kath's outback trip 2023

24/11/2023

So just an update. My van has been fixed, but I'm still waiting for the car to be fixed, probably won't get it back before Xmas. So disappointing and angry, been at repairers since august.

10/08/2023

Well diffently finished my trip half hour away from home and someone hit me up the arse at 100ks lucky to pull out of a jackknife situation at a 100ks and the went into guard rail

07/08/2023

Well everyone. Due to me getting matilda I have not been able to do anymore. This time last week I was in Cairns, today I'm in Yarrawonga, and absolutely exhausted, if I had of known what it was like to have a pup at my age and health I probably wouldn't have got her. I absolutely adore tilly but she is hard work, so I might just go home from her on Thursday.
So I like to thank all that has been following me but I think this is the end now.
So until I see you all in person farewell and have a great time
Love kath and matilda ###

05/08/2023

Morning everyone, well I made it to Penrith area, to pick up my new travel buddy.
I would like to introduce you to my new buddy Matilda.

04/08/2023

Some scenery on the way from capella and roma yesterday.

04/08/2023

This is the dog 4yrs old doing tricks at the pub in Tallon

04/08/2023

So apparently I'm in nsw at the moment didn't even see any signs saying I left Queensland.
Well G'day parks I have discovered are bloody dear, yesterday for 1 night 45 for one person, today 42 for one person. No wonder ppl are free camping, like I was gunna do but thought it just a night why not stay at a park. Well I don't think I will from now on if it cost that much. I mean these have nothing really when I compare to Cairns. Now I paid 69 there a night but had my own bathroom and it was like a resort there, so I didn't mind paying it.

Ok, I left roma at 8am stopped for lunch at a place called tallon I think, omg that was a whiz biz crumbed steak( in our vic terms crumbed beef snitz).
It was think and bloody big, you'll see in photo. Also you'll see a dog do tricks with the publican. ( video to come)
The 🐕 is 4yrs old and also helped me eat my big meal 😆 🤣.
Some silo art at tallon and the pub too.
And beautiful town hall at St George I had to stop take a photo.

03/08/2023

So have driven from Capella and made it to Roma, only have my car into the mechanics, for my exhaust bolts gave way that joins to the engine mmm don't know how the f # thing happened. But at least I knew it had something to do with the exhaust cause it sounded like I had a hole in the m**f or exhaust, and thank f they have time to fix it. I just left my van and the cp unhitched and drove to mechanic.
By the way the cp at Roma you need gold I recon 45 power for 1 person and the park is not something to rave about.
Pictures of flowers at last Park and pics of Virginia Rock where you can free camp but didn't go down to have a look

02/08/2023

It's good having a pop top I use the 4 handles with a guide rope and bang washing line for i think it going to rain

02/08/2023

Well left the free camp around 730 this morning, (s**t I must have had 🐜 🐜 in me pants). I had no destination to get to other than follow the road to Penrith. Well I did really, I was hoping to get to emerald but that was 7hrs away, I got close about 45ks out. Pulled into a caravan park at capella so I can do washing and wash me bits. It really is a nice park even though it small, I have grass too yeah so I can run my feet and toes threw it,( love that feeling, don't know about you guys but I love doing it). Had my first thunder noise here at the park I did warn them I'm the 🌧 maker 😄 🤣. But no rain yet still very warm in tank and shorts. I recon it might rain.
Well photos are of the free camp that had goods trains go past threw the night and early morning, an area photo of somewhere I am and fueled up, and some of the storm clouds ⛅️ and the were I am in the park, close to toliets yeah.

31/07/2023

Last day at Cairns and of course rain.
Well washed my car and just tested out the new sandwich maker from kmart. I tell ya what, it bloody awesome.

30/07/2023

Well I was meant to leave cairns today, but last night I discovered a problem with the car and dcdc charger.
So got racq out and rang so many auto electricians to see if they could fix my car.
One 1 out of 10 answered there phone, but he was 1 1/2 hrs away so no good. Racq couldn't help with the problem either, but he thought it was the relay, and told me to go to auto barn.
So today I went to auto barn and presto it wasn't the relay it was that we placed the wiring from the dcdc to a circuit breaker point and the dcdc was to drawing to much, so he change it to the battery and presto no problems. The big 4 also let me stay 2 extra nights last night in case I had to get an auto electrician.i just wished I was able to fix last night so I could get on my way.
But anyway so I made the most of today at Crystal cascade. Now if you didn't know crystal cascades is a waterfall and rock areas where you can swim.
At the start they are a couple of stairs leading down to different areas to swim but the best was if you push yourself like I dis and now are paying for it, you the top is a beautiful water fall and swim area. Water cold at first but dive right in and you don't notice it. So fresh and wonderful to swim, like bieng stranded on an island in the wilderness. Also if someone knows what these ants are with green bums I would like to know.

