Retired nurse and member of the Vintage Reds (lifelong union member). Whisky, architecture, landcare. Food nazi and general left wing ratbag. Always learning. #FreeGaza🇵🇸 Put your country in your profile, please. And keep to the left you bastards. Canberra (Australia), unceded Ngunnawal/Ngambri country.
Public Key
npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Profile Code
nprofile1qqsreddvy22j2lk2wawlqwh5luvjcqcs2eeg4vzkpqy4uk696cc96pgpqqd5sqaf
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Published at
2026-08-27T04:05:47Z Event JSON
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Last Notes npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Yes, I was wondering... npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Stop! npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Ah, the cool change you were all waiting for?! npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Yay!!! Is that you right at the bottom? npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Not if it's from Amazon. 😬 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 We've emptied out Ronnie and Rhonda, put a bit of stuff away but not much, rearranged all the drawers in the kitchen which the house sitter played games with, now cooking a simple dinner, then we're off to see 'Tony' (Bourdain) at the cinema: a special early viewing. Sleep-in tomorrow! npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Home. Kitteh quite pleased to see us, but he's just the same with random visitors so who knows... not the sharpest tool in the box. 😆🧡 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 In the early days of our time in Canberra (70s and 80s) it wasn't uncommon to have overnight temps of minus 9 or 10, not any more though. It snowed today in the Canberra region.... every couple of years we get a decent dump. npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Crossed the border back into New South, into Barnaby country, where (thank Dawkins) for the first time in 6 wks we aren't surrounded by caravans. It was -6° here last night (that flushed them out!), but luckily tonight only 1°: balmy! Woolgoolga tomorrow (caravan country, sadly) for some repairs to Rhonda on Monday morning. Free camp tonight behind the Deepwater pub, may be forced to have a countery for tea. npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Weird mining town where weird things happen... npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Lightning Ridge. Still a bit of an opal mining outpost, but way different from the place I saw in the mid 60s. https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/117/041/348/280/733/102/original/742812b0cc4e6364.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/117/041/349/764/805/713/original/6783fcd7292fea30.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/117/041/349/997/122/715/original/e75d2a00f1a1c0fd.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/117/041/347/807/760/824/original/a3754cc04da91b48.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Sitting at the Lightning Ridge sunset lookout. I was here in the early 60s, don't remember much but I remember the place was just a buncha dirt roads with humpies and mullock heaps; we'd driven on dirt roads in the rain to get here, sliding all over the slippery black soil plains. It's a very different town now... https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/117/036/070/889/587/172/original/17e14a8653552cfd.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Lotta kookas here in country Queensland. Lotta cookers too, but let's not discuss that. 😬 https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/117/024/176/348/761/491/original/30097be223f9f8b5.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Oh no... Glenn A Baker. 💔 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 🤣 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 "Air Gar(n)?" This is Queensland speak for "hello" (How Are You Going?). 😆 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Ta Mazz, it's slowly coming good. npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Struck down with himself's gut bug in the night. Luckily we were in a lovely campsite with nice amenities. That folding bucket has earned its keep this trip. Recovering, but weak as a kitten. The 1770/Agnes Water region used to be a quiet little outpost, but it's an ugly, sprawling tourist joint these days. I'm just in the passenger seat while we see the coastline and himself does some errands. Back to the campsite for a nap soon. 😵💫 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 In a lovely camp site about 15 mins south of the township of 1770, big bush block belonging to a young couple. Quite a few campers: park wherever you like, basic amenities. Very peaceful, except some dickhead has Slim Dusty's greatest hits blaring .. FFS. https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/996/286/679/200/675/original/965d790b9f005eeb.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 White knuckle ride out to Great Keppel Island on a tiny boat, with a lovely young bloke who knew his stuff. Largely unspoiled Island, apart from a derelict resort. Beautiful! Spot of snorkelling was fabulous, coral not colourful but the fish were stunning. And a delicious lunch was part of the deal. Himself very happy (I was awfy brave!). https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/990/188/316/077/476/original/76e74738bdf4fda6.