triplog

Last weekend we headed out of Townsville and up into Paluma Range National Park, camping first at Crystal Creek, then at Lake Paluma. The ranger there told us about a family of platypus (platypii?) on the other side of the lake, so at dusk we canoed over - and managed to see them. They’re very shy little creatures, we had to be completely silent and just drift the canoe - the footage above was shot on the second night we went out to see them.

Woohoo, we’re on the coast again… we got in to Townsville 2 days ago, and are camped at Rowes Bay caravan park, opposite the beach. Once again we’re doing the usual town things, car repairs, banking, paperwork, email etc. I guess from here on in the east coast gets pretty populated, so a lot of that stuff (and staying in touch with people) should be easier.

So you’d know by now that Thousand Island dressing, which goes so well with fresh prawns and seafood, can be basically done by mixing mayonnaise with tomato sauce. Today, I unveil my own take on this classic with an Aussie twist, using BBQ sauce instead: simply mix 2 parts mayo and 1 part BBQ sauce. I’m calling it ‘Ocker Island’ dressing.

Little steps, people, little steps

You know those picture-perfect, tropical clichés? Sunset over the ocean through the coconut palms and all that jazz? Well, that’s what we’re living with at the moment.

Bec had been told of a great pub with a beer garden overlooking the water in Karumba, on the Queensland side of the gulf. It’s a tiny fishing hamlet a mere 70kms detour off the Savannah Way, just past Normanton, and since 70 klicks is no obstacle in the pursuit of a cold beer and a good view, off we went.

We got here yesterday afternoon just in time to see the sun sink below the horizon, then turned our attention to the pub menu and more beers - when in Rome etc etc, so XXXX on tap it was, with massive slabs of steak*, copious prawns and chips. As it turns out, this place really is a fishing mecca, with a thriving prawn fishery as well - this news of course made Janes day, so lunch today was a mountain of fresh prawns, and tomorrow we’re hiring a tinny to try our luck at fishing.

* Yes, if anyone was paying attention there, I’ve cracked and fallen off the vegetarian bandwagon (to mix metaphors). And in case you’re wondering, I like a steak bloody - still mooing, if needs be

Our first stop in Queensland was Lawn Hill National Park, home of Lawn Hill Gorge; a real, live, swim-able, canoe-able oasis in the middle of a lot of croc country. For a small donation to the Royal Flying Doctors, you can hire inflated inner tubes to float around in, which became the perfect way for us to explore the gorge with Matt and Bec despite only having one canoe - simply throw a rope out the back and tow.