A Hay Shed and Gardening at Longford Station

 Week 1:  We parked Keith outside the WOOFERS Shed, with a view of the Sturt Desert Peas.  We spent our first night sitting on the homestead verandah, getting to know our hosts, Lindsay and Sally Allan.  The property had once been owned by poet and writer Dame Mary Gilmour  and consists of 22 000acres, now with 2000 head of cattle.
Next dy we got stuck into work around 7:30am - Danny helping Lindsay with the new hay shed which he had been waiting 3 years to complete; and  I did a clean of the Woofers amenities and then got started in the gardens. 
Over the course of the week, Danny got a handle on stick welding and spent long days out at the new hay shed.  I watered the gardens, cooked and learnt how to retain water for the vegies and trees using cow dung and hay.

We went for a walk on Tuesday into the dry river bed.  We were looking for fossils...and we found two.  A small shell and a larger imprint of a mollusc in the round moon rocks. 
Our hosts and the food was great - and there was lots of it.  Sally and Lindsay were doing Dry July, but we had a couple of beers / wines at the end of each day.

Some friends of theirs came to visit in their 2 caravans with their 2 dogs.  Indigo wasn't that interested in the bounding exuberance of "Rocky"...
I got inspired while working in the garden on Thursday and started to compose a song.  Danny helped out with some lyrics and some of the chords and put some harp to it. 
On Friday night, we performed for the Allans and friends with our listeners joining in singing some of the tunes.

What a great week 1 at Longford Station.

On the road to Clonkers!

July 5:  First stop along the way was Normanton and the big crocodile statue.  Supposedly there was a croc as big as this one in the area many years ago.  We thought the Purple Pub was worthy of a photo as it glistened in the morning light.        Next stop was the Burke and Wills Roadhouse to refuel Keith and us.  I had .a lovely ham, cheese & pineapple toastie (my favourite roadhouse food) and Danny had a burger.  Unfortunately, the Burke and Wills sign was no longer in tact - just this frame with a bit of Instagram magic applied to the photo.

We arrived in Clonkers as we like to call Cloncurry.  The locals call it "The Curry".  Anyways, we did some basic grocery shopping:  paper towels, dog food and Danny popped into the bakery for a couple of pies.  The sign on the wall outside listed some interesting items...                                              

 Danny purchased another pair of thongs from Lemmons - he had unfortunately left one of his beloved Surfer Joes at the B & W roadhouse.  He asked at the clothing shop if they had any (they were slightly amused by this request), but I guess surfing is not big out this way.
It was time to set off to our next W.O.O.F.I.N.G job, 90km east of Cloncurry.  As directed, we turned off onto the Orindi unsealed road, which was a bit rough.  After what seemed like a long time (maybe 27km?)  we saw the 2 drums and then the boganvillia bush which marked the entrance to the cattle station. 
I opened the gate, Danny let Indigo ride on his lap and Keith bumped along the 4km driveway into Longford Station.
Another adventure was about to begin.

Keith gets a New Starter Motor (Karumba Pt 2)

 July 1:  It was a windy morning at Karumba, and we walked down to the little local markets outside the pub.  I bought Jimbo (Danny's Dad) a hand-knitted beanie for his birthday.
Danny tried his hand at some fishing at the point and then at low tide, we did some gleaning.  We picked up lots of hooks, sinkers and trace + I found Danny a wicked pair of Oakley polarized sunglasses "Eye Patch".
July 2:  We set off early to the point after moving out of the Sunset Caravan Park.  We didn't park in the usual spot, but further up the dunes.  We hung out there for the morning and when Danny went to start Keith...nothing.  He changed the batteries over...still nothing.  Before ringing RACQ, he rang our handyman friend, Poustie.  But still he would n't start.  So the RACQ guy came and towed us back to the caravan park he also managed behind Point Fuels.  He ordered a starter motor from Cairns and said it would be on a truck and here tomorrow.  (which it was)  So all was cool.

This caravan park was the most relaxed of the 3 and I liked it coz it had grass and a nice outlook onto a wetland area.  We made friends with Russ and his wife, Teresa and she taught me how to play a game:  Rumikub which I became quite adept at over the next few days.
July 3:  Danny went out fishing in Russ's boat in the early arvo.  They didn't go where all the other Tonads (Nomads with Tinnies) go up the creek near the power lines, but hung instead around the sand bar.  A couple of the other blokes said "It's all over", but apparently it wasn't.  They caught 7 Grunter (Danny threw one back) and a little bream.
Russ and Danny filleted the fish and put some aside for Numus. That night, we cooked up some 'wings' on the outside stove and they were great.
July 4:  The starter motor had arrived the arvo before, so Danny spent the morning fitting it and I went off to the pub for a Cancer fundraiser:  Big Morning Tea with Stella, the Greek nomad.
That night, Danny and I went down to the pub to watch the State of Origin game.  There were lots of Victorians and a mixture of blues and maroons.  It was a good night - especially since we won!

