Kiwikoala: Rocky Creek and surrounding areas

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On our way back we went to the Chocolate Apple orchards in Shepparton and brought a apple coated in toffee then chocolate then rocky road then toffee and chocolate . We decided to not eat it but bring it back and share it with Glen and Anne. It was very nice and tasty. I know for sure we will be bring a couple back next time . It is a treat at $8.00 each.

Apple cut in Half to view rocky road and toffee yummy

We arrived safety back in Malanda on the 2nd April for Johns parents 60^th Wedding anniversary which was on the 4^th April. It was a wonderful day for them having all the children present to share their day.

The Drury family

Back Glen, John, Front Mum, Dad and Anne

John had been busy helping Glen on the farm getting the fields ready for sowing and planting of the grasses and crops.

Myself, I have been working part time at the RSL Malanda helping out in the restaurant in the evening and when extra help was required during the day.

Not long after we arrived back John also celebrated his 59^th birthday with the family . A wonderful day again .

Our friends Ann and Keith Nicolson have just started living in their caravan and are now touring around Aussie. They have been staying with us out at the farm for a few days while John and Keith redid some wiring in their van . Then put 3 new solar panels up on the roof, this giving them extra power for freedom camping.

John, Glen and Keith putting the solar panels on the caravan down at the farm

John and Keith continued to do maintenance on Keith and Ann’s van, while Ann and I swapped knitting patterns and ideas to keep us busy while the boys do their thing.

We were given a good tip . To save your cooking oil bottles from splitting and making a oily mess for us to clean up. Buy a aluminium drinking bottle and keep your cooking oil in this. We went to Big W and brought two for $7.00 the next day . They hold 750mls each. It's great, no more having the plastic bottles spilt and oil meeting you at the caravan door when you stop, which has happened to John and I travelling up from Victoria. Not a nice mess to clean up. Thanks Kaycee for that tip.

The weather decided to turn to rain and more rain. At this stage John could not do any ploughing etc in the fields . So we packed up our caravan and joined Ann and Keith at Rocky Creek War Memorial Park rest area for a few days. It is hard to believe but only 30 k away the sun was shining just with the odd showers.

Memorial Wall of Remembrance

A W Chapman, Johns best friends Dad

John, KC, Bob Keith and Anne

Kieth and Anne Nicholson , John and Marg

Our van in the middle at Rocky Creek

Rocky Creek used to be a Army and auxiliary base from 1943 to 1945. There was a hospital here that had 3000 beds, over this period over 60,000 patients were treated in the hospital. Patients were brought to the hospital from all theatres of war in the South West Pacific by hospital train to rocky Creek from Cairns , or transport to Mareeba and Motor ambulance convoys. This area was regarded as the largest Field hospital in the southern hemisphere during the war.

From 1943 to 1945 the Atherton Tableland area became the largest military base in Australia. Mainly solders from the 6^th 7^th and 9^th Australian Army Division plus ancillary troops numbering between 200,000 and 300,000 were stationed in the area at some time .Camps spread over an area from Rocky Creek, Tinaroo, Kairi, Atherton, Wongabel , Herberton, Ravenshoe even towards Mt Garnet. At any one time up to 100,000 troops in 320 Army and auxiliary unites were based across the Tablelands at 160 sites.

An area of the park has been put aside as a dedication to all the soldiers that died from the area. The rocks here carry named plaques in remembrance of our fallen hero's.

It is now a lovely freedom park over for the tired traveller in there RV's where you can park up to 72 hours. This gives you time to visit the local towns of Atherton, Malanda Yungaburra and Mareeba. Plus with only a 1 hour trip to Cairns to see the sites.

It was lovely resting and catching up and making new friends.

28^th May 2013

Out at the farm the weather has not been great the last couple of weeks with a lot of rain and very few sunny days. Time for doing the silage was not happening as the ground was too wet to put the tractor on the field.

This was sounding as though a few days away to find a sunny spot would be most welcoming.

