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trailx
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 10-2005
Location: way west of Mareeba FNQ
TOTAL POSTS: 1233
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Trip to Mackay region 27Aug-2Sep09
Having said I can't afford any more trips, the last weekend in August I took myself down to Mackay for a gathering on a land co-operative, and a possible employment offer.
Left Lake Barrine on a gorgeous day, via Millaa Millaa and the Palmerston Highway,
bypassed Innisfail thru South Johnston, out to the Bruce Highway south of Mourilyan.
A little further down the track towards Tully, you can still see the effects of Cyclone Larry. Much of the vegetation has regrown, but a lot of the trees were killed or are taking a long time to recover, a little hard to see in the low res pic unfortunately.
Of course saw several more intrepid cyclists.
Roadworks on the Bruce Highway considerably slowed the journey, with so many of them, but ultimately creating a smoother and drier ride (above flood level mostly).
Gotta watch out for the cane trains, these ones were near Ayr south of Townsville.
A short distance south is Home Hill, where the grey nomads and backpackers frequent the Comfort Stop and camp in the back street by the railway station. The comfort stop has toilets, showers, and even a camp kitchen. A good way to bring income into a small town, by welcoming travellers.
At last I leave the Bruce Highway to the north of Mackay, and head out forest trails to visit my friends, an hours slow drive behind this big hill. This could become my driveway in a couple years time, if I ever sell my house....
As you can see, it's a well used track, judging by the amount of lawn on it! and a lot of encroaching lantana which left some lovely scratches down both sides of my car.
To a little comfy place in paradise, well maybe a bit dry for paradise, but still an amazing place to be living.
Here is the local water supply, although that is supplemented by rainwater.
Exy in hiding?
Camping out at the edges of a vast wilderness, literally over 200,000 acres.
This could be more of my driveway.
I spent four days there, then drove down to Mackay to check out some work potential before I turned around and came back. Left Mackay in a torrential downpour (first decent rain I've seen in ages up here) which cleaned all the dust off my exy, so it didn't look like it went anywhere interesting any more.
After driving by Mt Inkerman countless times, I finally turned right and headed up to the lookout, for a great view of the Home Hill/Ayr region. Nice steep road, tarred. Great views but hazy with smoke.
Due to the roadworks, and the amount of traffic, on the way down, I had contemplated driving back via the inland road. As I had to stop in Townsville, I missed experiencing the new bypass, so I just had to come back the same way and try it out. What a difference, no more traffic, stop start, lights, 6 laner. The signs leading north are a bit ambiguous (Qld signage has always been like this) I found myself going the right way. Certainly saves a lot of time and sanity.
Feeling like I'm almost home when I reach Tully, although it's still another 150km thereabouts.
Bypassed Innisfail again and back to the Palmerston Highway, driving past the Nucifora Tea Plantation.
And once again, another long drive comes to an end.
Haven't calculated the fuel usage & cost yet, but it was mostly under 10litres.
Someone once asked me what I do to amuse myself on long trips. This time I counted exies. There were very very few on the road, I think most of them were in Proserpine where I counted 7 in a 60 car parking area alone! plus another 6 or 7 around the town. Spoke to one driver, who said he'd bought it to go exploring and had been up to the Burdekin Dam (a trip I did in 2007).
--- Julie X-231(c)
2005 ST Manual Platinum
Yokohama GO12, towbar, roof rack, luggage pod, bonnet protector, weathershields L&R, floormats
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9/Sep/2009, 9:55 pm
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trailx
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 10-2005
Location: way west of Mareeba FNQ
TOTAL POSTS: 1233
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Re: Trip to Mackay region 27Aug-2Sep09
Is it a bug or a demon do you think? it keeps me broke. Had to give the exy its 110,000km service yesterday, the kms just keep piling up, esp here on the Tableland where everything is at least 12-25km away.
--- Julie X-231(c)
2005 ST Manual Platinum
Yokohama GO12, towbar, roof rack, luggage pod, bonnet protector, weathershields L&R, floormats
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11/Sep/2009, 9:33 pm
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NorthernXTrailers
X-TRAIL NEWBIE
Date Registered: 10-2007
Location: Cairns Qld
TOTAL POSTS: 16
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Re: Trip to Mackay region 27Aug-2Sep09
Hi Julie,
great photo's from your trip, we are planning to head down that way late next month for some R & R, we want to stop @ Townsville first & head over to Magnetic Island for some camping. Next stop is the Whitsundays & some exploring in that Region & no doubt a stop in Mackay on the way back.
