QUEENSLANDERRRRRRRRRRR

Leaving Lightning Ridge we travelled through  a little town called Hebel on the border of N.S.W and  QLD then onto Dirranbindi, then to our overnight stop   at Nindigully where we set up camp on the Moonie River....Nindigully is known for its historical hotel and the happy hour at the old local was a must ...We enjoyed our stay on the river bank and the locals tell us that the country folk fill the place to the limit on long weekends,once again no fish for us....Next  port of call was St George which  we thought  was a pretty little town settled on the Balonne River, then onto Surat where we set up camp for 2 nights also on the Balonne River and once again no fish.....After our 2 nights in Surat it was onto to my old  home-town of Roma....
Arriving in Roma we spent  a night with our very old mates Jill and Roy and had a great time catching up, then it was on to my nephews place Darren, Sam and Ryan....We had a great time there and they looked after the old grey nomads, also  the league grand final  was on too, so that was a afternoon of get togethers at the neighbours...Nothing like the life of country folk.....Thanks to all the Roma crew.....
     I spent a few days reminising and doing drive bys on all  places that i spent  my  first 17 years,checked out the old farm house or what i could see of it through the trees, Grandmas's place ,Uncle's place, Cousins place ,schools, churches etc....and took flowers to the cementry....  The Roma floods took a toll on many and some are still suffering, house's still not repaired and insurance companys still refusing a lot of people....Check your insurances everyone the word flooding is a dirty word when it comes to paying out......
 
    Leaving Roma we travelled  north through Injune and Rolleston ,then  heading towards Springsure   the old green machine (Mick calls her the Immortal) got rather tired and broke down....Did not take very long and we were travelling into Springsure with the tow-truck,  that sure  was a thrilling over-night stop...Springsure is really the place to hang out...(LOL) We were on our way the next day by mid-day  so it wasn't that bad...       Next town was Emerald which i thought was a nice country town, then onto Charters Towers and Townsville...Called in a had a cuppa with our old best-man and bridesmaid Sam and Evonne at Blue-Water on the way up to Ingham...                                                                                                                             We are now  in Lucinda staying at Sergio and Rhondda's and had been having a great time....Thank-you to Rhondda and Sergio for having us and spoiling us.....Just come back from doing a 5 day trip up to the Atherton Tablelands ... We stopped and had a cuppa with Ernie and Ros south of Cairns,  and i must mention we were very sad that we were not able to have a stop over with our dear old buddies Chris and Robert....Robert has to under-go more treatment in Sydney so we had to miss seeing them...Good luck Robert and I hope the time goes quick so you can return home to Cairns  ASAP....Next stop over, was  Micks nephews place,Steven, Julie and Sara...They have land at Ravenshoe on the Millsteam River where we spent the night overlooking the river and watched many  platapus frolic in between drinks and yummy food.....Next  day it was down to  Wondecla to their  roadhouse where we spent another 2 nights and played tourist around  The Tablelands....Lake Barine, Lake Echam,Lake Tinaroo Dam,Yungaburra,Mareeba,Kuranda, Herberton,Atherton....Just loved those Tablelands.....We keep repeating our-selves about the green rolling hills but The Tablelands are just a beautiful picture of  everlasting  green........                                                                                                                                                  

  Back in  Lucinda we are now having a battle with the weather, Mick is dying to get a trip to the reef for a fishing trip....We have the boats, we have the reef  but now the winds are up to 20-30 knots and  no-one can get out....We can wait a little while longer to see if he can catch this  fish that never happens.....Oh!!!! by the way we are down another mobile phone, First one got burnt and now we had to replace another one as the second one ended up in the river mouth while he was trying to catch the fish that got away....Managed to save his rod though...                                                                                                                                              We spent a lovely day in Innisfail with Mick and Sergio's brother Robbie and Coreen ,we all enjoyed our time together catching up, it was great for the boys to  be able to sit around  together as  the opportunities to have  these get- togethers do not come about very often......Thanks Robbie and Coreen  for the lovely day, once again good food and good company was enjoyed by all.........  I think i should dedicate this blog to all the rellies and friends in Qld thanks for all the invitations guys, the old grey nomads will have to head home soon ....   Now that is a  scary thought--- going back to the suburbs......   Love to all    
TheBaggies

 

Great nephew Ryan enjoying the thrills of country life in  Roma

The Immortal decided to have a rest

The 3 Bro's - Sergio,Mick and Robbie

Wonderful Cairns Esplanade

Great niece Sara enjoying the Millstream River

Lamb shanks in the camp oven (good times had by all)

The beauty of The Atherton Tablelands

Sergio, Mick and Steve at Lake Tinaroo

The Boys and their Toys

  

Windmill in the middle of the road heading to Irvinebank

Calm water  in The Hinchinbrook Channel

  

5 black cockies at Taylors Beach

Crabbing with Sergio up the creek

Taylors Beach and the one that didn't get away

and 2 that didn't get away

Breaking dawn Hinchinbrook Island in background

Lucinda's jetty   (longest in the southern hemisphere)

Is this Crocdile Dundee? or Billy Connelly?

Brad was here :))))