Friday - 31 July

We didn't race to get away. We retrieved the washing from the line and checked that we could still access the internet - well that took longer than we would have hoped - maybe we have it sorted now.

The traffic was light as we ran North to Townsville - we found an Auto store and purchased a spare air filter for the run up the cape. Then grabbed some groceries and had lunch at Rowe's bay where the Loch Ness monster basks in the winter sunshine - no wonder they have not seen him in Scotland for such a long time.

Rob Curtis welcomed us with open arms and we had a wonderful afternoon. Mal and Rob talked bikes from a 100 different directions, they talked politics from at least another 50 directions and then agreed finally that Radio national is the station to listen too.

We drank wine, feasted on roasted chicken and stayed up way too late for a bunch of senior citizens.

The moon shone in the camper window keeping a watchful if slightly disapproving eye on our late night capers.

Saturday 1st August

No one bounced out of bed, but we were good to regroup on Rob's front deck for coffee before we broke camp.

AS we left Townsville Mal related the story of how he had to ride over a piece of 4x2 inch timber which fell off a builder's truck and skated down the road allowing no other option but to ride over the wood at about 80k's per hour.

He could not remember if he was with Wendy at the time or on his own - I guess Wendy would remember.

We stopped at the Frosty Mango - well we do it every time so it is a sort of tradition - then we stopped at the lookout for Hinchinbrook channel - which is much improved with the new lookout area away from those overhead power lines.

Sue got eaten by sandflies, Mal played with his tripod - mmmmmm

We were in Murray Falls campground by about 2.30pm, no phone coverage and now they have decided that all bookings must be done online, even though Sue checked the website and it said only on public holidays and long week ends. Now it seems every National Park is book on line and of course many do not have a landline or mobile phone coverage.

WE met Jess from Melbourne who told us the swimming in the creek is fantastic - well maybe tomorrow.

We walked up to the falls where our National Nanny has once again both protected us from our own stupidity and also provide a couple of really splendid lookout platforms which actually improve the views. Unfortunately photographers at least want to frame their own views so the situation is vexed to say the least.

WE caught up with Richard and Jess on our way back to our camp - Richard to water colour painter so we swapped stories and thoughts - he also told us of his plan to grow his own pipe tobacco - yes tobacco - no that other naughty herbabge.

A light snack, a shower in Vicki and the we did some reading and turned out the light.

Sunday August 2nd

The morning was fairly overcast with some light showers of misty rain. We spent the morning painting and doing craft work. Richard from next door was to come over for a joint painting session with Mal, but it did not start until the sun had burned off the light cloud.

Richard and Mal went off to make a preliminary sketch down by the river and then returned to work on their landscapes. Sue sat inside and worked on her photos.

It was mid afternoon by the time Richard pulled up stumps and we had lunch.

We walked up to the lookout over the falls which is a steep but pleasant walk through the rainforest. Below on the rocks four backpackers sunbaked on the rocks below the falls - this is in a prohibited area - Mal wondered why they had chosen this location - there are plenty of other good spots out side the prohibited area.

Mal went off back to the river to take some photographs but an aboriginal group had set up right where he wanted to set up his tripod - so he did the best a bit off to one side on the next area of clear rock. One of the guys asked Mal if he enjoyed the "tourist sights" - so Mal had a short conversation with the man.

On the way back we went by a couple who had a home made slide on camper.

The guy was 76 years old and this was the fourth camper he had made - he had done a good job, however it would have taken a lot of time and really he has spent as much money making four as we paid to get ours pretty much right the first time (Active Campers had made over 500 by the time they made ours) - so really we are happy we did not have to wait another 15 years for Mal to build the first proto type slide on - to find out it was not good enough and another one had to be planned.

We were going to go and play music with Richard and Jess but we piked and cooked tea, had a shower and headed off to bed nice and early.