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/990/188/656/036/737/original/33cb9d3ee01d0351.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/990/188/372/457/739/original/e14555511d477f19.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/990/188/507/984/478/original/8b4c7074bfe86ab5.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Well, Yeppoon: not as bad as I expected, but the beach (which you can't swim at) is a bit howsyerfather, by NSW standards... Anyhooo, we had a beer opposite the substandard beach, and himself has booked us a day tour tomorrow to/around Great Keppel Island (I'm going to be very brave). https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/984/302/126/190/950/original/d798ccdb1de45294.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Day trip tp Yeppoon, which used to be quite lovely but which I fear has now turned into a mini Gold Coast. We went to get some groceries yesterday and the drive through Rocky's CBD was rather lovely: lots of old historic buildings and shady trees. Also checked out a few of himself's family history locations. Stumbled over this fabulous thing: the Council Chambers, 1939.😍 https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/982/681/845/562/685/original/588f1cd190907c4d.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/982/691/177/013/975/original/ebe4cebf572a562f.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Stuck in a rather substandard, overcrowded caravan park half way between Mackay and Rocky. On the beach in theory, but it's not much of a beach. Anyhoo, himself is crook with a temp and a tummy upset, yay! Fingers crossed it passes quickly and we can get to our (much better) campsite in central Rocky tomorrow. Meanwhile, we have lemonade, panadol, and our own toilet if necessary (usually number ones only... sorry, that was prolly TMI). 😄🤞 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 This is 'the leap' after which this village is named. An aboriginal woman leapt to her death to evade colonisers but her baby, which she was caring, survived... very sad. Anyway, went for a walk and this little guy or girl, was having arvo tea... https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/967/854/284/823/898/original/6374ea5b148663d7.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/967/860/526/698/549/original/b245d5869c7c7262.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 2/. And someone's in a tent next to us with a loud podcast blaring, something about aliens being responsible for Angkor Wat. 🤯 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Airlie Beach... not coping. 🤢 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Townsville: surpisingly attractive. Cheek by jowl with the unpowered crowd in a beachside caravan park, whipped up a TVP chilli 'con carne' (in 20 mins) with wholemeal pasta, cheese and avocado. Yummo! 👌 https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/956/996/575/849/205/original/29fab2b04c1211dc.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 A 5.7km long jetty in Lucinda, North Qld. Conveyer belt for raw sugar, there's also a roadway on it for staff, eeeek!! Bonkers. Hinchinbrook Island in the background. https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/955/322/962/307/644/original/b666d6a2ef5c655a.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/955/322/973/128/254/original/af774ec794a4dcce.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/955/337/198/388/644/original/aa9aacfc5f220ba3.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 I'm endlessly fascinated with these hard core 'living on the road' grey nomads' massive rigs. These 2 have a house on wheels and they tow a little car (for popping down to the shops 🤣). Imagine the fuel costs, but I guess that's all part of the lifestyle if you've sold your house (not my cup of tea but wow). Look at the washing machine and dryer! Clever. https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/948/987/087/944/927/original/ca450ca4e2fe0432.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Innisfail, pop about $10,000, seems to have a substantial Indian population, with 2 Indian restaurants and an Indian grocery. We've seen a lot of Sikhs/Panjabis around town. Anyhooo, we're eating out tonight and this joint is doing a roaring trade, unsurprisingly! 👌... ping @npub1emv…wnhu https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/945/664/574/974/171/original/3d15072aa46e9bb7.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/945/682/363/199/341/original/635af8c2d25d71bd.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Not pictured: Bob Katter's central electorate office, Innisfail. We are surrounded here by sugar cane and banana farms, and LOTS of big Aussie flags. Katter country, also PHON country, yay. And a lotta crocs, no doubt. 🤣🐊 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Innisfail: who knew? An art deco wonderland, after the 1918 cyclone. https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/944/840/874/298/612/original/50c01137b4b16668.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/944/840/914/779/794/original/77f72a2117b00ffa.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/944/840/925/652/996/original/3f477558cefdd286.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/944/840/937/926/276/original/0bc95ad594452a49.