The Barron Gorge

I meant to add this map to the Kuranda Rail Trip blog.

Kuranda Scenic Rail Trip - 24 Oct 2011

Cairns Kuranda Railway 

Desperate calls for a railway to the coast.

The setting was the prolonged North Queensland wet season of 1882. Desperate tin miners on the Wild River near Herberton were unable to obtain supplies and were on the verge of famine. The boggy road leading inland from Port Douglas was proving impossible. As a result, the settlers at Herberton raised loud and angry voices and began agitation for a railway to the coast.

Coming general elections and increasing cold weather in the south saw visits to the north by leading politicians. All promising a railway. In March, 1882, the Minister for Works and Mines, Mr Macrossan announced the search for a route from the Atherton Tablelands to the coast. He commissioned Christie Palmerston, an expert bushman and a most colourful pioneering character, to find a suitable route.

In February 1882, both Port Douglas and Cairns formed Railway Leagues and engaged in a long and bitter fight for the right to the railway. Not long after, Geraldton, later named Innisfail, entered the competition boasting the sound virtues of Mourilyan Harbour.

During that year Palmerston marked several possible routes from the coast, inland along the Mossman River, the Barron Valley from Cairns and the Mulgrave Valley. In November 1882 Palmerston made the trip from Mourilyan to Herberton in 9 days and repeatedly came across the track which had been marked by an inspector named Douglas in May of that year. On arrival, Inspector Douglas had wired the Colonial Secretary: “Arrived Mourilyan 28th May. Fearful trip. No chance of road. 20 days without rations, living on roots principally. 19 days rain without intermission.”

Cairns win the railway bid.

In March 1884, a surveyor named Monk submitted reports from investigations carried out on all the routes marked by Christie Palmerston. This culminated in a decision that would shape the future of North Queensland. The Barron Valley gorge route was chosen. The storm of indignation which followed from Port Douglas and Geraldton was as enormous as the jubilant celebrations from the people in Cairns.

The Pat and Kurt trip on the Scenic Kuranda Railway

My mate Kurt is up from Brisbane for a couple of weeks holiday in Tropical Cairns and its region. We went on on this fantastic tourist attraction and enjoyed every moment of it.

This is the video we made of our trip.

England Ireland Wales & Scotland

This video was compiled from photos of my last 2 visits to these countries in 2008 and 2011. You may note how my hair has turned grey over this period.

Canada & USA Holiday 2010

Last year I spent nearly 9 weeks in North America, I met many fantastic folk from both the great nations of the USA & Canada. I have made up this video to record some of the highlights.

The Melbourne Trip Part 3

Tues 4 Oct 2011

After Brekkie it was off to the Sunbury train station to catch the train to Bendigo for the day. It is Senior’s week in Victoria and rail travel is free so what a beaut opportunity to visit this historic gold mining town. My sister Liz and her husband Bob were already on the train and had a seat waiting for me as they had joined the train in the city.

It was a pleasant rail trip and took a bit over an hour. The bonus for the day was the sun was out and it was a little warmer than it had been. I was able to take off my jacket for the 1 klm walk into the city centre. We boarded an historic old restored tram (trolley car) and went on a city sights tour and as seniors we only had to pay $6.50 for the hours ride.

 This was a great way to see the main attractions and get a lesson on the history of Bendigo.

Because of the large number of Chinese descendants from the gold rush days we thought it would be good to have Chinese food for lunch but we could not find a Chinese restaurant open so we went into an Irish Pub and had seafood. 

Yes, I did have a Guinness.

After lunch we did a walkabout and then headed back to the train station for the return trip to Sunbury.

 Liz and Bob were also staying at Frances’s overnight as we went out to my nephew Matt’s place for dinner as this was my last night in Melbourne. Matt and Theonni served up an excellent dinner and it was another perfect family gathering. About 10pm we left to go back to Frances’s house after what had been a long and enjoyable day.

Wed 5 Oct 2011

The alarm woke me at 5.30 am to get ready and pack for the airport. Frances go up early and drove me so we arrived at the Melbourne airport about 7.30 am so we beat the bulk of the traffic and it gave me time to have brekkie in the Qantas Club before the 9.05am direct flight to Cairns.