29/07/2023

So here I was yesterday thinking I was gunna get a parking fine for we wouldn't get back until after 5 yesterday and my 20 buck tick finished at 5, I got back around 4 after taking the helicopter, there was a card from the Cairns council on my vehicle, saying the in Queensland with my disability car pass I don't have to pay parking fees any where, well s**t I could have saved 20 bucks, oh well I'll remember for next time. So if you are in qld anytime and have a disability car pass your can park for free just remember this for when u are up here. 🍻

28/07/2023

Landing

28/07/2023

28/07/2023

You'll see where the 🚢 and pontoon is as we circled around

28/07/2023

Start of 🚁 taking off

28/07/2023

Well what a day!
First get up take sick 💊 💊 and head to the reef terminal in Cairns, Rock up and guess what no where to park, no signs nothing.
Anyway found a spot, but hang on cost me 20 bucks form 730 till 5pm.
Well it was rough sat aback of boat out to green island, awesome, saw whale and calf. Didn't hire a camera for snorkelling, sorry guys I should have, for I was the first to spot the turtle and it was huge. So snorkelled around for an hour, then went to get a cappuccino. ( lovely cuppa that was, until later)
Caught the boat out to there pontoon, well it was a 55m ride and it was rougher than the first time.
So some stupid bitch( ME)
sat inside BIG BIG mistake, some one decided that the cuppa wanted to come up, and boy did it come up, 40mins into trip,😫 🤢🤮🤮🤮 3 bags later I filled.
So out on pontoon, did the submerged boat, s**t disnt really see anything but a reef shark.
Then out to get decked with Lycra lol. That was hard to put on, lucky I found a couple from nsw that I sat with and they helped, also they came and were my snorkel buddy's.
Heaps of big big fish and coloured fish. One decided to dance with me and I mean dance, it swam to me and did circles with me, it was so fun.
I was booked for a 🚁 flight for 10mins, instead one of the crew asked me if I would like to pay just a little more to fly back to Cairns. Yep that will suit me, saves spewing and 2hr rough seas, plus it aloud me then to enjoy the buffet lunch, very yummy.
So photosvof the boat, green island, pontoon then.🚁 and a video later of the 🚁 to come.

27/07/2023

Hello everyone.
Been a boring quiet day up in Cairns, just swimming in the rain and waterslide and hanging out in the shops. Bloody rained all day yesterday and today, hoping it will fine up tomz for I'm heading out to green Island for 2hrs, then a helicopter flight and play on the reef. So I'll probally flood the page tomz with photos and vids.
Have a great afternoon all

26/07/2023

Just a video to show abit of what I saw

26/07/2023

And in the big tank

26/07/2023

Went aquarium today for it bucketing 🐈 and 🐕...

25/07/2023

Kuranda skyrail, on the way back down on the gondolas, even though I had my eyes shut most of the way, the views are spectacular.

There are 2 stops on the gondolas, 1 I got off and had a walk to the viewing platform, which had areas where there was glass floor, so I couldn't get close to the edge, ah nah, no way, I was even sick watching them.

The 2 stop, I didn't get photos, for I couldn't walk no more, to much pain, so I just changed gondolas.

On the train ride up, you get 1 stop, that's at barwon Falls.
In the wet these falls would flow full, with the spray coming up.

The story about the railway, how they built it, was really interesting, so if I go for a drive up and do the 🦋 house and wildlife experience, I'll get the DVD, for I think it is really good history.

If you get a chance to come up it is worth it. You book threw skyrail, which you drive and park there. They bus you to the railway train, then up the top big big walk up hill to Kuranda which is why I ended up to sore to do the 2nd stop. Shops are expensive, 💰 💰 so I didn't really buy anything.
Then when you head back you take the skyrail, and do the 2 stops and when down the bottom your car is there. 😊 😃 picture of the glass viewings

25/07/2023

Last one up around the top of the mountains

25/07/2023

High view of mountains and cairns

25/07/2023

More rail half way up mountain views and waterfall which was huge

25/07/2023

More rail views of Cairns

25/07/2023

Going past the sugar can that is ready for harvest.
This is on the safe train 😃