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 The great sesame oil catastrophe of the trip is now behind us. We hit a huge unmarked speed bump in Weipa and the pantry broke, sesame oil everywhere in Rhonda's guts, poor girl. For days we've been mopping and washing her guts (acrobatics 101), the kitchen 'carpet', the pantry, whatevs. She stank of sesame something awful. We're now in Innisfail and have put the carpet under the carwash pressure wash, done the guts again and finally she drinks no longer. I never want to smell sesame oil again! npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Ah, much better for you all!! npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 How very bloody annoying! npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Presented without comment: https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/938/707/047/088/392/original/0e154c4fd0037adb.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/938/707/008/497/838/original/13fda4e3812f13b3.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Cairns. Art galleries mostly, including the Mulgrave wing of the Cairns Art Gallery, in the old council chambers (why did they need a vault??). https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/938/590/181/366/157/original/1da149dd65befecc.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/938/590/147/166/636/original/b9929772c6c5d1f7.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/938/590/164/862/915/original/7440e1e3b484baad.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/938/590/056/291/931/original/12bbc9d9934a00cf.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Ah yes, the wee one.. what's happened with that lately? And Innisfail is next up today! npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 But do you swim in beaches in that warmth? And if so, how would you go not being able to swim AT ALL? npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Warm enough. Is that enough? npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 2/. Port Douglas: I simply don't get the attraction of a distant location with literally mile upon mile of (ugly) resorts and holiday accomm, but a beautiful long beach you can't swim at. Why travel great distances just for expensive accommodation and expensive shopping/ eating/ drinking... and no beach swimming? Anyone?? npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Gordon Bennett, Port Douglas is awful. npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Mossman Gorge. Noice. So many foreign tourists (European)... No crocs, so there was a lot of excited swimmers who braved (or not) the chilly waters. https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/933/510/626/119/776/original/a911d380e837226c.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/933/510/548/510/231/original/3442ee92ebdcf95c.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/933/510/633/848/522/original/63a3db1a40bbd45f.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/933/510/626/048/103/original/644c858c91e487db.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Noice !! npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Sheesh, Cape Tribulation. Quite the business to get to, and then the rest of the world is there. I'd rather be in Biloela! Anyhooo, this is where Capt Cook reckons all his troubles started (and not just yours, mate!). Slightly related: none of his 6 offspring ived long enough to produce children, and his long suffering wife outlived him by 56 years... 😱 https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/932/991/070/443/004/original/6f3ef5a8ed6457ad.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/932/991/055/472/353/original/9d9affcf212661ad.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Jeez Louise, the (trade)winds in Cooktown are epic. Got blown off my feet, literally, at the lookout and nearly knocked over an old bloke. Anyway, this was the view... https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/922/606/488/265/801/original/b532b9ec1d52ec69.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/922/607/036/745/585/original/c553178086890869.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Old Laura homestead, near Laura, #CapeYork. Nice little 4wd river crossing to get there (not pictured), but we chickened out on a deeper one nearby coz (possible) crocs prevented a walk through.🐊 ALT: very old slab/post and corrugated iron ruins of a queenslander homestead and outbuildings, plus a beautiful river nearby. https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/921/054/715/349/191/original/0072762a983bedd8.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/921/052/803/967/762/original/042eab4eb5158953.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/921/054/080/934/265/original/427a68d183d09eba.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/921/054/105/480/352/original/35262623de8b1d6a.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Oh Sam... 💔😭💔😭💔😭💔😭💔 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 3/. Bridge over the Mission River in Weipa. Longest single lane bridge in Straya. Pretty scary, coz it's one kilometre long and there's no lights, you just have to have good vision to see if anyone's coming. Headlights on and go! 😬 https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/911/027/153/918/423/original/5cad5ca2531dd67e.