I’m pleased we did this as the Qantas Club was not so crowded and I was able to get brekkie and read the papers without rushing. The flight home was good as I had a window seat (5A) and there was nobody in the middle seat (5B) so heaps of room.

The temp in Melbourne was 10C when I left so it was beaut to arrive back in Cairns at lunchtime to a warm 28C.

The Melbourne Trip Part 2 Oct 2011

Friday 30 September 2011

Bernadette

We all had a sleep in and Bernadette and I set off on a 45 minute walk about 8am and when we returned Frances had a beaut hot brekkie ready for us.

 Late morning we set off for a drive to Mt Macedon and visited the large memorial cross for the soldiers killed in World War 1.

Bernadette at Memorial            Frances, Reno Bernadette & Myself

 We stopped in for a Devonshire tea at a trendy tea house in the park that offered excellent views of the surrounding countryside. It was good to warm up as the outside temp up in the hills was 7C.

Myself, Bernadette & David

 In the mid afternoon we drove Bernadette down to Melbourne so she could join her husband David who had just flown in from Mackay. They are staying in a city hotel for the next 9 days as their youngest son Cameron is playing for Queensland in the under 15yrs school boy hockey team at the Australian Hockey Championships. We will meet up with them on Sunday as we will watch his team hopefully beat the Victorian team.

As we were in the city we then called in to the very large Crown Casino for a little flutter and for dinner. I only made a small donation so I wasn’t too upset. It was well patronised as many visitors are in town for the school holidays and tomorrow is the AFL (Aussie Rules Footy) Grand final.

The rain had returned in the mid afternoon but even though it was cold the wind had eased off a lot.

We finished up the day with a cuppa and a quiet night at home.

Sat 1 October 2011

We all slept in until 8am so we had a late start to the day, after brekkie is was off to do some shopping for supplies for the AFL (Aussie Rules Footy) Grand Final party that Frances and Reno were having for some friends at there place.

Aussie rules is a code I do not follow or have ever played so I am not up with all the rules. I have only ever followed and played Rugby League/Union and Soccer. I hope I yelled & cheered at the right times. It was a good afternoon with the game on the big screen and a few drinks and heaps of food although I did get caught for resting my eyes in the 2^nd quarter. The team that most of us were barracking for was Geelong and they were the winners.

After the game we had dinner and a restful night chatting over coffee before an early night to bed (about 10ish.)

Sunday 2 October 2011

After an easy morning and Reno cooked up a great brekkie, we set of to the Hockey facilities to watch my Nephew in the National School Boys Hockey Championships. What a fantastic venue it was to watch the game. The sun came out for the first day during my visit. I think our family had the largest cheer squad in the stands. It was a walkover game with Queensland thrashing Victoria 6 to 1.

                  Cameron & Myself              Cameron on the field

The Family Cheer Squad

 Even the Victorian nephews and nieces were supporting the Queensland team because of their cousin Cameron.

After the Hockey we came home to get ready to go to the Trots (Harness racing) over an hours drive away. Reno’s nephew Charlie owned a horse in the last race. We stayed in the grandstand enclosed area so we were warm and the food and drinks were in that area also. 

                                            Me at the Trots

We had a fun night and I didn’t loose too much on the horses. It was a late night by the time we got home.

Mon 3 October 2011

After a slow morning doing some washing Frances took me to the new very large DFO where we had a look around before she dropped me over to catch up with my mate Wayne. It was a beautiful sunny day, but it was still too cold for this guy from the tropics.

 Wayne                                   Wayne & Myself

 I met Wayne on the Ms Amsterdam on the Grand World Voyage 45 day segment from Ft Lauderdale to Sydney early this year. It was beaut to catch up again and Wayne took me over to his local Pub for lunch and a few reds. We relived some of the stories of the cruise and some of the crew and other guests, but it was not the same as our drinks in the Crows Nest.  I will be catching up with Wayne again in December as he is also doing the same Christmas Cruise to NZ as me.

We were all feeling a bit warn out at the end of the day so the executive decision was made to eat in and not go out in the cold night air..