 There were a large variety of birds on the beach and wetlands including hawkes, spoonbills and pelican.
I found a petrified toad sitting on a tree watering pipe.  Most bazaar.

 July 5:  Time to head off, so we said our goodbyes to Karumba.
It didn't start off well for me, but we both really enjoyed our stay in the Gulf.

Aye...Karumba! Pt 1

 
June 27: 
So perhaps I overreacted just a little when we arrived at our 'cow paddock' type camp in the back block at the Gulf Country Caravan Park.  The pamphlette said shady trees...in the distance!.

After I got over my disappointment (about 30mins) we went down to the pontoon and met Beau 14yrs, from Normanton.  He was a wealth of information on fishing and the local kids.  We also made some friends back at the camp, well Indigo found Angelo first and we had afternoon drinks with him and his lovely wife Stella from Melbourne.

June  28:  We popped in and saw cousin Anthony's sister at his beach house a few kms away and then parked down at the point.  Danny caught some 'livies' (smaller mullet for bait) and then hooked a beautiful bream.  Later on, Danny cooked him on the fry pan, whole on the outside gas burner and I made some chips and salad.

June 29:  Back to the point and this time Angleo and Stella showed up.  Danny supplied the live mullet using his cast net and Angelo hooked a big Queenie.  Stella told me interesting tales about her vege garden at home, her job as a cook and her childhood in Greece.  That arvo, it was time to move to Karumba Point Sunset Carvan Park right on the point.  This one had lots of shade with palm trees and sand.  And lots of big 4 wheel drives with nomads from Victoria who come up every year, some for 4 months.
Around 6:30, we walked down the road to the pub on the waterfront and did what everyone else was doing...watched the glorious sunset. 

 June 30:  More fishing down the point with Angelo, Stella and another couple from Melbourne.  Stella brought me some home grown lemons, chillies and wild spinach seeds.  I have a plan...
No fish were caught, but we saw a croc on a not-too-distant sand bar.  Didn't stop Danny from wading out and cast netting!  
The Cairns to Karumba push bike riders came into town and partied at the pub.  We shared the sunset with them and had a fish n chip / steak burger meal from the cafe.  End of the another great day, end of the financial year, start of the carbon tax...what will tomorrow hold for us on The Adventures of Keith?

Hello Roadtrains on the long awaited Savannah Way

June 25 & 26: 
We took 2 days to travel from Malanda to Karumba on the Savannah Way.
Had a picnic lunch at Mt Surprise, then stopped for the night at the Midway Caravan Park in Georgetown, where Inidgo made friends with Pauline pictured left. 
We walked down the road to the local pub for dinner:  Danny had the snags and I had crumbed fish that tasted like fish fingers.  Who cares when you are tired and hungry but eh?


The next day we stopped off at a historical chimney left over from...who knows what. Then we passed through Croydon, with another nice old pub.
We tried to camp at at Wal's Camp near the Norman River, but it was booked out, so we just stopped on the bumpy access road for lunch.
Looked like croc territory to Danny, so we got the hell out soon after.
We fueled up at Normanton, but it didn't look like the sort of place we wanted to stay at. 

We came across a few road trains and Danny did the right thing and slowed down and got off the road to let them pass.  Sometimes the road was only 1 vehicle wide, with red dirt on either side.
We arrived at Karumba in the afternoon and booked into the Gulf Country Caravan Park.
But Sammy was not happy.

Was coming to Karumba a big mistake?

Keith's 1st Swap Meet & WWOOF at Malanda

 Saturday June 16-Monday 25:  After a free camp o/night in Malanda opp the Lion's Park and dinner at the RSL, we went to Atherton for a Car Show & Swap Meet. 
Got a good park and sold some stuff we had brought and stuff we had bought along the way.

In the arvo, as arranged, we went back to Malanda for our first W.W.O.O.F.I.N.G (Willing Workers on Organic Farms)  with the Watkin Family. 
Well, right from the start, we felt at home and despite the fact that I know they will read this, I must say they were the most laid back, friendly hosts with 2 very agreeable children!  During the week, we  learnt many knew things:  Aaron showed Danny how to drive the tractor, bob cat and slasher and Austin gave me some pointers on the 4-wheeler which I took up to the corn mulch with trailer on.  Sue and I spent some quality time weeding the Irises and I gave Cloe some pointers on the hula hoop.  

 The farm consisted of chickens, 2 geese, quails, parrots & a pidgen, 2 dogs, a geriatric cat & horse and some cattle.
Did I mention the food?  Very good and lots of it AND dessert!
Indigo also had a rippin' time, playing with their large Labrador, Fudge (Minnie the Cattle x wasn't so interested...)

We finished the week with a trip to the Yungaburra Markets (thanks Sue's mum, Glen for the best orange cake ever) and a celebratory dinner at the 101 yr old Malanda Pub. 
Monday, Danny received a part from Melbourne to fix Keith's speedometer which hasn't worked since 
Hull Heads a couple of months ago.  Then we said our goodbyes and once again, hit the (back) road...



Thanks again Watkin Family for a wonderful WWOOFING experience.  
We will be back!