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 2/. Old Mapoon: beautiful, secluded peninsula north of Weipa. Hard to believe the forced evacuation in 1963, to Bamaga (hundreds of miles away), but there's a thriving little alcohol free indigenous community here now. Cultural centre closed coz 'all the laydeez' with their art are in Cairns for the art festival. Meanwhile, here's the beach (no swimming, crocs!) with a random wandering wild horse, a familiar sight up here at the top of #CapeYork. https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/910/686/250/857/571/original/74fae8a1a61626e8.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/910/691/978/242/848/original/76ff01a250b9a5b3.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 In Weipa today. Spent some time at the Aboriginal Cultural Centre, found the shopping Centre (a small air conditioned complex which looks like an old warehouse from the outside!) and now we're off to Mapoon, an hour's drive north. The indigenous inhabitants of Mapoon were forcibly removed in 1963 so it could be mined; this was obvs Not Good, and in recent years the ppl have been slowly returning. https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/910/111/086/998/079/original/dddbcf0e29e88a92.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 What fun! npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Approaching Weipa, yay! We thought we had over 8 hours of driving to get there, so left before dawn... but we found a short cut! Sunrise just south of Bamaga was gorgeous, so we stopped to take it in and make coffee. #CapeYork https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/904/929/264/002/947/original/f2765b12d4b15aeb.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/904/929/202/794/648/original/890e7031ab96d5ab.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/904/928/679/408/009/original/e4c7796ba62ff3bb.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Back at the camp ground on the mainland. Crowds have gone, school hols finished I guess. We got a beach view this time. The Torres Strait, tip of #CapeYork 🥂🌴 https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/899/930/887/860/848/original/c2c21a10182b0596.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Gah !! 😱 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Cheers from Australia's 'Top Pub' (most northerly) on Thursday Island. 🍺 https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/899/083/670/487/227/original/e460a23d5f2ace94.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/899/083/674/714/731/original/1b57e7d1dc2916f6.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Thursday Island! Two hours on this boat first. 🎉 https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/897/898/387/322/917/original/8f369dc51f93056e.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 We got to the tip. No, not the rubbish tip. Crowds were bonkers, had to queue for the pics. #CapeYork https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/893/562/125/932/363/original/0db08727b4d18bb6.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Two ckooks have arrived to say hello, actually one's a rooster. @npub193a…faq9 https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/888/631/247/390/553/original/51dab1578960a650.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Jardine River Ferry, the legendary (coz it's often out of action). Crossing in the morning then should see the tip of #CapeYork before lunch. 🎉 https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/888/311/575/238/360/original/b18b0fa5412bdb93.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/888/311/421/493/879/original/dc30e91142b45e0c.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/888/311/204/345/962/original/cda13a8cfac519b1.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/888/323/330/856/300/original/f67169c4f0d6a615.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Quinkan art, Split Rock, #CapeYork. And we saw a brazen little bush stone curlew last night at our free camp! https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/881/459/880/736/537/original/559b68f12de2adc1.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/881/474/081/034/227/original/7536ab44bbbe7583.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Returned Services League. npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Phwoar, look at the Mareeba RSL sub branch, formerly Uniting Church (1960). No ALT txt, but it's a modern church with sloping roof, amazing 60s diamond design features, and surrounded by a bloody great security fence and roadworks, sadly. https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/877/127/904/717/303/original/3bf8ac37dd66d9a5.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/877/128/731/731/612/original/85578627d46da847.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/877/128/098/399/196/original/08b4391ca57df581.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Current view, 4 hours on, from this covered BBQ area... https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/875/927/126/809/205/original/c65e2c5c261bbd22.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 A very trying morning. Long waits (3 hours and counting), an unnecessary indignity (slipped over in the mud, carrying my breakfast and coffee, it's very wet here in Cairns), and still more waiting to do (both of us, for different things, miles apart), but there is light at the end of the tunnel! The car is finally ready so himself is on his way back to this caravan park where I am waiting for Simon (not far away!) to come and fix this effing computer. Can't wait to get these muddy shorts off. 