John and I took Mum and Dad into Cairns one evening. Dad got presented with his 60 year badge for membership of the Certified Practising Accountants association . A great achievement. Whilst we were there we went for a walk along the esplanade at dusk. So many people out walking their animals and children . We came across a swimming pool where many people were also swimming as the temperature was around 27 degs at 8 o'clock in the evening. Photos below

Cairns city at night

Cairns Esplanade walkway at night

3^rd June 2013

Off to Innot Hot springs for a soak in the pools. This I was looking forward to very much. (Margaret as I miss my spa back in NZ).

Our friends Keith and Anne are about to leave the tableland region and make their way to Darwin. So the few days came at the right time. Innot Hot Springs is only 1 ½ hours from Malanda just a pleasant distance to drive for a short break from the rain.

Our first night away we stopped at a rest area called Archers Creek (camps book 6 - 236 Qlds ) a very popular overnight stop for many travellers. A lovely sunny day

This worked out great for John as he was able to listen to the Warriors – Brisbane rugby league on the radio and I got to update the blog etc. John was pleased the Warriors won 58 - 8. So I decided it was time to sort out the blog for its next update. It takes time to download photos and prepare them for the blog and do the write up I hope you all enjoy reading on what we have been doing.

Lovely freedom parking area at Archers Creek

Onto Hot Springs in the morning we went, arriving there around 10.30. It was a great time to arrive as the park had plenty of parking spots to choose from . After setting up the van it was time for a soak in the pools and wait for Ann and Keith to arrive. We had 3 nights there relaxing . Went for a local drive one afternoon to have a look around. We watched the rugby league on the big screen at the pub. Well worth a stop over there and say hi to the local. Travellers are made very welcome. With a large pizza oven waiting for your chose of pizza (large for $20.00). Very tasty. The weather was not wonderfully while we were here . Plenty of rain and cloud. Not good for taking photos.

Blue Faced Honeyeater

John and Keith

I decided to give the Mareeba Markets a go on the Sunday with selling our key rings. With over 100 stalls it is a place to full in a few hours and buy some local fruit etc. We did ok.

Marg's Boot sale at Mareeba market

Once back on the farm it was time hopefully to get the silage done. But the weather seemed to be against us for a few more weeks with a drizzle and low cloud. John and Glen worked in the workshop .

Finally the sun came through and after a week of sunshine 26^th June the silage was done . It took two days to get it cut and under cover. This pleased Glen and John very much as the corn leaves were just starting to go brown and Glen wanted some green amongst it for the cows.

30^th June 2013

Sometime ago we decided that we would have a look at Ma-mu Rainforest Canopy walkway just south of Millaa Millaa.

Finally a sunny day with a little cloud arrived.

The walkway was built through a path that the Cyclone Larry made in 2006. This made it easier for construction of the walk way above the rainforest . Mum , Dad , Anne, Glen, Kathryn and John and I .

We arrived there at 11.00am and completed the walk at 2.00pm . The rainforest lies in the heart of the Wet Tropics World Heritage area and is protected within Wooroonooran National Park. The park is home to many kinds of plants and animals including the endangered southern cassowaries and near threatened Lumholtz's tree kangaroos. There is a rescue cart for people that find the walk way

to far. It was lovely to see such large tree and ferns . There was a cantilever for looking out over the trees and a observation tower which is 37 meters about the ground a spectacular rainforest view See photos below.

Cassowary

Flowers of Magic

insect in the Rainforest

Dad, Mum, Anne

John on Rainforest walkway

Douglas Creek on left , North Johnstone on right

Looking down onto the forest canopy

Rainforest covering

North Johnstone river

John on look out platform

Tree fern (Koru) on the Atherton tableland

A large fungi on the walk way

Fungi growing under the canopy of the Rain forest

A fungi growing off the fallen tree stump

Ulysses butterfly in Anne's garden at the farm

The underside of the Ulysses butterfly

Painted Frog on the Gillies Range

We also visited out friends Anne and Keith, Bob and KC when they stayed out at Lake Tinaroo ,and had a lovely evening with them before they started on their travels again.