Not looking back yet

I will start with a quiz:  if males = Guns what are females?  Answer at the end of this post.  (alternatives welcomed in the comments section!)

Frances asked if I had put a photo of the cottage on the blog yet.  I have now.

 After checking the car Ratsak situation (some eaten in the front - good that should fix it) we went for our final stroll on MatherRd.  The weather wasn't good, after raining most of the night.

 But it wasn't as bad as we found two hours later as we headed towards Millaa Millaa.  An unpleasant drive in showers on a hilly, twisty road.

Once we got to the bottom of the escarpment the weather improved.  It was cane country, what could be referred to as MMSBC  (miles and miles of sugar bloody cane). Trains were very evident.

 So was smoke or steam from the mills in every town.

 This was the closest we came to seeing a Cassowary.

 As we proceeded along we came to the Hinchinbrook lookout it was very impressive.

At Ingham I went for a look at the Tyto Wetlands  They were excellent and delivered Wandering Whistling Ducks (Bird of the Day) and

 .... Comb-crested Jacana.

They were also graced by an Italian Festival; with the worst Italian ballads since the crap our teacher offered us in language school in Sienna.  Ingham has the wetlands as a big plus and the festival and the fish and chip shop (see comments under pies) as BIG minuses.

On down the road towards Townsville.  We spent quite a bit of time close to Townsville due to the worst bunch of road (non) works we've come across so far on the trip.  These rocks on the way out of town were the highlight.

As we got close to Alva Beach Frances noticed a flock of about 20 Black Kites on some recently cut cane fields.  Of course by the time I'd stoppedthere was only one  left on the ground.

 A few kms later she spotted a group of Bustards.   Well done that Woman: well done those birds for hanging around while I did a uie and got back to them.

 On the beach at Alva kites were being surfed.  Note the one in the background out in the ocean.

Here is the estuary.

 Our first coconut palm with nuts.

 A Little Egret gave some ID issues but were resolved by deciding it was a juvenile.

 This dog gave Tammy a look but stuck with the quad.  See also comment of the day.

• Bird of the day: Wandering Whistling Ducks at Tyto Wetlands.  The flock was contested between the Black kites on the ground at Alva and the Crimson Finches at Tyto.  Size matters so the Kites win.
• Vegetation of the day:   Coconut tree at Alva Beach
• Memorable moment: Frances spottingthe Bustards wins, but the Hinchinbrook Lookout gets a walk on the carpet.
• Comment of the day: "He wouldn't hurt her." by the owners of a dog that charged Tammy with gums bared.  When bioth held and introduced he snarled again: I think they were optimistic.
• Pie of the day:.  No pie, but Frances suggested fish and chips at Ingham.  There about 10 folk in the shop and one staffer debating each bit of fish.  At least a 30 minute wait.  Pass. 0/10.
• Troppo moment of the day. The dog on a quad

Answer to Quiz: Roses, of course.
Back to Index page