🤢 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Stupidly got chatting to a woman at the clothes line, which started off with innocent weather convo. Quickly degenerated into sov cit / one nation gobbledygook: this weird weather is all caused by the atrocities in the world... and the banks, apparently. #Queensland 🤯 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Faaarrqqq, I'm acopic here in the tropics. I'd have no hope in summer. Anyhoo, we've spring cleaned Ronnie and Rhonda, washed the sheets and towels, done a week's worth of shopping, done the walk of shame with the toilet cassette, and we have the oil change and the computer repair booked for the morning. We ride at dawn.* Time for a swim! #Cairns #CapeYork 🥵🥵🥵 *Prolly about 2pm, be lucky to get to Kuranda by tomorrow night.😆 https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/871/683/595/801/426/original/d53031f6640c2911.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Yes, I've already caught up on the opening stage of the #TourDeFrance, but we just streamed the Canberra ABC tv news (for some news from home) and not a mention, after all these DECADES. .. just wall to wall football and a spot of ice hockey ffs! Pathetic. I have no idea how many times I've complained to them but I can feel another pointy gnome coming on... it's the principle! npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 First hurdle of the trip: Ronnie has a 🔧 showing on the dash. Need to get someone in Cairns to look at him in case it needs attending to. This may take some time. As I keep saying to himself: no need to get to the tip of Cape York, plenty of other stuff to do in Qld, but of course that falls on deaf ears, he's on a mission. I'd rather see Carnarvon Gorge for example, if time is limited. We'll see... npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Early start from Charters Towers where there was no free camping. Got a spot at a caravan park, where massive rigs were the order of the day 😬, and ladies were in the ablutions block at dawn with their hair dryers, and putting on their face.. 👀. We've hit the subtropics and dragged out the shorts! https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/858/163/413/284/551/original/f5faee35c36a0e13.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Charters Towers, wow there was some wealth here once upon a time: plenty of impressive civic buildings, pubs and banks. Gold, apparently. Anyhooo, now it's beef and country music. https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/854/918/315/074/854/original/0c60e303de72f12c.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/854/921/504/309/654/original/4ee2a4eb28e0298a.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 cont'd.. Fourth dam of the trip: Fairbairn, Central Qld, near Emerald. Lotta barra, it seems. Also lotta water for citrus, cotton etc. He's resisted about 6 other dams en route in the past few days, so fair cop. We had a cuppa and avocado on toast at this stop. 👌 https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/853/077/414/179/506/original/92620d1db2c9053d.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 I was a bit overcome meeting Priya and Nades (in Biloela), and we glimpsed the girls who are very grown up. 🧡 We had a delicious, crispy masala dosa, and beef curry with veg and chappatis. We sat in the shade in the adjoining pioneer cemetery for lunch, and are now as full as googs! https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/848/274/715/913/378/original/cbcffbcfcd39fd00.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Today's excitement: Biloela for lunch! Hoping Priya and Nades have their food truck open. 🤞 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Kingaroy! Joh country. #Queensland Predictably, there's a Big Peanut. And a massive peanut butter factory looming over the town. 🥜 https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/843/217/870/615/442/original/b2464adf7ea81fc9.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/843/221/788/938/404/original/5e1de7320e1b2693.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/843/227/285/746/883/original/e9d6bdef6b1cbba2.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Cont'd... Wivenhoe Dam ✅️ Somerset Dam ✅️ And it's just dawned on me that this is the 300 dams tour of Queensland, cleverly disguised as a trip to Cape York.😬 In other news we just saw a Glossy Black Cockatoo, so that's an exciting first for us. npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Archie Moore: Kith and Kin. Venice biennale winning entry. Astonishing. #QAGOMA https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/837/494/100/185/787/original/5f621159daca2148.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Spent several hours at the Cleveland museum learning about himself's ancestors who settled in Redland Bay in the early 1870s. Willie (age 18) was taken by a shark in 1905 trying to save a young woman, and the family home burned to the ground in 1936. https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/831/396/751/603/029/original/20b518b043c949e4.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/831/396/746/574/925/original/3ed763b9d6aa5d84.