Travel Diary

There is much toing and froing as well as gnashing of teeth as some days things are booked out, others the weather doesn’t look good. We end up with a list with everything on it and a bill which will keep the local economy buoyant for some time.

There is one more stop to make. An ice cream vendor on the way. One which uses local fruits, grown on the farm to create delectable treats for the tourists. We are those and we are savouring them, given we have been loaded up with a selection of their fare.

Silver Leader and Forbsy need beer and we could do with some bubbles for Robyn and a bottle of bourbon. Once back I return a call from my son, who introduces us to his new girlfriend, Anna, and discusses the purchase of a new house.

We are not disappointed at Millaa Millaa. The falls are majestic flows of water falling many metres to a pool. The walk down to the viewing area is slippery and when we get to it, work out we could have driven directly to it.

But State of Origin is different. “State against State. Mate against mate” is the slogan. Yes its marketing but is it an inciting of something different. At a “normal” level it is a bit of fun

There is a commentary as we head down the line. Falls, bluffs and rainforest are all a part of the train ride. Our first stop is supposed to be at a station where the gorge and falls are evident, but we arrive in the mist, get caught in a rain shower and leave without the shots we were hoping for. I have opened the window so I can get uninterrupted shots

What we expect is a potentially a small van park. What we find is a sprawling expanse of different types of camping. There are spaces for our vans, both powered and not.

The womenfolk are relentless with the calls. Forbsy does what Forbsy does best – finds rocks and stacks them. Its an impressive construction and delights others passing by.

The park is full but the sites are large enough to drive through and set up without issue. Our site is right beside the power board and to get the awning up we have to manipulate it over the board. No worries with set up, we are here for a few days.

I love what I did as an accountant, but simply being an accountant is not what I am. Robyn is the same, her passion, sometimes seen as something that is infecting her, is actually her greatest strength, if only those around, who may have slotted her into a genre of their own prejudice, would or could only see.

We plough on into the wind, walking over large salt pans, noticing tyre marks in the hardened mud and seeing other intrepid travellers in both directions, some walking, some on bikes all doing the mad dog and Englishmen thing – walking in the midday sun

Unfortunately he declines, so we are left to eat what we caught, and given the cost of the charter and the amount of fillets available, enjoy them immensely for the cost per kilo is certainly greater that $100.