydney

Shirl.. having a great time with your sister. you are so alike sometimes I think it is you!!!!

Vivi keep up the golf but don't get too smart with the bridge

Trish send love to all. Could you show Joy some pics from the blog

Keith Chris hope you are enjoying Dunsborough and enjoyed Singapore

Lizzie. have fun with Rory.

Jo missing Emily and Lucas

Lots of Love Pen

Bat Wing Falls nr Seisia, Cape York

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Siesia , Cape York

Only 30km from the tip. Off to,Thursday Island tomorrow for the day. Fantastic.

Coen River

View from my chair at Coen. We called into the Cultural Centre in town. There was a small problem .....a taipan snake was in the ladies loo. Very exciting to see this being caught and much excitement from the indigenous wanting it killed. But the catcher Brian was going to release it. We had some time with them. We are now camped about four km from town and surprised to have phone. We are back to town later to watch indigenous dancing celebrating the end of Naidoc week. Will be fun.

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Musgrave Roadhouse

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Coen lunch

Heading for the top. Gravel all the way. So many people travelling. No connection till I don't know when . love pen

Cape Flattery

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Cooktown

Caleb and Tara Zaicz.Caleb is a ranger with parks and wildlife and Tara is the manager curator of the Hope Valley Community Arts centre. Caleb is Vance Cocks partner Annie.   ..son.

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Cairns to Cooktown

Very popular Lions Den pub and campgrounds any views from the old lighthouse in Cooktown.

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Bullriding Cairns

Amazing laser show. Razzamataz lights bulls and cowboys. What fun

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Enjoying Cairns

Hi All,  Well our stay in Cairns is nearly at an end. Today is  sheet wash day and collect the meat order from the butcher who will kindly cryovac it for us. Tomorrow go to Rustys markets to get fresh veg and Woolies for the stores. We are heading off on Monday with Kay and Paul to explore Cape York. Our first stop will be Palmer River on the way to Cooktown. We will be travelling in convoy and I am looking forward to the trip very much. In Cooktown we will meet Caleb Zaicz who is Annie's son (Annie is Vance's partner) He is a ranger there and will be a font of knowledge for us. Looking forward to meeting him and his wife Tara. after Cooktown our plans will be day to day depending on road conditions, etc etc  we are planning to get to Cape York, Normanton, Weipa. The internet connection and phone is likely to be very sporadic, but we do have a satellite phone for emergencies and I will get the number and send on. From fellow travellers we hear that the roads are getting very busy up there.

We had a thoroughly good time sailing and had mostly great weather on the reef. Gil such an experienced captain. His whole life has been at sea catching crayfish or whiting or mackerel.  he no longer goes to sea but still has a couple of cray boats out of Geraldton. After we got off the boat their son Simon and family from Melbourne hopped on. Yesterday afternoon I went with Sheryl and the little girls age 3 and 5 to the Stardust Circus. It was great. Performing lions, monkeys, goats, dogs, pigs, horses and of course the trapeze, jugglers, clowns. Then last night we had a delicious meal at Limmys Malaysian Restaurant. Sheryl and Gil leave tomorrow back to Perth and have just packed up the boat and will leave it here in Cairns until the next trip next year.

Paul and Kay are in their caravan parked only a few bays away. We all had a little pool time this morning. But tonight we are out for some fun. We are off to the bull riders rodeo thingie at the convention centre. not actually rodeo … they ride bulls and it seems to be a really  big event with stars from USA and Canada competing. Can't wait to hear all the razz matazz, big boots big hats and plenty of cowboy music!!!!!!

I have spent a long time understanding my brand new Toshiba laptop. I can finally download the photos from my phone anto the laptop and store them…hooray….

so … love hearing from you all.

Poor little Emily has foot and mouth a nasty virus apparently very very common. body rash and temperature.

lots of love to you all

Pen

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Dinner last night

Reece cooked a magnificent whole coral trout on the bbq last night which we shared with Paul and Kay Foster. It was stuffed with lime spring onion red and yellow capsicum parsley ginger and coriander and a lemony butter over the cooked fish. Complemented with a very special salad made by Kay and some rice and Moet. A feast. 

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Dinner last night

Reece cooked a magnificent whole coral trout on the bbq last night which we shared with Paul and Kay Foster. It was stuffed with lime spring onion red and yellow capsicum parsley ginger and coriander and a lemony butter over the cooked fish. Complemented with a very special salad made by Kay and some rice and Moet. A feast. 

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