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Staying with a cousin of himself's on the Gold Coast. Lovely people, with lots of fascinating local family history chat. They are Queenslanders though, so it being mid winter (= SUMMER to us), the house is like a fortress with all heaters blaring. We have retired to our upstairs suite, where I have turned off the heater, thrown off several blankets and am trying to find a window which opens.... 🥵 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 And despite the massive body of water behind this dam, the brand new toilets still have those stupid taps that you have to hold down to keep the flow of water running. Jeez... npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 After a lovely day and night with old friends in Burleigh, we have now arrived at our first dam of the holiday: the (Russ) Hinze Dam. Himself, being a rampant damaholic, deserves praise for lasting 10 days, but how many more will there be? It's a constant struggle. Coffee!! npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Broke camp at 6.30 am, now just half an hour from Burleigh. Stopped in Murwillumbah for morning tea only to discover a MARMALADE CATASTROPHE in one of Rhonda's cupboards: my cumquat marmalade had fallen over, lid had come off and it had oozed everywhere. Clean-up done, but what a waste, lucky we have a box of my jam and marmalade to give away, with spares. Gah! npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 First free camp of the holiday, about 30km south of Casino. Quiet rest area, almost no-one here, and there's a 'windy loo'. Didn't arrive till 7pm so we've just had fried eggs, raw vegies, and toast and marmalade for tea. Very early start tomorrow so we can get to friends at Burleigh Heads by mid morning (scenic route). npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 It did!! npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Sitting around at daughter's, waiting for a parcel which has been on board for delivery since 7am. We have to be on the road by 2pm or we'll turn into pumpkins. To quote Blackboard: "Hurrrry up.." May have to leave without it, we have a busy schedule of visiting friends and family on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane coming up... I'll be glad when that's over and the real adventure begins. npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Ikr, all the Asian mummas would do it in no time, with their eyes shut. I've done it several times before but it's still a bit of a palaver. 😆 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 The whole Hainan chicken catastrophe. Daughter and I spent all arvo on it. Worth the wait! 👌 https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/804/696/224/068/867/original/d4129caaf13aac28.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Perfect weather so far in Port Macquarie. Daughter is on leave so we've been out and about, also relaxing at her lovely home. Walked into town today to the farmers' markets to get Hainan chicken ingredients for tomorrow night. Also bought far too many snacks at the local Indian grocery, murukku! 👌 https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/797/780/736/497/832/original/318bea0f322fa031.jpg https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/797/790/078/226/002/original/3f79f8a532bbf163.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Nice. Beautiful stroll too. npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Fair comment, but just for the record I did not enjoy it. And I have never seen Close Encounters! npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Did you figure out if you got your concession on the Canberra PT ? npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Lol the Long Drop? Means a bush toilet here, I'm presuming not the case where you are? 😬 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Oh, I see. Bunks? Good plan. npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Hilarious weather here in Port (Macquarie)... 🌴 npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Ah, so it's an incremental thing... npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 We did thanks darls, and slept very well! How are things with the wee one? npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Arrived in Port. Daughter's dawgs are very sweet ... 🧡 https://static.toot.community/media_attachments/files/116/775/582/931/819/693/original/64effecb99021ec0.jpg npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 2/. Falling about laughing, in Ronnie, at the The Rest Is History boys in The Fall Of The Incas (5 one hour eps). They are such a cack, and brilliant story tellers. It's wild: 167 Spaniards conquer 24 million people! The Incas in 1530 had no written word, no farm animals (llamas and guinea pigs!), no money, and no WHEEL. They were terrified by the Spaniards' horses! npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Oh frabjous day! 🎉 Poor kitteh thought he was going to the cattery so hid under the bed and we missed out on goodbye cuddles. Anyway, we're off! First stop Port Macquarie. #CapeYork npub18j66cg54y4lv5a6a7qa0flce9sp3q4nj32c9vzqfted5t43st5zsk20e0q Jude🇵🇸 Lovely evening with @npub12cj…hqkq at the new food precinct East Traders Hall... very busy! Anyway, forgot to take a pic, dopey duck. Early night, up at 6am for an early departure. #CapeYork