We have had a great year so far in the Exy & got away when time & weather permitted, we have knocked off the Bloomfield Track staying at Weary Bay (Hayleys Cabins - fantastic spot). Then headed up to Cooktown & Archer Point then travelled back via the Peninsula Development Rd (Highway now).
We also travelled via the Gregory Development Rd on a trip to Charters Towers at Easter, what a shocking road that is in parts, no wonder there has been some fatal accidents.
As I have said before the Exy is an absolute pleasure to drive & I need no excuse to do a road trip up here in the beautiful tropical Far North, since changing jobs the Exy is only doing about 20% of the travel I was doing last year & we are finally nearing the magical 40k mark, lol, very sad I know.
Cheers & great photo's once again.
Pete
--- Pete X-661 (c)
2006 T30 ST-S 40th Ann
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24/Sep/2009, 10:45 pm
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trailx
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 10-2005
Location: way west of Mareeba FNQ
TOTAL POSTS: 1233
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Re: Trip to Mackay region 27Aug-2Sep09
Hi Pete
Let me know if you find any camping areas you can take a car on Magnetic Island. It's 15years since I was there but at the time it was resorts, backpackers, and not a place to pitch your own tent. I hope that has changed at last.
I love driving on dreadful roads in remote areas, I always feel like I'm somewhere most people don't get to. Not keen on bad roads in populated areas though, which is what the Kennedy Highway on the Tableland is like with a single strip of bitumen in places between Atherton and Ravenshoe where there is a lot of traffic (and fog).
I'm about to go down to Mackay for 4-6 weeks work in October, we may manage to connect there. Will PM you.
--- Julie X-231(c)
2005 ST Manual Platinum
Yokohama GO12, towbar, roof rack, luggage pod, bonnet protector, weathershields L&R, floormats
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25/Sep/2009, 9:00 pm
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NorthernXTrailers
X-TRAIL NEWBIE
Date Registered: 10-2007
Location: Cairns Qld
TOTAL POSTS: 16
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Re: Trip to Mackay region 27Aug-2Sep09
Hi again,
we are lead to believe you can camp at this place on Magnetic Island - http://www.bungalowbay.com.au/accommodation.html I have yet to phone & book anything yet however have checked out the ferry etc to try & organise a schedule of sorts. After the Arnhem track I think I can almost handle any poor condition road, it is just some of the morons we have to share it with.
Pete
--- Pete X-661 (c)
2006 T30 ST-S 40th Ann
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25/Sep/2009, 11:47 pm
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trailx
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 10-2005
Location: way west of Mareeba FNQ
TOTAL POSTS: 1233
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Re: Trip to Mackay region 27Aug-2Sep09
Thanks for the link Pete, checked it out, and it looks like the place I stayed in the mid 90s. I tried a dorm, but it was all too noisy for me, at the time.
They had permanent tents as well and I booked into one which looked straight out over the sea where I could watch the full moon rising. Possums wandered in during the night too!
I just arrived back in Mackay again early this morning after an overnight in Bowen. Had another good trip down. Lot of roadworks in the Far North, but generally a drive without too many holdups.
--- Julie X-231(c)
2005 ST Manual Platinum
Yokohama GO12, towbar, roof rack, luggage pod, bonnet protector, weathershields L&R, floormats
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8/Oct/2009, 11:57 am
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trailx
X-TRAIL HOLIC
Date Registered: 10-2005
Location: way west of Mareeba FNQ
TOTAL POSTS: 1233
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Re: Trip to Mackay region 27Aug-2Sep09
Went back down to Mackay for 10 days early October and got back last week. On the way down, at the Burdekin Bridge, I saw this.
Thought I was seeing myself - bike on the back and luggage pod on the roof, then I realised there was a kayak on on the roof as well.....
--- Julie X-231(c)
2005 ST Manual Platinum
Yokohama GO12, towbar, roof rack, luggage pod, bonnet protector, weathershields L&R, floormats
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26/Oct/2009, 11:05 pm
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